We’ve got a busy and very festive day ahead of us, so let’s get a tasty breakfast! Beanhive is the perfect spot to start the day, with amazing Irish fry-ups and tasty treats for breakfast. Their coffee is amazing, and the attention to detail of the art is incredible!
The first stop on the festive trail is the Mansion House to see the Live Crib. With real animals and a depiction of the Nativity scene, it’s a lovely Christmas attraction to visit.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Oisín Quinn hosts the Live Animal Crib outside the historic Dublin Mansion House, his home, on Dawson Street.
Now for a chilly walk to St. Stephen’s Green, be sure to be wrapped up well, as Winter has well and truly hit Dublin!
For some beautiful Christmas lights and decorations, take a trip to St. Stephen’s Green shopping centre. Pick up a few last-minute gifts maybe.
As the sun begins to set, the Christmas lights on Grafton street begin to twinkle and add to the cosy festive atmosphere of Dublin’s city centre.
Grafton Street is more of a window shopping street for most students, but with amazing window displays in Brown Thomas, it’s a must-see.
It might be time for a hot chocolate now as the moon appears, and the temperature begins to drop. The newly refurbished Bewley’s Cafe is the perfect spot for an indulgent hot chocolate and maybe even another Irish Christmas favourite, a mince pie!
Bewley’s Grafton Street, one of Dublin’s most iconic and celebrated landmarks, has reopened its doors. Following a multi-million- euro refurbishment, the much-loved café has been restored to create a bigger, brighter and better-than-ever customer experience.
Ensuring you feel well and truly snuggled in the Christmas spirit, buskers and carol singers can be found all the way from Grafton street, across the bridge to O’Connell Street, weaving their way down the inevitably busy Henry Street and Mary Street as people gather the last few gifts.
Now that you have made it across the bridge, you will find lots more lights and twinkling lights saying, ‘Nollaig Shona Duit’, meaning Merry Christmas to you, in Irish (Gaeilge).
“Nollaig Shona Duit”
(NO-Lihg HO-nuh ghwich).
However, if you were to be addressing the same greeting to two or more persons, you would say:
“Nollaig Shona Daoibh”
(NO-Lihg HO-nuh JEEV)
This literally means “You have a Happy Christmas.”
A Christmas tradition between Henry Street and Moore Street are the independent stalls, selling Christmas jumpers, lights, handmade gifts and everything in between.
Year-round the markets can be found on Moore Street selling veg and flowers.
“The famous Moore Street open-air fruit and vegetable market is Dublin’s oldest food market. The market there is considered to be a famous landmark on the northside of the city. “
It is time to go back across the bridge, this time to Temple Bar,
“Temple Bar is a busy riverside neighbourhood, spread over cobbled pedestrian lanes. Crowded pubs host live folk music and DJ sets, and diners pack restaurants serving Asian, American and Irish cuisine. Quirky boutiques stock clothes and crafts by local designers. The National Photographic Archive highlights Ireland’s past, while the Project Arts Centre and Temple Bar Gallery + Studios show contemporary art.”
There is an abundance of choice when it comes to making dinner plans in Temple Bar, everything from burgers in Bunsen to pizza or pasta in Milano‘s or just classic Irish ‘pub grub’ in The Porterhouse.
As the day draws to a close there is time for a few more Christmas adventures. For a true taste of an Irish Christmas the Panto (Pantomime; Pantomime is a type of musical comedy stage production designed for family entertainment.)
The Gaiety Panto is always a great night, a lighthearted, entertaining way to end your day.
If you’d prefer to continue exploring, a night at Dublin Zoo’s Wild Lights show might be what you’re looking for!
Wild Lights is a must-see experience for family, friends and couples this festive season, where they will embark on an enchanted trail and discover a dazzling array of beautifully crafted, giant colourful lanterns inspired by wildlife.
Visitors will be treated to an awe-inspiring display of lanterns which includes a pride of lions, orangutans, tigers, giraffes, monkeys and much more!
That brings our festive day to a close. That was only a snapshot of what there is to do in Dublin in the festive period. There is a truly magical atmosphere in Dublin through the month of December in the lead up to Christmas. It is not to be missed!
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