Dublin is a great city to spend Christmas in - its friendly, welcoming, exciting and magical atmosphere is what makes it so special. The streets are always beautifully decorated and buzzing with excitement. There’s plenty of shopping to be done, lively pubs and entertainment to enjoy, and ice skating and lots of other fun stuff to try your hand at! From childrens entertainment, to adult concerts, there is something special in Dublin to keep everyone entertained this coming Christmas.
When you’re in Dublin, you have to visit a Christmas Market. The traditional festive market at Dublin Docklands is in its 4th year. It’s a great place to pick up unusual gifts and stocking fillers. The delicious food stalls sell traditional treats and gourmet foods.
Another market worth a call is the Cow’s Lane market. It’s the biggest designer market in Dublin and is situated in Temple Bar. For more read our article on Christmas Markets in Dublin.
Why not experience a concert at the National Concert Hall. They start their Christmas programme on the 1st of December and have a jam-packed month of events including Liam Lawton and Hayley Westenra. They have several lunchtime Christmas concerts on throughout the month, as well as evening time concerts like Handel’s Messiah and shows like ‘Showstoppers at Christmas’ and ‘Christmas Crackers’.
The RDS have a number of events scheduled for the festive season too and it might be worth checking out the exhibition “Toys for Big Boys” which on from the 9th November to the 11th November. I know it’s early November but it could solve a few gift problems for you! The National Craft Fair is also on in the RDS from the 5th to the 9th December and you’re bound to find a bargain here, with stall holders from all over the country displaying their wares on brightly decorated stalls.
Ice skating is back again with the 7up Christmas on Ice. Pull out the knee pads and tag along to the RDS (Royal Dublin Society in Ballsbridge) for some good fun sometime between the 23rd November and the 13th of January 2008. The kids will probably show you up and suggest you take a few lessons, so these will be available too should you need to brush up on your ice skating skills! If you get hooked there is more ice skating on at Smithfield Square, but you’ll need to pre book your tickets first.
Concerts at the RDS this festive season include Amy Winehouse who takes to the stage on the 1st of December and pop sensation Rihanna who plays the following night on the 2nd December. Christmas wouldn’t be the same without the legendary “Fairytale of New York” and who better to perform it that The Pogues. They are in concert on the 22nd of December.
The Gaiety Theatre has the much loved “Beauty and the Beast” panto running from the 2nd December to the 3rd of February 2008 and there’s two shows on almost every day - that’s a lot of shows! The Gaiety Theatre is opposite St. Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre, just off Grafton Street. Tickets are available from www.ticketmaster.ie
For something a bit different why not go racing! Have a little flutter and try your luck on the horses or just soak up the excitement and atmosphere that comes with it. There are race meetings at both Leopardstown and Punchestown racecourses. Leopardstown races are on 26th, 27th, 28th and 29th December and Punchestown is on the 9th and 31st December.
And just when you think it’s all over - Funderland returns to town again for its 32nd annual Christmas season. The funfair is on in the RDS this year from the 26th December to the 13th January 2008 and is open from 12 noon to 10pm daily. So come along and enjoy the largest ferris wheel in Europe, one of four roller coasters or the ‘Freefall Tower’ which has come all the way to Funderland from Germany!
Get into the Christmas spirit and experience these events for yourself - book a Dublin hotel now.
If you know of any more Christmas Events in Dublin, please don’t hesitate to add to our list by adding a comment in the box below.
