The government announced today, its intention to create a one-off public holiday on Friday 18 March 2022 in recognition of the efforts of the general public, volunteers, and all workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
From 2023, there will be a new permanent public holiday established in celebration of Imbolc/St Brigid’s Day. This will be the first Monday in every February, except where St. Brigid’s Day, the 1st day of February, happens to fall on a Friday, in which case Friday 1st February will be a public holiday.
The government has also agreed to give a recognition payment of €1,000 (tax-free), for eligible frontline health and ambulance workers. An equivalent payment will be provided for relevant staff in private sector nursing homes and hospices that were affected by COVID-19.The creation of a tenth public holiday will bring Ireland more into line with the European average. Read the full announcement here.
