All 10 Irish public holidays with exact 2026 dates, eligibility rules, and what HSE employees are entitled to.
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If you work for the Health Service Executive (HSE), you are entitled to 10 public holidays every year under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. These are sometimes called bank holidays. Below you’ll find the exact dates for every HSE public holiday in 2026, along with a full breakdown of your entitlements, eligibility rules, and how to apply for leave.
The list of public holidays is the same for all employees in Ireland — what can vary is the type of benefit your employer (the HSE) decides to provide on each occasion.
HSE Public Holidays 2026 – Full Date List
Note on St Brigid’s Day 2026: Under Irish law, St Brigid’s Day is 1 February if that date falls on a Friday — otherwise it’s the first Monday in February. In 2026, 1 February is a Sunday, so the public holiday falls on Monday, 2 February 2026.
| # | Holiday | Date in 2026 | Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Year’s Day | 1 January 2026 | Thursday |
| 2 | St Brigid’s Day | 2 February 2026 | Monday |
| 3 | St Patrick’s Day | 17 March 2026 | Tuesday |
| 4 | Easter Monday | 6 April 2026 | Monday ⬅ Next |
| 5 | May Bank Holiday | 4 May 2026 | Monday |
| 6 | June Bank Holiday | 1 June 2026 | Monday |
| 7 | August Bank Holiday | 3 August 2026 | Monday |
| 8 | October Bank Holiday | 26 October 2026 | Monday |
| 9 | Christmas Day | 25 December 2026 | Friday |
| 10 | St Stephen’s Day | 26 December 2026 | Saturday |
Who Is Entitled to HSE Public Holidays
Full-Time Staff
All full-time permanent and temporary HSE employees are automatically entitled to public holiday benefits with no minimum hours threshold.
Part-Time & Casual Staff
You must have worked at least 40 hours in the 5 weeks immediately before the public holiday to qualify for that day’s benefit.
Your entitlement applies from your first day of employment as long as you meet the hours threshold above — there is no minimum qualifying period for public holidays.
Types of Public Holiday Benefit for HSE Staff
Your manager or employer determines which of the following benefits applies. You are entitled to one of these on each public holiday:
✓ Paid Day Off on the Day
You get the public holiday itself off with full pay.
✓ Paid Day Off Within a Month
You take a paid day off on another date within a month of the public holiday.
✓ Extra Annual Leave Day
One additional day of annual leave is added to your entitlement for the year.
✓ Extra Day’s Pay
You receive an additional day’s pay, particularly if you are required to work on the public holiday.
Absence Rules & Special Situations
Absent on the Day of a Public Holiday
If you are absent on a public holiday itself, your manager will advise what pay or benefits apply. This covers situations where:
- A doctor has certified you as sick
- You work part-time or on a 5-over-7 roster
- You don’t normally work on the day the public holiday falls
Absence Before a Public Holiday – Loss of Entitlement
You will not be entitled to a public holiday benefit if you were absent from work immediately before it for any of these reasons:
| Reason for Absence | Duration Immediately Before Public Holiday |
|---|---|
| Occupational injury | 52 consecutive weeks or more |
| Illness or non-occupational injury | 26 consecutive weeks or more |
| Any other type of absence | 13 consecutive weeks or more |
| Participation in a strike | Immediately before the holiday |
| Carer’s leave | Beyond the first 13 weeks |
| Health and safety leave | Any duration |
When Your Employment Has Ended
If a public holiday falls in the week after your final week of work, you are still entitled to payment — provided you worked during the 4 weeks before your last week. For example: if Christmas Day falls on a Friday and your employment ended the Friday before (18 December), you’re entitled to Christmas Day pay if you worked in the 4 weeks prior.
How to Apply for Public Holiday Leave
HSE employees apply for leave through the official HR and Payroll Self Service portal. Contact the National HR Employee Helpdesk for any queries:
📞 Phone
1800 444 925
Monday to Friday, 9am – 12 noon
[email protected]
Queries responded to during business hours
Log in to HR and Payroll Self Service on the HSE staff portal with your HSE credentials and submit leave requests in the normal way.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many public holidays do HSE staff get in 2026?
HSE employees are entitled to 10 public holidays in 2026, in line with all Irish employees under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997.
When is Easter Monday 2026?
Easter Monday 2026 falls on Monday, 6 April 2026.
When is St Brigid’s Day 2026?
Because 1 February 2026 is a Sunday (not a Friday), St Brigid’s Day is observed on Monday, 2 February 2026 — the first Monday in February.
Do part-time HSE nurses or healthcare assistants get public holidays?
Yes — part-time staff qualify as long as they have worked at least 40 hours in the 5 weeks before the public holiday. This applies to all roles including nurses, healthcare assistants, and administrative staff.
What happens if a public holiday falls on a weekend in 2026?
In 2026, St Stephen’s Day (26 December) falls on a Saturday. Your HSE employer will advise on the compensatory benefit — typically a day off in lieu or an additional day’s pay. Your manager or HR department will confirm the arrangement.
Can the HSE require me to work on a public holiday?
Yes. If required to work on a public holiday, you are still entitled to one of the four alternative benefits — such as an extra day’s annual leave or an extra day’s pay. You cannot be required to work without receiving one of these compensatory entitlements.
Are there more HSE public holidays in 2026 than in previous years?
No. Ireland has had 10 public holidays per year since 2023, when St Brigid’s Day was introduced as the 10th public holiday. The number remains unchanged for 2026.
Looking for HSE Jobs in 2026?
Browse hundreds of current HSE and public sector vacancies on JobVacancies.ie — updated daily.
Information sourced from HSE Staff Leave – Public Holidays and the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. Maintained by JobVacancies.ie. Always verify current entitlements with your HSE HR department.
