Irish shoppers planning a bank holiday food run are being urged to check their local branch before setting off, as opening times for the major supermarket chains vary across the country.

According to Irish Mirror’s reporting, Tesco, Dunnes Stores, Aldi, Lidl and SuperValu are all expected to stay open over the August Bank Holiday, but many branches will be running reduced or location-specific schedules rather than their usual weekday hours. That means the safest approach is to treat published national timings as a guide rather than a guarantee.

Dunnes Stores is among the most variable. Larger branches are said to be open from 7am until 11pm, while smaller shops may trade from 9am to 8pm, with customers advised to confirm the hours for their nearest store before travelling. Tesco also operates on a branch-by-branch basis: bigger supermarkets generally keep to extended hours, while smaller or selected sites may open and close earlier.

Aldi is expected to follow its usual Bank Holiday Monday pattern, with Sunday-style trading in place at many outlets, though some stores may deviate slightly. Lidl is also understood to operate on Sunday hours for the holiday, typically opening from 9am to 9pm. SuperValu, meanwhile, has no single national timetable because individual stores are independently managed, so opening times can differ significantly from one location to another.

The broad message from the supermarket chains is simple: do not assume your regular shopping trip will fit the usual routine on the bank holiday. Checking the store finder or local branch details before leaving home should help avoid an unnecessary wasted journey, particularly for anyone stocking up for the long weekend.

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