Public Holidays in the Republic of Ireland
The Public Holidays of the Republic of Ireland (see Irish calendar) are;
- 1. New Year's Day, January 1
- 2. St. Patrick's Day, March 17
- 3. Easter Monday, date varies
- 4. First Monday of May
- 5. First Monday of June (formerly observed on Whit Monday)
- 6. First Monday of August
- 7. Last Monday of October (commonly called the Halloween holiday)
- 8. Christmas Day, December 25
- 9. St. Stephen's Day, December 26
- 10 Good Friday, date varies (though observed as a holiday by schools, banks, public offices, it is not an official public holiday)
School Holidays (Primary)
- In the Republic of Ireland the academic year in primary schools lasts from September 1 to June 30.
- The academic year is composed of 183 schooldays (with 6 in-service days this is reduced to 177) and schools are not open in July or August (though for flexibility school may open for the last two/three days of August).
- The first mid-term break is always the last week of October (commonly called the Halloween break.
- The Christmas break lasts from the last schoolday before December 23 to the first weekday after January 6 (17-21 days).
- The second mid-term break is a minimum of two days to a maximum of five days duration taken in the third week of February (commonly called the Shrove break.
- The Easter break consists of a week before Easter to the 2nd Monday after Easter (10 school days or 16 days inclusive).
- In the last term holidays are flexible and are generally arranged around the public holidays in May and June.