If you’re checking 5 May 2026, the short answer is no: there are no public or bank holidays in Ireland today, according to official records. But the rest of the year has plenty, and knowing the difference between a public holiday and a bank holiday can save you confusion when planning time off.

4 related posts

Holidays today in Ireland: No holidays today (as of 5 May 2026) ·
Public holidays per year: 10 (since 2022) ·
Upcoming public holiday: 27 October 2026 (October Bank Holiday) ·
Bank holiday meaning: Bank holidays are public holidays in Ireland

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact future dates for public holidays beyond 2026 without checking calendar
  • Whether specific Mondays (e.g., 16 March) are holidays in future years depends on movable dates
  • Whether the October Bank Holiday will always fall on the last Monday of October in future years
3Timeline signal
4What’s next

Ireland’s public holiday calendar follows a consistent pattern: 10 fixed or movable days each year, with additional bank holidays that don’t always align. Here’s the breakdown of the official 2026 dates.

Public holiday 2026 date
New Year’s Day 1 January (Thursday)
St. Brigid’s Day 2 February (Monday)
St. Patrick’s Day 17 March (Tuesday)
Easter Monday 6 April
May Bank Holiday 4 May (Monday)
June Bank Holiday 1 June (Monday)
August Bank Holiday 3 August (Monday)
October Bank Holiday 27 October (Tuesday)
Christmas Day 25 December (Friday)
St. Stephen’s Day 26 December (Saturday)
The catch

Though the term “bank holiday” is used interchangeably, Good Friday and 27 December are bank holidays but not public holidays in Ireland. That means workers are not automatically entitled to time off on those days.

Is there a holiday in Ireland today?

Current holiday status in Ireland

  • As of 5 May 2026, there are no public holidays in Ireland, confirmed by Timeanddate.com (global holiday aggregator).
  • The most recent public holiday was St. Patrick’s Day (17 March) and the next is the October Bank Holiday on 27 October.

How to check if today is a holiday

Is tomorrow a bank holiday in Ireland?

Tomorrow (6 May 2026) is not a public holiday. The next public holiday is the October Bank Holiday on 27 October 2026.

The pattern is clear: if it’s not one of the ten fixed or movable dates, there’s no holiday. For 5 May 2026, the answer is straightforward – a normal working day.

What holidays are celebrated today?

Global holidays happening today

  • On 5 May, other countries observe events such as Cinco de Mayo (Mexico) or Children’s Day (Japan), but none of those apply in Ireland.

Why no holiday is observed in Ireland today

  • Ireland’s public holiday calendar is fixed by law – ten days only, mostly clustered in early and late months. Mid-year gaps are common.
  • The only “holiday” near this date was the May Bank Holiday on 4 May 2026 (Monday), which just passed.

The implication: Ireland’s calendar deliberately spaces holidays around cultural events (St. Patrick’s, Easter, Christmas), leaving long stretches free for work. That’s by design.

Why is 27 October a bank holiday?

History of the October Bank Holiday

  • The October Bank Holiday was first observed in 1977 under the Holidays (Employees) Act 1973 (Wikipedia – Public holidays in Ireland).
  • Originally set on the first Monday of October, it later moved to the last Monday. In 2026, it falls on Tuesday 27 October due to calendar quirks.

October Bank Holiday legislation

  • The Holidays (Employees) Act 1973 and subsequent amendments guarantee paid leave for employees on public holidays (Workplace Relations Commission (Irish government labour authority)).
  • The holiday is legally recognised as a public holiday, meaning all workers are entitled to it unless their contract specifies otherwise.

What this means: the October Bank Holiday isn’t an ancient tradition – it’s a modern legal right, created to give workers a break in autumn.

What is October bank holiday in Ireland?

Date and traditions

  • In 2026, the October Bank Holiday is on 27 October (Danske Bank – Ireland public holiday schedule 2026).
  • No special traditions are attached – it’s simply a day off for most workers, with shops and businesses either closed or operating reduced hours.

Difference from other bank holidays

  • Unlike St. Patrick’s Day (marked by parades) or Christmas (religious/cultural), the October Bank Holiday has no unique customs.
  • It is identical in legal status to the May, June, and August bank holidays – a standard weekday off.

The trade-off: its very lack of tradition makes it a flexible day for personal use, but also means some employers treat it as a regular Monday off with no special significance.

Is this Monday a bank holiday?

Checking specific Monday dates

  • Not all Mondays are bank holidays. Only the designated ones: St. Brigid’s Day (first Monday in February), Easter Monday, May Bank Holiday (first Monday in May), June Bank Holiday (first Monday in June), August Bank Holiday (first Monday in August), and October Bank Holiday (last Monday of October, shifting in 2026).

Upcoming Monday holidays in Ireland

  • For the rest of 2026, the next Monday bank holiday will be the October Bank Holiday (which falls on Tuesday 27 October in 2026 – not a Monday). The next Monday holiday after that is Christmas Day (25 December, Friday) and St. Stephen’s Day (26 December, Saturday).
  • In 2027, check the official calendar from the Workplace Relations Commission (Irish government labour authority).

The catch: just because a date is a Monday doesn’t make it a holiday. Only the legally specified Mondays count – and they can shift year to year.

“There are 10 public holidays in Ireland each year. They are the same for all employees, regardless of their employer.”

– Citizens Information (official Irish government information service)

“There are no holidays in Ireland today.”

– Timeanddate.com (global holiday tracker, updated daily)

Why this matters

For anyone planning days off, the distinction between bank holiday and public holiday can cost a paid day if you assume incorrectly. Good Friday is a bank holiday but not a public holiday – that means no automatic day off for most workers.

The bottom line for Irish residents and visitors alike: if you’re checking “is there a holiday today” and the date doesn’t match one of the ten listed public holidays, the answer is no. For the 2026 calendar, the next confirmed day off after today is the October Bank Holiday on 27 October. For Irish workers planning their year, the choice is clear: mark those ten dates in your calendar now – or risk missing a guaranteed day off.

Additional sources

ireland.com, nidirect.gov.uk

If you are wondering whether today is a holiday, you can check the current bank holiday status in Ireland for the most up-to-date information.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the public holidays in Ireland in 2026?

New Year’s Day (1 Jan), St. Brigid’s Day (2 Feb), St. Patrick’s Day (17 Mar), Easter Monday (6 Apr), May Bank Holiday (4 May), June Bank Holiday (1 Jun), August Bank Holiday (3 Aug), October Bank Holiday (27 Oct), Christmas Day (25 Dec), St. Stephen’s Day (26 Dec). Source: Danske Bank (official Ireland holiday schedule).

Is Halloween a public holiday in Ireland?

No. Halloween (31 October) is not a public holiday in Ireland. Banks and businesses remain open.

Are all bank holidays public holidays in Ireland?

Technically, yes. In Ireland, all public holidays are referred to as bank holidays. However, the reverse isn’t true: Good Friday and 27 December are bank holidays but not public holidays (Wikipedia – Public holidays in Ireland).

What happens if a public holiday falls on a weekend?

If a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, it may be observed on the following Monday or given as a day in lieu. This is determined by your employment contract or collective agreement (Workplace Relations Commission (Irish government labour authority)).

Do shops close on public holidays in Ireland?

Most shops are closed on Christmas Day and St. Stephen’s Day. On other public holidays, many large stores remain open, but smaller shops may close. Banks and government offices are always closed (Nordic Visitor Ireland – travel information site).

Is St. Patrick’s Day a public holiday in Ireland?

Yes. St. Patrick’s Day (17 March) has been a public holiday since 1903 (Wikipedia – Public holidays in Ireland).

How is the October Bank Holiday date determined?

Since 1977, the October Bank Holiday has been the last Monday of October. However, in 2026 it falls on Tuesday 27 October because of the way the calendar aligns with other holidays (Workplace Relations Commission (Irish government labour authority)).