August Bank Holiday 2024 Ireland: Date, Meaning & 2026 Dates
If you are planning a late-summer getaway in the Republic of Ireland, the timing of the August Bank Holiday 2024 might be playing on your mind. It is the kind of date that feels like it should be simple, yet a quick search online can pull up conflicting information, especially if you happen to glance at a UK calendar or a Northern Ireland guide by mistake.
August Bank Holiday 2024 (Republic of Ireland): Monday, 5 August · August Bank Holiday 2026 (Republic of Ireland): Monday, 3 August · Date pattern: First Monday of August · Statutory entitlement: Yes, for most employees · Northern Ireland August holiday 2026: Monday, 31 August (Summer Bank Holiday)
Key facts at a glance
- August Bank Holiday 2024: Monday, 5 August (Citizens Information)
- August Bank Holiday 2026: Monday, 3 August (Citizens Information)
- Date rule: First Monday of August (Organisation of Working Time Act 1997)
- Legal basis: Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 ((Citizens Information))
- Summer bank holiday 2024: Monday, 26 August ((LeaveDates))
- Summer bank holiday 2026: Monday, 31 August ((LeaveDates))
- Date rule: Last Monday of August (LeaveDates)
- Legal basis: Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 (UK) ((LeaveDates))
- Is 15 August a public holiday in Ireland? No (Citizens Information)
- Common confusion: Some European countries observe 15 August as a holiday; Ireland does not ((Citizens Information))
- Next Irish public holiday after August: October Bank Holiday (last Monday of October) ((Citizens Information))
- Official source: Citizens Information (Irish government information service)
- Holiday type: Public holiday (not automatically a paid day off for every worker, but most employees are entitled) (Citizens Information)
When is the August Bank Holiday in Ireland in 2024?
August Bank Holiday 2024 date confirmation
In the Republic of Ireland, the August public holiday is the first Monday of August, according to the Citizens Information (the State’s official public information service). For 2024, that means the holiday falls on Monday, 5 August. The rule is straightforward, yet it surprises many people who expect the date to move around like Easter or to align with a fixed calendar day.
Official source for 2024 holiday calendar
The legal backing for this date comes from the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, which lists the nine public holidays in the State. The August holiday is among them, and the Act specifies that it falls on the first Monday of the month. This is a key difference from Northern Ireland, where the summer bank holiday is the last Monday of August — in 2024, that is Monday, 26 August, and in 2026, it is Monday, 31 August, as noted by LeaveDates (a UK-focused holiday reference site).
What holidays are in August in Ireland?
August Bank Holiday (first Monday)
The only statutory public holiday in August in the Republic of Ireland is the August Bank Holiday on the first Monday. For 2024, that is 5 August; for 2026, it is 3 August. No other August date carries statutory leave entitlement.
Is August 15th a holiday in Ireland?
No. August 15th is not a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, despite the fact that several other European countries observe it as the Feast of the Assumption. According to the Citizens Information (Irish government information service), the August Bank Holiday is the only public holiday in the Republic during that month. This is a frequent point of confusion for readers who may have seen 15 August listed as a holiday in countries like Italy, Spain, or France.
Another source, Eskimo eSIM (a travel resource that publishes holiday guides), likewise lists the August Bank Holiday on the first Monday of August and does not mention 15 August as a public holiday. The omission is deliberate: Ireland’s public holiday calendar is set by the 1997 Act, and the Assumption is not among the nine statutory days.
Other observances in August (e.g., Heritage Week)
While there is only one public holiday in August, the month is not entirely without cultural markers. National Heritage Week typically runs in the third week of August, though it is not a public holiday and does not grant any statutory leave. For 2024, Heritage Week runs from 17 to 25 August, according to the Heritage Week official site (the State’s heritage awareness programme). This period often includes free events at historic sites, but it is purely voluntary participation — no day off is attached.
Why is the August Bank Holiday in Ireland on the first Monday of August?
Legal basis: Organisation of Working Time Act 1997
The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 sets the date as the first Monday of August. The Act is the primary legislation governing public holidays in the Republic, and it lists the August holiday among nine statutory days. Unlike Northern Ireland, which uses the last Monday for its summer bank holiday under UK law, the Republic chose the first Monday to spread holidays more evenly across the year.
Tradition of the first Monday in August
The tradition of an August bank holiday on the first Monday dates back to the Bank Holidays Act 1871, when Ireland was part of the United Kingdom. That Act set several holidays into law, including the first Monday in August, as RTÉ Brainstorm explains. Later, the Holidays (Employees) Act 1973 confirmed the first Monday of August as a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland. The 1997 Act consolidated these entitlements without changing the date.
Contrast with Northern Ireland’s last Monday
Northern Ireland’s summer bank holiday is the last Monday of August, a difference set by the UK’s Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971. For anyone crossing the border, this means the two jurisdictions rarely share a long weekend in August.
Does Ireland have two bank holidays in August?
Single August bank holiday in Republic
No. The Republic of Ireland has exactly one August bank holiday: the first Monday of the month. For 2024, that is 5 August; for 2026, it is 3 August. There is no second August public holiday.
Confusion with Northern Ireland or other countries
The confusion often arises because Northern Ireland observes its summer bank holiday on the last Monday of August — in 2024, 26 August — giving the impression of a second August holiday when viewed on an all-island calendar. Some European countries also celebrate multiple August holidays, such as the Feast of the Assumption on 15 August, but Ireland does not follow this pattern.
Calendar check: no second August holiday
Checking the official calendar at Citizens Information confirms there is no second public holiday in August. The next holiday after August is the October Bank Holiday, which falls on the last Monday of October.
When is the August Bank Holiday in Ireland in 2026?
2026 August bank holiday: Monday 3 August
The August Bank Holiday in the Republic of Ireland in 2026 falls on Monday, 3 August. This follows the consistent first-Monday rule set out in the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. The date is confirmed by Citizens Information, which lists the 2026 August public holiday as 3 August.
Future dates pattern
The first-Monday rule means the date shifts slightly each year. In 2025, the August Bank Holiday falls on Monday, 4 August. In 2026, it is Monday, 3 August. The pattern is predictable: as long as the 1997 Act remains in force, the holiday will always occur on the first Monday of August.
Comparison with 2024 and 2025
For reference: 2024’s date is Monday, 5 August; 2025’s is Monday, 4 August; 2026’s is Monday, 3 August. Northern Ireland’s 2026 summer bank holiday will be Monday, 31 August — nearly a full month later than the Republic’s.
Related reading: World Book Day Ireland 2026: Date, Theme & Shops · Subsistence Rates Ireland 2025: Civil Service Guide
irelandwide.com, extra.ie, irelandheadline.com, timeanddate.com, publicholidays.ie, irishcentral.com, 11holidays.com, irishmirror.ie
Frequently asked questions
Why is the August Bank Holiday the first Monday in Ireland?
The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 sets the date as the first Monday of August. The Act is the primary legislation governing public holidays in the Republic, and it lists the August holiday among nine statutory days. Unlike Northern Ireland, which uses the last Monday for its summer bank holiday under UK law, the Republic chose the first Monday to spread holidays more evenly across the year.
Is the August Bank Holiday a paid day off for everyone?
No, not automatically for every worker. The Citizens Information (Irish government information service) explains that the August Bank Holiday is a public holiday, but entitlement to paid leave depends on the employee’s work pattern. Most full-time and part-time workers who have worked for the employer for the qualifying period are entitled to paid leave or a substitute day off. Some sectors, such as retail or hospitality, may require work on the day, but the employee must receive a compensatory benefit, such as an additional day’s pay or a day off in lieu.
Does Northern Ireland have the same August holiday as the Republic?
No. Northern Ireland’s summer bank holiday is the last Monday of August, not the first. In 2024, Northern Ireland’s holiday is Monday, 26 August, while the Republic’s is Monday, 5 August. The difference stems from separate legislation: the UK’s Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 sets the last Monday, while the Republic uses the 1997 Act. For anyone crossing the border, this means the two jurisdictions rarely share a long weekend in August.
Is 15 August a public holiday in Ireland?
No. August 15th is not a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland. Some European countries observe it as the Feast of the Assumption, but Ireland does not. The only August public holiday in the Republic is the first Monday of the month. If you are searching for a holiday around mid-August, you will not find a statutory day off in the Republic.
What is the 2026 August Bank Holiday date in Ireland?
The August Bank Holiday in the Republic of Ireland is Monday, 3 August 2026. This follows the first-Monday rule set by the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. For 2024, the equivalent date is Monday, 5 August. If you are planning ahead for 2026, note that the date shifts by two days compared to 2024, but the rule remains constant.
Are there any other public holidays in Ireland in August?
No. The August Bank Holiday is the only public holiday in the Republic of Ireland during August. The month of August has no other statutory days, and there is no additional holiday on 15 August or any other date. The next public holiday after August is the October Bank Holiday, which falls on the last Monday of October.
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