After several consecutive months of bank holidays from January through June, July brought a pause before the August bank holiday took place earlier this month, reports The Mirror.
This year includes a total of 10 bank holidays, with most workers entitled to paid time off under the Organisation of Working Time Act. While many businesses and schools shut their doors, public transport typically runs on a reduced timetable.
Having already passed seven bank holidays, the next one is fast approaching. The October bank holiday is scheduled for Monday, October 27, followed by Christmas Day and St Stephen’s Day to wrap up 2025, reports The Mirror.
Looking ahead, there’s an important update for St Stephen’s Day in 2026. Since it will fall on a Saturday, most employees will qualify for a compensatory day off—commonly referred to as a ‘bonus’ day—due to the holiday occurring over the weekend.
According to Citizen’s Information: “If the public holiday falls on a day which is not a normal working day for that business (for example, on Saturday or Sunday), you are still entitled to benefit for that public holiday. However, you do not have any automatic legal entitlement to have the next working day off work,” reports The Mirror.
The Irish Government has outlined that employers must choose one of these options:
a paid day off within a month of that day
an additional day of annual leave
an additional day of pay
Because of this, many employees in Ireland can look forward to an extra day off around the 2026 Christmas period, reports The Mirror.
This change will be even more impactful in 2027, as both Christmas Day and St Stephen’s Day will land on the weekend—Saturday and Sunday. Depending on how employers handle it, workers may receive two extra days off.
Remaining 2025 bank holidays
Monday, October 27 – October Bank Holiday
Thursday, December 25 – Christmas Day
Friday, December 26 – St Stephen’s Day
Full list of 2026 bank holidays
Thursday, January 1 – New Year’s Day
Monday, February 2 – St Brigid’s Day
Tuesday, March 17 – St Patrick’s Day
Monday, April 6 – Easter Monday
Monday, May 4 – May Bank Holiday
Monday, June 1 – June Bank Holiday
Monday, August 3 – August Bank Holiday
Monday, October 26 – October Bank Holiday
Friday, December 25 – Christmas Day
Saturday, December 26 – St Stephen’s Day
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