Dublin Christmas sales

14 Dec, 2009

Dublin's biggest department stores, Arnotts, Clerys and Brown Thomas, are breaking with tradition this year and will open their doors on Boxing Day. In doing so they hope to attract bargain-hunting shoppers, and generate much needed extra sales after a disastrous year for the Irish retail industry. Traditionally all three stores close on Christmas Eve and re-open on 27 December; this move will see Ireland fall into line with Britain.

Arnotts, Clerys and Brown Thomas will be open from 10.00 to 18.00 while on Henry St, British retailers Debenhams, River Island and Next will also open their doors. Other Brown Thomas outlets outside the capital, such as Limerick and Galway, will remain closed however. The radical change to Dublin's Christmas shopping tradition raises the likelihood of long queues forming outside shops towards the end of Christmas Day, as customers jostle to secure the best bargains the next morning.