Christmas is the time of year best spent with family, friends, eating food – and a chance to get jolly with the ole holly! During this particular time of year, there is an abundance of magical experiences that can get you into the festive vibe. Follow us as we take you through the top ten festive crackers that Ireland offers to convert even the dreariest Scrooge into a Christmas convert! Just don’t forget your best hat and scarf – it can get chilly!
10. Ice Skating at Cork On Ice
Located in the Mahon Point Shopping Centre, this 800 sqm ice rink is a perfect way for people of all ages to strap on their skates and make some great memories (and hilarious snapchat story videos).It boasts to be one of the most heartening things to do in the run-up to Christmas – and rightly so. It can give the first glance towards the wintry chill as you whip through the air as you cut through the ice like a professional!
Go on – Give us a Beillmann Spin!
9. Catch A Christmas Carol at Seamus Heaney Homeplace, Magherafelt
Nothing sets the mood quite like the ghostly essence of the beloved tale by Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol. In this spectacle, witness this authentic one-person show, performed by acclaimed actor Guy Masteron who brings to life each the best-known characters such as Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, the Cratchit family and the Ghosts of Christmas. You follow this charming Victorian tale, soaking in the true meaning of Christmas as Scrooge moves from a man who mutters ‘Humbug!’ to a ‘God Bless Us – every one!’.
8. The Four Seasons Winter Walk, Connemara
For those who crave the wonderful crisp air and the chance to drop a little of the lingering turkey piled on your plate from Christmas Day – you’ll love the guided Four Seasons Winter Walk that takes place from the 27th -29th December. It suits everyone’s path, amateur or professional, conducted through the lush landscape by seasoned guides, Michael Gibbons and Gerry McCluskey who provide a fascinating insight into the heritage surrounding the peaked mountains and frost-tipped forests of Co. Galway.
Just remember – wear your finest walking boots. You’ll thank us!
7. The Moving Crib, Dublin
This event is the only one of its kind and a marvel to show little ones the original story of the Nativity. Nestled in at Parnell Square, this exclusive event has been an annual event that has kept returning to Dublin for over sixty years where you are instantly transported to the early days where handcrafted automatic figurines depict biblical scenes like the Nativity and the tale of Adam and Eve. The gang is all present – Joseph, Mary, Baby Jesus and the Wise Men in these numerous tableaux scenes in this free event is a sure way to get you into the Christmas spirit.
6. Light Up Limerick
Limerick comes alive as Christmas approaches, the calendar brimming with things to experience. Become part of the magic at the annual ‘Limerick Switch on’ where all of the Christmas lights that have been lovingly woven through the streets of the city come to life in a marvellous festival. The large crowds sing along with street performers, a chance for some community fun that adds a unique light to a wintry night on O’Connell Street.
