Christmas 2025
Enjoy a festive season like no other at Heritage Ireland!
Join us for a magical line-up of Christmas events, perfect for all ages. Kids can unleash their creativity with our exciting colouring competition and everyone can discover exciting Christmas facts from our sites across the country!
Festive Colouring Competition
Pick up your festive image of Custom House at our participating sites or simply print here.
How to enter?
Take a photograph of your entry and email to heritagemarketing@opw.ie.
Closing date for entries 12/12/2025
Winners will be announced 16/12/2025 and will receive a Family Heritage Card giving them unlimited access to some the country’s most iconic landmarks.
The Night before Christmas
National Botanic Garden of Ireland – Glasnevin
Tickets are now on sale for our annual Christmas flower arranging night. Join Ali Dietrich for a fabulous evening of mulled wine, mince pies and great ideas for your seasonal floral displays.
Tickets €20-25
Reception at 7.30pm
Demonstration from 8pm – 10pm
Children’s Arts & Crafts Christmas Workshop
Gunpowder Magazine, Charles Fort.
Booking: Pre-booking shall be essential due to limited number of spaces. To book a place please email: charlesfort@opw.ie with your child’s name, age. parent / guardian’s name and contact telephone number.
Age group: 8-12 years.
Christmas Carols at Sligo Abbey
Sligo Abbey
Sligo Town is set to come alive with music, magic and Christmas spirit this December as part of the Sligo Night-Time Economy Pilot- an initiative of the Government, supported and funded by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport.
This special evening event will take place on Saturday 6th December and Sunday 7th In a unique collaboration, Music Generation Sligo, the Office of Public Works (OPW), Sligo Abbey, Sligo BID, and Sligo County Council have joined forces to transform one of the town’s most iconic historical locations – the Sligo Abbey- into a stage for showcasing the remarkable musical talents of Sligo’s young people.
Talking Turkey!
Rathfarnham Castle
For around 450 years the turkey has been synonymous with Christmas and with Thanksgiving in the United States as a celebratory feast. Indeed, 7 million tonnes of turkey meat are consumed annually the world over! Join us for a fascinating talk tracing the development of the human connection with the bird, and examining the life of its 6.7 million wild cousins still living in North America
Carols at the Castle
Dublin Castle: Carols in the Chapel
Enjoy Christmas Carols in the atmospheric Chapel Royal to get you in the festive mood this December. Carols will be held in the chapel from 6:30pm.
Following the concert, guests will be invited to stroll through the historic courtyard of Dublin Castle, which will be illuminated as part of Dublin City Council’s dazzling Dublin Winter Lights exhibition.
The evening concludes with exclusive access to the beautifully decorated 19th-century State Apartments, where guests can enjoy a private 1 hour reception featuring seasonal delicacies, hot whiskey and prosecco.
Tickets for the below dates can be booked via Eventbrite for €30
Tuesday 2nd December
Thursday 4th December
Tuesday 9th December
Thursday 11th December
Tuesday 16th December
Thursday 18th December
Dublin Castle: Christmas at State Apartments
Take in the beautiful Christmas decorations in the historic State Apartments of Dublin Castle – free entry from 10am – 9pm (last entry 8:30pm) on the below dates. Booking is not required for access to State Apartments on these dates.
Friday 5th December
Saturday 6th December
Sunday 7th December
Friday 12th December
Saturday 13th December
Sunday 14th December
Saturday 20th December
Sunday 21st December
Christmas at Emo
OPW Emo Court will host Christmas at Emo on 13–14 December 2025, featuring two days of festive music, community performances, and seasonal food under a heated canopy.
The Velvettes at Farmleigh
Farmleigh House and Gardens
The Velvettes are home for Christmas!
The band were formed by leader Fran king in 2012, and reflects his love of the great American songbook of the 1940s & 50’s onwards. It has featured some wonderful guest singers over the years (Michelle Gillies / Judy O’ Connor /Fidelma Kelly / Eleanor Kenny) as the line up evolves, interpreting intimate selections of the aforementioned greats, plus old skool Christmas favourites performed with authenticity & affection.
Free Admission to Kilkenny Castle
On Sunday 14th & Sunday 21st of December, Kilkenny Castle will be open free of charge to the public from 9.30am to 4.30pm for all to enjoy the magic of the beautiful decorated period rooms.
Christmas Carols at The Custom House
Why not take a break from the Christmas shopping and join us under the acoustically magnificent dome of the Custom House for a special carol service.
Christmas Facts. Did you know?
- 1/11
Dublin Castle
The Gothic Chapel Royal in the grounds of Dublin Castle held its first service on Christmas Day, 1814. The last Anglican service held in the Chapel was on Christmas Day, 1922. In 1943, it began a new chapter as a Roman Catholic Chapel.
It is now deconsecrated.
Neapolitan crib at the Chapel Royal - 2/11
The Rock of Cashel
Inside Cormac's Chapel at the Rock of Cashel are fragments of magnificent frescoes. Painted in the late-12th century they show scenes from the Nativity story. Best preserved is a scene showing several figures wearing red robes and crowns. This depicts the magi (the three wise men) meeting with King Herod. Another scene possibly shows the Adoration of the Shepherds. While the majority of the frescoes do not survive, it is clear that the Nativity was the main theme, showing the importance of Christmas in medieval Cashel.
Nativity Fresco at Rock of Cashel Credit Thomas Nelligan - 3/11
Kilmainham Gaol
Christmas cards were sent from some prisoners that were held in prisons across Ireland during the Civil War. One from Jack Doyle in 1922 was sent to his mother while he was in Mountjoy Prison:
"This is a card I send to you
Made up of pencils, red and blue,
To wish you all good health and cheer
A Happy Christmas and Bright New Year"
Christmas Card from Civil War prisoner Courtesy of Kilmainham Gaol Archives - 4/11
Pearse Museum – St. Enda’s
Every December the Pearse family crib goes on display at the Pearse Museum - in 2021 it underwent a programme of conservation.
The figures were left to the State by Senator Margaret Pearse prior to her death in 1968.
Pearse Family Crib Courtesy of Pearse Museum - 5/11
Royal Hospital Kilmainham
Rations for pensioners were doubled for Christmas to six pints instead of three. A very Happy Christmas indeed!
Courtyard of Royal Hospital / IMMA Credit Mark Reddy - 6/11
Custom House Visitor Centre
James Gandon, the famed architect of the Custom House, dies on Christmas Eve, 1823.
Exterior of Custom House Dublin at night Credit Naoise Culhane - 7/11
Donegal Castle
The Battle of Kinsale was lost on Christmas Eve 1601. Red Hugh O’Donnell, of Donegal Castle, and his compatriots were defeated and later fled to Europe. This marks the end of the Gaelic Aristocracy.
Donegal Castle Credit Fáilte Ireland - 8/11
Castletown House
The Castletoniana book of puzzles, riddles, stories and poems was written over the winter period of 1779-1780 by guests who stayed at Castletown that winter.
Castletoniana puzzle book Courtesy of Castletown House - 9/11
Phoenix Park
An IRA raid on the Magazine Fort in the Phoenix Park took place on December 23rd, 1939, which later became known as the 'Christmas Raid'. At about 10:30pm, trucks drove from the fort filled with seized ammunition.
The Magazine Fort Credit OPW - 10/11
Áras an Uachtaráin
Three former Irish Presidents took office in December: Mary Robinson (Dec. 3rd 1990), Patrick Hillery (Dec. 3rd 1976), Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh (Dec. 19th 1974).
The Presidents of Ireland Credit Shauna Fox - 11/11
Oldbridge Estate: Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre
15 Dec 1894
The Drogheda Conservative reported the results of the Drogheda Christmas Fat Stock Show. Col Coddington Oldbridge secured first prize for the best collection of roots, all grown on the Drogheda Chemical manure. Mr. M. O;Reilly of Drogheda, was awarded first prize for mangles. There was a good show of turnips. Mrs Arnold, of Gormanstown, was first; Mr Moran, Julianstown, second; and Colonel Coddington third, with good specimens of the swede.
