A shop in Co Cork will be opening on Christmas Day with all the profits going to charity.

More shops are opening across the country on December 25th for a few hours in case people need some Christmas essentials.

Foley's Express Food Store in Mallow has been doing it for many years - but not for profit.

Rhyanna Curtis told Moncrieff her uncle, who has owned the business since 2002, has been opening every Christmas since.

"If you're stuck enough on Christmas Day, and you're a friendly local shop, people are going to come knocking," she said.

"That's how it started but it just didn't feel right profiting off people's panic and misfortune on the day.

"So, that's when he decided that to give his profits to charity every year".

Inside Foley's Express Food Store in Mallow, Co Cork. Image: Facebook/Foley's Express Food Store

Ms Curtis said they normally stay open later than they plan to.

"We say we open at 10am for about two hours, but it gets so busy it always ends up running on for maybe up to four hours," she said.

"It gets pretty busy to be fair, all the kids are running in because Santa forgot the batteries - that's a big one.

"There's a good buzz, even people who don't need anything every year kind of make a tradition of calling in [on] Christmas Day to say hi."

Foley's Express Food Store in Mallow, Co Cork. Image: Facebook/Foley's Express Food Store

Ms Curtis said there is also an important social aspect to it.

"A few years ago a customer came in and told me it was his first Christmas without his wife," she said.

"When he came in I would have been the only person to see him and talk to him on the day and he was so grateful.

"That's when I realised how big a difference it makes to those kind of people as well".

Charity

Ms Curtis said this year's charity partner is the UCC Surgeon Noonan Society.

"It's a fourth year medical student-run charity that was set up almost 45 years ago," she said.

"Medical students in fourth year have to do an elective and it could be anywhere you want really.

"Basically, we fundraise to provide medical aid to hospitals in Africa.

"Then in return for us donating this money they let roughly around 30 to 40 medical students to come out every summer to do our placement there and shadow those doctors," she added.

Ms Curtis said the most popular items shoppers look for on Christmas Day include batteries, headache tablets, wine and last-minute presents.

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Main image: Outside Foley's Express Food Store in Mallow, Co Cork. Image: Supplied