In Ireland, the magic of
Christmas and festive spirit permeates everything you encounter. On the streets you’ll be met with dazzling lights illuminating Grafton Street, carollers singing traditional standards, and of course, the craic and merriment in the pubs is dialled up to a whole new level.
If you fancy a bit of Christmas shopping, the island of Ireland’s bustling markets are your first port of call. The
George’s Street Arcade isn’t a dedicated Christmas market, but its rustic setting and diverse range of shops makes it the perfect place to grab a snack and peruse some stocking fillers.
On the west coast,
Christmas Market Galway takes place in the city’s iconic Eyre Square until December 22nd. The stalls are bursting with unique wooden toys and jigsaws, and you can watch the festive merriment from on high on the 32m observation wheel.
If you want to sample the flavours of Christmas,
Belfast Christmas market has everything from French crêpes and Belgian chocolate to diverse range of burgers and German bratwurst.
Once you’ve completed your shopping, pay a visit to
Santa’s Cottage nestled deep in the
Mourne Mountains. With an elves workshop, Mrs Claus’ cafe, and of course Santa’s lovable companion Rudoloph, this cosy retreat is a must see.
If you want to experience a true Irish tradition, join in the annual Christmas Swim, where people brave the icy waters around Ireland on Christmas morning to raise money for charity. Famous spots for a festive dip are the Forty Foot in Sandycove,
County Dublin; Guillamene Cove,
County Waterford; and Portnahapple,
County Londonderry.
Once the gifts have been given and the merriment has died down, why not step out for the day and sample some horse racing on the day after Christmas. With events in Leopardstown, Limerick and Down, you won’t have to travel far to try it out.
How would our Community like to spend Christmas in Ireland?
