Planning family holidays around school breaks can feel like solving a puzzle with moving pieces — especially when you’re juggling dates across two jurisdictions. If you’ve found yourself wondering whether the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland shut their schools on the same days, you’re not alone. This guide lays out the confirmed 2025/26 school term dates for Ireland alongside the UK picture, so you can actually book that mid-term getaway without second-guessing yourself.

4 related posts

School Term 1 Start: 27 August 2025 · Christmas Break End: 5 January 2026 · Midterm Break: 27–31 October 2025 · School Year End: 3 February 2026 (partial) · Easter Holidays: TBD 2026

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact Easter 2026 dates not yet published by Department of Education
  • Individual school discretionary day usage varies by institution
3Timeline signal
  • Northern Ireland published full 2025/26 calendar on official government site
  • Republic of Ireland relies on aggregated third-party calendars pending single official source
4What’s next
  • Individual school boards confirm discretionary days in August
  • Check your school’s website for calendar PDF closer to term start

The table below consolidates verified dates from multiple independent sources to create a single reference point for the academic year.

Period Dates Notes
2025/26 Start 27 August 2025 First day for most Republic of Ireland schools (Homeschool.ie calendar)
Christmas Close 19 December 2025 All schools close (Citizens Information service)
Midterm Oct 27–31 October 2025 Aligned with October Bank Holiday (Homeschool.ie)
Reopen Jan 5 January 2026 Monday return (Homeschool.ie)
Primary Summer End 27 June 2025 Last day of term (Every Mum parenting resource)
Secondary Summer End 30 May 2025 Pre-June Bank Holiday (Every Mum)

What are the school terms in Ireland?

Ireland operates two distinct school calendars depending on whether you’re looking at primary or post-primary institutions. Both follow the same public holiday calendar and the same Christmas, Easter, and mid-term structures, but the summer end dates differ slightly.

Primary school terms

Irish primary schools wrap up their academic year in late June, typically closing on the last Friday of the month — around according to available calendars. The summer holiday for primary pupils covers July and August.

  • Minimum requirement: 183 school days per year (Relocating to Ireland policy guide)
  • Christmas break 2025: 19 December – 5 January 2026
  • October mid-term: 27–31 October 2025
  • February mid-term: 17–21 February 2025

The 16-day difference in summer close dates between primary and secondary schools reflects exam schedules at post-primary level. Parents with children at both school types should factor this into holiday planning.

Post-primary terms

Secondary schools in Ireland finish earlier than primary schools, closing before the June Bank Holiday — around . Post-primary students get June, July, and August off for summer.

  • Minimum requirement: 167 school days per year (Relocating to Ireland)
  • The gap between secondary and primary closing dates means families with children at both levels may need to arrange childcare for an extra month
Why this matters

Schools cannot use discretionary days to extend Christmas, Easter or mid-term breaks unless a religious observance day falls at that time, according to education policy resources.

What are the UK school holidays for 2025?

Northern Ireland operates its own school calendar through the Department of Education, and while the structure broadly mirrors the Republic, the specific dates diverge in several places — most notably around Christmas and half-term breaks.

Half term dates

Northern Ireland schools break for Halloween from , according to the Department of Education Northern Ireland. This is a shorter break than the Republic’s full week (27–31 October), so cross-border families should note the difference.

  • UK wide: Half terms vary by region; England and Wales typically follow October and February breaks
  • Scotland: Different term structure with autumn, Christmas, February, Easter, and May breaks
  • Northern Ireland: St Patrick’s Day (17 March 2026) is a public holiday affecting school closures
The catch

Ireland has 10 public holidays per year — Easter Monday is one of them — while Northern Ireland’s public holiday schedule differs, creating occasional misalignment in school closure dates.

Easter holidays 2025

Northern Ireland’s Easter break for 2026 runs from . The Republic typically closes from through , though these 2025 Easter dates are already past.

What date is the start of school year 2025?

The Republic of Ireland’s 2025/26 school year kicks off on , earlier than most other countries. This staggered start across primary and secondary schools is determined by individual school boards within national guidelines, not centrally mandated.

Ireland start dates

Most schools in the Republic return on 27 August, with Term 1 running through to Christmas. The academic year officially begins in late August or early September depending on the school.

  • Term 1: 27 August 2025 – 19 December 2025
  • Term 2: 5 January 2026 – 3 February 2026 (partial)
  • Term 3: Ongoing after February mid-term

UK variations

Northern Ireland schools resume after summer on , according to the Department of Education Northern Ireland. England and Wales typically start in early September as well.

The upshot

The Republic’s earlier August start (27 August vs 1 September in Northern Ireland) means families moving between jurisdictions should verify their new school’s calendar before assuming dates transfer.

What date is mid-term break in February 2026?

Mid-term breaks in February differ between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, with Northern Ireland taking a shorter break in mid-February while the Republic has already covered its February 2025 break.

Primary mid-term

For the 2025/26 academic year, the Republic’s February break follows the same pattern as previous years: schools close from approximately mid-February, typically aligning with the week containing St Brigid’s Day (Monday, 3 February 2025).

  • February 2025 break: 17–21 February (general, verified across multiple sources)
  • Some primary schools may extend to full five-day break depending on discretionary day allocation

Post-primary

Post-primary schools typically follow the same mid-term week, though individual school boards can adjust within national guidelines.

The trade-off

Ireland’s mid-term weeks fall at different times than many UK regions, which can affect travel plans for families considering half-term trips abroad.

What dates are schools closed for Easter 2026?

Easter 2026 dates for Irish schools had not been officially published at the time of this article’s research. The Department of Education typically releases the following year’s calendar in the autumn term, so parents should plan for potential adjustments.

Ireland Easter break

Based on the 2024/25 pattern, Irish schools traditionally close from the Friday before Easter Sunday through Easter Monday, plus the following two weeks. For reference, Easter Monday 2025 falls on 21 April 2025.

  • Easter 2025 closed: 11 April – 28 April (from historical data)
  • Easter 2026 dates: Pending official publication
  • Schools must meet minimum day requirements before/after extended breaks

Public holidays impact

Ireland recognizes Easter Monday as a public holiday, meaning schools are automatically closed. The Good Friday preceding it also typically results in school closure even without formal designation. Banks and government offices close for four days over Easter in Ireland.

What to watch

Parents relying on Easter 2026 dates should verify with their child’s school in January 2026, as individual boards may adjust calendars to meet minimum day requirements.

Timeline signal

The timeline below traces key dates across the 2025/26 academic year, cross-referenced against official government and educational sources.

Date Event Source
School Term 1 begins Homeschool.ie
Midterm Break (Halloween) Homeschool.ie
Christmas holidays start Citizens Information
Schools reopen Homeschool.ie
Mid-term break Homeschool.ie
Easter break (TBD) Pending

Clarity on what’s confirmed and what’s not

Confirmed

  • Ireland dates from Citizens Information, Homeschool.ie, and Every Mum are consistent across multiple sources
  • Northern Ireland full calendar confirmed via official government publication (Department of Education Northern Ireland)
  • Christmas 2025 break: 19 December – 5 January 2026
  • October mid-term: 27–31 October 2025
  • Minimum school days: 183 (primary), 167 (post-primary)

Unconfirmed

  • Exact Easter 2026 dates not yet published
  • Individual school discretionary day allocations vary and aren’t centrally tracked
  • Regional variations between counties within Republic not comprehensively mapped

What the sources say

Schools close on Friday, 19 December 2025 and remain closed until Monday, 5 January 2026.

— Citizens Information (official government information service)

Schools cannot use discretionary days to extend Christmas, Easter or mid-term breaks unless a religious observance day falls at that time.

— Relocating to Ireland (education policy resource)

Bottom line: Irish schools follow a reliable calendar anchored by 10 public holidays and two mandatory mid-term breaks, but individual schools control discretionary days and the exact Easter 2026 dates remain TBD. Families splitting time between Republic and Northern Ireland should verify each jurisdiction’s specific dates rather than assuming alignment — the 27 August vs 1 September start is a common pitfall.

Related reading: ACT Public Holidays 2025 · Real Estate Courses Online 2025

Additional sources

education-ni.gov.uk, schooldays.ie, stpatricksskibb.ie

While the full 2025 school calendar includes mid-terms and Christmas, Ireland’s Easter break follows the Ireland Easter 2025 dates for a two-week spring respite.

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Frequently asked questions

When are school holidays?

Irish schools follow a structured calendar with Christmas break (19 December – 5 January), October mid-term (27–31 October), February mid-term (17–21 February), Easter break (dates vary by year), and summer holidays. Additional bank holidays throughout the year may extend breaks slightly.

Why is September the start of the school year?

The September start date traces back to agricultural society needs — families needed children home for summer harvest. While Ireland moved its official start to late August/early September, Northern Ireland settled on 1 September, and England/Wales also typically begin in early September.

Which country has the longest school hours?

School day length varies by country, but East Asian countries like South Korea and Japan typically have longer school days. In Ireland, the school day runs approximately 9:00–15:30 for primary students, with secondary students often finishing later.

Are there no classes on August 26 2025?

Schools in the Republic of Ireland typically close for summer before late August. The official start of the 2025/26 academic year is 27 August 2025 — meaning 26 August is still part of summer holidays for most schools.

What are the terms in schools in the UK?

UK school terms vary by country: England and Wales typically have three terms (autumn, spring, summer) with half terms in each; Scotland follows a similar structure with some variation; Northern Ireland aligns more closely with the Republic of Ireland but with different specific dates.