The 12 Stays of Christmas: a dozen seasonal getaways in Ireland
Dromoland Castle
Forget peeling potatoes and scrubbing roasting trays — this Christmas, why not outsource the chaos?
Across Ireland, the finest hotels are rolling out the red carpet for a season of champagne breakfasts, roaring fires, and proper festive magic.
Whether you crave a country manor with mulled wine by the fire or the buzz of Christmas in the city, these luxurious escapes promise indulgence, atmosphere, and zero washing up.
From family-friendly fun to intimate adult retreats, each promises a curated festive programme designed to delight, pamper, and spoil every guest.
Step into a fairytale Christmas at Dromoland Castle. Over three nights (December 24–27), guests are welcomed with sparkling cocktails and festive drinks, before enjoying dinners and carol singalongs.
Christmas Day sees a lavish lunch in the Earl of Thomond Restaurant, accompanied by live piano music.
Explore the 450-acre estate with options for cycling, strolling, or falconry. On St Stephen’s Day, attend the Limerick Races or enjoy storytelling sessions.
A complimentary family portrait on the grand staircase captures the memories. From €1,465 per adult per night.
Galgorm transforms into a Winter Wonderland at Christmas.
Guests arrive on Christmas Eve to festive cocktails, carol singers, and afternoon tea, followed by dinner and evening entertainment.
Christmas Day includes Bucks Fizz breakfast, Santa visits, a five-course lunch, pool fun, games, and evening music.
St Stephen’s Day allows for leisurely spa indulgence or relaxation by the fire.
From £845 per person sharing, this retreat combines luxury, family entertainment, and thermal spa bliss.
For a city Christmas, The Westbury is unbeatable.
Its glittering trees and grand staircase are Dublin icons, and festive energy spills straight in from Grafton St.
The Family Suite Stay features adjoining rooms, a cuddly Balfie Bear for children, and full à la carte breakfast in Wilde.
Guests can combine shopping with luxurious surroundings, from marble halls to cosy lounges.
The Westbury Christmas Experience December 24-26 includes two nights’ B&B, champagne on arrival and welcome Christmas amenities from €1,200.
Christmas dinner, served in Wilde, costs €260 each. Call the hotel directly to book this package.
For a memorable country estate Christmas, Carton House delivers.
Guests are welcomed with mulled wine, mince pies, and a special gift before settling into 1,100 acres of frosty parkland.
Choose between contemporary Garden Wing rooms or suites in the 18th-century Manor House, some complete with their own Christmas tree.
Festive highlights include a Christmas morning buffet, morning swims, estate walks, and a magnificent Christmas Day feast.
Afternoon board games, quiet reading corners, or post-lunch strolls allow for a truly relaxed festive pace. Two-night stays from €1,175 per person sharing.
Surrounded by 1,300 acres of woodlands, lakes, and walking trails, Farnham Estate Spa & Golf Resort offers a quintessential countryside Christmas.
Drinks on arrival and relaxed dinners set the tone for a festive escape filled with seasonal charm.
Buffet breakfasts, Christmas Day lunch, and live music create the perfect mix of indulgence and leisure. Guests can enjoy spa treatments, swim in the indoor/outdoor infinity pool, take a winter walk, or try their hand at golf.
St Stephen’s Day is deliberately unhurried, with breakfast at your own pace and endless opportunities to explore the estate.
Two nights (December 24–26) from €590 per person sharing; three nights (December 24–27) from €810.
Dublin’s Ballsbridge is home to this timeless city hotel, where opulent décor, towering trees, and a giant gingerbread house fill the air with seasonal magic.
Packages include festive treats on arrival, a Christmas Day lunch by executive chef Alberto Rossi, and live piano music in the lounge.
Guests can take a spa dip, enjoy the 14m indoor pool, or explore Sandymount Strand for a refreshing winter walk.
Two- or three-night stays start at €850 per person, combining city vibrancy with festive elegance.
Nestled in Donegal’s tranquil woodlands, Lough Eske Castle offers two- or four-night festive retreats filled with fine dining, sparkling wine, and five-star hospitality.
Guests will enjoy three-course dinners, live music, and a grand Christmas Day lunch.
Children receive special visits from Santa, while adults linger over breakfasts, stroll along woodland paths, or unwind by roaring fires.
St Stephen’s Day includes a relaxed dinner and live entertainment.
From €1,690 for two sharing, this fairytale setting promises Christmas magic for all ages.
Celebrate Christmas in the shadow of the Wicklow Mountains at Powerscourt, where a three-night package blends family fun and indulgent luxury.
Festive touches include mince pies and mulled wine, Christmas Eve dinner, Christmas Day breakfast and lunch, and evening treats.
Children enjoy Santa’s visit and reindeer activities, while adults relax in the Sugar Loaf Lounge or by the Swarovski-lit pool.
St Stephen’s Day offers falconry displays, walks, and opportunities to soak up the winter air.
From €1,325 per person sharing.
On Ireland’s west coast, Glenlo Abbey offers a two-night Christmas escape filled with enchantment. Guests enjoy mulled wine on arrival, Christmas Eve dinner, and a festive Christmas Day banquet with champagne.
A Santa visit and family movies provide entertainment for all, while fireside drinks in the French Room round off the evenings.
St Stephen’s Day offers a relaxed breakfast and morning strolls around the estate.
Two-night packages from €1,490 each.
Sheen Falls Lodge in Kenmare hosts a three-night Christmas retreat (December 24-27) in spectacular Kerry surroundings.
Arrive to seasonal treats, enjoy Christmas Eve dinner, and start Christmas morning with a champagne breakfast.
Traditional Christmas Day lunch is followed by an informal evening buffet.
St Stephen’s Day features the estate’s treasure hunt, drinks and canapé reception, and culminates in the annual gala dinner in The Falls Restaurant.
Leisurely breakfasts, winter walks, and cosy fires enhance this special Kenmare experience. From €1,800 per person sharing.
Hayfield Manor offers three nights of Christmas indulgence in Cork city. Guests are greeted with festive drinks reception, turndown gifts, and daily breakfasts.
Christmas Day begins with a champagne toast and traditional lunch, with Santa visit and festive children’s entertainment.
Evenings feature buffets, live music, and fires. St Stephen’s Day includes a leisurely breakfast, optional spa treatments, city walks, and an evening supper.
From €1,950 per head, this retreat delivers luxury, fun and festive magic.
Mount Juliet Estate’s Manor House hosts a four-night Christmas offer (December 23-26).
Guests enjoy festive bubbly and canapés, Christmas Eve dinner, light lunch, and Christmas Day lunch with Santa, plus an evening seasonal buffet.
St Stephen’s Day offers country estate fun from afternoon tea, archery, Segway tours, or clay shooting. From €920 per room per night.
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