Ireland follows the Catholic calendar, and many smaller towns take holidays on their respective saint's feast day - although this practice is fast dying out. Dates such as Easter and other Bank holidays change from year to year depending on what day of the week they fall on, the following dates are for 2004. Hotels in Dublin tend to be at their busiest on bank holiday weekends. Ireland shares many public holidays with the UK, and hotels need to be booked well in advance on such dates as demand always exceeds supply.
01 January New Year's Day
17 March Saint Patrick's Day
09 April Good Friday
11 April Easter
12 April Easter Monday
03 May Bank Holiday
04 June Bank Holiday
02 August Summer Bank Holiday
25 October Halloween Day
25 December Christmas Day
26 December Boxing Day Holiday
