From twinkling lights and fantastic shopping to quiet fireside relaxation, where are four great places to spend Christmas in Ireland? The Christmas season stretches from December 8th until January 6th in Ireland and Christmas decorations in towns and cities appear nice and early from early November.
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| Christmas in Temple Bar, Dublin City |
The Capital at Christmas
Dublin city really comes alive at this time of year. Central to all the celebrations is Grafton Street with the famous busking on Christmas Eve that brings out stars like Bono and Oscar winning Glen Hansard to the streets to sing for charity. There are some amazing world-class hotels for the best experience
or cosy self-catering and a great option is to go between Dublin and Wicklow where you'll have the best of the coast and mountains and city all in the one break. From walking down through the street traders at Moore Street; to lunch at the beautiful Powerscourt centre to a drink at Temple Bar or the Guinness Storehouse or hot chocolates in Dublin's cafe's to ice skating and the amazing Christmas market at Dublin Castle, Dublin stands out as a perfect Christmas and New Year location.
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Cork City English Market at Christmas
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Cork - the Culinary Capital
Cork city still stakes its claim as the culinary capital of Ireland. Cork City Council presents a Cork Christmas Celebration and the seasonal spectacle happens all over the city every year. There are Christmas markets and a ferris wheel and carousel to add to the seasonal fun and a party atmosphere with carols and ice skating and a North Pole express train. For a more rural feel, East Cork and West Cork have some of the most beautiful villages in the country, some by the sea for cosy countryside walks, sea views and the best seafood all year round.
Christmas in a Castle
What's more atmospheric or romantic than spending Christmas in a castle? From hiring your very own castle for family and friends and enjoying the luxury of caterers for the most magical meal of the year, there's also the choice of top hotels that are some of Ireland's most beautiful world-class castles. Here you'll have everything from wine tastings to archery, horse riding, candlelight, traditional music sessions and tours of ancient sites whether you choose to book it yourself or get the help of a bespoke tour company. Christmas in a castle is a once in a lifetime experience and Ireland is the best in the world when it comes to showcasing this hospitality from old times with the most state-of-the-art spas.
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Christmas Day Swim in Ireland
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A Coastal Christmas
What's nicer than Christmas with a coastal view and a beach walk after the excesses of the season? From island breaks to tiny villages, Christmas is a time when you'll get to really breathe in the sea air and not have crowds everywhere. One big tradition in Ireland is the Christmas Day Swim and bolstered with the help of a post-swim hot chocolate or whiskey hundreds more people seem to be joining in the 25th December dips around the country, usually for charity. Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way is the best bet for this stretching from County Cork up to County Donegal if you dream of Christmas in the sea air!