Holy Days of Obligation in Ireland — 2026
Besides every Sunday, Ireland observes 6 holy days of obligation, set by the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference with the approval of the Holy See. Here is each one with its 2026 date and whether the obligation binds this year.
The holy days in 2026
The Epiphany of the Lord
Tuesday, January 6
Saint Patrick, Patron of Ireland
Tuesday, March 17
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Saturday, August 15
All Saints
Sunday, November 1
The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Tuesday, December 8
The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
Friday, December 25
How the rule works
Ireland has six holy days of obligation besides Sundays, including Saint Patrick's Day (17 March), which is proper to Ireland. There is NO Saturday/Monday rule — the obligation binds on whatever weekday the feast falls (official ICBC practice: Monday All Saints 2004 and Monday Epiphany 2014 were fully observed). The Ascension and Corpus Christi are celebrated on Sundays.
Celebrated on Sunday in Ireland
These solemnities are transferred to a Sunday, so they are covered by the ordinary Sunday obligation:
- The Ascension of the Lord — Sunday, May 17. Celebrated on the Seventh Sunday of Easter in Ireland.
- The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) — Sunday, June 7. Celebrated on the Sunday after Trinity Sunday in Ireland.
Not days of obligation in Ireland
These feasts of canon 1246 are kept as solemnities on their dates, without a Mass obligation:
- Mary, the Holy Mother of God (1 January)
- Saint Joseph (19 March)
- Saints Peter and Paul (29 June)
Fasting & abstinence in Ireland
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence. Every Friday of the year is an obligatory day of penance in Ireland, but the Irish bishops allow it to be fulfilled by abstaining from meat OR by alternatives: giving up another food, drink or amusement, family prayer, attending Mass, visiting the Blessed Sacrament, the Stations of the Cross, extra fasting with almsgiving, or helping those in need (Irish Episcopal Conference Decree No. 14 and the 2010 Friday Penance resource).
Fasting binds those over 18 until the beginning of their 60th year; abstinence binds all over 14 (Decree No. 14 Appendix).
Friday penance lapses when a solemnity falls on a Friday (canon 1251).
Common questions
How many holy days of obligation are there in Ireland in 2026?
Besides every Sunday, Ireland observes 6 holy days of obligation. In 2026, the obligation to attend Mass binds on 6 of them.
Who sets the holy days of obligation in Ireland?
Canon 1246 of the Code of Canon Law lists ten holy days for the universal Church, but each national bishops' conference may, with the approval of the Holy See, suppress some or transfer them to a Sunday. The list on this page follows the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference.
What are the fasting rules in Ireland?
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence. Every Friday of the year is an obligatory day of penance in Ireland, but the Irish bishops allow it to be fulfilled by abstaining from meat OR by alternatives: giving up another food, drink or amusement, family prayer, attending Mass, visiting the Blessed Sacrament, the Stations of the Cross, extra fasting with almsgiving, or helping those in need (Irish Episcopal Conference Decree No. 14 and the 2010 Friday Penance resource).
Rules verified against the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference and vatican.va. Sources: https://www.catholicbishops.ie/2013/08/14/18939/ · https://www.catholicbishops.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Celebrating-the-Mass-throughout-the-year-web.pdf · https://www.catholicbishops.ie/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/DECREE-87_88.pdf · https://www.catholicbishops.ie/2010/11/23/feature-friday-penance/