The severe weather hit retailers hard in December as shoppers stayed away and footfall declined 2.6 per cent compared to the same month in 2009.
The national footfall index, compiled by global information services company Experian, showed overall footfall trends in Ireland remained relatively consistent last year, with an average fall of 1.3 per cent compared to 2009.
The final quarter of the year declined 1.1 per cent compared to the same period a year earlier.
"The tough conditions experienced by retailers in Ireland in recent years have continued throughout 2010, with footfall registering an overall decrease on 2009 figures. The usually buoyant Christmas shopping period did not materialise this year,” said Experian Ireland’s Mark Anderson.
“Online only retailers have typically benefited from Christmas shoppers, but now most high street brands in Ireland also have a presence on the web, which has the potential to dilute footfall as people are able to do their browsing and increasing their shopping from home without hitting the high street."
A more severe contraction was seen in Northern Ireland, where footfall fell by an average of 4.7 per cent throughout the year, and the final quarter slumped by 7.2 per cent.
"It is possible that those Southern shoppers who were visiting Northern Ireland to take advantage of the value there have now stopped travelling due to increased VAT and fuel prices,” Mr Anderson said.