October Public Holiday (Ireland)2026 · Date · History
Irish Statute Book records the 1977 public-holiday statutory instrument and the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 continues the last Monday in October in the current schedule; WRC guidance covers modern employment entitlements.
About October Public Holiday (Ireland)
Ireland’s October Public Holiday falls on the last Monday in October. The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 lists the last Monday in October among Ireland’s public holidays.
The Workplace Relations Commission explains the employment entitlements associated with public holidays; those entitlements are not the same thing as a rule that every business must close.
Why October Public Holiday (Ireland) matters
The day is a statutory Irish public holiday with employment-law consequences. Current WRC guidance explains how qualifying employees may receive a paid day off, another paid day, an additional day of annual leave or an additional day’s pay depending on the circumstances.
“October Bank Holiday” is a common label, but the legal rule is the last Monday in October. It should not be conflated with Halloween or described as requiring every shop, service or workplace to close.
History of October Public Holiday (Ireland)
Irish Statute Book records S.I. No. 193/1977, the Holidays (Employees) Act, 1973 (Public Holiday) Regulations, 1977, under the earlier holidays legislation.
The current Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 continues the last Monday in October in its Second Schedule of public holidays.
Current Workplace Relations Commission guidance applies the modern employment-entitlement framework to Ireland’s public holidays.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Institutional establishment
Holidays (Employees) Act, 1973 (Public Holiday) Regulations, 1977 — S.I. No. 193/1977
First documented observance
The 1977 statutory instrument establishes the last-Monday-in-October public holiday under the then-current Holidays (Employees) Act framework; this guide asserts the year, not a separately documented first-event ceremony.
Placed the last Monday in October in the current statutory schedule of Irish public holidays under the 1997 Act.
Oireachtas · Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, Second Schedule
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
6 fields not established in reviewed sources
Later institutional actions
Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.
Also known as
October Bank Holiday
How to Observe October Public Holiday (Ireland)
Check current Workplace Relations Commission guidance if you need to know your employment entitlement for the public holiday.
Confirm opening hours directly with shops, transport providers, attractions and services rather than assuming they will all close.
Use the long weekend for rest, family time or local activities while respecting any workplace or service-specific arrangements.
For payroll or employment disputes, rely on the current legislation, workplace instrument and qualified advice rather than a general calendar summary.
October Public Holiday (Ireland) Facts
The October Public Holiday in Ireland is the last Monday in October.
S.I. No. 193/1977 is part of the historical statutory record for the October public holiday.
The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 includes the last Monday in October in the current public-holiday schedule.
WRC guidance explains employee public-holiday entitlements under the current framework.
Public-holiday status does not by itself mean every business or service must close.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Legal Financial Information Boundary.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
Irish Statute Book — Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, Second Schedule (opens in a new tab)
National Statute
Irish Statute Book — S.I. No. 193/1977 (opens in a new tab)
Historical Statutory Instrument
Workplace Relations Commission — Public holidays (opens in a new tab)
National Labour Authority
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is October Public Holiday (Ireland)?
Last Monday in October The documented recurrence rule is: Last Monday in October.
Does October Public Holiday (Ireland) fall on the same date every year?
It follows a recurring calendar rule, so the Gregorian date can change from year to year.
Is October Public Holiday (Ireland) an official public holiday?
Within the reviewed scope, it is identified as Ireland / statutory public holiday on the last Monday in October. That status is not automatically extended to other countries or jurisdictions.
Who established or recognizes October Public Holiday (Ireland)?
The documented basis is: Irish Statute Book records the 1977 public-holiday statutory instrument and the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 continues the last Monday in October in the current schedule; WRC guidance covers modern employment entitlements.. Supporting evidence includes Irish Statute Book — S.I. No. 193/1977. The site does not infer a separate creator or founder unless reviewed evidence establishes one.
Is October Public Holiday (Ireland) international or country-specific?
This observance is specific to Ireland. Its fuller verified scope is: Ireland / statutory public holiday on the last Monday in October.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-10-04.
When is the October Public Holiday in Ireland?
It falls on the last Monday in October.
Is “October Bank Holiday” the same date?
Yes, that is a widely used label for the last-Monday-in-October public holiday, although the statutory schedule defines the date rather than that informal label.
When was the October public holiday introduced?
Irish Statute Book records S.I. No. 193/1977 under the Holidays (Employees) Act 1973. The current schedule is in the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997.
Does every business have to close?
No universal closure rule is established here. Public-holiday employment entitlements and business opening arrangements are separate questions; check current official guidance for the situation that applies.
Other observances on October 25
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World Pasta Day
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World Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Day
International Federation for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (IF)