Since the introduction of St Brigid's Day in 2023, the nation now celebrates 10 public holidays.
Our third national saint alongside St Patrick and St Brigid is St Colmcille – and momentum is building for a campaign to establish a public holiday in his name.
Donegal County Councillor Jimmy Kavanagh put forward a motion requesting the local authority urge the Government to create a new public holiday honoring St Colmcille, who is alternatively known as St Columba.
On the saint's feast day yesterday, he stated: "Ireland is two days behind the European average of 12 public.", reports the Irish Mirror.
"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 founded over 50 Christian sites across Ireland.
Even with the inclusion of St Brigid's Day, Ireland's total falls short of the EU average of 12. By comparison, France observes 12 this year, whereas Spain and Portugal each have 13.
Public holidays, occasionally referred to as bank holidays, mark a significant day or particular occasion.
The majority of businesses and educational institutions close their doors, whilst amenities such as public transportation run on reduced timetables.
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. Whilst Good Friday isn't a public holiday, it is a bank holiday, which means some businesses may close, but employees aren't legally guaranteed the day off.
There have been multiple suggestions for additional public holidays in Ireland, with an off-peak public holiday date having been considered by a Government taskforce for the Tourism Recovery Plan 2020-23.
The taskforce stated that this would "create additional domestic high spending short break demand and would extend the tourism season."
In 2021, Senator Fiona O'Loughlin proposed a new holiday to align with the Late Late Toy Show.
Then-Tanaiste Leo Varadkar mentioned at the time that there were talks about introducing a public holiday in February, March, or November.
Last year, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) advocated for two more public holidays in Ireland, stating: "The minimum number of public holidays should be the EU average of 12."
In January, People Before Profit suggested two extra holidays on the last Mondays of September and November.
A spokesperson commented: "Workers in Ireland are still lagging behind their European counterparts.
"Ireland has 10 public holidays. In contrast, Germany and Sweden have 13 paid public holidays, Italy has 14 and Austria has 15."
Dr Brenda Daly, an Associate Professor of Law at Dublin City University, called for more public holidays last month.
She expressed: "I certainly would advocate that there is a benefit to it."
A spokesperson from the Department of Enterprise stated: "Any proposal for the provision of another public holiday would require very careful consideration, including on the additional costs this would impose on employers."
The concept of designated days off in Ireland dates back to 1871, during the period of British governance.
Following independence, the Bank Holidays Act was superseded by the Public Holidays Act 1924.
Under Article 28 of the 1922 Constitution, the Government possesses the power to declare a new holiday.
In correspondence to the Government, Mr Kavanagh stated: "The June Bank Holiday could be renamed in honour of St Colmcille, but that wouldn't solve Ireland having less public holidays than the rest of Europe.
"We could go for a new public holiday on the first Monday in July. We don't have a public holiday in July.
"St Colmcille's story is a great story.
"I think it would be an excellent bank holiday.
"We hope the Government will look at the proposal."