1 Breakfast with Santa in Bunratty

Start the day in style and kickstart the festive fun by having breakfast with Santa and his elves in the historic halls of Bunratty Castle and Folk Park in Co Clare.

With entertainment provided by the world-famous Bunratty performers and leading artists from the world of theatre, enjoy a sing-a-long with Santa, Mrs Claus, Jack Frost, Mary Poppins, and many more festive characters. 

The breakfast celebration with two sittings on each date takes place from 30 November and over weekends up to 15 December. There are additional daily events from 19 to 23 December. 

Adults: €39.95; children: €39.95. Your ticket includes breakfast with Santa, full access to the Bunratty Folk Park Christmas Experience, and a Christmas gift.

See bunrattycastle.ie

2 Santa’s going underground in Roscommon

The Jam famously sang about Going Underground, but did you know you and the kids can visit Santa’s grotto in a former coal mine in Co Roscommon this Christmas?

Arigna Mining Experience comes alive with a festive atmosphere over four weekends from 30 November right up to 21 December, as part of one of the most unique Christmas experiences for families countrywide.

Attendees will be brought through an underground tunnel decorated with lights and Christmas trees to meet Santa in the former coal mine, which closed in 1990.

There’s free face painting, magic and puppet shows, snacks and gifts for everyone, adults included. Online pre-booking is essential.

Adults: €15; children (2-14): €25; babies under two: €15.

See arignaminingexperience.ie

3 Christmas magic at Turoe Pet Farm

Turoe Pet Farm in Co Galway is one of the most popular family attractions in the midlands and west, combining the best of indoor and outdoor attractions to suit all ages and weather.

You can enjoy the magic of Christmas at Turoe Pet Farm in Galway from 22 November every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday right up to 22 December.

Located just off the M6 motorway at Bullaun, close to Loughrea, the pet farm and leisure park offers a three-hour slot to explore the wonderful pet farm setting and savour the festive atmosphere with friends and family before meeting Santa.

Children will receive a bag of food to feed the animals, including goats, donkeys, alpacas, llamas, and more. Those aged from two to12 will also receive a wristband to access all of the indoor play areas, including the largest inflatable city of bouncy castles in Europe. Each child will meet Santa at his grotto with their family and receive a token allowing them to choose one present from Santa’s Shop.

Online pre-booking is essential.

Adults: €11.50; children (2-12) €29.95; under-twos go free with a present an optional extra.

See turoepetfarm.com

4 Festive Fota House in east Cork

Fota House Arboretum & Gardens in east Cork is an enchanting Regency mansion, so what better place to make memorable Christmas memories from 23 November to 22 December.

The young and not so young will immerse themselves in a traditional Christmas experience exploring beautifully decorated rooms, each with their own festive storyline over the course of a one-hour stay.

Enjoy a special family visit with Santa himself, where he’ll invite children to his North Pole library to choose two age-appropriate books as a gift.

Adults: €17; children (2-13) with gift: €27; teenagers (14+) with gift (€27); infants (birth-23 months) with a gift are free.

See fotahouse.com

5 Awesome Airfield Estate in Dundrum

Airfield Estate, Dundrum, is Dublin’s only urban working farm open to the public all year around. A great family day out, it is also a magical place to catch up with Santa Claus in the run-up to the big day, with dedicated experiences for children of all ages on dates from 24 November to 23 December.

The Santa Experience has three festive options this year: Santa’s Toddler Experience, Santa’s Cosy Cottage for children(3-7), and Santa’s Woodland Experience for children aged five and up. There are also dedicated sensory-friendly and deaf or hard-of-hearing accessible visits on 6 and 7 December.

The toddler experience (50 minutes) for two adults and one child costs €25. The Santa Cosy Cottage Experience (75 minutes) for children (3-7) includes activities like making reindeer food. That costs €18 for adults and €29 per child. Children (under 1) are €10. 

The Santa Woodland Experience lasting 90 minutes includes a woodland walk and activities and costs €20 for an adult and €29 for a child. Children (under 1) are €10. 

See airfield.ie

6 Roller skating at Share Discovery Village

Best known as a top residential activitymdestination on the shores of Lough Erne, Share Discovery Village in Fermanagh transforms into a Christmas wonderlandfor all the family from 6 to 23 December.

Based at Lisnaskea, the 60-acre estate has plenty of activities to keep kids of all ages happy. This includes gliding across a winter roller rink, meeting Santa’s donkeys in their Christmas home, browsing festive market stalls, or enjoying the games room or bouncy castle. For the little ones, there is a very cute colouring station.

Tickets cost £36 (€43.06 is the euro equivalent) for two persons; €59.80 for three, €78.93 for a group of four, and €95.67 for five. It’s an additional €23.91 per person added on to a group of five and €8.97 per child aged two and under.

See sharevillage.org/christmas-wonderland

7 Hop aboard the Santa train in Stradbally

Steam train fans, both young and old, can hop aboard the Stradbally Woodland Express in Co Laois for a nostalgic journey through the picturesque woodland on 30 November and 1 December, and over the weekends of 7 and 8 December and 14 and 15 December.

As the choo-choo winds its way through the scenic forest, families will hear a story from Mrs Claus, visit Santa’s workshop in the woods, meet the playful elves in Santa’s village, and see a delightful cast of Christmas characters.

In addition, there will be face painting with the Ice Queen, a present from Santa and steam engines and vintage machinery on display for all to enjoy.

The Irish Steam Preservation Society, whose volunteers run the experience, is committed to making this experience

accessible to all, so the first train of each day is a sensory train, specially designed to cater to those with additional needs.

Adults, seniors, and teens (13–17): €11.50; children (1-12): €22; and babies under 12 months €10.

See irishsteam.net

8 Enjoy a Causey Christmas in Meath

Causey Farm, located between Kells and Athboy in Meath is promising a truly magical Christmas adventure at their festive experience, which is kicking off on 24 November. It continues on 29 and 30 November and every day after 1 December until 23 December.

During your 90-minute visit, you’ll visit Santa’s post office, meet some of the animals, say hello to Mrs Claus, and look in at Santa’s control room where the magic happens. A real highlight of visiting the Meath farm is seeing the elves making toys in Santa’s workshop.

It’s all building up to meeting the main man himself, Santa, who comes down a chimney, yes, literally, to meet the little ones and give them their present.

Adults €19.95; children (2-12)€29.95; €10.95 for babies (1-2) and no charge for children under one.

See causey.ie