The October Bank Holiday in Ireland, introduced in 1977, provides a civic long weekend but also ties into Ireland's ancient Samhain festival and modern Halloween celebrations, making it both a practical and culturally significant holiday.

When is October Bank Holiday?

October Bank Holiday is celebrated on the last Monday in October.

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

The History of October Bank Holiday?

The October Bank Holiday is the most recent addition to Ireland's calendar of public holidays. It was established by the Holidays (Employees) Act, 1977, and first observed in 1977.

The government created it to provide workers with an extra holiday during the long stretch between August and Christmas, when no other statutory holiday existed.

Lawmakers placed the holiday on the last Monday in October to ensure a consistent long weekend each year. This gave the holiday a seasonal and cultural context, connecting it with the harvest's end and the traditional festival marking the transition to winter.

Samhain, celebrated for thousands of years, was the Celtic end-of-harvest fire festival. It symbolized the shift into the darker half of the year.

Customs included bonfires, feasting, and disguises to ward off spirits. These traditions evolved into modern Halloween, which Ireland played a central role in spreading worldwide.

The October Bank Holiday therefore bridges modern labor rights with ancient Irish tradition.

Since 1977, the October Bank Holiday has become closely tied to Halloween festivals across Ireland, harvest fairs and autumn events, and sports. It has grown into both a civic long weekend and a celebration of Irish cultural heritage.