Christmas in Ireland – Sleep, Drink and be Merry
Christmas in Ireland sounds like this:
“We’ll see ya in Mooney’s after midnight mass. Wait’ll you see the bar staff covered in tinsel, I got a piece of it in my hot whiskey the other night!”
“Ah, Sean, all the way from Boston for Christmas! Bet your mammy’s delighted.”
“After the size of Christmas dinner yesterday you need a walk. Put on that orange scarf Granny gave you and we’ll go up Carrantouhill. Yes, you can bring Barbie.”
Farmleigh House in Dublin decked out with bows and holly.
Christmas in Ireland looks like this.
And it tastes like this.
But, how does Christmas in Ireland feel…?
Well, to know that you’ll have to try it. In between our Christmas shopping, we’ve collated the type of mistletoe-smooching, mulled wine-sipping, winter walk-wandering yuletide in Ireland scenario that would have inspired Bing Crosby to compose a 4 disc Christmas album.
So sit back, relax, and let the festive cheer wash over you.
Seasonal Surrounds
Santa gets to slide down some pretty gorgeous fireplaces, eh?
The minute we heard Nat King Cole’s velvety voice lauding the delights of roasting nuts by an open fire, we knew that nothing said Christmas cheer like a roaring hearth. Cue one of Hidden Ireland’s Christmas crackers, Lismacue House in County Tipperary and one of the most inviting firesides we’ve set our eyes on. Might be an idea to make sure the fire’s been put out by Christmas Eve though – we wouldn’t want to roast Saint Nick along with the chestnuts. I don’t think that’s what Nat King Cole was getting at…
And if your entire family is in tow, decked in those itchy jumpers and blinking Rudolph noses, you might need to rent a place all of your own. The elves at the Irish Landmark Trust have directions to some of the most atmospheric abodes around, and we think Ballealy Cottage in Antrim looks rather fine with its snow hat on.
Ballealy Cottage, County Antrim - Delightfully quaint AND the perfect setting for an epic snowball fight. Lovely.
Seasonal Sounds
We might not always get the words right, but crikey do we like our Christmas Carols. Whether we’re harking to herald angels or running through the Twelve Days of Christmas on our fingers and toes, carol singing is always a pleasure. Should you be looking for chaps who know all the words and sing them with voices verging on the heavenly, than let us guide you to St Patrick’s Cathedral’s Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.
Of course, we all associate the festive season with Bing Crosby warbling around a Christmas tree and he wasn’t the only one. is a jog down Broadway with the kind of crackly Christmas croonings that puts the romance in your eggnog… or your mulled wine… or your spiced tea. Look, it’s romantic, ok?
Yuletide Tradition
Warning – this post is about to get a little soppy, just a little.
'Meet ya at the market' Christmas reunions
Quite possibly the nicest thing about Christmas in Ireland is how everyone comes home. Mary’s back from New York, Ross is home from Sydney, and Shane and Áine are bringing the twins back from Brussels for the first time. And do you know where we’ll all meet? Midnight mass. In we’ll throng, sliding our backsides along the varnished pews and throwing out ‘Ah, you’re back!’ and ‘I didn’t know you were coming home! Have they made you mayor yet?’. It’s usually about ten minutes before we notice the priest is ready to start. Of course he doesn’t mind. It’s the same every year.
The ‘welcome homes’ keep coming going as we swing in the door of the pub. It would be rude not to share a quick hot whiskey with everyone so we make the sacrifice. Plus, a little nip helps us sleep.
The excitement on Christmas Eve would be too much for us otherwise.
Follow the lights
Hot breath hanging in frosty air. Buskers reworking ‘White Christmas’ with a reggae beat. Hands gripping hot chocolate and noses pressed against windows with heads thinking ‘Please don’t let him have got me that jumper for Christmas. If there isn’t a ring under the tree I’ll….’.
'It's the most wonderful time of the year...' Doesn't Grafton Street look pretty all dolled up?
My theory is that most of those people pottering around Dublin’s Grafton Street at Christmas did their shopping weeks ago – they’re just soaking up the kind of yuletide atmos that could rival Santa’s sitting room. And who can blame them when it looks like this.
The same goes for the festive ladies and gents milling around . Chances are they’ve been here all week and the mince pies are the reason – ‘Oh, erm, I forgot to get a present for Gemma, I’d better pop down to the market and get her something’. Not fooling anyone, especially with the pastry crumbs on their scarf when they walk in the door.
And all that’s left to say is that we wish you all a very, exceedingly merry Christmas.
We can’t get enough of Ireland at Christmas time, and either should you.
I am about to find out. Spending my 1st Christmas in Ireland and can’t wait. County Kerry and Kenmare here I home in 10 days!
If I went to Ireland to visit,I would not return to the states. It’s always been a dream to do that. Mayhaps I’ll put it on me “bucket list.”
I am in Ireland and I would go to The Shepherds Rest Pub in the Sixtowns Draperstown on Christmas eve night and join with the locals in a carol sing along. Take a look at my girlfriend and ask her in front of the large fire WILL YOU MARRY ME and hope that the answer was yes then book a summer wedding there!
Why not just go for it! Seize the moment and try it. There is simply nothing like an Irish Christmas, frosty mornings wrapped in wool scarves, bracing walks by the sea, hot ports by roaring fires afterwards and magnificent food. Bring it on….I can smell the roasties already! Ho ho ho
It has always been my dream to go to Ireland, since it is my heritage. I would love to spend one entire year there, experiencing the way of life of my father’s fathers. It is on my bucket list, but the more I read about this wonderful, enchanted land, the more I am drawn to it. Perhaps I will begin preparing to take the journey. Thank you for your post and the beautiful pictures.
Here’s a reminder of Christmas 2010 in the seaside village of Rathmullan, Co. Donegal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct9ZWZsYnZ4
If I could ever afford to go to Ireland, I would love to walk or bike most of the country, going from village to town, seeing all the farms & estates along the way, taking time to enjoy & take in as much of it as I could. I would love to be in Ireland for all the major holidays at least once. My idea Irish Christmas would be to be in a small traditional cottage on a farm or in a small village, close enough to attend Church on Christmas eve. A warm fire to sit by, listening to traditional Christmas songs, a table filled with the best of Irish foods, the house decorated with fresh boughs of green & lights & decorations, a light snow falling on moonlit ground & some good company to share it all with.
I would enjoy lots of chatting with my sister and brother! Been too long and this blasted ocean between us doesn’t help
I visited Ireland for the first time in September. It is so beautiful, and the people are so nice. My grandparents came from County Donegal and County Meath. I would love to go to Ireland someday for Christmas!! Visiting Ireland was the dream of my life! I could celebrate with the real Irish-Catholics!!!!
Thank You!!!
Erin go braugh!!!!
I would LOVE to spend Christmas in Ireland. I would go for walks, visit small towns and take a lot of pictures. I really hope to go someday.
Christmas in Ireland would be nice to spend it with my dad who had to leave us and go back to Ireland 9yrs ago…been there once before 4yrswork ago..beautiful country even more gorgeous family..
I would spend my Christmas first days in Dunlaoghaire, home town of my mother’s family. I would walk those streets in the town, then go along the path by the ocean where the ferries come in from Holyhead.
Then I’d take the train to legendary Dalkey – lots of family history.
I’d want to be in Dingle too, that mystical, magical place and look out to the sea and the nearby hills.
Wishing everyone in Ireland (home of the black stuff) a very Happy Christmas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdgFFUGsy9k
One day I hope to go to Ireland, it looks so beautiful and found out some of my ancestors are from Ireland, and our Company just opened in Ireland would loooove to help some people there reap the blessing
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Hi, very beatiful pics, thanks for sharing and Happy Christmas.
My ancestors were from Ireland and I’ve always felt a kinship to the Irish People. If I had a bucket list,the only thing on it would be to spend Christmas in Ireland. I would probably never want to leave once I got there. I just think it is the most beautiful place I have ever seen.