School holidays 2028/2029: Ireland term dates
In the 2028/2029 school year, Irish schools break for the October mid-term (Mon 30 Oct – Fri 3 Nov 2028), Christmas, the February mid-term and Easter (Mon 26 Mar – Sun 8 Apr 2029). These are the standardised term dates set by the Department of Education in Circular 0018/2026 and apply to all primary and post-primary schools.
Coverage: These dates apply to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Republic of Ireland. Northern Ireland publishes a separate school calendar.
Term dates 2028/2029 (primary & secondary)
| Break | Primary schools | Secondary schools | Reopen |
|---|---|---|---|
| October Mid-Term Break | Mon 30 Oct – Fri 3 Nov 2028 | Mon 30 Oct – Fri 3 Nov 2028 | Monday 6 November 2028 |
| Christmas Holidays | Sat 23 Dec 2028 – Sun 7 Jan 2029 | Sat 23 Dec 2028 – Sun 7 Jan 2029 | Monday 8 January 2029 |
| February Mid-Term Break | Thu 15 Feb – Fri 16 Feb 2029* | Mon 12 Feb – Fri 16 Feb 2029 | Monday 19 February 2029 |
| Easter Holidays | Mon 26 Mar – Sun 8 Apr 2029 | Mon 26 Mar – Sun 8 Apr 2029 | Monday 9 April 2029 |
* Primary schools close for the last two days of the February mid-term week and may use discretionary days to take the full week off, so their break can be shorter than post-primary schools'.
Most post-primary schools reopen in the last week of August 2028 and most primary schools reopen at the end of August or the start of September 2028 (each school sets its own reopening date).
Primary schools close for the summer at the end of June 2029. Post-primary schools generally close at the end of the school year in late May/June 2029, around the start of the State examinations.
Add the 2028/2029 school year to your calendar
Break-by-break guides
Each break has its own page with the last day of school, the reopening date, the primary and secondary difference and a calendar download.
Public holidays during the 2028/2029 school year
- October Bank Holiday Mon 30 Oct 2028
- Christmas Day Mon 25 Dec 2028
- St. Stephen's Day Tue 26 Dec 2028
- New Year's Day Mon 1 Jan 2029
- St. Brigid's Day Mon 5 Feb 2029
- Saint Patrick's Day Sat 17 Mar 2029
- Easter Monday Mon 2 Apr 2029
- May Bank Holiday Mon 7 May 2029
- June Bank Holiday Mon 4 Jun 2029
- August Bank Holiday Mon 6 Aug 2029
Frequently asked questions
When is the october mid-term break in 2028/2029?
Schools close 30 October to 3 November 2028 and reopen on Monday 6 November 2028.
When is the christmas holidays in 2028/2029?
Schools close 23 December 2028 to 7 January 2029 and reopen on Monday 8 January 2029.
When is the february mid-term break in 2028/2029?
Secondary schools close 12 to 16 February 2029 and primary schools 15 to 16 February 2029. All schools reopen on Monday 19 February 2029.
When is the easter holidays in 2028/2029?
Schools close 26 March to 8 April 2029 and reopen on Monday 9 April 2029.
How many days must schools be open each year?
Primary schools must provide a minimum of 182 tuition days and post-primary schools a minimum of 166 days. The standardised breaks above are set so schools can meet these minimums.
Do all schools in Ireland follow these dates?
Yes, for the main breaks. The dates above come from Department of Education Circular 0018/2026 and apply to all recognised primary and post-primary schools, including Gaelscoileanna and DEIS schools. Individual schools set a small number of their own discretionary closure days, so confirm the details with your child's school.
Related
Verified against DoE Circular 0018/2026 on 26 July 2026. Source of truth: gov.ie standardised school year circular.