Cork Supermarkets Extend Opening Hours for Christmas Shopping Rush

With just days remaining until Christmas, supermarkets across Cork are offering extended opening hours to help shoppers tick off their last-minute lists and stock up on festive essentials.

The major retailers are staying open later into the evening during the final shopping days before Christmas Eve, with some stores offering midnight closing times on Monday and Tuesday next week.

Aldi

Aldi stores nationwide are extending their hours significantly in the lead-up to Christmas. Stores will remain open until 11pm on both Monday, 22nd December and Tuesday, 23rd December.

On Christmas Eve, Aldi will close at 7pm. The retailer will be closed on Christmas Day, St Stephen's Day, and New Year's Day, with normal hours resuming on 2nd January.

The extended evening hours on the 22nd and 23rd represent an additional three hours of shopping time compared to standard closing times.

Lidl

Lidl is offering similar extended hours across all Irish stores. From Saturday, 20th December through to Tuesday, 23rd December, stores will generally operate from 8am to 10pm, with a 9am start on Sunday, 21st December.

On Christmas Eve, Lidl stores will close at 6pm. Like Aldi, Lidl will be closed on Christmas Day, St Stephen's Day, and New Year's Day.

Tesco

Tesco Superstores across Cork, including locations at Mahon Point, Wilton, Douglas Village, and Ballincollig, will stay open until midnight on Sunday, 21st December, Monday, 22nd December, and Tuesday, 23rd December.

On Christmas Eve, these stores will operate from 7am to 7pm.

All Tesco stores will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Selected Superstores will reopen on St Stephen's Day from 10am to 6pm, though shoppers should check their local store as hours vary.

Dunnes Stores

Dunnes Stores opening hours are heavily dependent on location, with each store setting its own extended hours.

Many stores will extend their closing times to midnight from mid-December, with select larger stores potentially offering 24-hour shopping on Monday, 22nd December and Tuesday, 23rd December.

All Dunnes stores will be closed on Christmas Day and St Stephen's Day. Stores will generally close at 6pm on Christmas Eve.

Shoppers are strongly advised to check the opening times for their specific local Dunnes store, as hours can vary significantly between locations.

Marks & Spencer

M&S stores will have different opening hours depending on location. The Patrick's Street store in Cork city will be open from 7am to 9pm on Monday, 22nd December and Tuesday, 23rd December.

On Christmas Eve, the Patrick's Street store will open from 7am to 7pm, before closing for Christmas Day and St Stephen's Day. The store will reopen at 8:30am on Friday, 27th December.

Shoppers should check their local M&S store for specific hours, as times may vary by location.

SuperValu

Each SuperValu store is independently owned and operated, meaning Christmas opening hours will vary from store to store.

All SuperValu stores will be closed on Christmas Day, with the majority also closed on St Stephen's Day. Some stores may open with limited hours on St Stephen's Day.

Customers should use the SuperValu store locator to check the specific opening hours for their local shop.

Mahon Point Shopping Centre

The popular shopping centre will be staying open late this Christmas with extended hours, though individual store hours may differ.

General centre hours during the final shopping week are:

• Monday, 22nd December: 9am to 10pm
• Tuesday, 23rd December: 9am to 10pm
• Christmas Eve: 8am to 5pm
• Christmas Day: Closed
• St Stephen's Day: 10am to 7pm
• Saturday, 27th December: 9:30am to 7pm

The cinema and selected restaurants will be open later than general centre hours.

Planning Your Shop

With the busiest shopping period of the year now underway, retailers are advising customers to plan their trips carefully and shop during off-peak hours where possible.

Early morning shopping between 8am and 9am, or late evening shopping between 7pm and 10pm, typically offers quieter store conditions.

Shoppers should always confirm specific hours directly with their local store before travelling, as opening times can vary and may be subject to change.