Ireland has a total of 9 bank holidays a year. So, with a minimum annual leave of 20 days, you should have 29 holiday days a year if you are in full-time employment.
List of Bank Holidays in Ireland 2023 & 2024
| Bank Holiday | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | 1 January | 1 January |
| February Bank Holiday | 6 February (new from 2023) | 5 February |
| St. Patrick’s Day | 17 March | 17 March |
| Easter Monday | 10 April | 1 April |
| May Bank Holiday | 1 May | 6 May |
| June Bank Holiday | 5 June | 3 June |
| August Bank Holiday | 7 August | 5 August |
| October Bank Holiday | 30 October | 28 October |
| Christmas Day | 25 December | 25 December |
| St. Stephen’s Day | 26 December | 26 December |
What’s the Difference between a Public Holiday and a Bank Holiday?
Generally, a public holiday has become known as a bank holiday; however they are different. A public holiday is a holiday that the government considered a day off for all employees.
A bank holiday is referred to days that banks are closed but is not a public holiday.
It seems Irish people have just decided to call public holidays bank holidays.
Here’s a list of bank holidays in Ireland 2023 & 2024.
2023:
- New Year’s Day: 1 January
- February Bank Holiday: 6 February (new from 2023)
- St. Patrick’s Day: 17 March
- Easter Monday: 10 April
- May Bank Holiday: 1 May
- June Bank Holiday: 5 June
- August Bank Holiday: 7 August
- October Bank Holiday: 30 October
- Christmas Day: 25 December
- St. Stephen’s Day: 26 December
2024:
- New Year’s Day: 1 January
- February Bank Holiday: 5 February
- St. Patrick’s Day: 17 March
- Easter Monday: 1 April
- May Bank Holiday: 6 May
- June Bank Holiday: 3 June
- August Bank Holiday: 5 August
- October Bank Holiday: 28 October
- Christmas Day: 25 December
- St. Stephen’s Day: 26 December
Note: Sometimes bank holidays can fall on a weekend. In such cases, the following Monday might be given as the substitute day. Always refer to the official government or bank calendars for exact details.
This means banks are closed on these dates, but they are not public holidays.
Some businesses do reward staff with Good Friday off.
Bank Holiday Calendar in Ireland
Visual 2023 Bank Holiday Calendar
Visual 2024 Bank Holiday Calendar
What are Employee Entitlements for Public / Bank Holidays?
Reading through the Citizens Information page, they said most people in employment qualify for paid leave during a public holiday. There a are a few rules though. A basic rule is you need to have completed 40 hours work for your employer in five weeks to qualify.
If you do qualify for the public holiday benefit you can receive one of the following entitlements:
- A full paid leave day.
- Your employer can give you an additional day of annual leave
- You can get an additional day pay.
- Get your paid day within a month of the public bank holiday.
There’s a lot of information in the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997 that you can reference if you feel you’re not getting your bank holiday entitlements.
How much do you get paid for working Bank Holidays?
If you work a bank holiday you’re entitled to an additional days pay on top of your working week. Here’s an example:
You get paid €400 for working 5 days a week. That’s 80e a day. If you agree to work a public holiday for your employer, you’re entitled to €480 that week.
There’s a few great examples on the Thehrcompany.ie website.
How to Get 16 days Holidays by Only Taking 7 days Annual Leave in Ireland in 2024 and Start of 2025?
By strategically aligning your annual leave with public holidays and weekends in 2024 and into 2025, you have the opportunity to extend your time away from work significantly.
In Ireland, full-time employees generally receive 4 weeks of annual leave, equating to about 20 days, though some employers may offer more. By carefully planning your leave days, you can turn 29 days of annual leave into an impressive 70 days off.
For instance, with Christmas Day on Wednesday, December 25, and St Stephen’s Day following it, plus New Year’s Day falling on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, you can extend your holiday period considerably. By taking leave on December 23, 24, 27, 30, and 31, as well as January 2 and 3, you’re able to enjoy a continuous 16-day break by using only seven days of your annual leave.
This method is about making the most of your annual leave entitlements by timing them around the 2024 holiday calendar. It’s a practical approach for those seeking to maximise their time off, but it’s important to remember that this depends on your employer’s leave policies and the specific public holiday calendar in your region.
Now… can you keep all those days for the end of the year. Good luck!