Dunnes Stores Opening Hours: Confusion for Shoppers Ahead of St Patrick’s Day 2026
dunnes stores opening hours are inconsistent across locations as shoppers prepare for St Patrick’s Day 2026; some branches will close while others follow reduced bank-holiday trading. The situation affects shoppers in Cork, Dublin and beyond on the bank holiday Tuesday, March 17, as stores operate different schedules and many will open later and close earlier than usual. The variation — from Merchant’s Quay closing for the day to Blanchardstown running 9am–9pm — is driven by store-by-store decisions and usual Sunday trading arrangements.
Dunnes Stores Opening Hours
Local Dunnes Stores opening hours vary significantly. The Merchant’s Quay branch will be CLOSED on St Patrick’s Day, while Dunnes Stores Blanchardstown is listed to open from 9am to 9pm on Tuesday and Dunnes Stores Talbot Street will be shut for the day. For most locations, Dunnes Stores are expected to operate their usual Sunday opening hours — commonly 9am until 8pm for many branches — but hours differ greatly from store to store.
What other supermarkets are doing
Across the supermarket sector, many chains are operating reduced hours over the bank-holiday period. Aldi generally operates reduced opening hours of 9am to 9pm on bank holidays, and Lidl similarly operates reduced hours of 9am to 9pm. Tesco opening hours vary by location; for example, Tesco Liffey Valley will be open from 9am to 8pm on Tuesday. SuperValu stores operate independently and are also expected to run reduced or Sunday hours at many locations. Overall, most shops will be open on the bank holiday but many will open later and close earlier than usual.
Alcohol sales and trading restrictions on St Patrick’s Day
There is a specific trading rule for alcohol on March 17: sales are delayed until 12: 30pm, and supermarkets can sell alcohol only between 12: 30pm and 10pm on St Patrick’s Day. Shoppers planning to buy alcohol on March 17 should plan visits within that restricted sales window.
What shoppers should do next
Shoppers are urged to check the local store listing for exact times before travelling. With Dunnes Stores opening hours differing by branch and several notable examples of closures and reduced hours already identified, planning ahead is the safest option during the St Patrick’s Day bank holiday. Expect store-by-store updates across the holiday period and confirm opening times for your nearest branch before you go; dunnes stores opening hours will remain varied through the weekend and on March 17.