Is It a Bank Holiday Today in Ireland? 2024-2026 Dates

If you’ve found yourself wondering whether banks are shut today, you’re not alone — it’s one of the most-asked questions on any given long weekend. Ireland runs a lean holiday calendar compared to some neighbours, and knowing the difference between a public holiday, a bank holiday, and a random day off can save you an wasted trip. This guide keeps things straightforward: today’s status, the full 2026 list, and where to check for yourself.

Public holidays per year in Ireland: 10 · Standard bank closure days: nationwide · Increased from: 9 in 2022 · Focus region: Ireland (Dublin time) · Next dates announced for: 2026–2027

Is today a bank holiday?

At the time of this check, Ireland has no public or bank holiday in effect today. Timeanddate.com (calendar tool covering Ireland-wide observances) confirms zero listings for today’s date. The Republic of Ireland observes 10 statutory public holidays per year, all anchored to specific dates or “the last Monday of X month” — no floating holidays land on arbitrary calendar spots.

For Dublin-based readers specifically, your local time zone is GMT/IST, which aligns with the national calendar. All Republic of Ireland banks — Bank of Ireland, AIB, Permanent TSB, and credit unions — operate under the same nationwide closure rule on public holidays. If you’re reading this on a weekday that isn’t a listed holiday, branches will be open during standard hours.

The quick way to verify yourself: check Citizens Information (the official government resource) for the current year’s full list, or pull up Timeanddate.com’s Ireland calendar to see any observances hitting today.

Current status in Ireland

There are 10 confirmed bank holidays in the Republic of Ireland in 2024 per Personio HR calendar tracker (HR publication tracking employment law). These cover New Year’s Day, St Brigid’s Day, StPatrick’s Day, Easter Monday, May Day, June Bank Holiday, August Bank Holiday, October Bank Holiday, Christmas Day, and St Stephen’s Day. April 25 is not listed as a bank holiday in Ireland in 2024 by any source.

Check for Dublin area

Dublin follows the Republic of Ireland schedule — there is no separate Dublin-city holiday calendar. All 10 public holidays apply to the entire jurisdiction. Northern Ireland operates its own set (see the comparison below).

Are bank holidays today in Ireland?

Yes, Ireland does observe bank holidays — but the term covers two separate categories that matter practically. “Public holidays” are statutory days established in law; most workers have a right to these off. “Bank holidays” historically refer to days when financial institutions close, though most employers extend the same courtesy to all public holidays.

Public holidays in Ireland are established in statute law with 10 per year per Wikipedia (compiling Irish government statutory references). Good Friday is the exception: it is not a statutory public holiday, though many banks close voluntarily on that day. Banks and many private employers treat it as a de facto day off.

Bank holidays are often on Mondays: 6 out of 10 in 2024 per Personio. This pattern gives workers an extended weekend without requiring additional legislation — the holiday simply slides to the nearest Monday if its traditional date falls on a different day.

Public holidays list

The table below compares the Republic’s statutory schedule against Northern Ireland’s list, highlighting where the two jurisdictions diverge.

The distinction between Republic and Northern Ireland matters for cross-border banking. Ireland.com (official tourism authority) notes that Northern Ireland includes Good Friday as a statutory holiday and adds the Battle of the Boyne (July 12) — holidays the Republic does not observe.

Bank closures confirmed

When a statutory public holiday falls on a weekday, banks in the Republic close for the day. If the holiday falls on a weekend, a substitute day is typically provided per NIDirect (Northern Ireland government guidance on bank holidays). 27 December is a bank holiday but may serve as a substitute if December 25 or 26 lands on a weekend, per Wikipedia.

What is the next bank holiday date?

The next upcoming public holiday in the Republic of Ireland is June 1, 2026 (Monday). That’s the June Bank Holiday, historically known as Whit Monday until the shift in 1973 per Wikipedia. After that, the August Bank Holiday falls on August 31, 2026 (last Monday of August), followed by the October Bank Holiday on October 26, 2026.

Looking further out, the earliest spring 2026 holiday is May Day on 2026-05-04 (Monday) in both Republic and Northern Ireland per Hogans Irish Cottages (calendar aggregator). This makes May 4 the date to circle if you’re planning ahead for long weekends.

Upcoming in 2024

For readers working from the 2024 schedule: the October Bank Holiday is 2024-10-28 (the last Monday in October) per Personio. Christmas Day 2024 falls on 2024-12-25 (Wednesday), and St Stephen’s Day follows on December 26. These are the final two holidays of the 2024 calendar.

2025 preview

The 2025 schedule follows the same 10-holiday pattern. May Day 2025 lands on May 5 (first Monday), with Easter Monday at approximately April 21. Full confirmed dates for 2025 should be verified via Citizens Information closer to the year.

What is October bank holiday in Ireland?

The October Bank Holiday in the Republic of Ireland is the last Monday in October — not a fixed calendar date. In 2024, that is October 28. The rationale is the same as other Monday holidays: it gives workers a long weekend without requiring extra leave days. The August Bank Holiday was the first of these extended weekends, first observed in 1871 per Wikipedia.

There is no standard October public holiday on October 27 or 28 in every year — those specific dates are used as substitutes only when the last Monday falls in that window. No source lists a permanent October 27 or 28 holiday. The pattern depends entirely on where the last Monday of October lands.

Historical October holidays

The October Bank Holiday was not always on the calendar. It was added as Ireland’s holiday schedule expanded over the 20th century. May Day was added most recently in 1994 per Wikipedia, and St Brigid’s Day joined in 2023 — the first Irish public holiday named after a woman. Before 2023, the October Bank Holiday was the most recent addition (after May Day).

Future October 2026

For 2026, the last Monday in October falls on October 26. Hogans Irish Cottages confirms the October Bank Holiday 2026 date is October 26. This means October 28 (2024’s date) will not repeat — it’s specific to 2024’s calendar position.

Bank holidays Ireland 2026

The Republic of Ireland’s 2026 public holiday calendar runs as follows, per Hogans Irish Cottages (calendar aggregator citing multiple regional sources). May Day in the Republic lands on 2026-05-04, matching Northern Ireland’s Early May Bank Holiday on the same date.

Northern Ireland’s 2026 Spring Bank Holiday lands on 2026-05-25 per Hogans Irish Cottages. The Summer Bank Holiday is 2026-08-31, matching the Republic’s August date. Ireland.com (official tourism site) notes these regional differences are the main point of divergence between the two jurisdictions’ calendars.

Full 2026 list

For the Republic, the 10 holidays cover: New Year’s Day (Jan 1), St Brigid’s Day (Feb 2), StPatrick’s Day (Mar 17), Easter Monday (Apr 6), May Day (May 4), June Bank Holiday (June 1), August Bank Holiday (Aug 31), October Bank Holiday (Oct 26), Christmas Day (Dec 25), and St Stephen’s Day (Dec 26). Easter Monday dates vary per the lunar calendar — Wikipedia notes the range spans from 2023-03-23 to 2026-04-26.

Northern Ireland differences

Northern Ireland has 10 holidays as well but swaps some: Battle of the Boyne replaces the Republic’s June Bank Holiday; Good Friday is statutory (versus voluntary bank closure); and both Spring and Summer Bank Holidays appear. NIDirect (Northern Ireland government) has the authoritative NI list, including substitute day rules when holidays fall on weekends.

Clarity on what’s confirmed vs. what’s still uncertain

What people are saying

These three authoritative sources converge on the same facts: Ireland’s holiday framework is statutory, comprehensive, and modestly sized compared to some European neighbours.

Related reading: Tax on Dividends UK 2026 Rates: Basic 10.75%, Higher 35.75%

Ireland’s ten official bank holidays in 2024, detailed in Irelands full 2024 bank holidays list, form the foundation for the projected 2024-2026 calendar.

Frequently asked questions