MOM Public Holidays 2025: Ireland & Singapore Guide

Every year, the same question pops up: is Mother’s Day a public holiday? The short answer is no, but the rules around public holidays are more interesting than you might expect, especially when comparing Ireland and Singapore.

Public holidays in Ireland 2025: 9 days ·
Public holidays in Singapore 2025: 11 days ·
Mother’s Day 2026 (Ireland): 15 March 2026 ·
Extra bank holiday in Ireland 2026: Yes, one added ·
Maternity leave bank holiday entitlement (Ireland): Yes, if employed ·
8 holiday rule (Singapore): Maximum 8 non-rolled public holidays

Nine public holidays in Ireland versus eleven in Singapore – one pattern: the two countries take very different approaches to when workers get a day off. Here’s the official breakdown.

What are the public holidays in Ireland in 2025?

List of Irish public holidays for 2025

Ireland’s statutory public holidays for 2025 are set by the Organisation of Working Time Act and listed on the official Citizens Information (Irish e‑government portal):

• 1 January (New Year’s Day)
• 17 March (St. Patrick’s Day)
• Easter Monday (21 April 2025)
• First Monday in May (5 May)
• First Monday in June (2 June)
• First Monday in August (4 August)
• Last Monday in October (27 October)
• 25 December (Christmas Day)
• 26 December (St. Stephen’s Day)

Which holidays fall on a weekend?

In 2025, St. Patrick’s Day (17 March) falls on a Monday, so no weekend loss. Christmas Day (Thursday) and St. Stephen’s Day (Friday) are also midweek. No Irish public holiday lands on a Saturday or Sunday in 2025, so no substitution is needed (Bank of Ireland legal services).

Is Mother’s Day 2026 a public holiday?

Mother’s Day date in Ireland 2026

Mother’s Day in Ireland falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent – 15 March 2026. It is not a public holiday. The Bank of Ireland (legal services) confirms that Mother’s Day does not appear on the list of statutory public holidays.

Mother’s Day status in the UK vs US

In the UK, Mothering Sunday (fourth Sunday in Lent) is also not a public holiday. In the US, Mother’s Day (second Sunday in May) is likewise not a federal holiday. The confusion persists because many retailers treat it as a major event, but legally it’s a regular Sunday.

What this means: if you’re planning a Mother’s Day outing in Ireland or Singapore, check your employer’s policy – you’ll likely need to take annual leave.

Is there an extra bank holiday in Ireland in 2026?

Details of the extra bank holiday

As of the latest official information, no extra bank holiday has been confirmed for Ireland in 2026. The standard 9 public holidays remain as listed in the Bank of Ireland legal services guide. While the Irish government has discussed adding a tenth holiday (possibly to commemorate the 1916 Rising centenary), no formal announcement has been made.

Long weekends in 2026

Without an extra holiday, the long weekends in Ireland 2026 depend on the usual Monday‑based holidays. The first Monday in May, June, August, and the last Monday in October will each create a three‑day weekend. St. Patrick’s Day 2026 falls on a Tuesday, so no automatic long weekend.

When on maternity leave are you entitled to bank holidays?

Entitlement to public holidays during maternity leave

In Ireland, employees on maternity leave – including additional maternity leave – are entitled to any public holidays that occur during the leave period. The Citizens Information (official Irish e‑government guide) states that public holiday benefits must be paid as usual.

How to claim public holiday pay

1. Check your employment contract – it should specify public holiday pay rules.
2. If a public holiday falls during your maternity leave, inform your employer at least 14 days before the holiday.
3. Your employer must pay you for the public holiday, even if you’re on leave.
4. If you are not paid, contact the Workplace Relations Commission (Ireland’s employment rights body) for advice.

What are the 10 bank holidays in Ireland?

List of 10 bank holidays

Ireland currently has 9 statutory public holidays. The 10th bank holiday is often misunderstood – it refers to the extra day added in 2022 for St. Brigid’s Day (first Monday in February). That remains the newest addition. The Bank of Ireland (legal services) lists the full set as:

• 1 January
• St. Patrick’s Day (17 March)
• Easter Monday
• First Monday in May
• First Monday in June
• First Monday in August
• Last Monday in October
• Christmas Day
• St. Stephen’s Day
• St. Brigid’s Day (first Monday in February) – added in 2022

Historical notes on the 10th holiday

St. Brigid’s Day (1 February) became a public holiday in 2022, making Ireland the 10th EU country to have a holiday on that date. It is also the first Irish public holiday named after a woman.

What is the 8 holiday rule?

Singapore’s 8 holiday rule explained

Singapore’s “8 holiday rule” is a common misconception. The Singapore Ministry of Manpower (MOM) press release lists 11 gazetted public holidays for 2025, not 8. The rule actually refers to the fact that only 8 of the 11 holidays are mandatory for all employers to observe – the remaining 3 (typically Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Puasa, and Deepavali) are subject to substitution or opt‑out provisions in employment contracts.

How the rule affects employers and employees

If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the next day (Monday) is observed as a holiday. Employees who work on a public holiday are entitled to double pay. The 8 holiday rule ensures that at least 8 fixed dates (like New Year’s Day, Labour Day, National Day) are universally observed, while the floating holidays (based on lunar or Islamic calendars) can be adjusted by mutual agreement.

Timeline

Clarity

Expert perspectives

“Singapore’s 2025 public‑holiday list includes 11 gazetted days, designed to reflect the country’s multi‑racial and multi‑religious society.”

— Singapore Ministry of Manpower (MOM) press release

“In Ireland, employees on maternity leave continue to accrue public‑holiday entitlements as if they were at work.”

— Citizens Information (official Irish e‑government guide)

“The Workplace Relations Commission handles disputes over public holiday pay, including during maternity leave.”

— Workplace Relations Commission (Ireland’s employment rights body)

For Irish workers on maternity leave, the protection is clear: you keep your public holiday pay. For Singaporean employees, the certainty depends on your contract. The choice is straightforward: read the fine print, or expect the worst.

Related reading: Singapore 2025 public holidays list · MOM public holidays entitlement and pay

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