School holiday dates, Irish school holidays, school holidays and mid term dates are a time when prices can sky rocket. For Irish School holidays here is a brief guide to some of the dates as we understand them for the coming years. Always check your own school though for definitive information on school holiday dates.

There are agreed arrangements in respect of the standardisation of the breaks at Christmas, Easter and mid-term in the first and second terms for the school years 2011/12, 2012/13 and 2013/14 and they are contained in a Department of Education Circular. Private Primary and Secondary schools may have different arrangements. 

For the first time, contingency arrangements have been put in place within the standardised school year to deal with unforeseen school closures. Parents should be aware of these contingency arrangements if booking holidays.

School Holiday dates 2011/2012

October 2011 mid-term break.

All schools will close from Monday 31st October 2011 to Friday 4th November 2011 inclusive.

Christmas 2011.

All schools will close on Thursday 22nd December 2011, which will be the final day of the school term. All schools will re-open on Monday 9th January 2012.

February 2012 mid-term break.

All primary schools will close on Thursday 16th February 2012 and Friday 17th February 2012. (Primary schools may use 3 discretionary days to extend this break to an alternative option of a 5 day break for the period from Monday 13th February 2012 to Friday 17th February 2012 inclusive unless changes are required as part of contingency arrangements to make up for time lost due to unforeseen school closures.)
 

Post-primary schools will close from Monday 13th February 2012 to Friday 17th February 2012 inclusive unless changes are required as part of contingency arrangements to make up for time lost due to unforeseen school closures.

Where contingency arrangements are required a school authority may reduce the length of the February mid-term break by remaining open up to and including Wednesday 15th February 2012.

Easter 2012

All schools will close on Friday 30th March 2012, which will be the final day of the school term, unless changes are required as part of contingency arrangements to make up for time lost due to unforeseen school closures. Where contingency arrangements are required a school authority may reduce the length of the Easter break by remaining open up to and including Wednesday 4th April 2012.
 

All schools will re-open on Monday 16th April 2012.

School Holiday dates 2012/2013

October 2012 mid-term break

All schools will close from Monday 29th October 2012 to Friday 2nd November 2012 inclusive.

Christmas 2012

All schools will close on Friday 21st December 2012, which will be the final day of the school term.All schools will re-open on Monday 7th January 2013.

February 2013 mid-term break

All primary schools will close on Thursday 14th February 2013 and Friday 15th February 2013. (Primary schools may use 3 discretionary days to extend this break to an alternative option of a 5 day break for the period from Monday 11th February 2013 to Friday 15th February 2013 inclusive unless changes are required as part of contingency arrangements to make up for time lost due to unforeseen school closures.)

Post-primary schools will close from Monday 11th February 2013 to Friday 15th February 2013 inclusive unless changes are required as part of contingency arrangements to make up for time lost due to unforeseen school closures.

Where contingency arrangements are required a school authority may reduce the length of the February mid-term break by remaining open up to and including Wednesday 13th February 2013.

Easter 2013
 

All schools will close on Friday 22nd March 2013, which will be the final day of the school term, unless changes are required as part of contingency arrangements to make up for time lost due to unforeseen school closures. Where contingency arrangements are required a school authority may reduce the length of the Easter break by remaining open up to and including Wednesday 27th March 2013.

All schools will re-open on Monday 8th April 2013.

School Holiday dates 2012/2013

October 2013 mid-term break

All schools will close from Monday 28th October 2013 to Friday 1st November 2013 inclusive.

Christmas 2013

All schools will close on Friday 20th December 2013, which will be the final day of the school term.All schools will re-open on Monday 6th January 2014.

February 2014 mid-term break

All primary schools will close on Thursday 20th February 2014 and Friday 21st February 2014. (Primary schools may use 3 discretionary days to extend this break to an alternative option of a 5 day break for the period from Monday 17th February 2014 to Friday 21st February 2014 inclusive unless changes are required as part of contingency arrangements to make up for time lost due to unforeseen school closures.)

Post-primary schools will close from Monday 17th February 2014 to Friday 21st February 2014 inclusive unless changes are required as part of contingency arrangements to make up for time lost due to unforeseen school closures.

Where contingency arrangements are required a school authority may reduce the length of the February mid-term break by remaining open up to and including Wednesday 19th February 2014.

Easter 2014

All schools will close on Friday 11th April 2014, which will be the final day of the school term, unless changes are required as part of contingency arrangements to make up for time lost due to unforeseen school closures. Where contingency arrangements are required a school authority may reduce the length of the Easter break by remaining open up to and including Wednesday 16th April 2014.

All schools will re-open on Monday 28th April 2014.
 

Leaving Certificate Examination/Junior Certificate Examination 2011

For full details of the timetable and schedule of dates see the State Examination Commission.

School holiday dates, Irish school holidays, school holidays and mid term  are a great time to get a break with the family if you catch the early worm prices can be not as jaw dropping as if you leave it too late. Always check your own school though for definitive information on school holiday dates.

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