Public holidays feel simple until you are up against a closing date and you realise you have been assuming the "Monday substitute" rule that applies in other countries.
In Ireland, the statutory concept is a public holiday entitlement -- not necessarily "the office is closed on Monday".
The 10 public holidays in 2026 (Ireland)
Fixed-date:
- New Year's Day -- Thu 1 Jan 2026
- St Patrick's Day -- Tue 17 Mar 2026
- Christmas Day -- Fri 25 Dec 2026
- St Stephen's Day -- Sat 26 Dec 2026
Rules-based (bank holidays):
- St Brigid's Day -- Mon 2 Feb 2026 (first Monday in February unless 1 Feb is a Friday)
- Easter Monday -- Mon 6 Apr 2026
- May Bank Holiday -- Mon 4 May 2026 (first Monday in May)
- June Bank Holiday -- Mon 1 Jun 2026 (first Monday in June)
- August Bank Holiday -- Mon 3 Aug 2026 (first Monday in August)
- October Bank Holiday -- Mon 26 Oct 2026 (last Monday in October)
Quirk #1: weekend holidays do not automatically "move" to Monday
Ireland's statutory scheme does not say "take Monday off if the holiday is on a Saturday". Instead, the employee is entitled to one of several benefits (for example: a paid day off within a month, an extra day's annual leave, an extra day's pay, etc.).
2026 example: St Stephen's Day is on a Saturday. If you are counting Mon-Fri working days, that may not matter. If you are counting calendar days, it can.
Quirk #2: Good Friday still is not a statutory public holiday
Good Friday is often treated like a "soft holiday" socially -- schools, businesses, and court offices may close -- but it is not one of the statutory public holidays.
That matters because some legal and contractual definitions key off "public holidays" and some key off court office closure days (which can be broader).
Quirk #3: St Brigid's Day has a built-in exception
St Brigid's Day is observed on the first Monday in February, unless 1 February is a Friday (in which case it is the Friday).
So you cannot just hardcode "first Monday" forever.
Need a sanity check? Use the calculator to validate the date rules before you lock a timeline.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do public holidays automatically move to Monday in Ireland?
A: No. The entitlement is to a benefit (day off, extra leave, or extra pay),
not an automatic Monday substitution.
Q: Is Good Friday a public holiday in Ireland?
A: No. It is commonly treated as a non-working day in practice, but it is not
a statutory public holiday.
Q: Does St Brigid's Day always land on the first Monday?
A: Almost. If 1 February falls on a Friday, the holiday is that Friday instead
of the Monday.
Sources & Further Reading: