LIKE MUHAMMAD and the mountain, if you can’t afford to jet off to a Continental Christmas market this year you can take heart from the fact that a Continental Christmas market is likely to be coming to a town near you.
One of the biggest this year is in the Galway Continental Market (November 25th to December 18th), with traders selling Christmas crafts and fare from 70 wooden chalets, with seasonal music and mulled wine.
In Kerry, Killarney is the one-stop-shop for gift buying with its Open Air Christmas Market returning to Main Street for the first three weekends in December. A highlight is its jaunting sleigh rides.
The Limerick Christmas Market has 60 stalls plus The Coronas, Imelda May and BellX1 providing the entertainment for shoppers.
This market, which is safe from inclement weather in the Milk Market at Cornmarket Row, takes place each weekend from Thursday through Sundays, starting November 25th.
The same city is also hosting its traditional Georgian Quarter Christmas Market, on Pery Square from November 18th to 21st.
Cork’s Grand Parade will be transformed into a Christmas market every weekend from November 26th to December 22nd, featuring artisan produce and local choirs.
Waterford’s Winter Wonderland is centred around Broad Street and John Robert’s Square from December 3rd through to Christmas Eve.
Other venues for Christmas fairs include Greystones, Carlow, Westport and Ballyvaughan, while the annual Doonbeg Christmas Market, located in the upmarket Clare hotel and golf resort, takes place on the weekends of December 10th and 17th.
- discoverireland.ie
