Latest news with #StBrigid'sDay
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Dublin dominates as top winter break location as seasonal spending rises substantially
More than half of all Irish city trips in the winter months were to Dublin, new figures from Fáilte Ireland show, with the capital accounting for 52% of city breaks between November and February. Publishing its Consumer Winter Report 2025 this week, Fáilte Ireland found that increased popularity of Dublin saw marginally less demand for breaks across some other Irish cities. Galway comprised 20% of winter trips, down from 23% in the same time last year, while Kilkenny made up 9% of winter breaks, down from 11%. Waterford remained unchanged, with 12% of city breaks taking place in the south-east city. Meanwhile, 17% of the city trips last winter were to Cork, up from 15% in the same season last year, with Limerick comprising 10%, up marginally compared to the same period 12 months ago. While there has been little change in the share of travel, the number of domestic trips across the country has risen significantly in the past three years, Fáilte Ireland found, helped by St Brigid's Day which became a bank holiday in 2023. The tourism agency also found that year-on-year card spending throughout the winter months and into March saw substantial increases, outpacing inflation during the same period. The spending figures indicate that consumers have enjoyed increased disposable income, likely contributing positively to Ireland's tourism sector throughout the winter months. Latest CSO data indicates that holiday spend for 2024 is up 12% annually, Fáilte Ireland said, with it likely that this continued into early 2025, as indicated by the Central Bank of Ireland. However, the agency said it is important to note that the increase in spending is not necessarily evenly distributed, with affordability pressures such as housing costs and inflation limiting the spending of younger and lower-income groups. While the proportion of people taking domestic breaks has remained relatively unchanged, the number of trips have increased, with this suggesting an increase in the frequency of taking trips amongst those already taking breaks. With spending up and household financial situation improving, Fáilte Ireland said it augers well for the sector this summer. However, it said sentiment is still somewhat tentative, with value for money remaining a key consideration for consumers. "The cost-of-living situation demands for more financially palatable holiday experiences in Ireland," Fáilte Ireland said. "Identifying what will make holidays less of a financial burden for key segments is key to ensuring travel plans are kept."
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Campaign grows for Ireland to get another public holiday, honouring St Colmcille
Ireland could get another public holiday if proposals to have our third patron saint granted a day in his memory go through. Following the addition of St Brigid's Day in 2023, we now enjoy 10 public holidays. Our third national saint after St Patrick and St Brigid is St Colmcille – and a campaign to have a public holiday named after him is growing. Donegal County Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh proposed a motion for the local authority to ask the Government to establish a new public holiday in honour of St Colmcille, who is also known as St Columba. On the saint's feast day yesterday, he said: "Ireland is two days behind the European average of 12 public. "St Colmcille is Ireland's third patron saint but isn't recognised with a public holiday. We're looking to even that up." St Colmcille was born near Lifford, in Donegal in 521AD and established over 50 Christian sites throughout Ireland. Despite the addition of St Brigid's Day, the Irish tally remains lower than the EU average of 12. For example, France has 12 this year, while Spain and Portugal both have 13. Public holidays, which are sometimes called a bank holiday, commemorate a special day or other event. Most businesses and schools close, while services like public transport operate with reduced schedules. In Ireland, the 10 days are New Year's Day, St Brigid's Day, St Patrick's Day, Easter Monday, May Day, the June Bank Holiday, the August Bank Holiday, the October Bank Holiday, Christmas Day, and St Stephen's Day. Good Friday is not a public holiday, but it is a bank holiday, meaning some businesses do close, although workers are not legally entitled to a day off. There have been several proposals for extra public holidays in Ireland, with a Government taskforce for the Tourism Recovery Plan 2020-23 having considered an off-peak public holiday date. It said this would "create additional domestic high spending short break demand and would extend the tourism season." In 2021 Senator Fiona O'Loughlin called for one to coincide with the Late Late Toy Show. The then-Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said at the time that there were discussions about having a public holiday in February, March or November. Last year, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) called for two more public holidays in Ireland and said: "The minimum number of public holidays should be the EU average of 12." In January, People Before Profit proposed two extra holidays for the last Mondays of September and November. A spokesman said: "Workers in Ireland are still lagging behind their European counterparts. "Ireland has 10 public holidays. In contrast, Germany and Sweden have 13 paid public holidays, Italy has 14 and Austria has 15." Dublin City University's Dr Brenda Daly, who is an Associate Professor of Law, last month called for more public holidays. She said: "I certainly would advocate that there is a benefit to it." A Department of Enterprise spokesperson said. "Any proposal for the provision of another public holiday would require very careful consideration, including on the additional costs this would impose on employers." The idea of a day off in Ireland was introduced in 1871, when the country was still under British rule. After independence, the Bank Holidays Act was replaced by the Public Holidays Act 1924. The Government has the authority under Article 28 of the 1922 Constitution to proclaim a new holiday. In a letter to the Government, Mr Kavanagh wrote: "The June Bank Holiday could be renamed in honour of St Colmcille, but that wouldn't solve Ireland having less public holidays than the rest of Europe. "We could go for a new public holiday on the first Monday in July. We don't have a public holiday in July. "St Colmcille's story is a great story. "I think it would be an excellent bank holiday. "We hope the Government will look at the proposal."
The Irish Sun
03-05-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Thousands of Irish workers could be entitled to compensation or day off for working May Bank Holiday Monday
A VAST majority of public workers are off on Monday for the May Bank Holiday as it is a statutory holiday. However, that's not the case for everyone, as a few thousand Irish workers are not guaranteed the time off from work on the day. Advertisement 1 People working on a public holiday are entitled to some compensation Credit: Getty Images - Getty Businesses, such as shops and restaurants, remain open as normal on the public holiday. And many of those who are scheduled to work on Monday are entitled to some kind of compensation. Irish workers are entitled to an additional day's pay or a day off in lieu of the public Alternatively, they could be allowed to take an extra day for annual leave. Advertisement READ MORE ON MONEY Citizens Information states that part-time Additionally, they declare that a part-time worker who meets the requirements will receive payment for the day even if they are not working. They will be eligible for an extra day's salary if they work on the holiday. The experts said: "If you don't normally work on a certain day but it's a public holiday, you should get paid one-fifth of your weekly pay. Advertisement MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN "Even if you never work on public holidays, you still get paid a fifth of your weekly pay as compensation for the public holiday." Major warning over emergency social welfare scam texts as thousands could be targeted Part-time employees on sick leave are still entitled to the public holiday they have missed, but this is only the case if they have worked a total of 40 hours in the past five weeks. Full-time workers on sick leave during the public holiday are entitled to the benefit for the holiday they missed. Citizens Information said: "Your employer can also choose to regard you as not on sick leave on the public holiday and pay you as normal for the public holiday. Advertisement "If this is the case, the public holiday is not counted as a sick leave day." You are also entitled to leave for any public holidays that occur while you are on maternity leave, parental leave, paternity leave, adoptive leave, parent's leave or domestic violence leave. LIST OF IRELAND'S BANK HOLIDAYS FOR 2025 Wednesday, January 1 – New Year's Day Monday, February 3 – St Brigid's Day Monday, March 17 – St Patrick's Day Monday, April 21 – Easter Monday Monday, May 5 – May Day Monday, June 2 – June Bank Holiday Monday, August 4 – August Bank Holiday Monday, October 27 – October Bank Holiday Thursday, December 25 – Christmas Day Friday, December 26 – St Stephen's Day However, they are not entitled to public holiday benefits if they were absent from work immediately before the public holiday and their absence is: Over 13 weeks, due to lay off or some other reason and authorised by your employer Due to a strike After the first 13 weeks of carer's leave LAID OFF OR NOT RECEIVING YOUR BENEFIT? If you are laid off or short-time working, you are still employed by your employer and your contract of employment remains in force, meaning you are entitled to benefits for any public holiday that occurs during the first 13 weeks. Advertisement If you have worked for your employer for the last four weeks and your employment ends during the week on the day before a public holiday, you should receive an extra day's salary for the public holiday. This also covers part-time workers who have put in at least 40 hours over the last five weeks. In an event where a person is not receiving their public holiday entitlement, they should discuss this with their employer. Alternatively, they can also complain to the WRC under the Organisation of Working Time Act using the online complaint form within six months of the dispute or complaint occurring. Advertisement
The Irish Sun
21-04-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Thousands of Irish workers could be entitled to compensation for working Easter Monday
A VAST majority of public workers are off work for the Easter Bank Holiday as it is a statutory holiday. But that's not the case as a few thousand Irish workers are not guaranteed a day off on the Advertisement To their advantage, many are entitled to some kind of compensation for working on the Irish workers are entitled to either an extra day's pay or a day back in lieu of the public holiday, which should be within a month of the public holiday. Alternatively, they could be allowed to take an extra day for annual leave. According to Citizens Information, part-time staff are entitled to the benefit when they have worked a total of 40 hours in the past five weeks. Advertisement READ MORE ON MONEY They also state that if a part-time If they do work on the They said: "If you don't normally work on a certain day but it's a public holiday, you should get paid one-fifth of your weekly pay. "Even if you never work on public holidays, you still get paid a fifth of your weekly pay as compensation for the public holiday." Advertisement Most read in Money Part-time employees on sick leave are still entitled to the public holiday they have missed, but this is only the case if they have worked a total of 40 hours in the past five weeks. Major warning over emergency social welfare scam texts as thousands could be targeted For a full-time worker on sick leave during the public holiday, they are entitled to the benefit for the public holiday they missed. They added: "Your employer can also choose to regard you as not on sick leave on the public holiday and pay you as normal for the public holiday. If this is the case, the public holiday is not counted as a sick leave day." LIST OF IRELAND'S BANK HOLIDAYS FOR 2025 Wednesday, January 1 – New Year's Day Monday, February 3 – St Brigid's Day Monday, March 17 – St Patrick's Day Monday, April 21 – Easter Monday Monday, May 5 – May Day Monday, June 2 – June Bank Holiday Monday, August 4 – August Bank Holiday Monday, October 27 – October Bank Holiday Thursday, December 25 – Christmas Day Friday, December 26 – St Stephen's Day You are also entitled to leave for any public holidays that occur while you are on maternity leave, parental leave, paternity leave, adoptive leave, parent's leave or domestic violence leave. Advertisement However, they are not entitled to public holiday benefits if they were absent from work immediately before the public holiday and their absence is: Over 13 weeks, due to lay off or some other reason and authorised by your employer Due to a strike After the first 13 weeks of carer's leave LAID OFF OR NOT RECEIVING YOUR BENEFIT? If you are laid off or short-time working, you are still employed by your employer and your contract of employment remains in force, meaning you are entitled to benefits for any public holiday that occurs during the first 13 weeks. If your employment finishes during the week, ending on the day before a public holiday, and you have worked for your employer for the previous 4 weeks, you should get an additional day's pay for the public holiday. This also applies to part-time employees who have worked at least 40 hours in the previous 5 weeks. Advertisement In an event where you are not receiving your public holiday entitlement, you should discuss this with your employer. Alternatively, they can also complain to the WRC under the Organisation of Working Time Act using the online complaint form within six months of the dispute or complaint occurring. 1 People working on a public holiday are entitled to some kind of compensation Credit: Getty Images - Getty
The Guardian
07-02-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Country diary: Rituals and redwings in a hedgerow communion
Sunday afternoon, early February, and we have gathered between the churchyard of St Andrew's in Bredwardine and the River Wye to mark time. We are here to celebrate St Brigid's Day and Imbolc (the first day of Gaelic spring; the term means 'ewe's milk'), healing and fertility, with meditation and a hedgerow communion. In the sun and the warming air we walk in silence to the old fish ponds and the ancient settlement. I have walked this way many times, often in winter, past the chestnuts, naked and stark against the grey sky, and out into the opening backed by oak trees leaning down to the river. Out of the silence, I hear the 'tseep-tseep' of a solitary redwing amid the 'chack-chack' of fieldfares. I catch a glimpse of its quizzical eye and cream eyebrow; the mottled, lynx-like feathers and the red flash. A split second of connection lifts the soul out of self-consciousness. The redwing reminds me of last year, when, on this same day, in a ritual act of deep memory, we took red ribbons – called 'brat bríde' – that mirror the redwing's flank, to catch the morning dew from the blades of grass. St Brigid is supposed to visit on the eve of 1 February and imbue the dew with protection and healing. We took the ribbons away and placed them in our homes to keep us from harm in the year ahead. Soon, as the swallows start arriving, the redwings will return to the forests of Siberia. Like St Brigid, they fly by night for protection against predators. This year, we would have repeated the ribbon ritual, only the number of attenders – about 60 – was too large to make it possible. Our other hedgerow communions, at Lammas and winter solstice, are similarly popular. But there are other things we can do to mark the day: we welcome the four cardinal points, from the Latin cardo, meaning 'axis', and we share the bread and wine as we move in expectation towards the April resurrection, the light and the lengthening of days. Beneath our feet, a mantle of snowdrops leans towards the pale sun in the west, and someone reads the poem Face to Face by Tomas Tranströmer, which ends with the words: 'The earth and I sprang toward each other.' Under the Changing Skies: The Best of the Guardian's Country Diary, 2018-2024 is published by Guardian Faber; order at and get a 15% discount
