Easter Monday Bank Holiday Ireland 2026, 2027 & 2028

Easter Monday is an official bank holiday in Ireland, providing a four-day weekend for families and tourists to celebrate spring's arrival.

Easter Monday 2026 falls on April 6th, followed by March 29th in 2027 and April 17th in 2028. As a bank holiday, most businesses, banks, and government offices close, while many attractions and restaurants remain open.

Why Easter Monday is a Bank Holiday in Ireland

Easter Monday became an official bank holiday in Ireland under the Bank Holidays Act, recognizing the day's cultural and religious importance. Unlike Easter Sunday, which varies annually based on lunar calculations, Easter Monday consistently provides an extended weekend for Irish families and visitors to celebrate together.

The History of Easter in Ireland

Easter in Ireland represents a unique fusion of ancient Celtic traditions and Christian beliefs dating back to the 5th century when St. Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland. The celebration of Easter became deeply embedded in Irish culture, surviving centuries of political and religious upheaval.

The Celtic festival of Ostara, celebrating spring's return around the vernal equinox, naturally merged with Christian Easter traditions. Ancient Celtic customs included lighting bonfires on hilltops, blessing new crops, and celebrating fertility and renewal - themes that aligned perfectly with Easter's message of resurrection and new life.

During the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921), Easter gained additional political significance following the 1916 Easter Rising. The rebellion began on Easter Monday, forever linking this holiday with Irish national identity and independence. Today, Easter commemorations often include remembrance of these historical events alongside religious observances.

Traditional Irish Easter customs include attending the Easter Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday, where the Paschal candle is lit, symbolizing Christ's light conquering darkness. Many parishes still hold outdoor dawn services on Easter Sunday, a practice dating back centuries to Ireland's monastic traditions.

Irish Easter Traditions and Customs

Easter Eggs and Egg Rolling

Easter eggs hold special significance in Ireland, representing new life and resurrection. Traditional Irish Easter eggs are hard-boiled and dyed with natural colors - onion skins for golden yellow, beetroot for red, and spinach for green. Many Irish families still practice egg rolling on Easter Monday, particularly on hills like the Phoenix Park in Dublin, where children roll decorated eggs down slopes as a symbol of rolling away the stone from Christ's tomb.

Traditional Easter Foods

The traditional Irish Easter feast centers around roast lamb, symbolizing Christ as the "Lamb of God." Popular accompaniments include colcannon (mashed potatoes with cabbage or kale), soda bread, and Irish bacon. Easter cake, often a rich fruitcake decorated with marzipan and icing, serves as the centerpiece dessert. Hot cross buns, marked with a cross and filled with currants, are eaten on Good Friday and throughout the Easter weekend.

Regional Easter Celebrations

Different regions of Ireland maintain unique Easter traditions. In County Kerry, the Blessing of the Boats ceremony takes place on Easter Sunday, where fishing vessels are blessed for the coming season. County Cork hosts traditional Easter markets featuring local crafts and foods. Dublin's Easter parades include colorful floats, traditional Irish music, and dance performances, attracting thousands of visitors to the city center each year.

Holy Week Observances

Holy Week in Ireland begins with Palm Sunday processions, where blessed palm fronds are distributed and often kept in homes year-round for protection. Maundy Thursday features the Washing of the Feet ceremony in many parishes. Good Friday, traditionally a day of fasting and abstinence, sees the Stations of the Cross performed outdoors in many communities, with participants walking between 14 stations depicting Christ's crucifixion.