In honour of the fast approaching 12 Days of Christmas Sandra O'Connellhas rounded up 12 Irish Christmas markets to help with the shopping
Galway
The neighbouring parish may be Boston but over the festive season Galway’s orientation is very definitely European as it launches its first Continental Christmas Market.
Opened yesterday and running until December 19th, Eyre Square is being transformed into a proper winter wonderland with 70 traditional wooden chalets providing seasonal food, and gifts, sourced from Russia to Peru. There’ll be plenty of locally produced good cheer too.
Expect glühwein, pancakes and gingerbread as well as a French patisserie and a proper German bierkeller.
Look out for the traditional crafts supplied by the industrious nuns of the St Elizabeth Convent and orphanage in Belarus, who are making the trip to raise money for their charges.
Bring the kids, too, because not only will there be two European-style carousels, but all proceeds from Santa’s grotto go to the ISPCC and Enable Ireland.
Also, from December 14th to 24th, the city’s Church Lane market, fittingly beside St Nicholas’ Church, will have stalls providing everything from handmade chocolates to not so seasonal sushi.
* galwaychristmasmarket.ie
* galwaymarket.com
Dublin
In a second first, so to speak, Dublin will be holding its inaugural Taste of Christmas extravaganza next weekend.
Fill your boots, and your Christmas stockings too, at the event which takes place at the new Convention Centre and promises to be a smorgasbord of seasonal food and drink, gourmet gifts, wine tastings and food sampling.
Gourmet guests include Heston Blumenthal, Rachel Allen, Kevin Dundon and Gino D’Acampo.
The event is followed up from December 3rd to 22nd at the fifth Docklands Christmas Market, just down the road.
As well as a range of traditional stalls there’ll be carollers, seasonal music from live bands and a number of fairground attractions for youngsters. Then do it all over again at the “12 Days Of Christmas At Point Village”.
Head up to the Merrion Hotel on Merrion Street, where not only might you catch a glimpse of the EU and IMF big wigs who are staying there while in Dublin to sort out the banking crisis, but you can also pick up some Christmas goodies made in the Merrion’s kitchen. There’s a nicely boxed hamper at €55 but €20 will get you a beautiful muslin wrapped pudding and a jar of brandy butter, in a cream and gold carrier bag.
Then, there's Chocolate Christmas in Temple Bar, a celebration of all things cocoa-y taking place from December 3rd to 5th and including outdoor showings of festive films, such as The Polar Expressand It's a Wonderful Life.
* tasteofchristmas.ie
* ddda.ie
* pointvillagemarket.ie
* templebar.ie
* merrionhotel.com
Cork
The People’s Republic is turning Grand Parade into a giant Christmas market every weekend from November 26th to December 17th and throughout Christmas week.
Streets will be lined with stalls featuring – as befits the country’s artisan food capital – mostly locally produced foods and crafts. Trading will be accompanied by local choirs and bands, and there are plans to turn Bishop Lucey Park into an enchanted forest.
Make a break of it by staying over in Longueville House in Mallow, which is running a Christmas shopping event next Thursday, starting at 7.30pm.
Wares here include jewellery, clothes, shoes and handbags, beauty products, fragrances and candles, as well as kids toys and clothing. Tickets cost €35 and include mulled wine and nibbles with a special B&B rate of €75 per person sharing.
Kinsale Christmas is a month long festival including two Christmas markets – at Short Quay and at the Blue Haven Hotel.
Other themed events include guided winter walks, a Christmas show and Santa’s grotto. Adding to the atmosphere will be a torchlight parade through the town on December 20th, at 6pm, marshalled by town criers, with warmth added via copious quantities of mulled wine and mince pies. There is Christmas themed fancy dress carolling and dancing for kids on the same night, culminating in a children’s disco at the White Lady.
* cometocork.ie l
* longuevillehouse.ie
* kinsalechristmas.com
Kerry
Tralee will this year be hosting an expanded version of its “German Christmas Market” December 10th to 12th.
Run in partnership with the German town of Frankfurt-Höchst, the traditional items of German food and crafts here will be the real deal. These include not just glühwein but the non-alcoholic variant, glögg, alongside bratwurst sausage and landbrot farm bread as well as Christmas themed Irish produce from local traders.
Starting the last weekend in November and continuing until December 19th, Killarney’s Main Street will be given over to its International Craft & Christmas Market.
Old hands at Christmas markets – this is the town’s sixth – the open air markets will showcase not just locally made handcrafts and food products but overseas ones as well, including candles, glass and ceramics. Culinary treats include organic cheeses, fudge, preserves and charcuterie, as well as fresh breads.
A Christmas ice rink returns this year, in the Fair Hill Car Park, and there’ll be a Santa’s grotto too. Last year it was visited by more than 5,000 children, so come early.
* tralee.ie
* christmasinkillarney.com
Waterford
Waterford’s Traditional Food Craft Market takes place in John Roberts Square and Broad Street from December 12th to 23th, focusing on local home-made food and handcrafted products.
Adding to the atmosphere will be a traditional carousel at John Roberts Square, Santa's grotto at the City Square Shopping Centre, the panto at the Theatre Royal ( Aladdin) and, of course, the Santa Express at Suir Valley railway station. If you're there on December 13th you'll be surrounded in a sea of Santas for the Santa Dash in aid of charity, which starts at 1pm at the Apple Market.
* christmasinwaterford.ie
Limerick
There’s loads to do in Limerick this year, including a visit to the Limerick Christmas Market, with 60 stalls to peruse.
Opening on November 25th, the market runs from Thursday to Sunday on each of the following weeks, with additional days added in the run up to Christmas Eve. The magical markets – now conveniently weather-proofed under the country’s largest canopy – take place in the city’s Milk Market at Cornmarket Row. Just prior to that is the Georgian Quarter Christmas Market around Pery Square, the Georgian square and park in the city centre. It ends tomorrow. Food, arts and crafts.
* milkmarketlimerick.ie
* limerickgeorgianmarket.com
Clare
If you fancy a more rural gift shopping experience, head to the Burren in Co Clare for the Ballyvaughan Christmas Festival. Trading takes place in the community hall during weekends in December, and each combines a mix of things to buy plus practical activities, such as a workshop in Christmas decorations and cookery classes.
There’ll be choral recitals and Christmas concerts as well as plenty of opportunity to buy the works of the Burren Crafts group. Gifts on offer include aloe vera and bee products, decorative glassware, silver jewellery and goat milk soaps, to name but a few. You can even buy your Christmas tree here and take time out in the Christmas cafe to figure out how to get it home. In the meantime, Ballyvaughan Farmers Market runs every Saturday in November from 10am, supplying fresh, local and in season produce, including Christmas cakes and plum puddings.
Also in Clare, luxury resort hotel Doonbeg is running its second Christmas market which promises to be even bigger than last year’s.
Once again the hotel’s courtyard will be transformed into an old world town square, featuring 60 stalls stocked with handcrafted Christmas gifts.
To be held on weekends during December there’s a live crib, a Santa station and carollers performing.
Entertainment also includes puppet shows and Santa’s daily arrival and departure while an outdoor cafe will perfume the air with gingerbread and other festive sweetmeats throughout.
* ballyvaughanfarmersmarket.ie
* doonbeggolfclub.com
Mayo
Or head west to Westport’s Spraoi na Nollag event, including a 60-stall Christmas market from December 11th to 13th, with the wares of more than 100 artisan and craft producers from all over the county on display on Westport Mall. Santa will be flying in with Rudolph and his helpers on the Saturday, and this year his grotto will be at the Stable Courtyard, beside the old Georgian Bank of Ireland building on the Mall.
Inside the building will be art and sculpture exhibits from local artists. Traditional retailers are getting in on the act, too, offering special discounts for the weekend, which should help with the Christmas shopping.
There’s a Santa Run on the Sunday, in aid of Mayo Mountain Rescue, carol singers each afternoon and a treasure hunt around the town. There’s also a live nativity crib taking place at the Mall on December 11th with local farmers providing the animals and local school children in the speaking roles. Altogether now, ahh.
* westportmarket.ie
Belfast
Finally, this year will see the return of Belfast’s Continental Christmas Market, once again transforming the City Hall gardens into a bustling Alpine village. Some 30 different countries – from Finland to Peru – will be represented, selling fresh and hot foods, gifts and crafts.
Look out for the Alpaca knitwear making the long journey from the foothills of Machu Picchu. There’ll be fire eating displays and mulled wine and Santa’s magical forest. As the banner outside the building puts it: Ulster Says Noel.
* belfastcity.gov.uk/christmas