SHOPPING ON BOXING Day has long been a tradition on the other side of the Irish Sea but with the influx of British retailers to Ireland, opening on St. Stephens Day is becoming a popular option with stores here.

After two successful years of experimenting with the early opening hours, even more shopping centres and retailers are welcoming customers on 26 December, enticing them with slashed prices and once-off deals.

Here’s a roundup of who’s opening when (some shops are still resisting the temptation to open on the public holiday) and at what time (there’s a couple of early birds in there):

Arnotts - 26 December at 9am

Brown Thomas Dublin – 26 December at 9am

Brown Thomas Cork, Galway and Limerick – 26 December at 10am

Clery’s – 26 December at 9am

Penney’s Mary Street- 26 December at 11am

Jervis Street Shopping Centre - 26 December at 9am

Dundrum Shopping Centre - 26 December at 10am (although Next will open its doors at 6am and River Island from 8am)

Liffey Valley Shopping Centre – 26 December at 8am

Next Grafton Street – 26 December at 6am

Marks & Spencer - 27 December (times vary depending on store and sales not confirmed)

DID Electrical – 26 December at 9.30am

Currys - 26 December at 9am

IKEA – 27 December at 10am

Merchants Quay Shopping Centre – 27 December at 9am

Debenhams Cork - 26 December at 8am

Galway Shopping Centre - 26 December at 10am

Queues are not uncommon outside Next on Grafton Street or large electrical retailers on the morning of 26 December but Ireland is yet to see scenes like this one (taken at a department store in London on Boxing Day):