Ireland Public Holidays, Court Rules & Business Deadlines Guide
Technical reference for Ireland working-day rules, court time counting, and conveyancing deadlines. For real-world scenarios, visit Use Cases. For deep dives and edge cases, browse Articles.
How notice and deadline roles are counted
- Notice (backward): Event/hearing date is excluded; notice deadline is included.
- Deadline (forward): Action/service date is excluded; deadline/event date is included.
- The calculator shows these include/exclude flags on the timeline, exports, and analysis rows.
Public Holidays
Irish Public Holidays Overview
Last reviewed: January 2026
At-a-Glance
- •10 public holidays every year (all national, no regional variation)
- •4 fixed-date + 5 bank holidays + Easter Monday
- •St. Brigid's Day newest addition (2023)
- •Bank holidays determined by fixed Monday rules (February, May, June, August, October)
The 10 Irish Public Holidays
Fixed-Date Holidays:
- New Year's Day - 1 January
- St. Patrick's Day - 17 March
- Christmas Day - 25 December
- St. Stephen's Day - 26 December
Bank Holidays (determined by first/last Monday):
- St. Brigid's Day - First Monday in February, unless 1 February is a Friday (in which case 1 February is the holiday)
- May Day - 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
Moveable Holiday:
- Easter Monday - Varies annually (determined by Easter Sunday calculation)
2025-2026 Holiday Calendar
| Holiday | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 1 Jan | 1 Jan |
| St. Brigid's Day | 3 Feb | 2 Feb |
| St. Patrick's Day | 17 Mar | 17 Mar |
| Easter Monday | 21 Apr | 6 Apr |
| May Day | 5 May | 4 May |
| June Bank Holiday | 2 Jun | 1 Jun |
| August Bank Holiday | 4 Aug | 3 Aug |
| October Bank Holiday | 27 Oct | 26 Oct |
| Christmas Day | 25 Dec | 25 Dec |
| St. Stephen's Day | 26 Dec | 26 Dec |
St. Brigid's Day - Ireland's Newest Public Holiday
St. Brigid's Day was introduced as a public holiday in 2023, replacing the generic "first Monday in February" bank holiday that previously existed. St. Brigid is one of Ireland's patron saints and represents Irish culture, heritage, and history.
- Date Rule (The Friday Rule): The public holiday is the first Monday in February, except where 1 February falls on a Friday, in which case 1 February itself is the public holiday
- Why This Matters: In most years, it's the first Monday. But in years like 2030 (when Feb 1 is a Friday), the holiday shifts to February 1st. Your app must account for this conditional logic.
- 2025 & 2026: 2025: 3 February (first Monday, since Feb 1 is Saturday). 2026: 2 February (first Monday, since Feb 1 is Sunday).
- Significance: Celebrates Irish heritage and cultural identity
Bank Holiday Determination Rules
The bank holidays follow a predictable pattern:
- February, May, June, August: First Monday of the month
- October: Last Monday of the month
This means you can predict these holidays years in advance, making business planning easier.
Important: Good Friday Status
Good Friday is NOT a statutory public holiday under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. However, its status varies by sector:
- Employment: No automatic statutory entitlement to a day off. However, banks, public sector, and many white-collar businesses treat it as a paid holiday by custom.
- Banking: Banks are closed on Good Friday. Payments initiated on Thursday/Friday may not clear until Tuesday (after Easter Monday).
- Property & Legal: Under Law Society General Conditions of Sale (2019) and court rules, Good Friday is explicitly a non-working day.
If you're calculating deadlines, always clarify whether Good Friday applies to your sector.
What Happens When a Holiday Falls on a Weekend?
If a fixed-date public holiday (Christmas, New Year's, St. Patrick's Day, St. Stephen's Day, or St. Brigid's Day) falls on a Saturday or Sunday:
- The holiday is celebrated on that day by observance (cultural events, traditions)
- If the employee doesn't normally work on that day (e.g., weekend), they are still entitled to a benefit, such as:
- A paid day off within a month of the holiday, OR
- An extra day's annual leave, OR
- An extra day's pay (depending on contract and eligibility)
- The benefit is not automatically the following Monday—check your employment contract and employer policy
For bank holidays (May, June, August, October), they fall on a designated Monday, so weekend-falling scenarios don't apply.
Business & Court Observance
Closed on Public Holidays:
- Government offices and public services
- Banks and financial institutions
- Most retail and commercial businesses
- Courts (except emergency vacation judge availability)
Reduced Service on Public Holidays:
- Public transport (reduced schedules)
- Some essential services
Paid Entitlement:
- Employees are entitled to 10 paid public holidays per year
- Public holidays are separate from annual leave
- Part-time workers receive pro-rata entitlements
Frequently Asked Questions
If your employment contract requires you to work public holidays (e.g., retail, healthcare), you're entitled to either an additional day off or extra pay. Check your employment contract or collective agreement for specifics.
Yes. Unlike some countries with regional holidays, Ireland has uniform public holidays nationwide. There are no regional or county-specific public holidays.
St. Brigid's Day became a public holiday in 2023. It replaced the generic 'first Monday in February' bank holiday. St. Brigid is one of Ireland's three patron saints and represents Irish cultural heritage.
You'll get 10 public holidays in 2025. Note that New Year's Day (1 January) falls on a Wednesday in 2025, so there's no substitute day off. All bank holidays fall on Mondays as scheduled.
Related Resources
Official guide to public holidays and statutory entitlements
Irish government employment resources
Official Irish legislation covering holidays and working time
Information on public holidays and tenant rights
Court Rules
Court Time Rules Quick Reference
Last reviewed: January 2026
At-a-Glance
- •Standard counting: exclude first day, include last day
- •Short periods (<6 days): exclude weekends + Christmas Day + Good Friday
- •Circuit Court excludes only Sat/Sun for short periods
- •Deadlines on closed days automatically roll to next business day
Standard Day Counting
"The same shall be reckoned exclusively of the first day and inclusively of the last day."
- Exclude the first day (the day the period starts)
- Include the last day (the day the period ends)
Example: 7 days from Monday = deadline is midnight the following Monday.
Short Period Exception (<6 Days)
When a time period is less than 6 days, additional days are excluded:
Superior & District Courts
Exclude: Saturday, Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday
Circuit Court
Exclude: Saturday, Sunday only
"Clear Days" vs. Standard Days
Standard Days (default)
- First day: EXCLUDED
- Last day: INCLUDED
- Example: "4 days from Monday" = Friday deadline
Clear Days
- First day: EXCLUDED
- Last day: EXCLUDED
- Example: "4 clear days from Monday" = Saturday deadline
Calculator tip: Use the Clear days toggle only when the order explicitly says "clear days."
Service Deeming Rules
- Service after 5pm on a weekday: Deemed served on the next day
- Service after 1pm on Saturday: Deemed served on Monday
Court Level Comparison
| Rule | Superior Courts | Circuit Court | District Court |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard counting | Exclude first, include last | Exclude first, include last | Exclude first, include last |
| Short period threshold | < 6 days | < 6 days | < 6 days |
| Short period exclusions | Sat, Sun, Xmas, Good Fri | Sat, Sun only | Sat, Sun, Xmas, Good Fri |
| Closed day rollover | To next open day | To next open day | To next open day |
August & Long Vacation: Pleading deadlines pause during August. For details on vacation periods and urgent applications, see the Court Vacation guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ordinary days exclude the first day but include the last. Clear days exclude both the first AND last day. Always check your court order—if it doesn't say 'clear days,' use the standard counting method.
The main difference is in short-period exceptions. Superior and District Courts exclude Christmas Day and Good Friday for periods under 6 days; Circuit Court excludes only Saturday and Sunday. All three follow the same standard counting rule for longer periods.
When your deadline is less than 6 days. A 5-day deadline uses the short period rule (skip Sat/Sun/Xmas/Good Fri for Superior/District), but a 6-day deadline uses standard counting.
The deadline automatically extends to the next business day. This applies to all 10 Irish public holidays, plus weekends.
Business Contracts
Business Days in Commercial Contracts
Last reviewed: January 2026
At-a-Glance
- •"Business day" = Monday-Friday excluding public holidays
- •Late payment interest: 8% above ECB reference rate (currently 10.15%)
- •B2B terms over 60 days must be expressly agreed and cannot be grossly unfair
- •Public authorities generally limited to 30-day max payment terms
Defining "Business Day" in Irish Commerce
Standard Definition:
A business day in Ireland is any weekday (Monday through Friday) that is not a public holiday.
In Practice:
- Excludes: Saturday, Sunday, all 10 Irish public holidays
- Example: Monday through Friday of a normal week = 5 business days (unless a public holiday occurs)
- If Tuesday is a public holiday, the week has only 4 business days
Calculator tip: Use the Business Context selector to reflect Good Friday treatment (employment vs banking/property), and apply CIF shutdown periods when a construction contract specifies the summer or Christmas industry shutdown.
Standard Working Hours
For employment and business purposes, Ireland's standard working week is:
- Monday to Friday
- 09:00 to 17:30 (typical core hours)
- 39-hour week (standard full-time)
- 30-minute to 1-hour lunch break
Some industries have different norms (e.g., retail often works weekends; financial services may have earlier starts).
Notice Periods in Commercial Contracts
Common Notice Periods:
- 14 days - Short-notice cancellations, simple terminations
- 30 days - Standard notice for contract termination, service changes
- 60 days - Significant operational changes, substantial terminations
- 90 days - Major restructuring or key contract terminations
Calculation Best Practice:
- Always specify: "14 calendar days" or "14 business days"
- Specify start point: "from the date of notice" or "upon receipt"
- Clarify whether notice itself counts as "Day 1" or starts counting from the next day
European Communities (Late Payment) Regulations 2012
Ireland is governed by EU regulations on late payment in commercial transactions. These create statutory payment deadlines and automatic interest on overdue payments.
Payment Terms Framework:
If There's No Contract:
- Late payment interest entitlement effectively kicks in after 30 days
- Calculated from invoice date or delivery (depending on terms)
Business-to-Business (B2B):
- Contractual payment terms over 60 days must be expressly agreed
- Terms over 60 days cannot be "grossly unfair" to the supplier
- If not agreed, 30-day default applies
Business-to-Public Authority:
- Payment terms generally cannot exceed 30 days in the normal case
- Limited exceptions apply for complex contracts
- Statutory deadline for payment (not negotiable)
Late Payment Interest
Automatic Right to Interest:
If payment is not received by the deadline, the supplier is automatically entitled to interest on the overdue amount.
Interest Rate:
- 8 percentage points above the ECB reference rate
- Calculated daily on the outstanding balance
- Applies automatically unless contract provides differently
Example: If ECB reference rate is 2.15%, your late payment interest rate is 10.15%. Invoice for €1,000 due 30 November, unpaid until 31 December: 31 days of interest at 10.15% = approximately €8.60
Fixed Compensation:
- Suppliers can claim fixed compensation for recovery costs
- €40 for invoices under €1,000
- €70 for invoices €1,000 to €10,000
- €100 for invoices over €10,000
- Additional recovery costs can be claimed beyond the fixed sum if justified
International Payments: Target2 Banking Holidays
If your business processes payments through the SEPA (Eurozone) clearing system, note that May 1st (Labour Day) is a Target2 banking holiday across the EU, even though it is NOT a statutory bank holiday in Ireland.
- 2025 Scenario: May 1st (Thursday) is a normal banking day in Ireland. However, Euro transfers will not clear until May 2nd due to Target2 closure.
- Irish "May Day" is May 5th (first Monday in May) – this is a separate statutory holiday.
- Impact: International payments due on or around May 1st need to be initiated 1-2 days earlier to clear on time.
Best Practices for Drafting Payment Terms
- Be explicit: "Payment due 30 calendar days from invoice date"
- Specify calculation: "Days count from the date of invoice, excluding weekends and Irish public holidays"
- Payment method: "Bank transfer to [account details]"
- Late payment clause: Reference EU regulations or specify your own interest rate
- Dispute procedures: How to handle disagreements about amounts owed
Frequently Asked Questions
Unless your contract specifies "calendar days," you exclude weekends and public holidays. Count only Monday through Friday, excluding Ireland's 10 public holidays. Always clarify in your contract whether you mean "business days" or "calendar days."
In most contracts, if a deadline falls on a public holiday or weekend, you have until the next business day. However, this depends on your specific contract language. To avoid disputes, specify: 'Deadline is 30 business days, and if the deadline falls on a weekend or Irish public holiday, the deadline extends to the next business day.'
If there's no contract, late payment interest kicks in after 30 days (from invoice receipt/delivery). For B2B contracts: terms over 60 days must be expressly agreed and cannot be grossly unfair to the supplier. For public authorities: payment terms generally cannot exceed 30 days in the normal case.
Yes. Under Irish/EU law, if payment is late, you're automatically entitled to 8 percentage points above the ECB reference rate (currently 10.15%). You can also charge fixed compensation for recovery costs based on the invoice value. Your contract can reference this statutory right or specify your own terms.
Related Resources
Full text of Irish late payment legislation
Official government guidance on late payment rules
General guidance on commercial contracts in Ireland
Business registration and compliance information
Property Law
Conveyancing Deadlines & Working Days
Last reviewed: January 2026
At-a-Glance
- •5-day requisitions window: calculated in working days (miss it and issues are permanently waived)
- •Working days exclude: weekends, Good Friday, public holidays, and 26 Dec – 1 Jan
- •Notice to Complete: typically 28 calendar days (check your contract)
- •Stamp duty: 44 days from execution to avoid surcharges
Law Society "Working Day" Definition
"Working Day" means any day from Monday to Friday (inclusive), which is not Christmas Day, Good Friday or a statutory public holiday or any of the seven days immediately succeeding Christmas Day.
This is from the General Conditions of Sale (2019 edition). Note: Good Friday is excluded even though it's not a statutory public holiday. Always check your specific contract.
Select LSI conveyancing shutdown (26 Dec – 1 Jan) in the calculator when your deadline crosses Christmas.
The 5-Day Requisitions Window
After contracts are signed and the seller provides title documents and replies to requisitions, you have exactly 5 working days to raise any follow-up queries (rejoinders). Miss this window and your right to challenge issues is permanently waived.
How to Count:
- Day 0: Seller's replies received (start date — don't count this)
- Days 1–5: Your window to raise rejoinders
- After Day 5: Unraised issues are waived forever
Example: Standard Week
- Monday → Day 0 (replies received)
- Tuesday → Day 1
- Wednesday → Day 2
- Thursday → Day 3
- Friday → Day 4
- Saturday/Sunday → not counted
- Monday → Day 5 — DEADLINE
Example: Easter Period
Replies received Thursday 17 April 2025:
- Thu 17 Apr → Day 0
- Fri 18 Apr → Good Friday (excluded)
- Sat–Sun → Weekend
- Mon 21 Apr → Easter Monday (excluded)
- Tue 22 Apr → Day 1
- Wed–Fri → Days 2–4
- Sat–Sun → Weekend
- Mon 28 Apr → Day 5 — DEADLINE
The deadline extends by 4 days due to Good Friday and Easter Monday.
Notice to Complete
After requisitions are resolved, the seller may serve a Notice to Complete setting a firm closing date. This is typically 28 calendar days (not working days) and makes "time of the essence."
If You Miss It:
- Seller can rescind the contract
- You lose your entire deposit
- You may be liable for the seller's costs and losses
Other Key Deadlines
| Deadline | Timeframe | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Requisitions rejoinders | 5 days | Working days |
| Notice to Complete | 28 days (typical) | Calendar days |
| Stamp duty filing | 44 days | Calendar days |
| PRAI registration | 6 months | Calendar days |
Using the Calculator
- Enter the date you received the seller's replies
- Set working days to "5"
- Tick "Exclude start date" (Day 0 is receipt, not Day 1)
- If crossing Christmas, select "LSI conveyancing shutdown"
Frequently Asked Questions
Day 0 is when you receive the seller's replies. Then count 5 working days (Monday–Friday), excluding weekends, Good Friday, all Irish public holidays, and 26 December through 1 January. Use the calculator with 'LSI conveyancing shutdown' selected if your deadline crosses Christmas.
The Law Society of Ireland's General Conditions of Sale (2019) explicitly exclude Good Friday from the definition of 'working day' for conveyancing purposes, even though it's not a statutory public holiday in Ireland. Always check your specific contract wording.
Any issues you haven't raised are permanently waived. You cannot raise them later or use them as grounds to withdraw from the sale. You're bound by the seller's replies, even if they're unsatisfactory. This applies to serious issues like boundary disputes and title defects.
A Notice to Complete is served under standard contract conditions and gives the buyer a set period (usually 28 calendar days) to complete the transaction. It makes 'time of the essence' — failure to complete by the deadline gives the seller grounds to rescind the contract and keep your deposit.
The Law Society definition excludes the seven days after Christmas (26 December – 1 January) in addition to Christmas Day itself. This means deadlines crossing Christmas can extend by over a week. Select 'LSI conveyancing shutdown' in the calculator to handle this automatically.
Related Resources
Official practice notes on conveyancing requisitions
General Conditions of Sale and other conveyancing documents
Deadlines and penalties for stamp duty filing
Information on property registration requirements
Court Calendar
Long Vacation & August Deadlines
Last reviewed: January 2026
At-a-Glance
- •Long Vacation: 1 August – 30 September (courts don't sit for regular business)
- •Pleading deadlines: August EXCLUDED from calculation (time pauses)
- •Other deadlines: Continue counting through August normally
- •Vacation Judge available for genuinely urgent applications
The Long Vacation Period
- Dates: 1 August – 30 September
- Effect: Superior Courts do not sit for regular business
- Court offices: Generally remain open for filings
August Exclusion for Pleading Deadlines
CRITICAL: Time does NOT run for delivery or amendment of pleadings during August. This applies only to pleading deadlines.
What This Means:
- You CAN deliver pleadings during August (since 2016 amendment)
- But August days do NOT count toward your deadline
- Time resumes counting on 1 September
Example: 21-day deadline to file Defence, clock starts 20 July.
- 20–31 July = 11 days counted
- 1–31 August = paused (0 days counted)
- 1 September onwards = remaining 10 days resume
- Final deadline: approximately 10 September
Calculator tip: Enable the Pleading deadline checkbox when your calculation relates to delivery or amendment of pleadings.
What's NOT Affected by August
The August exclusion does NOT apply to:
- Notices of motion
- Notices of appeal
- Requisitions on title (property transactions)
- Court orders
- Contract deadlines
Warning: A common mistake is assuming all deadlines pause in August. If you have a requisitions deadline in August, it does NOT pause. Always check the specific nature of your deadline.
Impact by Deadline Type
| Deadline Type | August Impact |
|---|---|
| Pleading deadlines | August EXCLUDED (time pauses) |
| Notices of motion/appeal | Time continues normally |
| Requisitions (property) | Time continues normally |
| Court orders | Must be obeyed — no pause |
Vacation Judge System
One High Court judge is appointed as Vacation Judge to handle urgent matters during the Long Vacation.
What Qualifies as Urgent:
- Immediate danger or serious harm
- Irreversible loss if matter waits until October
- Time-sensitive statutory deadlines
NOT Typically Heard:
- Routine motions
- Standard discovery disputes
- Matters that can wait until term resumes
How to Apply:
- Prepare motion with supporting affidavit showing urgency
- File at High Court (Dublin)
- Clerk screens for urgency
- Judge decides whether to hear the application
2016 Amendment
- Before 2016: Delivery of pleadings was prohibited during August
- After 2016: Delivery is now allowed, but August days still don't count toward the deadline
- Authority: S.I. No. 471/2016
Frequently Asked Questions
No. August is only excluded for pleading deadlines (delivery/amendment of pleadings). Other deadlines—notices, requisitions, contract terms—continue counting through August normally.
Yes. Court offices generally remain open for filings during the Long Vacation. The vacation is a sittings break (no regular hearings), not a blanket office closure.
Yes, through the Vacation Judge, but only for genuinely urgent matters. You must file an application with supporting affidavit demonstrating urgency. Routine motions will not be heard.
Time pauses for the entire month. If you had 10 days remaining on 31 July, you still have 10 days on 1 September. The deadline extends by approximately 31 days.