Irish Public Holidays

There are 10 public holidays in Ireland, including the new holiday in February for St Brigid's Day. What dates do we have off, and when's the next one?

Irish Public Holidays 2025

Irish Public Holidays 2026

Common Questions

When is the next Bank Holiday in Ireland?

Saint Patrick's Day on March 17th 2025 is the next public holiday in Ireland.

What’s the difference between a public holiday and a bank holiday?

Although in Ireland people often use the term “bank holiday” to refer to “public holidays”, they are not the same. A ‘Bank Holiday’ is a day when banks remain closed. Not all Bank Holidays are Public Holidays. The most famous example of a bank holiday which is not a public holiday is Good Friday (more on that below).

• A public holiday is a day designated by the government as a day off for all full time employees (who’ve worked 40 hours in the previous five weeks).
• A bank holiday specifically refers to the days when banks are closed and does not necessarily coincide with a public holiday.

You can read more specific information about eligibility for public holidays for both permanent and part time employees on citizens information here.

Is Good Friday a public holiday in Ireland?

On Good Friday, banks are closed and public sector employees get the day off. Schools are closed for the Easter break.

Often private sector employees have the day off too, if it’s written into their contracts. Unfortunately in general private sector employees not working in banks are not entitled to the day off.

How many bank holidays are there in Ireland?

There are 10 public holidays in Ireland. As described above, banks are closed on Good Friday but not a public holiday.

When is the August Bank Holiday in Ireland?

The August Bank Holiday is the first Monday in August, in 2025 that is Monday 4th August.

What is the new bank holiday in Ireland?

St Brigid's Day is a new bank holiday in Ireland. It is the first Monday in February.

When was St Brigid's Day added as a public holiday?

St Brigid's Day was first added as a public holiday in 2023. The public holiday is held on the first Monday in February.

St. Brigid's Day marks spring's arrival and winter's end, bringing renewed optimism as nature awakens. Rooted in the Celtic fertility celebration of Imbolc (meaning "in the belly"), this traditional day heralds the season of agricultural renewal, wildlife births, and lengthening daylight.

How are the dates of holidays set?

In general if a ‘floating holiday’ falls on a weekend, it rolls over to the start of the next week. The 10 holidays are set as:

Holiday	Date Decided
New Year’s Day	1st January, rolls over to Monday if over weekend.
St Brigid’s Day	First Monday in February, or 1st February if the date falls on a Friday
Saint Patrick’s Day	17th March, rolls over to Monday if over weekend.
Easter Monday	Easter Monday
May Bank Holiday	First Monday in May
June Bank Holiday	First Monday in June
August Bank Holiday	First Monday in August
October Bank Holiday	Last Monday in October
Christmas Day	25th December, rolls over to Monday/Tuesday if over weekend.
Saint Stephen’s Day	26th December, rolls over to Monday/Tuesday if over weekend.