In 2025, there will be ten bank holidays in Northern Ireland.

Wednesday 1st January - New Year's Day
Monday 17th March - St. Patrick's Day
Friday 18th April - Good Friday
Monday 21st April - Easter Monday
Monday 5th May - Early May Bank Holiday
Monday 26th May - Spring Bank Holiday
Monday 14th July (substitute day) - Battle of the Boyne / Orangemen's Day
Monday 25th August - Summer Bank Holiday
Thursday 25th December - Christmas Day
Friday 26th of December - Boxing Day

Do Northern Ireland get the same Bank Holidays as the rest of the UK?

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.

What are the extra Bank Holidays in Northern Ireland?

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.

Hacking the Holidays

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

Easter Monday: Book the entire week off (Monday to Friday) to enjoy a long break, adding a weekend before and after.
St. Patrick’s Day (March 17): If it falls on a Wednesday, book leave for Tuesday and Thursday to extend your break.

By carefully coordinating your holidays with your leave days, you can stretch your time off to create more extended breaks for less.