Ireland
Ireland is an island located to the west of the island of Britain.
The Republic of Ireland is the 26 counties which make up the southern
four-fifths of the island.
The 6 counties of Northern Ireland are in the
United Kingdom.
 Bank Holiday, first Monday in June (Jun 7, 2004).
Bank Holiday, first Monday in August (Aug 2, 2004).
Bank Holiday, last Monday in October (Oct 25, 2004).
Saint Patrick's Day, March 17. See
Saint Patrick.
Saint Bridget's Day, February 1. Celebrates the arrival of Spring in feminine form.
Bridget is the female counterpart to St. Patrick.
Before the coming of Christianity, she was the goddess Briget, and was
honored with the
Celtic Festival
Imbolc.
Sheelah's Day, March 18. Sheelah may have been the wife or mother of Saint Patrick.
This day is observed with clovers left over from Saint Patrick's Day celebrations.
Reek Sunday, last Sunday in July (Jul 25, 2004). Pilgrims climb St. Patrick mountain in Mayo.
All Saints' Day, November 1. This is the Christianized version of the earlier
Celtic Festival
of Samhain, on which night bonfires are lit on hills around the country.
Public holidays
The public holidays in the Republic of Ireland are
New Year's Day, St Patrick's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Christmas,
St Stephen's Day, and bank holidays on Mondays in June, August, and October.
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