It would require St Patrick’s Day to fall on any weekday except Wednesday, with an extra public holiday bridging the gap either side or in between.Average traffic volumes countrywide last week were 15,848 cars a day – a 66 per cent jump on the same time last year.
Finbarr Filan says a four-day St Patrick’s weekend makes much more sense than a public holiday on St Brigid’s Day. Photograph: James ConnollyNeil McDonnell, chief executive of small and medium sized business group Isme, was struck by the numbers in Dublin over the weekend, boosted by the Ireland v Scotland rugby international.
Next year, the Government has announced a public holiday at the start of February for St Brigid’s Day. A Government source says there are no plans for this to change, even in the coming years.