If you’re planning the next school year in Ireland, you’ll want to know exactly when the kids are off — the standard school year runs 167 teaching days for primary and post-primary, with three mid-term breaks and a nine-week summer. This calendar pulls together confirmed dates from official sources so you can map out term time, holidays, and exam periods without guesswork.
Standard school year length (Ireland): 167 teaching days for primary, 167 for post-primary ·
Summer break duration: July and most of August (approx. 9 weeks) ·
Number of mid-term breaks per year: 3 (October, February, May/June) ·
Christmas break (2025/26): 22 December 2025 – 2 January 2026 ·
Easter break (2026): 30 March – 10 April 2026 (primary and post-primary)
Quick snapshot
- Christmas break: 22 Dec 2025 – 2 Jan 2026 (Ireland’s Department of Education circular)
- Easter break: 30 Mar – 10 Apr 2026 (HomeSchool Ireland (parenting resource))
- October mid-term: 27 Oct – 31 Oct 2025 (Superprof (education platform))
- Exact start/end dates per school – these can vary by a day or two (Superprof (education platform))
- Potential local closures due to unforeseen events (e.g., weather) (Superprof (education platform))
- Late Aug / Early Sep 2025 – School year begins (Superprof (education platform))
- 27–31 Oct 2025 – Halloween mid-term (Superprof (education platform))
- 22 Dec 2025 – 2 Jan 2026 – Christmas holidays (Department of Education circular)
- Feb 2026 – February mid-term (dates differ by level) (HomeSchool Ireland (parenting resource))
- 30 Mar – 10 Apr 2026 – Easter holidays (Department of Education circular)
- Late Jun 2026 (primary) / Early Jun 2026 (post-primary) – Summer break (HomeSchool Ireland (parenting resource))
- Check your school’s own calendar for precise start/end days
- Watch for Department of Education updates on contingency days
Four key figures sum up the rhythm of the Irish school year: total holiday time, the longest break, the shortest break, and the bank holidays that fall within term time.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Total weeks of school holiday (approx) | 14–15 weeks | gov.ie circular |
| Longest break | Summer (July–August) | HomeSchool Ireland |
| Shortest break | February mid-term (1–2 days for primary) | Superprof |
| Public bank holidays during term | 6 (Oct bank holiday, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter Monday, May/June bank holidays) | Citizens Information (statutory public service) |
What are the school holidays for 2025/26 in Ireland?
The Department of Education standardises the main breaks for all primary and post-primary schools, but individual schools have limited discretion over the exact start and end dates. Always double-check your school’s published calendar.
Primary school holiday dates 2025/26
- Christmas break: 22 December 2025 – 2 January 2026 (Department of Education circular)
- October mid-term: 27–31 October 2025 (Superprof)
- February mid-term: 19–20 February 2026 (Thursday–Friday) (HomeSchool Ireland)
- Easter break: 30 March – 10 April 2026 (Department of Education circular)
- Summer: Late June 2026 (exact date set by school) (HomeSchool Ireland)
Post-primary school holiday dates 2025/26
- Christmas break: 22 December 2025 – 2 January 2026 (same as primary)
- October mid-term: 27–31 October 2025 (same as primary)
- February mid-term: 16–20 February 2026 (Monday–Friday) (HomeSchool Ireland)
- Easter break: 30 March – 10 April 2026 (same as primary)
- Summer: Late May to early June 2026 (state exams begin) (Superprof)
Common holiday periods for all schools
- Halloween/October mid-term: 27–31 October 2025
- Christmas: 22 December 2025 – 2 January 2026
- Easter: 30 March – 10 April 2026
- Summer break: July and most of August
The pattern: primary and post-primary share the major breaks but differ on the February mid-term (2 days vs 5 days) and summer start (late June vs early June). The implication: families with children at both levels may face staggered weeks off in February and June.
When does the school year 2025/26 start in Ireland?
The Department of Education sets a window, but each school board picks its own opening day. Some start in late August, others in early September. Confirm with your school by mid-August.
Opening date for primary schools in 2025
- Primary schools typically open in the last week of August or the first week of September (Superprof)
- Exact date varies by school – no single national start day (HomeSchool Ireland)
Opening date for post-primary schools in 2025
- Post-primary schools also open in late August/early September 2025 (Superprof)
- Many post-primary schools start on the same day as local primary schools, but some stagger their opening for transition year or orientation programmes (HomeSchool Ireland)
The trade-off: national standardisation gives you reliable holiday dates, but the start of term is left to local discretion. Check your school’s website from mid-August onward.
When is the February mid-term break in 2026?
Primary school children officially get only two days off (Thursday and Friday), while post-primary students get a full week. But many primary schools use discretionary closure days to stretch it to five days – ask your principal.
February mid-term dates for primary schools 2026
- Thursday 19 February to Friday 20 February 2026 (HomeSchool Ireland)
- Some primary schools may extend the break to a full week using contingency days (HomeSchool Ireland)
February mid-term dates for post-primary schools 2026
- Monday 16 February to Friday 20 February 2026 (HomeSchool Ireland)
- Post-primary schools normally close for the full week (Superprof)
The catch: if your child is in primary school, don’t assume the mid-term is a full week off. Call the school to confirm whether they are using discretionary days to close Monday–Friday or only the official two days.
Timeline: school year 2025/26 at a glance
- Late Aug / Early Sep 2025 – School year 2025/26 begins
- 27–31 October 2025 – Halloween/October mid-term break
- 22 Dec 2025 – 2 Jan 2026 – Christmas holidays
- 16–20 February 2026 – February mid-term (post-primary) / 19–20 Feb (primary)
- 30 Mar – 10 Apr 2026 – Easter holidays
- May/June 2026 – State examinations begin (Leaving/Junior Cert)
- Late June 2026 (primary) / Early June 2026 (post-primary) – Summer holidays begin
Note: post-primary students finish earlier because summer state exams start in early June; primary schools continue until late June.
Clarity: confirmed vs still unclear
Confirmed facts
- Christmas break dates: 22 Dec 2025 – 2 Jan 2026 (Department of Education)
- Easter break dates: 30 Mar – 10 Apr 2026 (Department of Education)
- October mid-term: 27 Oct – 31 Oct 2025 (Superprof)
- Summer break: July and most of August (consensus across sources)
What’s still unclear
- Exact start/end dates for each school – these can vary by a day or two (Superprof)
- Whether primary schools will extend February mid-term using discretionary days (HomeSchool Ireland)
- Potential local closures due to weather or unforeseen events
What the experts say
“The Department of Education circular provides guidance on the standardisation of breaks at Christmas, Easter, and mid-term in the first and second terms for 2026/27, 2027/28, and 2028/29, and references the earlier 2023/24, 2024/25, and 2025/26 circular as precedent.”
Ireland’s Department of Education (official circular)
“Many schools extend the February mid-term break to a full week using discretionary closure days.”
HomeSchool Ireland (parenting resource)
“Post-primary schools typically finish classes just before the June Bank Holiday weekend, when the State Examinations begin.”
Superprof (education platform)
Summary
The 2025/26 school year in Ireland is largely predictable: three mid-term breaks, a fixed Christmas and Easter, and a long summer. But the February mid-term split (2 days for primary vs 5 for post-primary) and the local discretion on start days mean you cannot rely on a single national calendar. For families with children in both primary and post-primary, the clear action is to check each school’s own published dates in August 2025 and again before the February break, or risk mismatched weeks off.
For a detailed breakdown of the official term dates, check out the 2026 MOE school holidays in Ireland guide.
Frequently asked questions
When is the October mid-term break in 2025?
The October mid-term break runs from Monday 27 October to Friday 31 October 2025 for both primary and post-primary schools (Superprof).
When is the Christmas break in 2025/26?
Schools close on Monday 22 December 2025 and reopen on Monday 4 January 2026 or Tuesday 5 January 2026, depending on the school (Department of Education).
When are the Easter holidays in 2026?
The Easter break runs from Monday 30 March to Friday 10 April 2026 for both primary and post-primary (Department of Education).
When does the school year end in 2026?
Primary schools finish in late June 2026; post-primary schools finish in late May or early June 2026 (when state exams begin) (HomeSchool Ireland).
Are school holidays the same for primary and secondary schools?
Christmas, October mid-term, and Easter are identical. The February mid-term is longer for post-primary (full week) than primary (2 days official). Summer starts earlier for post-primary due to exams.
Where can I find an official calendar?
The Department of Education publishes circulars at gov.ie/department-of-education/circulars and individual school calendars are on each school’s website. Aggregated calendars are available at SchoolDays.ie.