In 2025, there will be ten bank holidays in Northern Ireland.
No, Northern Ireland has the most bank holidays of any other region in the UK. Northern Ireland has two more than England and Wales and one more than Scotland.
St. Patrick's Day (17th March) and the Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day - 12th July) are the two additional bank holidays celebrated in Northern Ireland, but not in the rest of the UK.
Extend Weekends: For holidays that fall on a Monday (e.g., Easter Monday, May Day, etc.), you could book annual leave on the Friday before, turning a 3 day weekend into a 4 day break.
Bridging the Gaps: If a public holiday falls midweek, on a Tuesday or Thursday for example, consider taking the adjacent Monday or Friday off to create a longer break (e.g., booking Monday and Friday if St. Patrick’s Day is on a Tuesday).
Plan Early: The more ahead you plan, the better chance you'll have of booking the best days off. People often book time off during the summer months, so get in early to secure prime dates.
Use Annual Leave to Maximise Your Holiday: For holidays that aren't attached to a weekend (e.g., Christmas), consider taking time off around them. For example, if Christmas Day falls on a Wednesday, you can take Monday, Tuesday, and Friday off for a full week off only using 3 days leave.
Example: Maximizing Time Off in 2025
By carefully coordinating your holidays with your leave days, you can stretch your time off to create more extended breaks for less.