What Are Public (Bank) Holidays in Ireland?

Ireland recognises 10 statutory public holidays each year:

1. New Year’s Day – 1st January
2. St. Brigid’s Day – First Monday in February (or 1st February if it falls on a Friday)
3. St. Patrick’s Day – 17th March
4. Easter Monday
5. May Bank Holiday – First Monday in May
6. June Bank Holiday – First Monday in June
7. August Bank Holiday – First Monday in August
8. October Bank Holiday – Last Monday in October
9. Christmas Day – 25th December
10. St. Stephen’s Day – 26th December

Public Holiday Pay: What Employees Are Entitled To

• Employees required to work on a public holiday are entitled to their normal daily wage plus an additional day’s pay. This additional day’s pay is taken as the hours they worked on their last working day prior to the public holiday.
• Employees not required to work on the public holiday where it is their normal working day are still entitled to receive their normal day’s pay.
• Part-time employees, who do not work the public holiday, and, for whom it is not a normal working day qualify for one-fifth of their normal weekly pay.

Qualification Criteria

To qualify for public holiday pay, an employee must have worked at least 40 hours in the five weeks leading up to the public holiday. Full time employees automatically qualify for public holiday entitlement.

Employees on certified sick leave, maternity leave, adoptive leave, or parental leave during this time may still retain their entitlement under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997.

Why Accurate Calculation Matters

Employers must ensure public holiday pay entitlements are calculated correctly and consistently in order to remain compliant with Irish employment law. Failure to do so may lead to employee grievances or legal claims.

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