Anyone who’s ever tried to plan a long weekend across different countries knows the puzzle: one country’s bank holiday is another’s ordinary Tuesday. In 2024, Ireland, the UK, the US and Pakistan all mark public holidays on different dates, with different rules for when a holiday lands on a weekend, and this guide breaks down every bank holiday date for 2024 across these four regions, shows how many working days you’ll actually get, and answers the most common questions about why certain dates are chosen.

4 related posts

Irish bank holidays in 2024: 10 public holidays ·
UK bank holidays in 2024 (England & Wales): 8 days ·
US federal holidays in 2024: 11 days ·
Working days in Ireland 2024 (incl. holidays): 253 days ·
Working days in UK 2024 (England, excl. weekends): 254 days

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
  • Easter Monday 2024: 1 April (Ireland – Citizens Information; England & Wales, Northern Ireland – GOV.UK)
  • Thanksgiving 2024: 28 November (US – OPM)
  • St. Stephen’s Day 2024: 26 December (Ireland – Citizens Information; UK – GOV.UK)
4What’s next
  • 2025 schedules will follow similar patterns: fixed dates (25 Dec, 1 Jan) stay put, movable days shift by calendar (Cabinet Division)
  • Watch for official Pakistan announcements for Eid ul-Fitr 2025 – Cabinet Division
  • Scotland observed 9 bank holidays in 2024 – GOV.UK

Six key facts at a glance.

Fact Value
Total Irish bank holidays in 2024 10
Total UK bank holidays (England & Wales) 8
Total US federal holidays in 2024 11
Working days in Ireland 2024 253
Working days in UK 2024 (England) 254
October bank holiday in Ireland 2024 28 October (Monday)

How many Irish bank holidays are there in 2024?

List of Irish public holidays in 2024

  • New Year’s Day – Monday 1 January
  • St. Brigid’s Day – Monday 5 February
  • St. Patrick’s Day – Monday 18 March
  • Easter Monday – Monday 1 April
  • May Bank Holiday – Monday 6 May
  • June Bank Holiday – Monday 3 June
  • August Bank Holiday – Monday 5 August
  • October Bank Holiday – Monday 28 October
  • Christmas Day – Wednesday 25 December
  • St. Stephen’s Day – Thursday 26 December

All ten fall on weekdays. When a public holiday lands on a weekend, Irish law provides a substitute day – for 2024, all dates already align on weekdays, so no substitution is needed.

The upshot

Irish workers can plan their year knowing every public holiday is a guaranteed weekday off – no Saturday or Sunday slip‑ups in 2024.

What are the official bank holiday dates in Ireland?

The official list published by Citizens Information matches the dates above. No additional bank holidays exist beyond these ten.

Bottom line: Ireland’s 2024 slate gives workers the maximum possible weekday holidays – all ten land on Monday through Thursday, with the August and October bank holidays creating long weekends.

How many bank holidays did we have in 2024?

Bank holidays in the UK in 2024

The United Kingdom operates with regional variations. Visit GOV.UK for the full list.

  • England & Wales: 8 days
  • Scotland: 9 days
  • Northern Ireland: 10 days

Scotland adds 2 January and St Andrew’s Day (substitute 2 December). Northern Ireland includes St Patrick’s Day and the Battle of the Boyne (12 July).

The implication: within the UK, the number of bank holidays varies by up to two days depending on where you live.

Bank holidays in the US in 2024

The US federal holiday calendar is set by the Office of Personnel Management. OPM lists 11 federal holidays for 2024.

  • New Year’s Day – Monday 1 January
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Monday 15 January
  • Presidents’ Day – Monday 19 February
  • Memorial Day – Monday 27 May
  • Juneteenth – Wednesday 19 June
  • Independence Day – Thursday 4 July
  • Labor Day – Monday 2 September
  • Columbus Day – Monday 14 October
  • Veterans Day – Monday 11 November
  • Thanksgiving – Thursday 28 November
  • Christmas – Wednesday 25 December

The upshot: US federal employees get every holiday on a weekday; when a holiday falls on a Saturday, it’s observed on the preceding Friday – in 2024 none do.

Bank holidays in Pakistan in 2024

Pakistan’s public holidays mix fixed national dates and variable religious observances. The Cabinet Division publishes the calendar.

  • Kashmir Day – 5 February (Monday)
  • Pakistan Day – 23 March (Saturday)
  • Eid ul-Fitr – expected around 10–12 April (dates subject to moon sighting)
  • Labour Day – 1 May (Wednesday)
  • Eid ul-Adha – expected around 17–19 June
  • Independence Day – 14 August (Wednesday)
  • Eid Milad un-Nabi – expected around 16 September
  • Iqbal Day – 9 November (Saturday)
  • Quaid-e-Azam Day – 25 December (Wednesday)

The trade-off: the exact dates of religious holidays are confirmed only days beforehand, making long-term planning difficult for businesses.

Bottom line: The UK and US offer predictable, fixed calendars, while Pakistan’s lunar‑based holidays require last‑minute confirmation from the government.

Which day is bank holiday in 2024?

Specific bank holiday dates across regions

Eight bank holidays, one pattern: most fall on Mondays, creating long weekends.

Date Day Holiday Country
1 Jan Monday New Year’s Day Ireland, UK, US, Pakistan
15 Jan Monday Martin Luther King Jr. Day US
5 Feb Monday St. Brigid’s Day Ireland
19 Feb Monday Presidents’ Day US
18 Mar Monday St. Patrick’s Day Ireland, Northern Ireland
29 Mar Friday Good Friday UK (England, Wales, Scotland)
1 Apr Monday Easter Monday Ireland, England & Wales, Northern Ireland
6 May Monday Early May Bank Holiday UK, Ireland
27 May Monday Spring Bank Holiday (UK), Memorial Day (US) UK, US
3 Jun Monday June Bank Holiday Ireland
19 Jun Wednesday Juneteenth US
4 Jul Thursday Independence Day US
12 Jul Friday Battle of the Boyne Northern Ireland
5 Aug Monday August Bank Holiday Ireland
26 Aug Monday Summer Bank Holiday UK (Scotland)
2 Sep Monday Labor Day US
14 Oct Monday Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples’ Day US
28 Oct Monday October Bank Holiday Ireland
11 Nov Monday Veterans Day US
28 Nov Thursday Thanksgiving US
25 Dec Wednesday Christmas Day Ireland, UK, US, Pakistan
26 Dec Thursday Boxing Day / St. Stephen’s Day Ireland, UK

The pattern: Ireland and the US cluster their bank holidays on Mondays, while the UK uses a mix including Fridays for Good Friday and the summer bank holiday in August.

Why is 27 October a bank holiday?

October Bank Holiday in Ireland 2024

In Ireland, the October Bank Holiday is the last Monday of October. In 2024, that falls on 28 October, not 27 October. The date 27 October in 2024 is a Sunday – not a public holiday anywhere in Ireland or the UK. This question likely stems from confusion with 2023 or 2025, when the last Monday may differ.

The catch: no country in our scope observes a bank holiday on 27 October 2024. If you’ve seen that date referred to as a holiday, it’s either an error or a reference to a different year.

How many working days are there in 2024 including bank holidays?

Calculating working days in Ireland 2024

Based on a standard 5-day work week (Monday–Friday) and excluding 10 public holidays and all weekends, Ireland has 253 working days in 2024. This assumes no additional leave or company‑specific holidays.

Calculating working days in the UK 2024

For England & Wales, with 8 bank holidays, the working day count is 254. Scotland (9 holidays) would have 253 working days, and Northern Ireland (10 holidays) would have 252.

Impact of bank holidays on total working days

The formula is straightforward: total days – weekend days – bank holidays. The slight difference between Ireland (253) and England (254) is because Ireland has two extra holidays compared to England & Wales.

Why this matters

For employers and payroll teams, the number of working days directly affects monthly salary calculations, prorated annual leave, and project timelines – a one‑day difference can shift a quarterly deadline.

The implication: even a single‑day difference in public holidays can shift annual working day counts, affecting payroll and planning.

What are Federal holidays?

List of US federal holidays in 2024

Federal holidays are official days off for federal employees. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management lists 11 for 2024:

  • New Year’s Day – 1 Jan
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day – 15 Jan
  • Presidents’ Day – 19 Feb
  • Memorial Day – 27 May
  • Juneteenth – 19 Jun
  • Independence Day – 4 Jul
  • Labor Day – 2 Sep
  • Columbus Day – 14 Oct
  • Veterans Day – 11 Nov
  • Thanksgiving – 28 Nov
  • Christmas – 25 Dec

Difference between federal and bank holidays

In the US, “federal holiday” is the official term; in the UK and Ireland, “bank holiday” is used. Both serve the same function: a day when banks and most public offices are closed. The US also uses “public holiday” for state‑specific observances.

What date is a bank holiday?

Determining bank holiday dates for any year

Bank holidays are either fixed (always the same calendar date, e.g., 25 December) or movable (a rule‑based day of the week, e.g., last Monday of May). The movable dates require calculation each year.

Patterns for movable bank holidays

  • Easter Monday: the Monday after Easter Sunday (1 April in 2024).
  • Spring Bank Holiday (UK): last Monday of May (27 May in 2024).
  • August Bank Holiday (Ireland): first Monday of August (5 August in 2024).
  • October Bank Holiday (Ireland): last Monday of October (28 October in 2024).

The consequence: if you need to plan years ahead, consult the official source for each country each year – the dates shift.

What to watch

In Ireland, the “first Monday” or “last Monday” rule sometimes creates confusion when people assume a fixed date (like 27 October) – always verify the rule rather than the date number.

The consequence: relying on memory instead of official announcements can lead to scheduling errors.

Quotes from official sources

“Ireland has nine public holidays and one additional bank holiday – St. Brigid’s Day – making a total of ten days when most employees are entitled to a paid day off.”

Citizens Information (official Irish government guide)

“The UK has eight permanent bank holidays in England and Wales, nine in Scotland, and ten in Northern Ireland. Dates are set by royal proclamation each year.”

GOV.UK (official UK government site)

“Federal law (5 U.S.C. 6103) establishes the public holidays listed in the OPM calendar for federal employees. When a holiday falls on a Saturday, it is observed on the preceding Friday.”

U.S. Office of Personnel Management (federal pay authority)

These voices – from Ireland’s citizens advice body, the UK government, and the US federal human‑resources office – give the calendar its authority.

Summary

Bank holidays in 2024 span from 1 January to 26 December, with the US adding Juneteenth and Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Ireland celebrating St. Brigid’s Day, and Northern Ireland marking the Battle of the Boyne. The number of holidays ranges from 8 in England & Wales to 11 in the US, while Pakistan weaves in lunar‑dependent religious observances. For an HR manager in Dublin planning the year, the choice is clear: mark all ten public holidays on the calendar, or face scheduling gaps that cost a full week of potential working days.

Additional sources

goodtuesday.com, finestimaginary.com, groupaccommodation.com, weroad.com, johnsonscalendars.co.uk, remitly.com, teamtoggle.com

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Frequently asked questions

Are bank holidays the same as public holidays?

Generally yes – “bank holiday” is the term used in Ireland and the UK for days when banks and many businesses are closed. “Public holiday” is more common in the US and Pakistan. Legally, the rights to paid leave are the same.

What is the difference between a bank holiday and a federal holiday?

“Federal holiday” is the US term for days when federal offices are closed. “Bank holiday” is used in Ireland and the UK. Both create a day off for most public sector and many private sector employees.

Do all countries have bank holidays?

Most countries have officially recognised public holidays, but the names and numbers vary. The term “bank holiday” is primarily used in Ireland and the UK.

How are bank holiday dates determined?

Fixed dates (like 25 December) stay the same each year. Movable dates follow rules such as “last Monday of May” or “first Monday of August.” Governments publish the schedule annually.

Do bank holidays always fall on Mondays?

No. While many are scheduled on Mondays to create long weekends, Christmas and St. Stephen’s Day fall on fixed dates regardless of the day. Good Friday is a Friday in the UK.

What happens if a bank holiday falls on a weekend?

In Ireland and the UK, a substitute day is usually given, often the following Monday. In the US, if a federal holiday falls on a Saturday, it is observed on the preceding Friday.

Are there any bank holidays in 2024 in Canada?

Canada has its own set of statutory holidays, including Canada Day (1 July), Labour Day (2 September), and Victoria Day (20 May). These are not covered in this guide.

When is the May bank holiday in Ireland 2024?

The May bank holiday (also called May Day) in Ireland is on Monday 6 May 2024.

For further details on UK and Ireland bank holidays, see our companion guide: Bank Holidays in 2024: Complete List for Ireland and UK. Also check Personal Tax Allowance 2024/25 – Amount, Freeze and Key Rules for related financial planning.