CHRISTMAS SHOPPING BREAKS - TEN OR SO OF THE BEST

For a well-earned relaxing short break before the seasonal madness really kicks in - and Christmas shopping without the pain - top up your credit card and head for one of these great destinations.

Granville Hotel SOUTH-EAST
Waterford Co Waterford

Ireland’s oldest city, Waterford is always an interesting place to visit and for shopping - and this is a great time to go as it’s hosting the country’s largest Christmas festival, Winterval. Now in its 13th year, it runs every Thursday to Sunday until December 23rd with many events free of charge. Glenveagh Christmas Market, Garter Lane Arts Centre and the Waterford Crafts Market have over 100 food, craft and drinks producers in wooden cabins outside and indoors. Supporting local producers and craftspeople, you’ll find one-off jewellery and crafts and a huge array of festive food to sample or buy as gifts. The Winterval Illuminations are a highlight after dark and kids will love the fun fair, Santas Grotto and the Viking Elf Trail. And, celebrating 45 years in the current ownership, the quayside Granville Hotel is the perfect to stay with a range of deals including an Anniversary Offer from about €112 per room for B&B, a €50 dining credit – and complimentary parking. Further information: https://winterval.ie/

Butler House SOUTH-EAST 
Kilkenny Co Kilkenny

In the unlikely event that an excuse is needed to visit The Marble City, YuleFest could be the catalyst. Every weekend from November 29th to December 23rd, you’ll find all kinds of good things ranging from food to local crafts and gifts. There’s plenty of family entertainment,live music special events too - December 6th brings a fire show and the arrival of the Santa truck, while December 11th isYulefest movie night. Stay centrally in historic Butler House, a fascinating Blue Book member offering B&B from about €160 per room take a run out of the city while you’re in the area, to visit the unique Mountain View Christmas Market at Ballyhale, which launches with a Night Market on November 30th (4pm-10pm) and opens every Sunday in December (10m-4pm). A great place to support local businesses – and it’s dog friendly too.
 

Imperial Hotel  SOUTH
South Mall, Cork

Cork’s unique character is to the fore in the festive build up - particularly in the four weekends leading up to Christmas when ‘Corkmas’ transforms the centre into one big festival space, with a Ferris Wheel and carousel on Grand Parade and Corkmas Christmas Market at Emmett Place for food and crafts, all creating an illuminated Christmas wonderland. The historic Imperial Hotel offers keen rates (Christmas shopping escape from about €170pps; includes one-course meal for two and a cocktail each), secure parking and an exceptionally convenient location - near the river, handy to the main activities and just a couple of minutes walk from the Patrick Street shopping area (home to BT and other temptations) - all making this characterful hotel a perfect base for a Christmas shopping spree. Its old public areas and recently refurbished guest room are in fine fettle, there’s a spa and the English Market is just around the corner. And don't forget to visit the Marina Market where you’ll find a snow-dusted Scandinavian-inspired and dog friendly winter wonderland.

Great Southern Killarney SOUTH WEST 
Killarney Co Kerry

If you’ve always thought of Killarney as a summer destination, think again – these past masters at getting seasonal visitors to relax and enjoy themselves are also masters of reinvention for the winter and have plenty of shopping and festive activities to offer (calendar of events on https://christmasinkillarney.com/), whether for the holiday itself or for a pre-Christmas shopping and relaxation break. You’ll findo pen air markets in the town centre over weekends (Fri 3-7pm, Sat 2-8pm. Sun 2p-7pm), Dine in Killarney evenings in the town’s restaurants, music a-plenty and much more. Right beside the station, the historic Great Southern Killarney hotel is one of the best central places to stay and, in December, they offer a very reasonably priced one-night or two-night winter package (from about €315) including dinner in their recently launched Arbour restaurant, Full Irish Breakfast the next morning and access to the Health Club with its 15m heated pool, steam room, sauna, jacuzzi, monsoon shower and outdoor tennis courts.


Wineport Lodge MIDLANDS
Glasson Co Westmeath

Ray Byrne and Jane English’s lovely lakeside lodge is nothing less than stunning. It simply oozes style and comfort, with beautiful rooms (all with private balconies overlooking the lake), floating hot tubs and lakeside sauna... All this, plus one of the most beautifully located restaurants in Ireland, make a visit to Wineport tempting at any time, but coming up to Christmas it¹s pretty irresistible for a mixture of shopping opportunities and relaxation. In the village, Glasson Craft Gallery has lots of Christmas gift ideas, from locally produced festive goodies to crafts and works by local artists, and Athlone Town Centre is nearby too ­ and Wineport itself has plenty to offer onsite, including Christmas Boat Tours on Lough Ree - a magical 60-minute Christmas cruise, with festive lights, cosy blankets, mulled wine and mince pies (Boat Tour & Festive Treats Package €150, available until Jan 6th). Or there’s their Festive Bubble Break which offers an opportunity to escape and unwind, from about €450. With a 4-course dinner, a lazy breakfast, a bottle of chilled bubbles and Irish chocolate truffles waiting in your room on arrival, what’s not to love.

Limerick Strand Hotel  MID WEST
Ennis Road Limerick Co Limerick

Just a short walk across the Sarsfield Bridge from the city’s main shopping area, this modern riverside four-star makes a great base for shopping – and, like the city itself, it has earned a reputation for good food. They work hard to make food provenance and seasonality a point of difference, especially in The River Restaurant with its “Taste the Place” menu. It’s a good shopping city, notably for food, and the covered Milk Market is within easy walking distance - a visit to this historic market is a must for any food lover visiting the city. Among its many festive events in November and December, the atmospheric Christmas Edition (Sat 8am–3pm) offers seasonal specialities and gifts including artisan hampers, and special themed Sundays include a Christmas Art Fair (7 Dec), Vinyl Record & CD Fair (14 Dec ), and an Antique, Vintage & Craft Fair (21 Dec ). The Limerick Strand Hotel offers good value too, with 20% off winter breaks from about €250 for two sharing.
 

No. 1 Pery Square Hotel & Spa   MID-WEST
1 Pery Square Limerick

‘Let Limerick Surprise You!’ is a great marketing tag line for a city and county that has far more to offer visitors than many people imagine, and there’s no better time to find out for yourself than coming up to Christmas, when the city is a-buzz with festive preparations. As well as the Christmas Market at the Milk Market, the Georgian district has festivities all of its own and this boutique hotel is hosting magnificent Festive Sunday lunches on the 14th and 21st December and a range of its famous Afternoon Tea menus (from about €40) that are available at weekends from 1pm and also midweek for groups of 10 or more. It’s a gorgeous place to stay and explore the city and there are some great special offers too, including a 2 night pre-Christmas shopping break package (with complimentary access to the thermal spa among the treats) from about €150pp; room-only rates are also available on some nights.



Brooks Hotel EAST
Drury Street Dublin 2

Located between Grafton and South Great Georges Streets (and just across the road from a multi-storey car park), this discreetly luxurious boutique hotel near St Stephen's Green and a host of cultural venues is perfectly situated for a shopping break. And what a restful retreat to return to after shopping ‘til you drop! Pre-Christmas temptations in the capital include atmospheric shopping in the Grafton Street area (with some magnificently indulgent designer gifts, of course, at luxury stores like Brown Thomas), Twinkle Town (markets, ice rink, Ferris Wheel) just across the river in Smithfield and Gifted, the Contemporary Craft & Design Fair at the RDS, 3rd -7th December with its Food Emporium and much else besides. Festive shows nearby include the Gaiety Theatre Christmas Panto and then you can round off the evening in your pick of of the city’s famous pubs…Special offers at Brooks include ‘Bites, Bubbles & Snooze’ winter city escapes from about €110pps including a glass of bubbly, dinner in 62 Drury Street Bar & Brasserie, late checkout (1pm) and discounted parking (€20 for 24 hours). The hotel is also open for Christmas.


Park House Hotel WEST
Forster Street Eyre Square Galway

Known with good reason as the city of fun, Galway is renowned for its good shopping and markets – especially the Saturday food market – and, now in its 15th year, the atmospheric Christmas Market on Eyre Square is a favourite in their well packed portfolio of must-visit attractions. Open daily from early November until New Year’s Eve. it gives the city centre a great festive atmosphere - so, no need to jet off abroad to enjoy a traditional continental Christmas market, just head for Galway and spend the money there instead (thereby injecting an estimated €10m into the local economy). Great places to stay include this fine hotel just off Eyre Square, which is handy to the main shopping area (and the station) and has the individuality that comes with owner-management and makes a lovely base. Special offers include short breaks from about €145pps (2 nights B&B and 1D); secure parking.


The Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast NORTH
1-3 Great Victoria Street Belfast BT2 7BQ

With the Titanic Experience attracting visitors from all over the world, a growing number of other attractions and a very well-earned reputation for excellent food and hospitality, Belfast has become quite the destination. And there are festive events https://visitbelfast.com/whats-on/seasonal/christmas/ a-plenty notably the annual Christmas markets held at St George’s Market and City Hall Gardens. This stylish five star hotel is in an enviable location beside the Grand Opera House and only a couple of minutes walk from the main shopping areas – and special packages include a room only offer from only £150 and a Festive Escape (with dinner) from about £320 for two, with a direct booking discount available too. At the Christmas Continental Market held nearby in the Belfast City Hall grounds, speciality foods are the main attraction but there are also gifts and crafts, a Santa and other family entertainment (runs 17th November – 20th December daily, times vary). The Fitzwilliam is also open over Christmas and New Year. Further information on events in Northern Ireland.