June Bank Holiday in Ireland
The first Monday in June is celebrated as the June Bank Holiday in Ireland. This holiday has evolved from Pentecost Monday, also known as Whit Monday, and was first established as a holiday during the 19th century when all of Ireland was part of the U.K. In Gaelic, this holiday is known as Lá Saoire i mí Mheithimh.
Ireland (National holiday)This day sees banks, post offices, and many organizations and businesses close. It’s also a day when people spend time with their friends and family members, engaging in activities such as picnics, barbecues, family camping, or simply getting together to enjoy sporting events.
The History of June Bank Holiday in Ireland
Traditionally, Whit Monday was observed as a holiday by many the day after Pentecost. This was made official in the Bank Holidays Act of 1871. It remained this way until the 1970s when the Employees Act of 1973 renamed the holiday and moved it to the first Monday in June. It was celebrated as this new holiday beginning in 1974. The same change was made in the United Kingdom, but instead of the first Monday in June, the last Monday in May was chosen.
Important Facts About Ireland
Ireland is a fascinating country that more people should know about. Anyone thinking of visiting this country, whether on the June Bank Holiday or not, will probably want to check out the following facts. Let’s dig into them, shall we?
- The longest river in Ireland is the River Shannon, which is approximately 370 kilometers long.
- The River Shannon passes through 11 different counties.
- Carrauntoohil is the highest mountain in Ireland, standing at approximately 1,038 meters high.
- The largest county in Ireland is County Cork, covering approximately 7,457 square kilometers.
- The smallest county in Ireland is Louth, at approximately 513.2 square kilometers.
- The official symbol of Ireland is the harp.
- Before the Great Famine, Ireland’s population was estimated to be around 8 million people.
Observing June Bank Holiday in Ireland
The June Bank Holiday is observed with a variety of popular summer activities. People enjoy open-air concerts of modern or traditional music, attend garden shows or fairs, and partake in family camping, picnics, barbecues, and art fairs. Since this day creates a three-day weekend, many people use the time to take trips — sort of like a mini-vacation.
Most pubs and stores are open on this day, but some may open later than their usual time, or they may close earlier than usual. On social media, people can use the hashtag #JuneBankHolidayIreland to spread the word about this holiday.
Ireland (National holiday)
