Holiday planning
Long Weekends in Ireland 2026
Ireland has 9 long weekends in 2026. The longest natural break is 4 days around Good Friday & Easter Monday (Fri 3 Apr – Mon 6 Apr). Take Thursday off and turn the Good Friday & Easter Monday break into a 5-day run.
9
Long weekends
5
Longest break (days)
9
Bridge day opportunities
All long weekends in Ireland 2026
Sorted by calendar date. "Days off" = the natural break without any annual leave. "Bridge days" = working days to take as paid leave to extend the break.
| Date range | Holiday | Days off | Bridge days to take | Total break |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 1 Jan – Sun 4 Jan | New Year's Day | 1 | Friday(Fri 2 Jan) | 4d |
| Fri 30 Jan – Mon 2 Feb | Saint Brigid's Day | 3 | Friday(Fri 30 Jan) | 4d |
| Sat 14 Mar – Tue 17 Mar | Saint Patrick's Day | 1 | Monday(Mon 16 Mar) | 4d |
| Thu 2 Apr – Mon 6 Apr | Good Friday, Easter Monday | 4 | Thursday(Thu 2 Apr) | 5d |
| Fri 1 May – Mon 4 May | May Day | 3 | Friday(Fri 1 May) | 4d |
| Fri 29 May – Mon 1 Jun | June Holiday | 3 | Friday(Fri 29 May) | 4d |
| Fri 31 Jul – Mon 3 Aug | August Holiday | 3 | Friday(Fri 31 Jul) | 4d |
| Fri 23 Oct – Mon 26 Oct | October Holiday | 3 | Friday(Fri 23 Oct) | 4d |
| Thu 24 Dec – Sun 27 Dec | Christmas Day, St. Stephen's Day | 3 | Thursday(Thu 24 Dec) | 4d |
Best long weekends in Ireland 2026
The top breaks ranked by total consecutive days off.
April
Good Friday & Easter Monday
Thu 2 Apr – Mon 6 Apr
5
days
January
New Year's Day
Thu 1 Jan – Sun 4 Jan
4
days
January
Saint Brigid's Day
Fri 30 Jan – Mon 2 Feb
4
days
March
Saint Patrick's Day
Sat 14 Mar – Tue 17 Mar
4
days
How to use bridge days in Ireland
A bridge day (sometimes called a sandwiched day) is a working day that sits between a public holiday and a weekend. By taking it as paid annual leave, you connect the holiday to the weekend and create a longer uninterrupted break.
For example, if a public holiday falls on a Thursday, taking Friday off gives you Thursday + Friday + Saturday + Sunday — four consecutive days using only one day of leave.
In Ireland 2026, there are 9 bridge day opportunities highlighted in the table above. The biggest gain is around Good Friday & Easter Monday: take Thursday off to turn a 4-day break into 5 consecutive days using only 1 day of annual leave.
Public holidays linked to long weekends
Continue exploring
More for Ireland 2026
Public holidays
Public holidays in Ireland 2026
Full list of 11 public holidays with dates and observance notes.
Working days
Working days in Ireland 2026
Monthly breakdown of weekdays minus public holidays.
Other year
Long weekends in Ireland 2027
Same bridge day analysis for 2027.
Country overview
Ireland holidays overview
All years at a glance — upcoming public holidays.
Calculator
Working Days Between Two Dates
Net working days for any date range — public holidays excluded, 192 countries.
Frequently asked questions
How many long weekends does Ireland have in 2026?
Ireland has 9 long weekends in 2026 where a public holiday creates a break of three or more consecutive days.
What is a bridge day?
A bridge day is a regular working day that falls between a public holiday and a weekend. Taking it as annual leave creates an uninterrupted break of four or more days using just one or two days of paid leave — maximising your time off.
What is the longest long weekend in Ireland in 2026?
The longest break is 5 days from Thursday, 2 April 2026 to Monday, 6 April 2026, centred around Good Friday and Easter Monday (taking Thursday as annual leave).
How can I get the most days off with the least leave in Ireland 2026?
The best bridge day opportunity is around Good Friday & Easter Monday (Fri 3 Apr – Mon 6 Apr). Take Thursday as annual leave to get a 5-day break using only 1 day of paid leave.
Are bridge days public holidays in Ireland?
No. Bridge days are ordinary working days — employees choose to take them as paid annual leave. They are not legally mandated public holidays.