Easter Monday in Ireland
When is Easter Monday in Ireland?
Easter Monday in Ireland is on April 21, 2025. It falls on Monday.
How many days until Easter Monday in Ireland?
There are 169 Days left until Easter Monday in Ireland.
Is Easter Monday a public holiday in Ireland?
In Ireland, Easter Monday is designated as a public holiday. Easter Monday or commonly known as “Luan na Cásca” in the Irish language, is the holiday celebrated after Easter Sunday every year. The holiday also commemorates the country’s Easter Rising which took place in the past Easter Monday (on the 24th of April 1916 and lasted for six days in Dublin, Ireland). Such uprising has become an important turning point for the Irish people to continue seeking for complete independence from the British rule.
On this day, events are organized to look back on the former struggles of the Irish for the sake of liberty along with many festive activities that are Easter-related in nature. Since Easter Monday is a public holiday in Ireland, government offices, post offices, banking institutions, and schools are closed for the day. In terms of businesses, most of the business establishments suspend operation as well. And while there are some businesses which remain open (e.g. shops, pubs, restaurants, etc.), they often follow restricted schedules on this day.
Easter Monday Origin
Easter has been celebrated for how many centuries now. It is one of the most important celebrations observed by many countries adhering to the Christian faith. Easter is the day celebrated to commemorate Jesus’ resurrection following his death through crucifixion three days before (this day is commonly known as Good Friday).
How is Easter Monday's date determined?
In the ancient times, there wasn’t a fixed date for the celebration of Easter. Its observance is dependent on each country’s discretion. However, this was altered when the First Council of Nicaea (a council of Christian bishops in AD 325), decreed that Easter be celebrated every first Sunday following the first full moon occurring usually on or after the 21st of March (an event called vernal or spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere). Hence, this resulted to the varying date of Easter’s observance every year. Its observance should typically fall though around late March and late April.
At present, several countries are celebrating Easter. Easter Monday, the succeeding day after Easter Sunday, has also become a public holiday celebrated by some countries around the world. Ireland is one of those countries. Although Easter Monday (together with Easter Sunday) has been observed in Ireland for a long time, it was only in 1871 that the day was officially instituted to become a public holiday. It was established through the United Kingdom’s Bank Holidays Act 1871. Since then, the day has become a non-working day for the nation’s general population, and many spend the holiday together with their loved ones. The country’s Easter Monday also coincides with the occurrence of Easter Rising which happened in Ireland in 1916 (on the 24th of April 1916, an Easter Monday). Thus, currently, events organized for Easter Monday are not only Easter-related but other events arranged are also those with the purpose of commemorating on what happened during the Easter Rising.
Easter Monday Traditions and Activities in Ireland
Easter has become one of the busiest seasons among countries celebrating it. It is no different for the Irish people. Like other countries, Ireland has its own share of practices associated with Easter too. Although there are plenty of activities done in the country during Easter (on Easter Sunday) considering that it’s the day to commemorate Christ’s resurrection, Easter Monday, which is the day following Easter Sunday, is not lacking when it comes to festive celebrations as well. Easter Monday is a public holiday in Ireland, which means that majority of the people are given a day off. With this, the Easter celebration doesn’t end on Easter Sunday but would continuously be observed the day after. For the Irish, Easter is a celebration that should be taken seriously. On Easter Monday, many people would likely attend special church services held for this day. Attending special mass is a part of the Irish traditions to celebrate this holiday. Once mass is over, this is followed by many festive activities which are observed by the majority.
Easter Egg Hunting
One of the most popular activities done on Easter Monday throughout the country is the Easter egg hunts. The ‘Easter egg hunts’ is a fun and exciting activity wherein both the children and the adults can take part of. Though many have already partaken on these activities the day before (on Easter Sunday), several others are still seen enjoying this type of activities on Easter Monday. The country’s Easter egg hunts are often organized by the adults in their personal residences. With this activity, the kids are tasked to find the hidden eggs (eggs could either be decorated or just the typical chocolate eggs). For others, they also take the opportunity to join in on the fun by participating on these hunts outside of their homes, in their local communities instead, rather than organizing one at home. With this, the children can have fun together with many other kids in the community. Aside from this, the whole family can also be involved with the parades arranged for the day. There are some localities in the country which would organize for an Easter parade. Families can participate on this activity since there are also some dancing and music organized along with it, making the activity more festive.
Enjoying Sports Events like the Irish Grand National
Another reason why many Irish look forward to the celebration of Easter Monday is the sporting events associated with it. There are several sporting activities that are held in Ireland on Easter Monday, however, the most popular among them is the Irish Grand National. The ‘Irish Grand National’ is a national hunt steeplechase (horse race) in Ireland which takes place on Easter Monday every year. It is held at Fairyhouse Racecourse, in County Meath, Ireland. This sporting event is the most anticipated activity during the holiday which attracts thousands of spectators from all over the country. Aside from these sporting events, fairs are also organized by many localities in Ireland on Easter Monday. Many Irish people get themselves entertained by getting involved in these fairs arranged by their local communities. For some others, going to places which offer live music and other entertainments (e.g. children’s entertainment) is another way of celebrating the holiday. Basically, Ireland’s Easter Monday is filled with various fun activities (either indoors or outdoors) and its celebration is taken by many as a family day.
Getaway Trips
While many Irish families partake on the mentioned activities above, other people prefer to book getaway trips during the holiday instead. Considering the long break that Easter brings, traveling is actually common during the season. Several Irish people take advantage of the long Easter weekend by going on a trip/vacation. These trips can either be just within the country or abroad. Thus, airports in Ireland are expected to get a bit crowded on Easter Monday and the previous days as well.
Easter Rising
Nowadays, Ireland’s Easter Monday also commemorates the country’s Easter Rising which happened on Easter Monday of the 24th of April 1916 (the ‘Easter Rising’ is an important part for the Irish people’s acquisition of independence from the British rule). To commemorate such event, other parades arranged during the holiday are related to the Easter Rising incident. These parades and other Easter Rising-related events (events which include speeches from important figures in the Ireland government) are organized by some organizations to commemorate the struggles of the Irish rebels (Irish Republican Brotherhood) who were the first group of people to seek for complete liberty against the British. Their rebellion lasted for six days (from Easter Monday up until Saturday of that week) and it resulted to many casualties (several died, and thousands are injured). Thus, that incident sparked a fire in the hearts of many Irish to continue what the rebels have started, seeking for complete independence against the British rule, which they acquired few years later (on the 6th of December 1922). This is the reason why at present’s observance of Easter Monday, aside from the typical Easter-related activities, several other events are also organized, in remembrance of the 1916 uprising which paved the way for the country’s complete liberty.
| Year | Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | April 21 | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 2026 | April 06 | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 2027 | March 29 | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 2028 | April 17 | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 2029 | April 02 | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 2030 | April 22 | Monday | Easter Monday |
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| Christmas Day | December 25, 2024 |
| St. Stephen's Day | December 26, 2024 |
| Christmas Bank Holiday | December 27, 2024 |
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