Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Colin Brennan

When do the clocks go forward in Ireland? March 2021 date for change

The first day of spring is almost here and the change in clocks follows shortly after.

It marks the beginning of longer days filled with sunshine and blooming daffodils.

And with the clocks set to go forward this month, we're going to get that extra stretch in the evenings.

Officially called "daylight saving time" - the clocks will go forward by an hour, not back, which people often get confused about.

Here's all you need to know about the clocks change.

When do the clocks go forward?

The clocks go forward at 1am on Sunday, March 28th.

The clocks go forward an hour to 2am.

You will lose an hour's sleep, unfortunately.

Clocks and car timers will all need to be changed but your smartphone will update automatically so there is no need to worry about that.

(E+)

Why do the clocks change twice a year?

Benjamin Franklin, the famous US inventor came up with the concept of changing the clocks in Paris in 1784.

Franklin suggested that people could save money on candles if they got up when it was lighter outside.

In 1907, this same idea was brought to the UK by a builder called William Willett.

Willett published a leaflet called The Waste of Daylight, encouraging people to wake up earlier.

But much to Willett’s dismay, the government took some convincing to make the clock change official.

It wasn’t until 1916 - a year after Willett died - that the clock change was implemented in the UK and Ireland.

When do the clocks go back again?

There's a bit of time to wait until the clocks change again as we will move back to Greenwich Mean Time on October 31.

By this time, we'll hopefully have had plenty of sun - and a bit more freedom - and be ready to settle back down for the winter months.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.