Sunday opening did not happen in all city centre department stores on December 8.
In Dublin the 8th of December has become the traditional day to start the Christmas shopping for many people. This year there was a marked difference in the city centre, as the 8th of December is a Sunday. All the major department stores remained closed, with the exception of British Home Stores (BHS).
There were suggestions that the teachers' strike last week provided many with the opportunity to start their Christmas shopping earlier than usual.
The Ilac Centre on Henry Street began to open on Sundays last month and was packed with shoppers. So too was the Swan Centre in Rathmines. where Anne Delaney says business is,
Extremely good and way ahead of last year’s figures.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 8 December 1985. The reporter is Conor Fennell.
