The August Bank Holiday in Ireland was introduced as part of 19th-century bank holiday legislation but draws on much older traditions of Lughnasadh harvest festivals. Today, it is celebrated with festivals, fairs, sports and holidays, marking the peak of the Irish summer.

When is August Bank Holiday?

August Bank Holiday is celebrated on the first Monday of August.

The following is the list of August Bank Holiday from 2020 to 2049.

The History of August Bank Holiday?

The August Bank Holiday was first introduced by the Bank Holidays Act of 1871 across the United Kingdom (which Ireland was part of at the time). The act created several fixed holidays to give workers time off, and the first Monday in August was chosen as a summer break.

After Irish independence in 1922, the Free State retained the August Bank Holiday in its own public holiday calendar.

The timing of the holiday also connects with Lughnasadh (Lúnasa), one of the four great Celtic fire festivals.

Lughnasadh marked the start of the harvest season, celebrated with fairs and markets, sports and games in honor of the god Lugh, and feasting and community celebrations.

Though the Bank Holiday was a modern legal creation, it fit neatly into Ireland's older seasonal cycle, making it culturally significant.

Through the 20th century, the August Bank Holiday became strongly linked to sports, fairs and horse racing and music and cultural festivals. It also became one of the busiest weekends for travel and tourism, as families took advantage of the long weekend.

The August Bank Holiday is a blend of modern civic holiday (rooted in 19th century labor law) and ancient seasonal custom (echoes of Lughnasadh).