Time to fix Easter Sunday, says new hotels chief

A FIXED day for Easter Sunday would create less confusion and disruption for Irish businesses and should be seriously considered.

Incoming Irish Hotels Federation president Matthew Ryan said the fluctuating Easter, which can fall on any of 35 dates, causes confusion and disruption to the business community, the Church, schools and the general public.

“This year we have St Patrick’s Day falling in Easter week, which is causing disruption to business and Church services.

“From a business perspective, a fluctuating Easter makes it difficult for forward planning, budgeting, cost control and general efficiency,” he said.

Mr Ryan, who is also managing director of the Grand Hotel in Malahide and the Marine Hotel in Sutton, said a fixed date for Easter in the IHF’s view is worthy of serious consideration.

The federation noted that in 1963 Vatican II declared it would not object to a fixed Easter, and added that in 1975 Pope Paul VI, in co-ordination with the World Council of Churches, proposed that it should be celebrated on the second Sunday of April, the closest Sunday to April 9, which is the generally accepted date of the Resurrection of Christ.

A spokeswomen from the Catholic Communications Office however said that Easter Sunday is not “sprung” upon us every year and the dates of Easter Day are available up until 2015 and have been available since 2002.

“The date on which Easter Sunday falls every year is within quite a narrow time-line and the dates are widely available for many years beforehand,” she said.