Updated: Thursday, 25 December 2025
Christmas Day in Ireland is famous for the quiet: shuttered high streets, dark supermarket car parks, and a country-wide pause that’s part of what makes 25 December feel like 25 December. But real life doesn’t always stick to the plan.
If you’ve run out of milk, forgot batteries for a new toy, need pain relief, or you’re travelling and just need something—anything—open, there are options. They’re simply limited, often local, and usually running reduced hours.
Below is what’s open on Christmas Day 2025 (25 December) in Ireland, what’s closed, and the fastest ways to confirm opening times before you leave the house—based on the latest updates published over 24–25 December 2025 and verified retailer information. ( [1])
Are any supermarkets open on Christmas Day in Ireland?
For most people, the short answer is: don’t count on it.
The most widely shared guidance in Christmas Day round-ups is that the big supermarket brands are closed on 25 December, and shoppers should plan around that reality. Local reporting published on 25 December 2025 reiterates that SuperValu stores are closed on Christmas Day, while Lidl and Aldi have published timetables showing closures on the 25th. ( [2])
Lidl Ireland’s official Christmas Opening Hours 2025 page lists Christmas Day (25 Dec): Closed. ( [3])
That doesn’t mean food is impossible to find—it just means Christmas Day shopping in Ireland looks less like “supermarket run” and more like “essentials from a forecourt shop.”
The most reliable places open on Christmas Day: service stations and forecourt convenience shops
If you need essentials today, the best bet in Ireland is typically:
- Petrol stations with attached convenience stores
- 24-hour or extended-hour service stations on main routes
- Forecourt shops in towns that stay open for a few hours
Local holiday opening-hours round-ups regularly point to service stations as the places most likely to trade on Christmas Day, even when everything else closes.
A concrete example: a Clare holiday-hours guide lists an Applegreen location (Limerick Road) as operating 24 hours on Christmas Day. ( [4])
And on 24 December 2025, trade publication ShelfLife reported that Circle K’s festive initiative (free hot drinks for emergency services) is running on Christmas Day (25 Dec) at participating Circle K stores nationwide—a strong indicator that many locations are operating (with store-by-store variation). ( [5])
Circle K itself also highlights that a number of its stores are accessible 24/7, reinforcing why forecourt retailers tend to be the “open when others aren’t” option. ( [6])
What you can usually get at these shops
Even on reduced hours, forecourt convenience shops often cover:
- Milk, bread, butter, soft drinks
- Snacks, nappies/baby supplies
- Batteries, phone chargers
- Basic medicines (non-prescription items—where stocked)
- Pet food in some larger sites
Because so many locations are franchise-operated, opening times can vary significantly—even within the same brand—so it’s worth confirming before you drive.
Dublin: examples of convenience stores listed as open on Christmas Day
In Dublin, you typically have the widest choice because there are more city-centre convenience stores and more major-route service stations.
A Dublin-focused round-up published earlier this month lists multiple SPAR locations and hours for Christmas Day trading, including examples such as:
- SPAR Dame Street (24-hour)
- SPAR Spawell, Templeogue (listed as open 24 hours; shop & forecourt only on Christmas Day)
- SPAR / Texaco Swords Road (listed as open 24/7 over Christmas)
- Several other SPAR locations operating limited daytime hours (examples include 10am–6pm in multiple spots). ( [7])
These kinds of lists are useful because they give you a starting point—but always treat them as “check before you go,” not a guarantee, because holiday staffing and local decisions can change at short notice.
Regional Ireland: what “open” often looks like outside the cities
Outside Dublin, Christmas Day shopping is usually one of two scenarios:
- A small number of service stations staying open all day (or 24 hours) on a main road, or
- A handful of locally owned convenience stores/newsagents opening for a short window (often late morning)
That’s why local “holiday opening hours” guides can be especially valuable.
For instance, the Clare holiday-hours coverage mentioned above shows a pattern common across Ireland: most supermarkets closed on the 25th, but at least one major service-station operator running continuously. ( [8])
Pharmacies open on Christmas Day in Ireland: what to do if you need medication
Pharmacies are a special case. Many close, but some areas operate a rota or have designated open pharmacies, and emergency access routes can differ depending on where you are.
One of the most practical pieces of seasonal advice coming from the pharmacy sector is straightforward: make sure you have the medicines you need in advance, and use pharmacy locators/official channels to identify what’s open locally.
If you need something urgently today
- Check local pharmacy listings (many areas post Christmas/holiday rotas).
- If it’s an emergency, use the appropriate urgent care route rather than relying on retail opening hours.
(And remember: even if a shop is open, it may not stock the medication you need—forecourts are great for essentials, not a substitute for a pharmacy.)
What else is closed on Christmas Day that catches people out?
Shopping centres and high-street retail
In general: closed. Christmas Day is not a normal retail day in Ireland.
Airports (important for travellers)
One notable Ireland-specific detail: Dublin Airport closes on Christmas Day, which means you can’t rely on airport retail outlets on 25 December. ( [9])
Public transport is reduced
If you’re planning a trip to find an open shop (especially if you’re visiting family and don’t have a car), it’s also worth noting that transport services run on limited schedules around Christmas. RTÉ reported reduced transport services as operations wound down ahead of Christmas Day. ( [10])
How to confirm a shop is open today (fast)
Because Christmas Day hours can change store-by-store, the most useful thing you can do is confirm before you head out. Here are the quickest checks that usually work:
- Google Maps → search the shop name → check “Hours” and “Open now”
(Helpful, but not foolproof—hours may not be updated.) - Call the store directly
This is the most reliable option if you’re making a longer drive. - Check the store’s most recent social post
Many convenience stores and cafés post holiday hours on Instagram/Facebook in the week before Christmas. - Use official brand pages where available
For example, Lidl publishes an official Christmas timetable (and it clearly shows Christmas Day closure). ( [11])
Christmas Day 2025 takeaway: what’s actually open?
If you’re heading out in Ireland today, here’s the practical reality:
- Big supermarkets: closed (plan for 26–27 December reopening patterns instead). ( [12])
- Service stations/forecourt convenience shops: your best chance for essentials; some operate 24 hours. ( [13])
- Selected city convenience stores: more likely to open for limited hours (especially in Dublin). ( [14])
- Pharmacies: limited availability, often rota-based—check local listings and official channels.
And one final human note that’s especially relevant on a day like today: on 24 December 2025, ShelfLife highlighted Circle K’s Christmas Day initiative aimed at frontline workers—an understated reminder that when you do find a shop open, it’s open because someone is working. A quick “thanks” goes a long way. ( [15])
References
1. www.shelflife.ie, 2. www.letterkennylive.ie, 3. www.lidl.ie, 4. www.clareecho.ie, 5. www.shelflife.ie, 6. www.circlek.ie, 7. www.lovindublin.com, 8. www.clareecho.ie, 9. www.dublinairport.com, 10. www.rte.ie, 11. www.lidl.ie, 12. www.letterkennylive.ie, 13. www.clareecho.ie, 14. www.lovindublin.com, 15. www.shelflife.ie
