We started longweekend.ie because, like most people living and working in Ireland, we treat public holidays like gold dust.
With just ten official bank holidays on the Irish calendar each year, every three-day weekend is an opportunity to recharge. Too often, people only realise a long weekend is around the corner when local hotels are already booked out, or spend their extra day off scrolling for ideas. We built Long Weekend to be the independent travel and planning resource we always wanted: a single place to look up official holiday dates, calculate smart annual leave combinations, and discover hand-picked short breaks across Ireland and Europe.
How we calculate accurate Irish bank holiday dates
When you are booking annual leave, flights, or accommodation months in advance, accuracy matters. All bank holiday dates on Long Weekend are calculated directly from Irish employment law under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 (as amended). This includes the statutory rules for the Saint Brigid’s Day holiday introduced in 2023, the moveable date of Easter, and the official Monday bank holidays in May, June, August, and October.
When a public holiday falls on a weekend, our calendars show the substitute day off typically observed by Irish employers, civil services, and banking institutions, helping you plan your time off with total confidence.
Independent travel guides for Irish travellers
Every escape in Ireland and trip abroad on this site is written specifically for people travelling from the Republic of Ireland. We focus on real drive times from Dublin, Cork, Galway, and Limerick, practical public transport options, and direct flight routes out of Dublin, Cork, Shannon, and Ireland West Knock. Rather than generic tourist checklists, our itineraries highlight scenic walking trails, local food spots, and realistic schedules that make three or four days feel like a proper holiday.
How this site is funded
Long Weekend is completely free to read, without paywalls or subscriptions. To keep our guides fresh, maintain our calendar engines, and cover running costs, we earn income through three clear channels:
- Clearly labelled advertising: Display ads placed across our guides and directory pages.
- Affiliate partnerships: When you book a hotel, flight, or travel experience through links on our site, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
- Sponsored features: Occasional partner collaborations, always clearly flagged as sponsored content.
Commercial relationships never influence our recommendations, itinerary routes, or honest advice on where to spend your hard-earned time off.