Ireland awareness days and key dates

Thursday 1 June 2028

• Thy Kingdom Come

  Religious and cultural25 May to 4 June 2028

  A global Christian prayer movement held over the eleven days from Ascension Day to Pentecost each year.

• Shavuot

  Religious and cultural31 May to 1 June 2028

  Shavuot is a two-day Jewish festival, seven weeks after Passover, marking the giving of the Torah at Sinai.

• Global Day of Parents

  Awareness

  The Global Day of Parents on 1 June honours parents everywhere for their commitment to raising and protecting their children.

• World Milk Day

  Awareness

  An annual day on 1 June that recognises milk and the dairy sector as part of the global food supply.

Saturday 3 June 2028

• World Bicycle Day

  Awareness

  World Bicycle Day on 3 June celebrates the bicycle as a simple, affordable and clean way to travel and stay healthy.

Sunday 4 June 2028

• International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression

  Awareness

  On 4 June the UN acknowledges the suffering of children around the world who are victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse.

• Pentecost (Whit Sunday)

  Religious and cultural

  Pentecost, also called Whit Sunday, falls seven weeks after Easter Sunday and celebrates the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Monday 5 June 2028

• International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing

  Awareness

  On 5 June the UN raises awareness of the harm caused by illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing to oceans and livelihoods.

• June bank holiday (Ireland)

  Public holidays

  Irish public holiday on the first Monday in June, giving a long weekend at the start of summer.

• World Environment Day

  Awareness

  The United Nations day on 5 June for action to protect the environment, with a different host country and theme each year.

Tuesday 6 June 2028

• Russian Language Day

  Awareness

  Russian Language Day at the UN on 6 June celebrates Russian, one of the UN's six official languages, on the birthday of the poet Alexander Pushkin.

Wednesday 7 June 2028

• Leaving Certificate written exams begin (Ireland)

  Awareness

  Start of the Leaving Certificate written exams, held in June, usually on a Wednesday. In 2026 they ran from 3 to 23 June.

• World Food Safety Day

  Awareness

  World Food Safety Day on 7 June promotes action to prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks so that everyone has safe food.

Thursday 8 June 2028

• Taste of Dublin

  Commercial and retail8 to 11 June 2028

  Four day food festival in Merrion Square, Dublin. The 2026 festival ran from 11 to 14 June.

• World Oceans Day

  Awareness

  World Oceans Day on 8 June raises awareness of the impact of human activity on the ocean and the need to manage it sustainably.

Friday 9 June 2028

• Cork Midsummer Festival

  Religious and cultural9 to 18 June 2028

  Ten day arts festival in Cork city. The 2026 festival ran from 12 to 21 June.

Saturday 10 June 2028

• International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations

  Awareness

  The International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations on 10 June promotes respect for the world's diverse civilisations and dialogue between them.

Sunday 11 June 2028

• International Day of Play

  Awareness

  The International Day of Play on 11 June highlights play as a fundamental right of every child and vital for learning and wellbeing.

• Trinity Sunday

  Religious and cultural

  Trinity Sunday is the Christian festival of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, held on the Sunday after Pentecost, 56 days after Easter.

Monday 12 June 2028

• Loneliness Awareness Week

  Awareness12 to 18 June 2028

  A week in June that encourages people to talk about loneliness, reduce stigma and connect with others.

• Men's Health Week

  Awareness12 to 18 June 2028

  A week in June ending on Father's Day that raises awareness of health problems affecting men and boys.

• World Day Against Child Labour

  Awareness

  The World Day Against Child Labour on 12 June focuses attention on ending child labour, which still affects around 138 million children.

Tuesday 13 June 2028

• International Albinism Awareness Day

  Awareness

  International Albinism Awareness Day on 13 June raises the voices of people with albinism and challenges discrimination and harmful myths.

Wednesday 14 June 2028

• World Blood Donor Day

  Awareness

  World Blood Donor Day on 14 June thanks voluntary blood donors and raises awareness of the need for safe blood supplies.

Thursday 15 June 2028

• Corpus Christi

  Religious and cultural

  Corpus Christi is a Christian feast giving thanks for Holy Communion, held on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, 60 days after Easter.

• Global Wind Day

  Awareness

  Celebrated on 15 June to raise awareness of wind energy and its role in clean power, with events and site visits.

• World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

  Awareness

  World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on 15 June highlights the neglect, abuse and violence faced by older people.

• World Kidney Cancer Day

  Awareness

  A global day held on the third Thursday of June to raise awareness of kidney cancer and support for patients.

Friday 16 June 2028

• International Day of Family Remittances

  Awareness

  The International Day of Family Remittances on 16 June recognises the money migrant workers send home to support families and communities.

Saturday 17 June 2028

• World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

  Awareness

  On 17 June the UN raises awareness of land degradation, desertification and drought and how to restore damaged land.

Sunday 18 June 2028

• Father's Day

  Commercial and retail

  A day to thank dads, held on the third Sunday in June in both the UK and the USA.

• International Day for Countering Hate Speech

  Awareness

  On 18 June the UN encourages governments, organisations and individuals to identify, address and counter hate speech.

• Sustainable Gastronomy Day

  Awareness

  Sustainable Gastronomy Day on 18 June encourages local, seasonal and sustainable food choices that support farmers and cut waste.

Monday 19 June 2028

• International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict

  Awareness

  On 19 June the UN calls for an end to sexual violence in conflict and honours victims, survivors and those working to stop it.

• Pollinator Week

  Awareness19 to 25 June 2028

  An international week in June that celebrates pollinators such as bees, butterflies and birds and promotes action to protect them.

• World Sickle Cell Day

  Awareness

  A UN recognised day on 19 June that raises awareness of sickle cell disorder and the people living with it.

Tuesday 20 June 2028

• World Refugee Day

  Awareness

  World Refugee Day on 20 June honours refugees around the world and builds understanding of their circumstances and courage.

Wednesday 21 June 2028

• International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice

  Awareness

  On 21 June the UN recognises the solstices and equinoxes as symbols of fertility, food production and shared cultural heritage.

• International Day of Yoga

  Awareness

  The International Day of Yoga on 21 June raises awareness of the health benefits of yoga and encourages healthier ways of living.

• World Giraffe Day

  Awareness

  Held on 21 June, the longest day in the northern hemisphere, to raise awareness of giraffes and the threats they face.

• World Hydrography Day

  Awareness

  Marked on 21 June to raise awareness of hydrography, the survey and charting of seas and waterways that keeps shipping safe.

Thursday 22 June 2028

• World Rainforest Day

  Awareness

  Held on 22 June, World Rainforest Day highlights the role of rainforests in the climate and biodiversity, and calls for their protection.

Friday 23 June 2028

• International Widows' Day

  Awareness

  International Widows' Day on 23 June draws attention to the experiences of widows and the support and rights they need.

• International Women in Engineering Day

  Awareness

  A day on 23 June celebrating women engineers and encouraging more girls and women into engineering careers.

• United Nations Public Service Day

  Awareness

  United Nations Public Service Day on 23 June celebrates the value of public service and the people who deliver it.

Saturday 24 June 2028

• International Day of Women in Diplomacy

  Awareness

  The International Day of Women in Diplomacy on 24 June celebrates women's role in diplomacy and calls for their full and equal participation.

Sunday 25 June 2028

• Day of the Seafarer

  Awareness

  The Day of the Seafarer on 25 June recognises the contribution seafarers make to world trade and the global economy.

Monday 26 June 2028

• International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

  Awareness

  On 26 June the UN raises awareness of the harm caused by illicit drugs and calls for stronger international cooperation.

• International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

  Awareness

  On 26 June the UN supports survivors of torture and calls for torture to be ended everywhere.

Tuesday 27 June 2028

• International Day of Deafblindness

  Awareness

  The International Day of Deafblindness on 27 June, Helen Keller's birthday, calls for deafblindness to be recognised as a distinct disability.

• Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day

  Awareness

  MSME Day on 27 June recognises the importance of small businesses to economies, jobs and sustainable development.

Thursday 29 June 2028

• International Day of the Tropics

  Awareness

  The International Day of the Tropics on 29 June highlights the diverse ecosystems and cultures of tropical regions and the challenges they face.

Friday 30 June 2028

• International Asteroid Day

  Awareness

  International Asteroid Day on 30 June raises public awareness of the risk of asteroid impacts and how the world would respond.

• International Day of Parliamentarism

  Awareness

  The International Day of Parliamentarism on 30 June celebrates parliaments and their role in upholding the rule of law and human rights.