27th March 1903
St Patrick's day designated a Bank Holiday
St Patrick's Day was declared a bank holiday in Ireland only (bringing the number of bank holidays in the country to seven). The new bank holiday mainly affected clerical workers as manual workers did not get bank holidays - however many factory workers took their holiday days on bank holidays.
The growth in rail transport throughout the second half of the 19th century meant that those who could afford it could travel to seaside resorts for their holidays. Bundoran, Warrenpoint, Portrush and Newcastle all became popular tourist destinations, and were advertised by the railway companies.
