It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas – at least in shops in three of Ireland's biggest cities.

Brown Thomas officially opened its Christmas Stores in Dublin, Limerick and Cork this morning - more than four months before the big day.

The shelves are packed with stockings, crackers, wreaths, garlands, and food hampers for eager shoppers.

There are also Christmas trees and a selection of BT decorations available in a variety of special themes.

The Brown Thomas Christmas shops in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and online are officially open.

🙋🙋‍♀️ 500 seasonal staff hired for festive stores.

🎄 Themes: ‘Christmas Cheer’, ‘Winter Romance’, ‘Glacial Lake’, and ‘Natural Glow’.

⏰ Christmas shop soon coming to Dundrum, Galway pic.twitter.com/pbIMkcWNVm

— Tom Douglas (@TomDouglas95) August 18, 2022

Brown Thomas Christmas Shop Dublin. Image: Tom Douglas/Newstalk

Some 500 extra staff are being hired to cover the company’s seasonal offering – with stores in Dundrum and Galway coming soon.

These people in Dublin had mixed views on the opening.

“It’s never too early,” said one. “It’s never too early for Christmas.”

“I think Christmas is happy. It is fine to be happy now I think it’s never too early. It is alright to be prepared I think so I think it’s good."

Brown Thomas Christmas Store Dublin. Image: Tom Douglas/Newstalk

Brown Thomas Christmas Shop Dublin. Image: Tom Douglas/Newstalk

“It’s definitely far, far too early,” said another. “I think November is early enough – end of October, beginning November.”

Brown Thomas told Newstalk that August is a popular time to open up, as people like to be prepared early on.