Guide for Ireland
Public holiday entitlement checker for Ireland
5-star reviews on TrustpilotIreland has 10 public holidays a year. Full-time staff qualify straight away; part-time staff qualify once they've worked 40 hours in the 5 weeks before the holiday. A qualifying employee gets one of four things, chosen by the employer: a paid day off on the day, a paid day off within a month, an extra day of annual leave, or an extra day's pay. Someone who doesn't normally work that day gets a fifth of their weekly pay.
Pick the public holiday and answer four questions about one member of staff. Everything runs in your browser: nothing is sent or saved.
Choose the holiday and answer the questions.
Ireland's 10 public holidays
| Public holiday | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thu 1 January | Fri 1 January |
| St Brigid's Day | Mon 2 February | Mon 1 February |
| St Patrick's Day | Tue 17 March | Wed 17 March |
| Easter Monday | Mon 6 April | Mon 29 March |
| May public holiday | Mon 4 May | Mon 3 May |
| June public holiday | Mon 1 June | Mon 7 June |
| August public holiday | Mon 3 August | Mon 2 August |
| October public holiday | Mon 26 October | Mon 25 October |
| Christmas Day | Fri 25 December | Sat 25 December |
| St Stephen's Day | Sat 26 December | Sun 26 December |
Good Friday is not a public holiday. When a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, staff are still entitled to the benefit, but there's no automatic right to the next working day off.
How the rules work on a hospitality roster
Most pubs, restaurants and hotels trade on public holidays, so the usual outcome is the employer's choice of an extra day's pay, an extra day of annual leave, or a paid day off within a month. Pick one approach, write it into your policy, and tell staff before the roster goes up. The 21-day and 14-day rule means an undecided employer can end up owing the day itself off, which is the last thing you want on St Patrick's Day.
Part-timers are where mistakes happen. The 40-hour test looks back over the 5 weeks before the holiday, and annual leave taken in that time counts as time worked. Someone on 9 hours a week (45 hours over 5 weeks) qualifies; someone on 7 hours a week (35 hours) doesn't.
Keep the evidence
The WRC can ask to see the public holiday entitlements each employee received. ShiftComplete records holidays next to the roster and, with clocking in switched on, keeps the hours worked that the 40-hour test depends on. You can download hours as a spreadsheet with a total per person. It's €1.99 per active staff member a month after a free 60-day trial, no card needed.
Read the full guide to public holidays for Irish hospitality, plan the festive weeks with the Christmas roster guide, or work out annual leave with the annual leave calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Is Good Friday a public holiday in Ireland?
No. Good Friday is not one of Ireland's 10 public holidays, so staff have no automatic right to a day off or extra pay that day, even though some businesses close. Easter Monday is a public holiday.
Do part-time bar staff get paid for public holidays?
Yes, once they've worked at least 40 hours in the 5 weeks ending on the day before the public holiday. If the holiday falls on a day they normally work, they get the same choice of benefits as full-timers. If they don't normally work that day, they get one fifth of their weekly pay.
Who decides whether staff get a day off or extra pay?
The employer chooses between a paid day off on the day, a paid day off within a month, an extra day of annual leave or an extra day's pay. The employee can ask, at least 21 days before the holiday, which one will apply. If the employer hasn't answered 14 days before, the employee is entitled to the day itself off with pay.
What about St Brigid's Day?
Since 2023 Ireland has had a public holiday for St Brigid's Day: the first Monday in February, or 1 February itself when it falls on a Friday. In 2026 it's Monday 2 February and in 2027 Monday 1 February.
Is this legal advice?
No. It follows the public holiday rules described by Citizens Information and the WRC. There are exceptions, for example for long-term sick leave or lay-off, which this checker doesn't cover.
Sources
- Public holidays (Citizens Information)
- Public Holidays (Workplace Relations Commission)
- Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, section 21 (Irish Statute Book)
Checked 28 October 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice.