Christmas is only 30 sleeps away! Can you believe it? Neither can we! The long awaited, most wonderful time of the year is just around the corner! We’re all super busy getting our Christmas shopping done but let’s take a break from that and see what else we can keep ourselves busy with over the coming weeks.
We will continue to run our social programme as normal, uninterrupted by the Christmas chaos so prepare yourselves for another great month of welcome tours, Irish History and Culture Club, Jobs Club and Express Yourself. We will also visit the Science Gallery and (as its Christmas time) one of Dublin’s biggest Christmas markets in the heart of the Docklands district, make sure to wrap up warm! Should you wish to do a little bit more Christmas browsing make sure to check our blog post on the best markets in Dublin.
As you know Fridays are for exploring Hidden Dublin and this month our teacher Una will bring students to The Freemasons Lodge – home of the world’s most well-known secret society. Students will also have an opportunity to visit the actual home of James Joyce – Ireland’s most famous novelist.
If you’re up for adventure, why not join the Saturday tours to Belfast, Kilkenny and Connemara. You will be amazed at how beautiful these places are at Christmas time.
The week before Christmas is always special in ISI; the festive mood is higher than ever as staff and students alike wear their festive Christmas jumpers! This year we will have our annual ISI student Christmas party as well as a festive singalong with some Christmas Carols. What better way to start the holidays!
If you’re looking for more activities and events in Dublin in the run up to Christmas why not visit Winter Funderland for an Ice Skating session or Join Chamber Choir Ireland for ‘Nine Lessons and Carols’, a wonderful Dublin Christmas Choral Celebration. Farmleigh Christmas is another great option. Located in the Phoenix Park Farmleigh puts on a wonderful programme of seasonal events at Christmas including Magic and Puppet Shows, Christmas Tales from Storytellers, Horse and Carriage Rides and Markets and Carrols. Check the programme on their website for more details.
Another impressive festival is Simon House of Light. This three day Christmas extravaganza takes place in Powerscourt Townhouse Centre each evening from 5pm to 10pm and creates magical illuminations and projections on the front of building outside (repeated every half hour) while inside there is loads of entertainment and activities for both kids and adults.
Finally, if you’re sticking around Dublin for the New Year you won’t be able to avoid the NYF Dublin festival. New Year Festival Dublin is a new and exciting 3 day city wide festival of Arts, Culture and Live Entertainment. Kicking off on the 30th of December it runs right to the 1st of January. For events and concert line up, check the official web sitesi.