The Government is facing renewed pressure to add more bank holiday weekends to the national calendar, amid growing calls from opposition parties and public support for extra long weekends.At present, Ireland has 10 bank holidays each year, which is significantly below the European average of 13 long weekends.The most recent addition to the calendar was the April Bank Holiday, introduced in 2023. It marked a significant milestone as the first Irish public holiday to honour a female saint, St Brigid.
Opposition Parties Want More Long Weekends
Political parties including the Green Party and People Before Profit have urged the Government to consider introducing additional bank holidays.
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According to a report by the Irish Independent, adding just one extra bank holiday could cost the country approximately €355 million.
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Despite the financial implications, supporters argue that more long weekends would improve work-life balance, provide a boost to mental wellbeing, and support sectors such as tourism, hospitality and retail.
Proposal for Three New Bank Holidays
A spokesperson for People Before Profit said they would like to see as many as three additional bank holidays introduced.
The proposed dates for the new long weekends are:
- The first Monday of July
- The last Monday of September
- The last Monday of November
The reasoning behind these proposals is straightforward: July, September and November are currently the only months in Ireland without a bank holiday weekend.
Strong Public Support for Another Holiday
A survey carried out by the Irish Independent found that 80 per cent of people would support the introduction of another bank holiday weekend.
Among those surveyed, just under one quarter said they would prefer for it to fall on Good Friday.
This reflects growing public appetite for more frequent breaks throughout the year, especially as workers continue to place greater value on rest, family time and flexible lifestyles.
A Busy Stretch of Existing Bank Holidays
The discussion comes during a period already packed with public holidays.
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The St Patrick’s Day weekend took place just two weeks before Easter, and the May Bank Holiday is set to arrive four weeks later.
Following that, the calendar continues with:
- June Bank Holiday – June 1
- August Bank Holiday – August 3
- Halloween Bank Holiday – October 26
After the summer holiday weekends, there is then a noticeable gap before the autumn period, which is one of the reasons campaigners believe more long weekends are needed.
How Bank Holiday Entitlements Work
A bank holiday weekend generally gives workers an extra day off, either on the holiday itself or through an alternative day in lieu.
If the holiday falls on a day that is not normally worked, such as a Saturday or Sunday, employees are still entitled to a benefit linked to that public holiday.
This can include:
- An additional day of annual leave
- An extra day’s pay
- A paid day off within a month of the holiday
Key Details at a Glance
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Current number of bank holidays in Ireland | 10 per year |
| European average | 13 per year |
| Latest new bank holiday introduced | April Bank Holiday (2023) |
| Estimated cost of one extra bank holiday | €355 million |
| Public support for another bank holiday | 80% |
| Preferred new holiday by some respondents | Good Friday |
| Proposed new holiday months | July, September, November |
Conclusion
With strong public backing and increasing political pressure, the debate around adding more bank holidays in Ireland is unlikely to fade anytime soon.
While concerns remain over the potential cost to the economy, supporters say the benefits of improved wellbeing, stronger work-life balance and increased domestic spending could make the case for change hard to ignore.
