Schooldays.ie - Ireland's Online Resource for Parents & Teachers

Parenting & Education in Ireland

Schooldays.ie - Ireland's Online Resource for Parents & Teachers

Parenting & Education

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Note re School Summer Holiday Dates in Ireland



We regularly receive enquiries as to why the School Summer holiday dates are not shown on our School Calendar. The reason the summer holiday dates are not listed is that unlike the Halloween, Christmas, February and Easter holidays, school summer holiday dates in Ireland are not standardised by the Dept of Education and vary from school to school. There is an overall requirement of 167 days at post-primary level and 183 days at primary level, dictated by religious observance that is required in schools under the patronage of different denominations or faiths. However schools may use their discretionary days, where available, to determine the precise start and end of the school year.

Generally speaking

....... (check exact dates with your school)

Primary schools usually finish the school year sometime during the last week in June. Private primary schools may finish at the end of May.
Most primary schools will re-open in the week in which 1st September falls although some may choose to open the previous week.


Secondary schools will not be open beyond the Friday preceding the June bank holiday in any year so as to facilitate the state exams for third and sixth years which get underway in June. The school year will normally commence during the week in which 1st September falls although the school year may commence in the week prior to that in which 1st September falls where this is necessary in order to meet the overall requirement of a minimum of 167 at post-primary level. Many secondary schools stagger the return of students with different year groups returning on different days.

View the 2022/2023 School Calendar here

Visit our School Summer Holidays Section for lots of activity ideas including Summer Camps & Family Breaks

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