Cllrs agree to celebrate St Colmcille but not if it means another day of for workers

Meath County Council is behind the campaign to honour St Colmcille with a public holiday - but councillors don't want to give workers an additional day off!

Cllr Sean Drew had proposed the council support the call for the creation of a bank holiday in honour of St Colmcille, but councillors urged him to instead change the motion to name a national public holiday in honour of the saint.

Cllr Drew noted that Donegal County Council had put forward the proposal. "We have three national saints and two of them, St Patrick and St Brigid, have bank holidays. St Colmcille isn't honoured in a similar way.

"This county has strong connections with St Colmcille. The point has been made and questioned is this an extra bank holiday or what? My principal objective is to have a public holiday in his honour. His feast day is 9th June, around the Whit weekend. It came up in discussion re that Whit weekend

"Since speaking with a lot of people, most of us are aware we are below the EU average for bank holidays. The EU average is 12 and we have 10 public holidays.

If it involved the addition of a public holiday Cllr Drew suggested the period between the bank holiday in early August and the end of October.

"We have that period of three months without a public holiday, but my main objective is to have a public holiday named in his honour. If that involves the department deciding an extra public holiday in support of that, I am aware there may be an issue with employer sand businesses . That is something the department will have to get an agreement on .

The motion was seconded by Cllr Michael Gallagher.

However Cllr Peter Caffrey said it was ridiculous. "There are enough bank holidays. Ten of them in the year. It is too much cost on the council, too much cost on businesses. I think the best thing Cllr Drew could do is join it with St Patrick's Day, half of it for St Patrick and the other half for St Colmcille."

Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons said as an employer he was concerned at the cost to business. "I feel there are too many as it is. You have to pay people an awful lot more money, then try to organise time off. It is a huge cost to business at a time when businesses are struggling. I agree with the sentiment if it could be tied in with the June Bank Holiday, but a new bank holiday, I don't think it is on. There are so many short working weeks now it is almost unfeasible."

Cllr Noel French said he was in favour of it. "St Colmcille had such a major impact not only here in Ireland. We the famous monastery of Kells, Derry, Iona. We have less public holidays that most of the Europe but we are heading towards a four day working week - that will be coming down the line. This year too, we have to remember St Oliver Plunkett and his connection with Meath, as well as St Columbanus .

"If businesses are against it, maybe there should be another way of marking St Colmcille in this county."

Cllr Gerry O'Connor said he supported the sentiment but agreed with Cllr Fitzsimons. "I run a small business and bank holidays crucify us. I would wonder if Cllr Drew would accept an amendment that supports the naming of a national public holiday in honour of St Colmcille, perhaps the June bank holiday."

Cllr Drew said he was more than willing to accept the amendment.

Cllr Caffrey agreed as long it didn't cost businesses any more money.

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There are now 10 public holidays a year in Ireland. A new permanent public holiday for St Brigid’s Day was introduced in February 2023.

This new public/bank holiday will always be on the first Monday in February, unless the 1st of February falls on a Friday, in which case it will be observed on that date.

The next public / bank holiday in Ireland will be Monday 4th August 2025.