Christmas and lreland’s fabulous festive markets are made for each other.
Countrywide, an astonishing array of venues are being pressed into service – abbeys, country estates, historic buildings, parks, town squares and main streets – creating scenes straight from a Christmas card.
Christmas spirit need recharging? Head to a Christmas market and be re-energised by the aromas of mulled wine and gingerbread, the songs, the twinkling fairy lights, the happy faces, the atmosphere.
Seeking the perfect unique present? A market is just the place to spot that authentic, one-off gift. Special somethings made with love that you won’t find anywhere else.
Want something quintessentially Irish? Ireland has a growing reputation for quality artisan foods and gourmet specialties. And for craft excellence too, continuing a long tradition in ceramics, textile and jewellery design.
Only a marvellous market can tick so many boxes on everyone’s festive must-do lists – and they provide the perfect opportunity to showcase Ireland’s finest.
WWWow Waterford’s wonderful Winterval Festival (29 Nov – 23 Dec) is a blizzard of activities, many set in the heritage sites of Ireland’s oldest city. Waterford was founded by Vikings, so Norse elements are part of the mix.
It’s everything we associate with Christmas and a lot more: the Winterval Express train, reindeer, illuminations, toy museum, theatre, choirs, icy crystal and ice skating, horse drawn sleighs, storytelling, 12 Days of Christmas Treasure Hunt – even a Polish Christmas Village and a giant snowglobe to climb inside.
The centrepiece, Winterval’s market, has been inspired by the best Christmas markets throughout Europe. It also encompasses Waterford’s much-loved own market making, the perfect combination of local character and continental flair.
That includes piping hot chocolate and crepes – very welcome after a turn or tumble on the ice!
Dublin Dockland is Christmas Central Imagine a Scandinavian waterfront village transplanted to Dublin’s city centre financial HQ.
More than 80 traders will be tempting shoppers with their fun and quirky wares at the Dublin Docklands 12 Days of Christmas Market (12 – 23 Dec).
The festival combines favourites and new surprises; the biggest being the live entertainment on the event platform at George’s Dock.
The charming Victorian funfair is back, along with the fantastic artisan food and craft market and Santa’s Grotto.
A Cork Christmas Celebration Inspired by the Nutcracker, the city’s main thoroughfare, the Grand Parade, becomes a glittering marketplace lined with Irish and international craft and food stalls. This year is bigger than ever with a vintage carousel and helter skelter (30 Nov – 23 Dec).
Cork is renowned for its English Market, Ireland’s greatest food emporium. In the run-up to the big day, there’s no better place to bag seasonal specialties.
Shopping spree Westport in Mayo makes a stunning setting for a market spree (13 – 15 Dec). Voted Ireland’s favourite place, this lovely heritage town is a growing gourmet destination. Be there in time for Santa arriving by boat down the Carrowbeg River.
Northern lights Belfast knows: why have one market when two is even better?
There’s the huge, lively Continental Market on the City Hall lawns (16 Nov - 23 Dec), where everyone comes to unwind and sample exotic tastes like ostrich burgers and eggnog.
And there’s the Victorian-vintage St George’s Food and Craft Market, opening additional days and hosting a colourful craft extravaganza (7 – 8 Dec).
Outside the Northern Irish capital, Derry~Londonderry ties the bow on its landmark year as UK City of Culture with a market that masters the art of Christmas enjoyment at the historic Guildhall (10 – 21 Dec), while the magnificent National Trust property, Mount Stewart in County Down, offers a festive Winter Fair (30 Nov – 1 Dec).
All kinds of everything But probably the granddaddy of them all, the market with everything under one roof, is at the RDS in Dublin. Be spoiled for choice at the annual National Crafts and Design Fair (4 – 8 Dec).
More than 500 designers, artists and craftspeople showcase everything from woodturning to high fashion. Not forgetting food and more food.
It takes at least a very full day to do it justice. And strong arms for carrying the treasures, both edible and collectable, you won’t be able to resist.
Irish Christmas markets let you rediscover the adventure of real-life browsing and make refreshing change from online and superstore shopping.
It’s all about touching, tasting, trying on and above all, talking to friendly stallholders eager to show how they make their handcrafts.
Plan a break around Ireland’s best markets and like magic, Christmas shopping will be a celebration, not a chore.
www.ireland.com
www.winterval.ie
www.ddda.ie
www.nationalcraftsfair.ie
