Anyone planning a late-summer getaway across Ireland or the UK in 2025 might want to double-check their calendar. The August Bank Holiday falls on two different dates depending on which side of the border you’re on — Monday 4 August for Ireland and Scotland, and Monday 25 August for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This guide breaks down the exact dates, explains why they differ, and lists all Irish public holidays for 2025 so you can plan with confidence.

4 related posts

August Bank Holiday 2025 date in Ireland: Monday 4 August ·
August Bank Holiday 2025 date in the UK (England, Wales, Northern Ireland): Monday 25 August ·
Number of public holidays in Ireland in 2025: 10 ·
Number of bank holidays in the UK in 2025: 8 (England and Wales)

Quick snapshot

1Ireland

2England and Wales

3Scotland
  • Summer Bank Holiday: Monday 4 August 2025 (GOV.UK (UK government official bank holiday list))
  • Total 2025 bank holidays: 9 (some cities have extra local) (GOV.UK (UK government official bank holiday list))

4Northern Ireland
  • August Bank Holiday: Monday 25 August 2025 (GOV.UK (UK government official bank holiday list))
  • Also: Battle of the Boyne (12 July) near August (GOV.UK (UK government official bank holiday list))

Six dates across two countries, one pattern: Ireland and Scotland take their break on the first Monday in August, while England, Wales and Northern Ireland wait until the last Monday. Here are the key facts at a glance.

Fact Value
August Bank Holiday Ireland 2025 Monday 4 August
August Bank Holiday UK (England, Wales, NI) 2025 Monday 25 August
August Bank Holiday Scotland 2025 Monday 4 August
Year introduced 1971 (UK), 1961 (Ireland)
Number of public holidays in Ireland 2025 10
Number of bank holidays in England/Wales 2025 8

The implication: a three-week gap separates the Irish and UK August bank holidays in 2025, which matters for anyone crossing the Irish Sea for work, family visits, or holidays.

When is August Bank Holiday?

August bank holiday 2025 in Ireland

August bank holiday 2025 in the UK

  • England, Wales and Northern Ireland: Monday 25 August 2025, the last Monday of August (GOV.UK – UK government official bank holiday list).
  • Scotland: Monday 4 August 2025, the first Monday of August (GOV.UK – UK government official bank holiday list).
  • Scotland’s summer bank holiday matches the Republic of Ireland’s date in 2025, creating a four-nation split with two dates.
The catch

Travellers booking a cross-border weekend need to check which jurisdiction they are in. A bank holiday in Dublin (4 August) falls three weekends before the same holiday in London (25 August). Plan accordingly.

What are the Irish bank holidays in 2025?

Full list of Irish public holidays 2025

The Republic of Ireland observes 10 public holidays in 2025. Here they are, confirmed by Ireland.com (official tourism and practical information site) and Flair.hr (HR and public holiday resource for Ireland).

  • 1 January: New Year’s Day
  • 3 February: St. Brigid’s Day
  • 17 March: St. Patrick’s Day
  • 21 April: Easter Monday
  • 5 May: May Day
  • 2 June: June Bank Holiday
  • 4 August: August Bank Holiday
  • 27 October: October Bank Holiday
  • 25 December: Christmas Day
  • 26 December: St. Stephen’s Day

Difference between public holiday and bank holiday in Ireland

  • In Ireland, the terms “public holiday” and “bank holiday” are used interchangeably, but legally the set of public holidays is defined by the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 (Citizens Information – Ireland’s official public service information).
  • All nine named dates plus St. Patrick’s Day are statutory public holidays.
Why this matters

If you’re an employer or employee in Ireland, knowing the full list helps you plan for mandatory paid leave, restricted trading hours, and transport schedules that run a Sunday service on public holidays.

Why is Monday 25th August a bank holiday?

History of the UK August bank holiday

  • The summer bank holiday in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland falls on the last Monday of August as established by the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 (Wikipedia (historical overview of August Bank Holiday)).
  • Before 1971, the date varied; the Act standardised it to the last Monday in August for those regions, and the first Monday in August for Scotland.
  • In 2025, the last Monday falls on 25 August.

Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971

The upshot

Monday 25 August 2025 is not an arbitrary date — it’s the direct result of a half-century-old law that set the last Monday of August as a statutory holiday for most of the UK.

Confirmed facts

  • Ireland August Bank Holiday date: 4 August 2025 — confirmed by Flair.hr (HR and public holiday resource for Ireland) and Ireland.com (official tourism and practical information site).
  • UK Summer Bank Holiday date: 25 August 2025 — confirmed by GOV.UK (UK government official bank holiday list).
  • List of Irish public holidays 2025 — confirmed by multiple authoritative sources.

The implication: these dates are reliable for planning travel and business.

What’s unclear

  • Whether 2026 dates will shift by one day due to leap year — not yet confirmed as pending government orders.
  • Whether Scotland’s summer bank holiday will remain on the first Monday of August in future years is not set in stone.
  • Whether the substitute day rule for weekend holidays applies uniformly across all UK nations is unclear.

The implication: keep an eye on official announcements as 2026 approaches.

What the experts say

“The August Bank Holiday in Ireland falls on the first Monday of August each year. In 2025, that day is 4 August.”

— Citizens Information (Ireland’s official public service information provider)

“The summer bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is the last Monday of August. For 2025, that date is 25 August.”

— GOV.UK (UK government official bank holiday list)

“In Scotland the summer bank holiday falls on the first Monday in August — in 2025, that is 4 August, coinciding with the Republic of Ireland’s date.”

— GOV.UK (UK government official bank holiday list)

“When a bank holiday falls on a weekend, a substitute day is normally the following Monday.”

— nidirect (Northern Ireland government bank holiday guidance)

For anyone who manages teams, plans travel, or runs a business that operates across Ireland and the UK, the three-week gap between August bank holidays in 2025 is not a minor calendar quirk — it affects staffing, trading, and family plans. The choice is clear: note both dates now, or risk a missed day off and a closed bank.

Additional sources

hrlocker.com

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Frequently asked questions

What is the August bank holiday in Ireland called?

It is officially called the August Bank Holiday, and it’s one of the ten public holidays in the Republic of Ireland.

Is the August bank holiday a paid holiday?

In Ireland, public holidays are generally paid holidays for most employees under the Organisation of Working Time Act. For UK workers, the right to time off on bank holidays depends on their contract.

Do shops open on the August bank holiday in Ireland?

Most shops open, but many operate reduced hours or Sunday trading hours. Banks and post offices close everywhere.

What happens if the August bank holiday falls on a weekend?

In Ireland, if a public holiday falls on a weekend, the following Monday is usually a substitute day. In the UK, the same rule applies under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971.

Is the August bank holiday the same day everywhere in the UK?

No. England, Wales, and Northern Ireland observe the last Monday of August (25 August 2025), while Scotland observes the first Monday of August (4 August 2025).

Do banks close on the August bank holiday?

Yes, banks close on the August bank holiday in both Ireland and the UK, including Northern Ireland (Bank of Ireland UK (Northern Ireland bank holiday schedule)).

When is the next bank holiday after August 2025?

In Ireland, the next public holiday after 4 August is the October Bank Holiday on 27 October 2025. In the UK, the next bank holiday after 25 August is Christmas Day on 25 December.

Can I travel between Ireland and the UK on the bank holiday?

Yes, you can travel, but check ferry and air schedules as some services run a reduced timetable. Book early for the August bank holiday weekends.