There’s quite a few things we’re grateful to our continental cousins for, Champagne (thank you France), pizza (props to you Italy) and eh, clogs (go Holland!) But if there’s one thing we love around this time of year here in STELLAR Towers it’s a continental style Christmas Market. Mulled wine, roasted chestnuts, and cute as Christmas gifts for everyone from your Gran to your milkman. Sure why would you be elbowing and scrapping in a shopping centre when you could be basking in a Christmassy wonderland instead? So we thought we’d get a head-start and plan our route now, so we got on to the good people at Discover Ireland to tell us about the Christmas markets happening all over the country over the next few weeks.

Ding Dong Dublin

The big city while have a small town vibe this Yuletide as the capital goes all out to create a cosy atmosphere. Get your eat on at the first ever Taste of Christmas (26^th – 28^th November) in the Convertion Centre Dublin, giving visitors the chance to sample the best seasonal food and drink in Ireland, plus the usual gifts, celeb chef sightings, masterclasses and entertainment you’d expect from the Taste summer events.

Another Dublin highlight is the Twelve Days of Christmas in Dublin’s Docklands, from 3^rd to 22^nd December where you can enjoy a warm winter tipple and some gourmet Yuletide treats. With cabins selling crafts, artwork, edible gifts and toys, you’ll be sure to get some shopping in while you’re at it.

Just down the road from there check out the Point Village Christmas Markets, which take place from 3^rd to 23^rd December for a wide range of food and gift produce, carol singers and live gigs and while you’re there make sure you take in a bird’s eye view of Dublin’s Christmas lights with a ride on the new ferris wheel.  

For a truly decadent experience, and our favourite here in STELLAR Towers, check out the ‘Chocolate Christmas in Temple Bar ’ from the 3^rd – 5^th December is a calorific celebration of tasting, making and discovering chocolate.  Our pic of the festival? Enjoying It’s A Wonderful Life under the stars, with a hot mug of chocolate…it don’t get much more festive than that eh?

Happy Corkmas

See the Grand Parade turn into a Christmas Market every weekend from November 26^th to December 17^th and then again Christmas week, December 20^th to 22^nd.  The street will be a festive-wonderland of stalls featuring locally produced artisan crafts and foods, while local choirs and bands will help get you into the festive spirit.

If your Kinsale-bound visit the culinary haven of Christmas markets, plus a festive array of guided winter walks, a Santa’s Grotto and a Christmas Show.

Galway goes Global

Galway has brought in traders from all over Ireland and overseas to participate in the inaugural Galway Continental Christmas Market. Eyre Square will be transformed into a winter wonderland from November 19^th to December 19^th full of seasonal music, mulled wine and festival cheer. Get your fill of food, drinks and goodies from all over Ireland and Europe as well as Russia, Peru, USA and China.

Merry Kerry

Tralee will host a German Christmas Market from 10^th to 12^th December featuring a great selection of traditional German foods and crafts from Tralee’s partner town in Frankfurt-Höchst, as well as Christmas themed Irish produce from a wide range of Irish traders. See you at the Glühwein stand, yeah?

Waterford Wonderland

Waterford city’s cosy Traditional Food & Craft Market, takes place in John Roberts Square and Broad street from December 15^th to Christmas Eve and offers all the best local homemade food and handcrafted products. 

A Lapland in Limerick

The Limerick Christmas Market is choca this year with 60 stalls and shops, all packed with a range of artisan goodies and festive entertainment. It takes place from November 25^th to December 24^th,  in the famous and conveniently weather-proofed Milk Market at Cornmarket Row. 

Another market for your Limerick is the Georgian Christmas Market in Pery Square from November 19^th to 21^st, which will feature  local food, arts and crafts, and Christmas gifts with a difference. 

And not forgetting the rest of the country:
Wherever you are – there’s some festive glow coming to a market near you…

Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare (Dec. 11 – 12 & 18 – 19); 
Carlingford, Co. Louth (Dec. 5) 
Doonbeg, Co. Clare (Dec. 11 – 12); Ducketts’ Grove, near 
Carlow Town (Dec. 11 – 12); 
Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal (Dec. 4 & 18); 
Killarney, Co. Kerry (Dec 10 – 11 & Dec. 17 – 18); 
Westport, Co. Mayo (Dec. 10 – 12).

For more deets on Christmas markets around the country check out www.discoverireland.ie/christmas