Bank Holiday August 2025: Ireland Dates & Details

The Republic of Ireland’s August Bank Holiday falls on Monday, 4 August 2025 — a date that is locked in by statute and confirmed across every major calendar source. Unlike Northern Ireland, which observes its summer holiday on the last Monday of August, the Republic holds its bank holiday on the first Monday, a tradition stretching back to the Bank Holidays Act 1871.

August Bank Holiday 2025 Date: Monday, 4 August ·
Observed in: Republic of Ireland ·
Total Irish Bank Holidays 2025: 10 ·
Northern Ireland Equivalent: 31 August 2025

The table below summarises the key identifiers for this holiday as recorded across official and specialist sources.

What are the Irish bank holidays in 2025?

The Republic of Ireland observes 10 public holidays each year. The August Bank Holiday is one of the most anticipated, landing in the final stretch of summer. Here is the complete 2025 calendar for context:

The full list below covers every statutory public holiday in the Republic for 2025, sourced from specialist calendar publishers.

The list is confirmed across multiple calendar sources including Office Holidays (a specialist holiday calendar publisher) and flair HR (an HR-focused publication covering Irish employment law).

Is 4th August 2025 a bank holiday?

Yes — confirmed and unambiguous. The Republic of Ireland’s August Bank Holiday falls on Monday, 4 August 2025. This is not open to interpretation: the rule is “first Monday in August,” and that date is the first Monday. Both flair HR and Office Holidays list it identically for 2025.

The holiday carries full statutory status. When it falls on a Monday, most employees are entitled to the day off under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 (with some sector-specific exceptions for essential services).

Statutory status

Public holidays in Ireland are legally classified as bank holidays under the Bank Holidays Act 1871 and subsequent amendments. The August Bank Holiday has been observed on the first Monday in August since that legislation was passed — more than 150 years now. The holiday corresponds to the Gaelic festival of Lúnasa, marking the seasonal shift from summer to autumn (flair HR).

Is Monday, the 4th of August a bank holiday in Ireland?

For the Republic of Ireland, the answer is definitively yes: Monday, 4 August 2025 is a bank holiday. The confusion sometimes arises because Northern Ireland observes its Summer Bank Holiday on a different date — the last Monday in August, which in 2025 falls on 31 August (Hogan’s Irish Cottages).

Republic versus Northern Ireland

The Republic observes the August Bank Holiday on the first Monday in August. Northern Ireland observes the Summer Bank Holiday on the last Monday in August. This means the two jurisdictions are off-sync during the final week of August each year. In 2025 specifically: Republic off on 4 August, Northern Ireland off on 31 August.

Historical context

The August Bank Holiday traces its roots to the United Kingdom Bank Holidays Act 1871, which first designated the first Monday in August as a public holiday across Britain and Ireland (Wikipedia). After Irish independence, the Republic retained this particular holiday while adjusting others. The link to Lúnasa — the ancient Gaelic harvest festival — gives it cultural resonance beyond its legislative origin.

Why is next Monday a bank holiday?

The August Bank Holiday exists because of a specific legal designation, not because of any modern policy decision. The Bank Holidays Act 1871 established the first Monday in August as a statutory holiday, and Ireland has maintained it ever since. It is one of the most enduring public holidays in the country, predating many of the modern additions to the calendar.

August Bank Holiday origins

The Bank Holidays Act 1871 was originally passed to give bank employees designated rest days. Over time, these days expanded to cover most workers and became woven into Ireland’s cultural calendar. The August holiday specifically was selected partly for its agricultural significance — it falls near the traditional harvest period.

Gaelic festival link

The August Bank Holiday is closely associated with Lúnasa, one of the four ancient Celtic seasonal festivals. Lúnasa marks the beginning of the harvest season and the gradual transition from high summer toward autumn. The timing of the bank holiday on the first Monday of August aligns closely with when Lúnasa has historically been observed (flair HR). All four traditional Celtic festivals — Imbolc (February), Bealtainne (May), Lúnasa (August), and Samhain (November) — are now public holidays in the Republic.

Is Monday, 5th of August a bank holiday?

No. Monday, 5 August 2025 is a regular working day in the Republic of Ireland. The August Bank Holiday falls on Monday, 4 August — the first Monday of the month. Tuesday, 5 August is the day after the holiday, not the holiday itself.

Why not the 5th?

The legal rule is fixed: first Monday in August. In 2025, the first Monday is 4 August. There is no provision for moving this date based on the calendar falling a particular way. It will be Monday, 4 August, every year — the date rolls forward week by week, but the rule stays the same.

Date calculation pattern

Because the rule is “first Monday,” the date shifts each year. Here is the upcoming trajectory:

• 2025: Monday 4 August
• 2026: Monday 3 August (Hogan’s Irish Cottages)
• 2027: Monday 2 August
• 2028: Monday 7 August

Anyone planning annual leave around this holiday should note that booking the Friday before the August Bank Holiday consistently gives three consecutive days off, which is a popular strategy for extended summer breaks.

August Bank Holiday 2025: Timeline

Ireland’s public holiday calendar has evolved significantly over the past 150 years, with the August Bank Holiday representing one of the oldest and most culturally resonant additions.

The timeline below tracks key legislative milestones that shaped the current Irish public holiday landscape.

The timeline shows a pattern of gradual expansion: Ireland started with fewer holidays and added new ones roughly every decade or two. The 2023 addition of Saint Brigid’s Day was notably historic as the first Irish public holiday named after a woman, completing the set of all four Celtic seasonal festivals as official holidays.

Confirmed Facts and What’s Still Unclear

What people are saying

On the first Monday of August, Ireland celebrates the August Bank Holiday. Corresponding to the Gaelic festival of Lúnasa, this public holiday marks the transition of the seasons from summer to autumn.

— flair HR (HR Blog covering Irish employment law)

The August Holiday first observed in 1871 and corresponds with the Lúnasa festival — the ancient Celtic harvest celebration marking the shift from summer toward autumn.

— Wikipedia (Public holidays in Ireland — historical overview)

All four traditional Celtic seasonal festivals are now public holidays in the Republic of Ireland — a government statement noted that it means all four of the traditional Celtic seasonal festivals will now be public holidays.

— Irish Government (official statement on Saint Brigid’s Day, 2023)

The sources agree on the core facts: the August Bank Holiday is a fixed-date rule holiday with deep historical roots and strong cultural ties to Ireland’s Celtic heritage. The dual emphasis on statutory law and seasonal tradition is what makes this particular holiday distinctive compared to more recently added observances.

August Bank Holiday 2025 — Bottom line

For workers and businesses in the Republic of Ireland, the August Bank Holiday 2025 falls on Monday 4 August — confirmed across every major calendar source. The rule (first Monday in August) has been fixed since 1871, so there is no ambiguity and no last-minute changes to expect. Northern Ireland’s Summer Bank Holiday is a full four weeks later, on 31 August, which creates a notable cross-border gap in August.

For Irish employers, planning ahead for this date is straightforward: it will always be a Monday, and it will always be a statutory public holiday under the Organisation of Working Time Act. Staff expecting the day off should plan accordingly — and anyone considering booking annual leave around the holiday should look at taking Friday 1 August as well for a full four-day weekend.

Related reading: Ferry to Wales from Ireland · Last Minute Hotels Ireland

While the Republic of Ireland observes its August bank holiday on 4 August 2025, UK regions mark 25 August across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Frequently asked questions