The Government is facing calls for additional bank holiday weekends to be added to the calendar as Ireland currently lags behind the European average
TDs have said the Government needs to introduce more bank holidays to align with the European average
Irish workers could soon have an extra day off as the Government is potentially looking at adding three more bank holidays to the calendar.
Following the introduction of the St Bridget’s Day bank holiday in 2023, Ireland now enjoys a total of ten days off each year. Across the EU, the average is 12.
Cyprus and Lithuania has the highest number of bank holidays in Europe, with workers enjoying around 15 days off per year. Most areas of Spain have 14 bank holidays each year while Portugal has 13 mandatory holidays.
Here in Ireland, some sectors already enjoy an ‘unofficial’ bank holiday as most public sector employees enjoy an extra day off on Good Friday, while those in the private sector miss out.
Calls for change are growing, with some opposition parties urging the Government to expand Ireland’s number of bank holidays.
The Green Party has called for one extra day, while People Before Profit has called for three additional public holidays.
Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman said there is room in the calendar for another Bank Holiday and touted Good Friday or the first weekend in July as possible options.
Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman(Image: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos)
O’Gorman said: “We have some of the highest labour productivity in the EU, workers generate the wealth our country enjoys and I think it is important the Government recognises leisure time or time they can spend with their families.
“There is definitely room there and we would look at either converting Good Friday from a public holiday into a full bank holiday because a lot of private sector workers do not get to enjoy that.
“The other option would be a bank holiday on the first weekend of July to allow people to have some time off over the summer.”
Meanwhile, Councillor and Party Chair, Janet Horner said: “We know that most people in Ireland are hard workers, and we think there needs to be more acknowledgment of that.
“Irish people get fewer bank holidays than most of their European counterparts, and with people feeling the effects of both the cost of living and energy crises, an additional day off would benefit people in giving them rest and not leaving them out of pocket.”
However, not everyone is in agreement with his idea. Kerry Independent TD Danny Healy-Rae has said that he does not believe another bank holiday is a good idea as it could put a strain on businesses.
He said: ““I think we have enough of them and the new one in February for St Brigid’s Day is too close to Christmas. That’s the wrong time for one. It will mean a lot to some people, but to others, it doesn’t.
“If they wanted to move the February one to the weekend of the football final, grand, but I wouldn’t be adding an extra one.”
So, if the Government were to introduce an additional bank holiday, what date should they chose? Let us know in the poll below.
Bank Holidays in Ireland in 2026:New Year’s Day – Thursday January 1Imbolc (St. Brigid’s Day) – Monday February 2St. Patrick’s Day – Tuesday March 17Easter Monday – Monday April 6Early May Day Bank Holiday – Monday May 4June Bank Holiday – Monday June 1August Bank Holiday – Monday August 3October Bank Holiday – Monday October 26Christmas Day – Friday December 25St. Stephen’s Day – as it falls on a Saturday in 2026 the Bank Holiday will be observed as a ‘substitute day’ on Monday December 28.
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