Irish winter tourists visiting Lapland face disappointment as no snow has fallen in the run-up to the festive season.

An Irishman is planning a 1,400km trek between two Siberian towns, both of which claim to be the coldest on Earth. Temperatures can drop to minus 60C.

Tomorrow a Cork-based Apple employee gives up a highly paid tech job to embark on a 6,000km trek without cash, credit cards, or a backup plan.

The word ‘sport’ is an interesting one. It is commonplace, part of the everyday conversation in the great majority of households on this island — and yet it is hard to define, writes Paul Rouse.

Once upon a time, Santa was a quick visit in a department store, at the end of a day of shopping. How times have changed. From Beyond to Winterval, Ciara McDonnell and Vickie Maye round up the best festive experiences. 

This is a trip tailored for kids, but naturally for the accompanying grand dads, grannies, mums and dads, uncles and aunts too.

Arlene Harris tells of the impact the Make a Wish charity has on the life of unlucky children suffering from serious health issues

Just hear those sleigh bells jingling, nee naw nee naw.

There was a rather familiar figure in Kildare this morning.

Can’t afford Lapland this year? Take the family to Winterval in Waterford, writes Vickie Maye

More than 60,000 people visit Fota’s Christmas attraction each year. Marjorie Brennan checks out the preparations for Santa’s arrival

Forget about the Christmas movies – these days it’s the big budget ads we want to see, writes Suzanne Harrington

Visit Santa

Shamrock Rovers’ Europa League hopes are all but over as no mid-season joy was visited on Tallaght Stadium from Lapland last night.

It’s more famous for its magnificent scenery, but Gougane Barra can now lay claim to being the best place in the country to answer nature’s call, after it was voted home to one of the world’s top 100 toilets.

A travel agent who set up a charity which sent terminally ill children to Lapland has been given a suspended sentence for stealing over €18,000 from the organisation.

A travel agent convicted of stealing from a charity he founded for terminally ill children may avoid a prison sentence if he can repay the stolen money.

A travel agent is due to be sentenced today for stealing thousands of euro from a charity he set up to send terminally ill children to Lapland.

A travel agent has gone on trial accused of stealing over €18,000 from a charity he founded which sent terminally ill children to see Santa.

Vickie Maye experiences Lapland, the magical winter wonderland that’s home to Santa, on a one-night trip of a lifetime.

More and more of us want to get away for the festive season — whether it’s for a sun-drenched Christmas, a cruise, or the ski slopes, says Ciara McDonnell.

Why go to Lapland when you can have a merry old time at Winterval, asks Tommy Barker

The biggest Christmas festival in the country kicked off last night when Santa switched on 100,000 festive lights in Waterford City.

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Fed up with the temperamental Irish weather, sun-seekers nationwide have been making last-minute travel plans with holiday bookings skyrocketing in recent weeks.

SET in Swedish Lapland in the winter of 1717, in a time and place so remote as to seem unearthly, Wolf Winter creeps up on the reader stealthily, like a silent fall of snow.

An Irishman is waiting to hear if his application for a seasonal job in the world’s most southerly and possibly coldest post office has been successful.

An Post has apologised after a three-year old girl’s letter to Santa was sent back to her — nearly a month after she had posted it to Lapland.

Novelty underpants, dubious-smelling perfume sets and chick-lit novels are just some of the most ‘rubbish’ presents that will be given this Christmas.

No flies on kids these days: An app for tracking Santa, a dram of Smithwick’s to send him on his merry way but BETTER WATCH OUT — thanks to relentless public health messaging, even 8-year-olds now know drink driving is a no-no.

There are many things you don’t expect to do in your 20’s, and becoming Santa’s not-so-little helper would have topped my list, had I even considered it a possibility.

Last year at Fota Island Resort’s Santa experience, six men proposed to their partners, inspired — and perhaps emboldened — by the spirit of Christmas created there. A tough act to follow. So what’s going on down there this year?

Ho ho ho — trips to Lapland to see Santa Claus have taken off again.

The Government has been urged to halt the alarming slide in passenger numbers at Cork Airport after Aer Lingus pulled the plug on its Cork to Brussels route for the winter.

Lapland isn’t just about Santa’s grotto and husky sleigh rides. The area has loads to offer in the summer too.

Here’s our spoiler-free guide to what you should watch on the box tonight.

Finns grab road safety by the fluorescent horns