With Christmas week finally upon us there is going to be plenty of people out there who will spend the next few days getting their last minute prep in.
And that means many trips to the shops to get your Christmas groceries and other essentials for the big day.
However, supermarkets can be hectic every Christmas even at the quietest of times and that is only going to be exacerbated by the challenges brought by the pandemic.
So it's well worth planning early and knowing which shops are open when and any changes that may be made to their opening hours as a result.
Here's all the changes to opening hours for supermarkets in Ireland this Christmas:
Tesco
In order to keep up with the challenges of the pandemic and the busy Christmas period 40 Tesco stores, across the country will be open 24 hours a day.
The participating stores will start the marathon from today December. It will run up until Christmas Eve, when Tesco will close at 7pm.
Opening hours have also been extended all of the supermarket's 151 shops, with most operating from 7am until midnight.
Aldi
This discount retailer is also making changes to their opening hours from this week onwards.
As of Sunday, December 20 Aldi stores will open from 8am to 10pm, and from December 21 to 23 it'll be open from 8am until 11pm.
For Christmas Eve Aldi stores will open at 8am and close at 7pm, and it'll reopen on December 27 from 9am until 9pm.
However shoppers are urged to check their local shops opening hours in case there are any differences.
Lidl
From this week Lidl will be open 7am until 10pm until December 23 when changes will be made.
On December 23 they will open from 7am until 6pm on Christmas Eve; 9am to 9pm on December 27 and 28; and 8am until 10pm on December 28 and 29.
Lidl has also asked customers to keep checking times of their local stores in case there is any differences or changes
Supervalu
Supervalu will extend its opening hours over the Christmas period, but the specifics of its schedule are being decided on a store-by-store basis.
Customers should check with their local Supervalu for the exact times.
A spokesperson for the supermarket said: "SuperValu will operate on extended opening hours in the run up to Christmas.
"As SuperValu stores are independently owned and operated customers should check with their local store for exact times."
Marks and Spencers
Similar to Supervalu Marks and Spencer customers should also check the supermarket's website for a full breakdown of when their local store will open over the Christmas.
But the shop will be opening with extended hours over the festive period.
Dunnes Stores
Oddly enough Dunnes Stores has not announced any extended opening hours for Christmas and is currently trading as usual.
Customers should check online for a breakdown on when their local store will open over the festive period.
