Belfast Residents Support Extended Sunday Trading Hours Ahead of August Fleadh Cheoil
A recent survey commissioned by Belfast City Council indicates strong public support for extending Sunday trading hours during summer months. Approximately 82% of Belfast residents who responded to the consultation expressed favour for allowing large stores to open earlier, with 16% opposed and 2% neutral.
Currently, large retail establishments, defined as having over 280 square metres of floor space, are restricted to operating between 13:00 and 18:00 BST on Sundays. A council committee is scheduled to consider the proposed extension on Friday, with potential implementation as early as July, in advance of the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann festival in August.
The Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, projected to attract over 700,000 visitors between 2-9 August, is the world’s largest festival of Irish music and dance. The proposed extension would require Belfast to be officially designated as a holiday resort, permitting extended Sunday opening for 18 Sundays between March and September, excluding Easter Sunday.
The eight-week public consultation earlier this year garnered 5,701 responses, including 3,773 from Belfast residents. While overall public sentiment was overwhelmingly positive, retail workers were nearly evenly split, with 48% in favour and 47% against the extension.
Alliance councillor Michael Long has urged cross-party support for the proposal, arguing it would provide a significant economic boost to the city and offer more options for visitors. Long emphasised the importance of protecting workers' rights, noting that individuals retain the option to decline Sunday work.
However, the trade union Usdaw has publicly opposed the extension, citing consistent feedback from its members who do not desire longer Sunday trading. Past attempts to extend Sunday opening hours in Belfast, including a 2017 committee vote of 12-3 against, highlight the long-standing contentious nature of the issue.
