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Is Tomorrow a Public Holiday in Ireland? Check the 2026 Calendar

William Ethan Brown Taylor • 2026-06-02 • Reviewed by Sofia Lindberg

There’s a small but important question that pops up for anyone living in Ireland: will the shops be open tomorrow, and do I have to go to work? The answer depends on whether tomorrow is one of Ireland’s ten official public holidays. As of 2 June 2026, tomorrow—3 June—is not a public holiday, according to the Workplace Relations Commission (official Irish government body). Understanding Ireland’s holiday calendar can save you from an unnecessary early start.

Annual public holidays in Ireland: 10 ·
Newest public holiday added (2023): First Monday in February ·
Good Friday status in Republic of Ireland: Not an official public holiday ·
Date of 2026 October Bank Holiday: Monday, 26 October 2026

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Whether a specific Monday in question is the August bank holiday (depends on year)
  • Whether schools will close on 27 December bank holiday
3Timeline signal
  • 2022: Irish government announces new public holiday: first Monday in February (Workplace Relations Commission)
  • 2023: First Monday in February becomes 10th official public holiday (Workplace Relations Commission)
  • 2026: October bank holiday falls on Monday, 26 October (Workplace Relations Commission)
4What’s next
  • Next public holiday after 2 June 2026: 3 August 2026 (August bank holiday) (Workplace Relations Commission)
  • After that: 26 October 2026 (October bank holiday) (Workplace Relations Commission)

Five key facts about Ireland’s public holidays, one takeaway: the system is simpler than it looks but has a few quirks.

Label Value
Total public holidays per year 10
Year of tenth holiday addition 2022 (effective 2023)
October bank holiday date 2026 Monday, 26 October 2026
Good Friday official status Not a public holiday
Source for authoritative list Citizens Information (official Irish public service information)

Is tomorrow a public holiday in Ireland?

How to check if tomorrow is a public holiday

  • Check the official list from the Workplace Relations Commission (official government agency).
  • Use Time and Date (date reference website) to confirm tomorrow’s date.
  • Cross-reference with the full 2026 schedule below.

The Workplace Relations Commission states that 3 June 2026 is not listed as a public holiday. So if you’re checking on 2 June 2026, tomorrow is a regular working day.

What are the ten public holidays in Ireland

Ireland’s ten public holidays for 2026, confirmed by the Workplace Relations Commission:

  • 1 January (New Year’s Day)
  • 2 February (First Monday in February – new holiday from 2023)
  • 17 March (St Patrick’s Day)
  • 6 April (Easter Monday)
  • 4 May (May Bank Holiday – first Monday in May)
  • 1 June (June Bank Holiday – first Monday in June)
  • 3 August (August Bank Holiday – first Monday in August)
  • 26 October (October Bank Holiday – last Monday in October)
  • 25 December (Christmas Day)
  • 26 December (St Stephen’s Day)

The pattern: most public holidays fall on Mondays, giving workers a long weekend. The exception is the two fixed-date holidays (25 and 26 December) and St Patrick’s Day (17 March), which can land on any day.

Bottom line: Ireland’s public holiday calendar is fixed and predictable. Workers: you get 10 paid days off per year. Employers: these are mandatory paid leave days, with alternative arrangements allowed if the holiday falls on a weekend.

The implication: anyone planning a commute on 3 June 2026 should expect normal traffic — if you need Car Park Near Me Dublin options, book early because it is a regular working day.

Is Monday an Irish bank holiday?

Difference between public holiday and bank holiday in Ireland

The Workplace Relations Commission states there is no legal entitlement to have the next working day off after a public holiday. So a Monday bank holiday does not automatically extend your weekend.

The catch

The term “bank holiday” can be misleading. A bank holiday like 27 December doesn’t give most workers a day off. Only the ten public holidays guarantee paid leave.

Which Mondays are bank holidays

The majority of Irish public holidays fall on Mondays. Here’s the 2026 breakdown of Monday public holidays:

  • 2 February (First Monday in February)
  • 6 April (Easter Monday)
  • 4 May (First Monday in May)
  • 1 June (First Monday in June)
  • 3 August (First Monday in August)
  • 26 October (Last Monday in October)

Six out of ten public holidays are on Mondays. The remaining four (New Year’s, St Patrick’s, Christmas, St Stephen’s) are fixed dates.

What this means: If tomorrow is a Monday and you’re unsure whether it’s a public holiday, check if it’s one of the six Monday dates above. If yes, you’re likely off work. If not, it’s a regular Monday.

Is Good Friday a public holiday in Ireland?

Official status of Good Friday

The Workplace Relations Commission confirms Good Friday is not an official public holiday in the Republic of Ireland. It does not appear on the list of ten public holidays.

  • Good Friday is a normal working day in law.
  • Schools and many businesses close by tradition, but there is no legal obligation (Ireland.com).
  • Special trading restrictions applied until 2018; now they are largely lifted.

Good Friday closing practices

  • Most schools close on Good Friday, even though it’s not a public holiday.
  • Many offices and retail businesses operate on a reduced schedule.
  • Bars and pubs may have restricted hours in some areas.
Why this matters

The Good Friday confusion is a classic example of a cultural holiday that feels like a public holiday but isn’t. Workers who assume they have the day off may be marked absent without pay.

The pattern: cultural tradition outpaces legal status, and employees must treat Good Friday as a normal working day unless their employer explicitly grants it off.

Confirmed facts

  • Ireland has 10 public holidays per year.
  • Good Friday is not an official public holiday.
  • October bank holiday 2026 is 26 October.

What’s unclear

  • Whether a specific Monday is the August bank holiday (depends on year).
  • Whether schools will close on 27 December bank holiday.

Pros and cons of the Irish public holiday system

Upsides

  • Guaranteed 10 paid days off per year (Workplace Relations Commission).
  • Most holidays fall on Mondays, giving long weekends.
  • Clear official list with no regional variation in the Republic.

Downsides

  • Good Friday not included, causing confusion.
  • 27 December is a bank holiday but not a paid public holiday.
  • No legal right to the next working day off if a holiday falls on a weekend.

The catch: the system is simple but the exceptions catch workers off guard, especially around Good Friday and the December bank holiday.

Timeline: Evolution of Ireland’s public holidays

  • 2022: Irish government announces a new public holiday: the first Monday in February (Workplace Relations Commission).
  • 2023: The first Monday in February becomes the 10th official public holiday, effective from 2023 onward.
  • 2026: The October bank holiday falls on Monday, 26 October (Workplace Relations Commission).

The addition of the February holiday brought Ireland’s public holiday count in line with the European average.

Bottom line: Ireland’s holiday calendar has been stable for years with one recent addition. For workers, the system is predictable. For employers, planning around fixed dates is straightforward.

What experts say

An employee is entitled to a paid day off on a public holiday or one of the alternative arrangements – a paid day off within a month, an additional day of annual leave, or an additional day of pay.

— Workplace Relations Commission (official Irish government body) via public holiday entitlements page

Banks close everywhere for Republic of Ireland public holidays, while shops and pubs in urban areas often stay open.

— Ireland.com (Ireland’s official tourism site) via public holidays guide

For anyone in Ireland waking up wondering if tomorrow is a day off, the safest move is to check the official list from the Workplace Relations Commission. If tomorrow’s date doesn’t match one of the ten specified dates, it’s a regular working day. For workers, the implication is clear: know the ten dates, or risk an unplanned morning commute. For employers, communicating the holiday schedule early saves confusion. Workers who plan their remote work setup can compare Cheap Internet Plans Ireland Deals to stay productive on regular working days.

Additional sources

officeholidays.com

If you’re planning ahead, you might also find checking todays holiday status a useful resource for urgent queries.

Frequently asked questions

How many public holidays does Ireland have?

Ireland has ten public holidays per year, as confirmed by the Workplace Relations Commission (official government body).

What is the next public holiday in Ireland?

After 2 June 2026, the next public holiday is the August Bank Holiday on Monday, 3 August 2026, followed by the October Bank Holiday on Monday, 26 October 2026.

Is St Patrick’s Day always a public holiday?

Yes, St Patrick’s Day (17 March) is one of Ireland’s ten official public holidays, regardless of what day of the week it falls on. If it falls on a weekend, the following Monday is usually observed.

Are all public holidays paid?

Yes, the Workplace Relations Commission states all employees are entitled to a paid day off (or equivalent benefit) for each public holiday.

What happens if a public holiday falls on a weekend in Ireland?

If a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday is usually a public holiday. The exact rules differ slightly between cases; check the Citizens Information (official public service information) for specifics.



William Ethan Brown Taylor

About the author

William Ethan Brown Taylor

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