Important Irish Dates 2017 and 2018

Planning & Advice
Important Irish dates

We’ve spent a few intense hours preparing this list of important Irish dates 2017 2018. Why? Well, have you heard the one about the groom who was the only man at his own wedding reception? It’s because all other dudes were at the hotel bar, watching a live World Cup game. If you don’t want it to be your wedding day memory, simply ponder the list below, before you set your wedding date – it’s all the important Irish dates, events and happenings for 2017 and 2018.

The reason you should keep these in mind when setting the date is simple – some of your guests won’t be able to attend, or will be distracted. You may want to consider sending save-the-date cards to give everyone as much notice as possible, rather than just a few weeks they’d get with invitations.

At certain times of the year some of your preferred suppliers may be heavily booked as well – for example, florists around Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. So take a look at our calendar before you set the date – it may just make a difference.

But, what to do if your other half is a major sports fan, and your wedding is already booked for the same day as the Euro 2016 final? Worry not – just ask the venue if they can arrange a viewing area close to your reception room. This way, everyone will still be nearby, and they’ll think you’re the coolest bride ever. We’d also like to suggest bookmarking this link to upcoming sporting events of Irish interest (and you can keep an eye on GAA fixtures here) – as well as this one, for a complete list of Irish bank holidays for the next two years.

Here are all the important Irish dates for 2016:

February 2016

4th, Saturday – Six Nations Rugby, Scotland v Ireland
11th, Saturday – Six Nations Rugby, Italy vs Ireland
14th, Tuesday – Valentine’s Day
25th, Saturday – Six Nations Rugby, Ireland vs France
26th, Sunday – Capital One Cup final, Wembley

March 2016

1st, Wednesday – Ash Wednesday, Lent begins
10th, Friday – Six Nations Rugby, Wales vs Ireland
17th, Friday – St Patrick’s Day
18th, Saturday – Six Nations Rugby, Ireland v England
26th, Sunday – Mother’s Day

April 2016

9th, Sunday – Palm Sunday
14th, Friday – Good Friday, Easter
16th, Sunday – Easter Sunday
17th, Monday – Easter Monday

May 2016

1st, Monday – May bank holiday
27th, Saturday – FA Cup final, Wembley

June 2016

3rd, Saturday – UEFA Champions League final
6th, Monday – June bank holiday
10th, Friday – UEFA Euro 2016 kicks off, lasts until Sunday, 10th July
11th, Saturday – Rugby Union summer series starts
18th, Saturday – Rugby Union – South Africa v Ireland
19th, Sunday – Father’s Day
25th, Saturday – Rugby Union – South Africa v Ireland

July 2016

2nd, Saturday to 24th, Sunday – Tour de France
10th, Sunday – UEFA Euro 2016 final

August 2016

1st, Monday – August bank holiday
5th, Friday to 21st, Sunday – the Olympic Games, Brazil

September 2016

30th, Friday to October 2nd, Sunday – Ryder Cup

October 2016

13th, Friday – Friday the 13th

31st, Monday – October bank holiday

November 2016

1st, Tuesday – All Saints Day
12th, Saturday – Rugby Union – Ireland v Canada
13th, Sunday – Remembrance Day
19th, Saturday – Rugby Union – Ireland v New Zealand
26th, Saturday – Rugby Union – Ireland v Australia

December 2016

24th, Saturday – Christmas Eve
25th, Sunday – Christmas Day
31st, Saturday – New Year’s Eve

Here are all the important Irish dates for 2017:

January 2017

13th, Friday – Friday the 13th

February 2017

4th, Saturday – Rugby Union – Scotland v Ireland
11th, Saturday – Rugby Union – Italy v Ireland
14th, Tuesday – Valentine’s Day
25th, Saturday – Rugby Union – Ireland v France

March 2017

1st, Wednesday – Ash Wednesday, Lent begins
10th, Friday – Rugby Union – Ireland v Wales
14th, Tuesday to 25th, Saturday – Special Olympics World Winter Games
17th, Friday – St Patrick’s Day
18th, Saturday – Rugby Union – Ireland v England
26th, Sunday – Mother’s Day

April 2017

9th, Sunday – Palm Sunday
14th, Friday to 17th, Monday – Easter

May 2017

1st, Monday – May Day long weekend

June 2017

3rd, Saturday – UEFA Champions League final
5th, Monday – June bank holiday
18th, Sunday – Father’s Day
24th, Saturday – British and Irish Lions tour – New Zealand v British and Irish Lions

July 2017

Dates to be confirmed – Tour de France
1st, Saturday – British and Irish Lions tour – New Zealand v British and Irish Lions
8th, Saturday – British and Irish Lions tour – New Zealand v British and Irish Lions

August 2017

7th, Monday – August bank holiday

October 2017

13th, Friday – Friday the 13th
30th, Monday – October bank holiday

November 2017

1st, Wednesday – All Saints Day
12th, Sunday – Remembrance Day

December 2017

24th, Sunday – Christmas Eve
25th, Monday – Christmas Day
31st, Sunday – New Year’s Eve

Here are all the important Irish dates for 2018:

January 2018

1st, Monday – New Year’s Day
27th, Saturday – Allianz Football and Hurling Leagues begin

February 2018

3rd, Saturday – Six Nations Rugby, France v Ireland
4th, Sunday – Super Bowl USA
9th, Friday – opening ceremony of Winter Olympics 2018
10th, Saturday – Six Nations Rugby, Ireland v Italy
14th, Wednesday – Valentine’s Day
14th, Wednesday – Ash Wednesday, Lent begins
24th, Saturday – Six Nations Rugby, Ireland v Wales
25th, Sunday – closing ceremony of Winter Olympics 2018, EFL Cup final

March 2018

9th, Friday – opening ceremony of Winter Paralympics 2018
10th, Saturday – Six Nations Rugby, Ireland v Scotland
11th, Sunday – Mother’s Day
18th, Sunday – closing ceremony of Winter Paralympics 2018
17th, Saturday – St Patrick’s Day; Six Nations Rugby, England v Ireland
19th, Monday – St Patrick’s Day Observance
25th, Sunday – Palm Sunday
30th, Friday – Good Friday

April 2018

1st, Sunday – Easter Sunday
2nd, Monday – Easter Monday
5th, Thursday to 8th, Sunday – The Masters Golf Tournament
13th, Friday – Friday the 13th

May 2018

6th, Sunday – The Provincial Football Championships begin
7th, Monday – May Day Bank Holiday
12th, Saturday – The Provincial Hurling Championships begin
19th, Saturday  – FA Cup Final
26th, Saturday – UEFA Champions League Final

June 2018

4th, Monday – June Bank Holiday
14th, Thursday – start of FIFA World Cup (goes on for one month)
14th, Thursday – 17th, Sunday – US Open Golf Championship
17th, Sunday – Father’s Day
23rd, Saturday – Munster Football Final

July 2018

1st, Sunday – Leinster and Munster Hurling Finals
2nd, Monday – Wimbledon starts
7th, Saturday – Tour de France begins
13th, Friday – Friday the 13th
15th, Sunday – end of FIFA World Cup, Wimbledon final
19th, Thursday – 22nd, Sunday – British Open Golf Championship
20th, Friday – 22nd, Sunday – Rugby World Cup Sevens Tournament
29th, Sunday – Tour de France ends

August 2018

6th, Monday – August Bank Holiday
16th, Thursday – 19th, Sunday – The US PGA Golf Championship
19th, Sunday – All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final

September 2018

28th, Friday – 30th, Sunday – Ryder Cup
2nd, Sunday – GAA Football All-Ireland Championship Final
8th, Saturday – All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final replay (if required)
15th, Saturday – GAA Football All-Ireland Championship Final replay (if required)

October 2018

29th, Monday – October Bank Holiday

November 2018

1st, Thursday – All Saints Day
11th, Sunday – Remembrance Day

December 2018

24th, Monday – Christmas Eve
25th, Tuesday – Christmas Day
26th, Wednesday – St Stephen’s Day
31st, Monday – New Year’s Eve

Main image from Tara & Gearóid’s real wedding by DKPHOTO