There’s a familiar scramble that hits every Irish household in late summer: finding the school calendar and mapping out the year’s holidays. For the 2025/2026 academic year, most schools will open on Wednesday, 27 August 2025, and the major break dates — October mid-term, Christmas, Easter — are already set by the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) and confirmed in school PDF calendars.

4 related posts

School year starts: Wednesday, August 27, 2025 ·
Minimum school days: 167 ·
October mid-term break: October 27 – October 31, 2025 ·
Christmas break: December 22, 2025 – January 2, 2026 ·
Easter break: April 6 – April 17, 2026 ·
School year ends: Late May / June 2026 (varies by school)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact start and end dates vary by school, especially between primary and secondary (Schooldays.ie)
  • 2026/2027 school calendar not yet published; dates are estimates based on historical patterns (Schooldays.ie)
  • Some schools may add closure days for state examinations or staff training (Department of Education NI)
3Timeline signal
  • August 27, 2025 – First day of school (most institutions)
  • October 27–31, 2025 – October mid-term break
  • December 22, 2025 – January 2, 2026 – Christmas break
  • January 5, 2026 – School reopens after Christmas
  • April 6–17, 2026 – Easter break
  • Late May / June 2026 – School closes for summer
4What’s next
  • Check your own school’s website for exact term dates and teacher training days (Homeschool.ie)
  • Watch for the 2026/2027 calendar announcement in spring 2026 (Schooldays.ie)

The six key dates in the 2025/2026 school year reveal a consistent pattern across most Irish schools: a late August start, two long holiday breaks, and a summer finish that varies by sector.

The table below summarises the fixed points in the calendar.

Event Date
School year start Wednesday, August 27, 2025
October mid-term October 27–31, 2025
Christmas break December 22, 2025 – January 2, 2026
Easter break April 6–17, 2026
School year end (primary) Late May 2026 (approx. May 25–29)
School year end (secondary) Early June 2026 (approx. June 1–5)
Bottom line: The pattern: primary pupils get a longer summer, but secondary students face exams that extend the year by a week or two.

What are the school term dates for 2025/2026 in Ireland?

When does the school year start?

The implication: the late-August start is near-universal, but always confirm with your school’s own calendar — a few institutions shift by a day or two.

When does the school year end?

  • Primary schools typically close in late May 2026, while secondary schools finish in early June 2026 due to state examination timetables, according to everymum.ie.
  • Individual schools publish exact closing dates on their websites — for example, Castle Park School PDF shows term ending on Friday 19 December 2025 for the autumn term, with the final summer term end date to be confirmed locally.

The catch: primary families get a longer summer, but secondary parents must account for exam-timetable extensions that push the finish line into June.

When are the school holidays in 2025/2026?

October mid-term break

  • The mid-term break runs from Monday 27 October to Friday 31 October 2025 (Halloween week), confirmed by Scoil Chaitríona PDF and Edarabia.
  • Some schools in Northern Ireland may extend this to two weeks — the Castle Park School PDF lists 20–31 October 2025 as a combined break.

The catch: if you’re booking a family holiday, confirm whether your school takes one week or two — the difference matters.

The upshot

October mid-term is the same week for most Irish primary and secondary schools, but Northern Irish schools may vary. Always check your school’s PDF before booking.

Christmas break

  • The INTO standardisation notice states that all schools will close on Friday 19 December 2025 and reopen on Monday 5 January 2026 (INTO official guidance).
  • Individual school calendars, such as the Scoil Chaitríona PDF, show Christmas break beginning 19 December and ending 4 January with classes resuming on 5 January.
  • This two-week closure is consistent across the Republic of Ireland.

Why this matters: the Christmas break is nationally coordinated, so you can plan with confidence — no surprises from school to school.

Easter break

  • Easter holidays run from Monday 6 April to Friday 17 April 2026, a two-week closure that covers Good Friday (3 April 2026) and Easter Monday (6 April 2026). Sources include everymum.ie and Edarabia.
  • Schools return on Monday 20 April 2026 for the final term.

The pattern: Easter break is always two weeks, but the exact dates shift each year; 2026’s fall is later than in some years, giving families a longer spring window.

What is the secondary school calendar for 2025/2026?

Key dates for secondary schools

  • Secondary schools follow the same national term and holiday schedule as primary schools, as noted by Superprof.ie.
  • However, some secondary schools may adjust start/end times or hold additional closure days for state examinations (Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate) — the INTO standardisation acknowledges that individual school calendars may include extra non-operational days.

The implication: secondary school parents should check for exam-timetable closures in May and June that don’t appear on the primary calendar.

Where can I find the school calendar 2025/2026 PDF?

Official sources for downloadable calendars

  • Individual school websites publish their own PDF calendars. For example, Scoil Chaitríona (scps.ie) and Castle Park School provide downloadable term dates.
  • The Department of Education and Citizens Information (government portal) provide a national overview but do not offer a single downloadable calendar for all schools.
  • Parenting sites like Homeschool.ie and Schooldays.ie aggregate dates but always recommend verifying with your school.
What to watch

No single official PDF covers all Irish schools. Your best bet: bookmark your school’s website and download their calendar as soon as it’s published — typically in April or May before the new school year.

The implication: parents must rely on school websites, but most upload their calendars well before August.

What about primary school holidays for 2026/2027?

Planning ahead for the following year

  • Dates for the 2026/2027 school year are not yet officially published, but will follow a similar pattern of mid-term breaks and holiday periods, according to Schooldays.ie.
  • The Department of Education typically announces the school calendar for the next year during the spring term of the current year — so expect the 2026/2027 schedule around March or April 2026.

Why this matters: if you’re planning a trip for autumn 2026, pencil in the October mid-term break as late October 2026, but wait for the official announcement before booking flights.

“The INTO standardisation notice ensures that Christmas and Easter breaks are coordinated across the majority of schools, giving families a predictable holiday pattern each year.”

Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) – official guidance

“Each school publishes its own calendar to reflect local needs — including staff training days and exam schedules — so parents should always refer to their school’s PDF rather than relying solely on national dates.”

Principal of Belmayne ETSS, via Homeschool.ie summary

For Irish parents preparing for the 2025/2026 school year, the choice is clear: start with the national holiday framework, then confirm your own school’s exact dates. Book your family holidays around the known breaks, and mark your calendar for the 2026/2027 announcement next spring — or risk a costly miscalculation.

For a comprehensive overview of the entire school year, including term dates and holidays, refer to the full calendar of dates for Ireland.

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Frequently asked questions

Is the school calendar the same for all schools in Ireland?

No, while the major holiday breaks (October mid-term, Christmas, Easter) are standardised across most schools by the INTO, individual schools may adjust start dates, end dates, and add closure days for exams or staff training.

How many weeks are in the Irish school year?

The school year typically runs for about 38 weeks (minimum 167 school days), with breaks for mid-term, Christmas, Easter, and summer.

Do primary and secondary schools have the same holidays?

Yes, the national holiday schedule is the same, but secondary schools often finish later in June due to state examinations.

When will the 2026/2027 school calendar be announced?

The Department of Education usually announces the next year’s calendar during the spring term of the current school year, typically March or April 2026.

Can I get a printable PDF of the 2025/2026 school calendar?

There is no single official PDF for all schools. Download your school’s own calendar from its website, or use aggregated versions from Homeschool.ie or Schooldays.ie.

Are there any additional closure days for teacher training?

Yes, many schools schedule one or two “teacher training” or “staff development” closure days during the year. These are set locally and may not appear on national calendars — check your school’s PDF.

What happens if a holiday falls on a weekend?

Typically, the school closure is observed on the following Monday or Friday, but individual schools may handle this differently. Always confirm with your school.