IRISH people have been left seriously divided over calls for the introduction of another bank holiday in the summer.
Ireland, which has 10 bank holiday each year, has less on average than the EU, which boasts an average of just over 12 days each year.
St Columcille founded an abbey in Donegal[/caption]
Now, Donegal County Council is set to propose to the government that another long weekend be added to the calendar.
The new bank holiday would fall in July to honour St Columcille, the third patron saint of Ireland.
He was the patron saint of poets and bookbinders and was believed to hold back floods.
In 2023, a bank holiday was added in February to celebrate St Brigid, the second saint of Ireland.
And a long weekend has been in place for years on March 17 to celebrate the country’s national saint, St Patrick.
Donegal County Council propose that St Columcille, as the third patron saint, be honoured with his own bank holiday.
In 2025, there are bank holidays in January, February, March, April, May, June, August, October, and on December 25 and 26.
Donegal councillor Jimy Kavanagh proposed the move.
He said: “It’s an ideal time for families if they want to take a long weekend. We don’t have a public holiday in July in the Republic of Ireland.”
But the public reaction online has already seen people split over the idea.
Claire Clarkson, who goes by @whatsgoingoninIreland, posts updates on new information from around the country.
She claimed that she would say “yes please” to another two bank holidays, which would allow us to catch up with the average EU amount.
Claire said: “So there’s talk about increasing the number of bank holidays we have eahc year becayse the EU average of bank holidays is twelve days per year.
“However, we just have ten per year, we are way behind.”
She questioned: “Do you think we get enough time off as it is and we should just be working even harder?”
Some people were in favour of the move.
One person said: “July and September would be perfect.”
Another commented: “Yes absolutely, I think having an extra day off once a month would be beneficial for people’s overall wellbeing.
“What would be nice also is if some of those days were to actually celebrate something that could entice communities to come together.”
‘COSTING A FORTUNE’
And a third added: “Yeees, should be a bank holiday weekend, each month.”
But others denounced the idea, saying it would put more pressure on businesses and employers.
One person said: “Am I the only one who hates bank holidays?”
A second put in: “How can the small & medium businesses afford their employees two extra bank holidays?
“We the consumer will ultimately pay thus increasing the cost of living crisis.”
And a fourth penned: “It’s costing small business a fortune on bank holiday weekend s and nothing extra gained.”
The new bank holiday would be in July[/caption]
