What’s Open on Good Friday in Ireland: Shops, Pubs, Supermarkets

If you’re planning to shop, grab a pint, or stock up before Easter weekend, Good Friday in Ireland comes with a few quirks worth knowing. Most supermarkets keep regular Friday hours — think 8am to 10pm for the big chains — but a law change in 2018 altered the pub landscape significantly. The question isn’t really “can I find somewhere open?” but rather “where can I actually get a drink with my Sunday roast prep?”

Aldi Good Friday hours: 8am to 10pm · Lidl Good Friday hours: 8am to 10pm · Dunnes Stores typical Friday hours: 8am to 10pm · Pubs on Good Friday Ireland: Open with alcohol sales allowed · Supermarkets open Easter weekend: Most with adjusted hours

Key facts about Good Friday trading in Ireland show a clear divide between urban and rural areas, with legal alcohol sales and standard supermarket hours since 2018.

Is anything open on Good Friday in Ireland?

The short answer is yes, most things — but with regional wrinkles. Urban centres see the vast majority of shops and pubs open, while smaller towns and villages are more likely to have closures. Supermarket chains including Lidl, Aldi, and Dunnes Stores typically operate their standard Friday hours.

Supermarkets and shops

Major chains run extended hours on Good Friday. Lidl has confirmed opening from 08:00 to 22:00 for Easter 2026. Alcohol sales in shops follow standard Saturday rules: 10:30am to 10:00pm. Pre-2018, supermarkets sealed off alcohol sections on Good Friday — that’s long gone.

Pubs and attractions

Pubs can trade freely on Good Friday 2026, with the same hours as any other Friday: 10:30am to 12:30am. This wasn’t always the case — until 2018, a 1927 law banned alcohol sales entirely. According to VFI Pubs (the Vintners Federation of Ireland trade body), there’s even half-hour drinking-up time after closing.

Visitor sites

Tourist attractions and heritage sites mostly operate on Good Friday, though some may have reduced hours. National parks and museums in urban areas typically remain accessible.

The pattern is clear: cities and towns see widespread trading, while rural areas still see meaningful closures. If you’re travelling, calling ahead for smaller businesses remains sensible.

Do pubs open on Good Friday in Ireland?

Yes — and they can serve alcohol too. This wasn’t guaranteed until the Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Act 2018 lifted a long-standing ban that dated back to 1927. The Ditch reported at the time that the law change treated Good Friday like any other trading day for alcohol sales.

Alcohol ban details

For decades, Good Friday was a “dry day” — no alcohol sales in pubs, restaurants, supermarkets, or off-licences. The 2018 change was nationwide, replacing a patchwork of local exemptions that had existed since Limerick publicans won a court case in 2010 allowing limited openings in their area.

Recent changes

After the ban lifted, AIB transaction data reportedly showed a 43% jump in card payments on Good Friday compared to the pre-change period. Some Dublin bars were reportedly quieter than normal Fridays, suggesting cultural habits hadn’t fully adjusted to the new reality.

Exceptions

Pubs can still serve alcohol to lodgers at any time, even on restricted days. The VFI recommends publicans carry their trading-hours documentation in case of disputes. Christmas Day remains off-limits — Good Friday has no such restriction post-2018.

What this means: Irish pubs operate fully on Good Friday 2026, but individual venues may choose to close or limit service based on expected custom.

Are shops open on Good Friday?

Most are, particularly in cities and larger towns. Ireland.com notes that while Good Friday isn’t an official public holiday in the Republic, schools and some businesses do close — but the trend has shifted toward more openings, especially in urban centres.

Major supermarkets

Aldi, Lidl, Dunnes, and Tesco typically operate their standard Friday hours. Lidl has confirmed 08:00 to 22:00 for Good Friday 2026 — that’s a full hour longer than Easter Sunday’s 18:00 close. The alcohol sections are open, unlike the pre-2018 era when supermarkets physically sealed off those aisles.

Dunnes Stores

Dunnes generally follows standard Friday opening hours across its Irish stores. Individual store variations exist, so checking your local branch’s Easter schedule is worthwhile — especially if you’re near a smaller outlet.

Aldi and Lidl

Both German-origin discount chains have published their 2026 Easter hours. Lidl opens 8am across Ireland on Good Friday, closing at 10pm. Lidl Ireland’s published schedule shows Good Friday hours running 08:00–22:00, with Easter Sunday trimmed to 09:00–18:00.

The catch: smaller towns still see closures. If you’re in a village rather than a city centre, assume reduced opening or full closure and verify before making the trip.

Are Dunnes stores closed on Easter Sunday?

Easter Sunday trading hours vary significantly by chain and location. While Good Friday sees widespread supermarket openings, Easter Sunday tends toward closures or heavily reduced hours across the sector. Lidl, for example, plans 09:00–18:00 on Easter Sunday — a full four hours shorter than Good Friday’s shift.

Good Friday hours

Dunnes Stores operates standard Friday hours on Good Friday — typically 8am to 10pm. The holiday doesn’t trigger extended or shortened Friday service at most locations.

Easter Sunday

Many Dunnes locations close entirely on Easter Sunday. Others open for limited hours, often afternoon-only windows. This mirrors the broader sector pattern: Ireland.com notes that smaller towns see more closures on Easter Sunday compared to Good Friday.

Other days

Holy Saturday typically runs standard hours. Easter Monday (6 April 2026) is a bank holiday with adjusted openings — often later starts and earlier closes, particularly outside major cities.

The implication: plan your Easter Sunday shopping for Saturday or accept that choices will be limited. Major chains won’t be running full service.

When are major supermarkets open over the Easter weekend?

Easter weekend spans four days with distinct operating patterns. Good Friday and Holy Saturday see near-normal trading. Easter Sunday contracts significantly. Easter Monday partially rebounds but with bank-holiday quirks.

Aldi hours

Aldi has confirmed Good Friday hours of 8am to 10pm. Easter Sunday typically sees Aldi closing by 6pm, with Holy Saturday running standard hours. Individual stores may vary.

Lidl and Tesco

Lidl’s published Easter schedule shows Good Friday 08:00–22:00, Easter Sunday 09:00–18:00. Tesco follows similar patterns — full Good Friday hours, reduced Easter Sunday, partial Easter Monday openings.

SuperValu

SuperValu operates independently owned franchises, meaning hours vary by store. Urban SuperValu locations tend toward standard Friday hours on Good Friday, with Easter Sunday varying by individual franchisee decisions.

The takeaway: Good Friday is your most reliable shopping day of the long weekend. Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning see congestion, while Sunday afternoon sees closure. Easter Monday’s bank holiday status means some chains open later or close earlier than normal Mondays.

How we got here: the 2018 shift

Ireland’s relationship with Good Friday alcohol restrictions spans nearly a century. The original ban dated from 1927, when pubs were legally prohibited from opening on the day. For decades, the law held — until a Limerick court case in 2010 cracked the door open for local exemptions.

“The old Good Friday alcohol ban was lifted in 2018, so pubs, restaurants, supermarkets and off-licences can legally sell alcohol on that day.”

— Castle Forbes College (Irish legal education blog)

The Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Act 2018 removed Good Friday from the restricted-days list entirely. According to The Ditch, the change treated Good Friday like any other trading day — but consumer behaviour hasn’t fully caught up.

“Pubs opening on Good Friday is good news, both for publicans and for anyone who wants to mark the weekend.”

— Fine Gael, 2018 (from The Ditch reporting)

The pattern: legal permission doesn’t guarantee cultural adoption. Some Irish drinkers still treat Good Friday as a quieter day — which means if you’re looking for a pub with atmosphere, calling ahead or checking social media remains wise.

Bottom line

Good Friday 2026 (3 April) is a trading day in Ireland, not a closure day. Supermarkets open 8am–10pm, pubs pour until midnight, and alcohol flows legally for the first time since the 1920s. Urban centres see widespread openings; rural areas still see closures. Easter Sunday contracts sharply — plan accordingly. The 2018 law change removed the legal barriers, but some pubs still choose subdued Good Friday trading based on customer expectations.

For shoppers: stock up Friday or Saturday morning rather than gambling on Sunday afternoon. For pub-goers: yes, you can get a pint — but don’t expect every venue to be fully open or crowded.