There are nine public holidays in Ireland this year of 2021 and three of them are gone already.
Schools and most businesses are generally off when a bank holiday comes around, and public transport often provides less services.
There are four fixed bank holiday dates in Ireland every year.
The dates for New Year's Day, St Patrick's Day, Christmas Day and St Stephen's Day are public holidays every year.
The months of May, June, August and October all have bank holidays.
The six bank holidays left in 2021 are as follows:
- First Monday in May (May 3)
- First Monday in June (June 7)
- First Monday in August (August 2)
- Last Monday in October (October 25)
- Christmas Day (25 December)
- Saint Stephen's Day (26 December)
Your entitlement to public holidays is set out in the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997.
Most employees are entitled to paid leave on public holidays. One exception is part-time employees who have not worked for their employer at least 40 hours in total in the five weeks before the public holiday.
If you qualify for public holiday benefit you are entitled to one of the following:
- A paid day off on the public holiday
- An additional day of annual leave
- An additional day's pay
- A paid day off within a month of the public holiday
You may ask your employer at least 21 days before a public holiday, which of the alternatives will apply.
If your employer does not respond at least 14 days before the public holiday, you are entitled to take the actual public holiday as a paid day off.
