Holidays & Festivals in Ireland

Irish Holidays You Should Know

Ireland has several public holidays (called "bank holidays") throughout the year. On these days, schools are closed, and many shops have reduced hours. Here are the main ones:

St. Patrick's Day — 17 March

The biggest Irish celebration. There are parades in every city and town, with the Dublin parade being the largest. The city turns green, and there's a festival atmosphere for several days. It's an incredible experience and very different from how it's celebrated abroad.

Bank Holidays

• New Year's Day — 1 January
• St. Brigid's Day — First Monday in February
• St. Patrick's Day — 17 March
• Easter Monday — Varies (March/April)
• May Bank Holiday — First Monday in May
• June Bank Holiday — First Monday in June
• August Bank Holiday — First Monday in August
• October Bank Holiday — Last Monday in October
• Christmas Day — 25 December
• St. Stephen's Day — 26 December

Halloween

Halloween actually originated in Ireland (from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain). The Irish take it seriously — there are fireworks, costume parties, and the famous Bram Stoker Festival in Dublin. The Derry Halloween Festival in Northern Ireland is considered one of the best in the world.

Christmas

Christmas in Ireland is magical. Cities are decorated with lights from mid-November, and Christmas markets pop up everywhere. Dublin's Grafton Street lights are iconic. Schools typically close for 2 weeks over Christmas. If you're staying in Ireland for Christmas, expect cold weather but a warm atmosphere.

Festivals Worth Experiencing

• Galway Arts Festival (July) — Music, theatre, street performers
• Electric Picnic (September) — Ireland's biggest music festival
• Bloom Festival (June) — Garden and food festival in Phoenix Park
• Culture Night (September) — Free events in museums, galleries, and cultural venues across Ireland