E-mail

Celebrate Christmas in Killarney, with all of you folks en route!

PAT PRESTON

IrishCentral.com Travel Expert

Published Monday, November 23, 2009, 8:39 PM

Updated Monday, November 23, 2009, 8:45 PM

Vote now - Buzz this up!

Read more: Ireland, Killarney (County Kerry), Christmas, Culture and Lifestyle, Holidays

Just like Bing Crosby sang, it's Christmas in Killarney!

Traveling to Ireland in December? Don’t forget Christmas in Killarney!

Killarney is the No. 1 place to celebrate the holidays in Ireland, and has been ever since Bing Crosby crooned about “Christmas in Killarney” along with his classic “White Christmas.” Bing put this vibrant Kerry tourist town on the yuletide map decades ago.

While Bing sang smoothly about spending Christmas with “all of the folks at home,” today you don’t have to have any connections or relatives in Killarney to join in the celebrations.

In fact, in true Irish fashion, the celebrations at Killarney have mushroomed in recent years into a full-fledged festival, open to all. This year is the 5th year for the Annual Christmas in Killarney Festival (December 4 – January 6), welcoming visitors from all over Ireland, Europe and the US.

A focal point of the month is the Irish & International Craft & Food Open Air Markets (December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20) at Fair Hill Park, voted in the Top 10 European Christmas Markets by the Irish Times, and the only Irish market to make the list.

If you are traveling with children, don’t miss Santa’s Lodge, a festively decorated workshop where Santa meets the kids at the Killarney Cultural Center in the middle of town (on December 12, 13, 19 and 20).

The line-up of other activities includes a Children’s Torchlight Parade and Turning on of Christmas Lights (December 4); the Three Irish Tenors in Concert at St. Mary’s Church (December 16); Santa’s 10KM Fun Run through the town and Killarney National Park (December 19); an Xmas Factor Karaoke Competition at four different town pubs – Failte, Foley’s, Mustang’s, and McSorley’s (December 4, 6, 11 and 13); Killarney Musical Society Chorale performance at Market Cross (December 12); Friary Folk Group Karaoke Christmas Carols at Killarney Outlet Center and Market Cross (December 12); and assorted concerts and Christmas Party Nights at the various hotels in town. Visitors can also enjoy ice-skating at the Killarney ice rink at Fair Hill Park (December 4 – January 1).

Although many of Ireland’s hotels and guesthouses are closed for Christmas, a good selection of lodgings in Killarney are open, and offer 2- and 3-night “Christmas Programs” with holiday concerts, dancing, sing-alongs, and other special events for guests.

1 2 Next page >

Vote now - Buzz this story up!

RELATED ARTICLES
RELATED TOPICS

E-mail

Most recent comments - See all comments

Report abuse

Posted by Tippman on Dec 11, 2009, 09:51 AM EST

I'm delighted to see Pat Preston lending her expertise and experience to Irish Central. Ms. Preston knows what she's talking about and while it may be a bit late for me to be making Xmas plans I look forward to reading her upcoming columns. Does she think it's innovative of the Irish Government to offer discounted travel to senior tourists? Will it work and how about some columns on train travel in Ireland.

Report abuse

Posted by Rebelforce on Nov 24, 2009, 04:42 PM EST

When I was growing up, one of the highlights of the Christmas season was watching the Bing Crosby Christmas show on television. And then ofcourse there was always Bing playing "Fr. O'Malley" in the heartwarming classic, "Bells of St Mary's".

See all comments

MOST READ
MOST E-MAILED

Related Items

IrishCentral on Twitter

Become a fan of IrishCentral.com on Facebook

One possible itinerary for an Ireland vacation is a trip along the Causeway coast from Belfast to Londonderry. Start off in Belfast, where you can visit the new entertainment complex, Waterfront Hall, as well as the Cathedral Quarter featuring St. Anne’s Cathedral. Want a little history in your Ireland vacation? When you leave Belfast, you can stop at Newtownabbey’s Loughshore Park, which is where the Titanic first sailed from the shipyards of Harland & Wolff. On an Ireland vacation, you can see sights almost a millennium old. Carrickfergus has a 12th-century Norman Castle. If you would like your Ireland vacation to have a literary theme, head to Kilroot, where Jonathan Swift, who would go on to write Gulliver’s Travels, worked as a minister. At the Glens of Antrim. Admire the waterfalls and be sure to take the Antrim Coast Road. If you are looking for some culture during your Ireland vacation, the village of Glenarm has both a castle and traditional folk music sessions. Cushendall features the red sandstone Curfew Tower, which is four stories high. The Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge spans a 24-meter chasm. Some Ireland vacations revolve around pubs. But on this itinerary, you get to go to the village of Bushmills, which is home to the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery. One of the most spectacular sights on your Ireland vacation will be the famous Giant’s Causeway, which is outside of Bushmills. Ireland vacations may also include history from other countries. Ships from the Spanish Armada sank along the rough coastline near the Giant’s Causeway. At Port na Spaniagh, divers recovered treasure from the Girona, one of the galleons of the Armada. The Mussenden Temple may have been inspired by Rome’s Temple of Vesta. Downhill, Benone and Magilligan Beaches are so long that you may find yourself alone on these dramatic beaches. Finish your Ireland vacation in Londonderry, which is the only completely walled city in the British Isles. The walls date from the 17th century.

Celebrate Christmas in Killarney, with all of you folks en route!

Most recent comments - See all comments

Related Items

news

sport

entertainment

business

travel

advice

opinion

multimedia

roots

food & drink

blogs