Eleventh public holiday would be heavenly

IRELAND could get another public holiday if proposals to have our third patron saint granted a day in his memory go through.

- BY SEAN MURPHY

Following the addition of St Brigid's Day in 2023, we now enjoy 10 public holidays.

Our third national saint after St Patrick and St Brigid is St Colmcille and a campaign to have a public holiday named after him is growing.

Donegal County Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh proposed a motion for the local authority to ask the Government to establish a new public holiday in honour of St Colmcille, who is also known as St Columba.

On the saint's feast day yesterday, he said: “Ireland is two days behind the European average of 12 public holidays.

“St Colmcille is Ireland’s third patron saint but isn’t recognised with a public holiday. We're looking to even that up.”

St Colmcille was born near Lifford, in Donegal in 521AD and established over 50 Christian sites throughout Ireland.

Despite the addition of St Brigid's Day, the Irish tally remains lower than the EU average of 12. For example, France has 12 this year, while Spain and Portugal both have 13.

Public holidays, which are sometimes called a bank holiday, commemorate a special day or other event.

SERVICES Most businesses and schools close, while services like public transport operate with reduced schedules.

In Ireland, the 10 days are New Year's Day, St Brigid’s Day, St Patrick's Day, Easter Monday, May Day, the June Bank Holiday, the August Bank Holiday, the October Bank Holiday, Christmas Day, and St Stephen's Day.