Find out when local businesses may be closed
Most shops and businesses are closed on public holidays in Ireland and Northern Ireland. In the capitals, Dublin and Belfast, a selection of shops will remain open, but you’ll need to check locally.
If a public holiday falls on a weekend, the day off will be observed on a substitute weekday (usually the following Monday).
Banks and government offices are always closed on public holidays.
Here is the list of public holidays in Ireland with set dates and guidance on those that change yearly:
| Celebrations | Dates |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | 1 January |
| St Brigid’s Day | 1 February (or first Monday of February) |
| St Patrick’s Day | 17 March |
| Easter (Good Friday and Easter Monday) | March or April (depending on the year) |
| May Day | First Monday of May |
| June Bank Holiday | First Monday of June |
| August Bank Holiday | First Monday of August |
| October Bank Holiday | Last Monday of October |
| Christmas Day | 25 December |
| St Stephen’s Day | 26 December |
- Come celebrate or take advantage of the holidays with an Ireland self-drive tour.
- Or book a culture and history tour to immerse yourself in the local traditions and landscape.
Here is the list of public holidays in Northern Ireland with set dates and guidance on those that change yearly:
| Celebrations | Dates |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | 1 January |
| St Patrick’s Day | 17 March |
| Easter (Good Friday and Easter Monday) | March or April (depending on the year) |
| Early May Bank Holiday | First Monday of May |
| Spring Bank Holiday | Last Monday of May |
| Anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne | 12 July |
| Summer Bank Holiday | Last Monday of August |
| Christmas Day | 25 December |
| Boxing Day | 26 December |
Contact our travel consultants if you want to know more about travelling in Ireland.
