Kilkenny
The Santa’s grottos of the ’80s, ’90s and even noughties are nothing on what’s out there for the children of this decade. Castlecomer Discovery Park in Co Kilkenny has upped the ante this year with a Woodland Elf Village, which comes complete with Elf HQ, the Elf Café, a magic sweet shop and a school house.
Following a meeting with Mrs Claus in her old, stone bell house and a visit to Santa in his bell tower, train master Christopher Brooke leads boys and girls on an enchanting journey into the woods. The train travels through the 80-acre woodland, passes over the 17th century stone bridge, goes around the giant Christmas tree, where visitors can make a wish, before setting off to see the elves’ special secret tree house. Next stop is the Elf village, where colourful huts are nestled alongside toadstool houses, next to mature trees featuring doors and windows – all belonging to the fairy folk.
The elves even have a toy bunker. On arrival, adults can enjoy a complimentary mulled wine.
Tours cost €15/child and €10/adult. Call 056-444-0707.
Cork
If you want a five-star Santa experience then look no further than the five-star Fota Island Resort, which saw 30,000 people visit its Santa experience last year. Fota’s Santa experience is called Imagine and takes place in a land where you’ll find everything from baby elf beds to a snow-covered candy cane forest and places named Glitter Grove, Mistletoe Maze, Ho ho ho Highway and Ark Angel Avenue. Meet elves Shinny and Shimmy Up-a-Tree and Mrs Claus’ personal assistant, Sugarplum Mary. Alabaster Snowball is in charge of the naughty and nice lists and has hundreds of years of records.
In Cookie Dough Cottage, you can get hot chocolate and Mrs Claus helps you make cookies for Santa and reindeer food. The children train as elves, just in case Santa needs more help or some of the elves are unavailable. A train transports visitors to Santa’s house. We think this magical merryland should stay open all year round as its own sub-independent republic within Cork.
Tickets are priced at €12.50/adult and €20/child. Children under the age of one are free. Call 021-488-3700.
Meath
Causey Farm is one for the city cousins to enjoy a Santa experience with a rural twist. The Causey experience starts by following the Bethlehem trail to the stable where Mary and Joseph take care of their new arrival, watched over by real, live cows, donkeys, sheep and lambs.
Visitors then proceed to a series of farm sheds, each of which have a different Christmas theme, one is a post office while another is the elves’ workshop.
There is a naughty and nice room, where Santa letters are read out and children get the chance to determine if those kids are naughty or nice.
Participants then make their way to Santa’s Parlour. One attendee told Country Living she was blown away by the fact that Santa Claus actually comes down the chimney.
Visitors can also call in to the Christmas cottage, to experience an old Irish Christmas and make a wish as they stir the pudding. They can also see the reindeer relax before their big night. Last, but not least, take a family photo on a massive sleigh. Wrap up well, as a lot of the tour takes place outdoors.
Toddlers cost €6, children aged two to 12 are €20, adults are €12,while babies under one are free. Call 046-9434-135 to book.
Wicklow
A jail may not exactly be the first place you’d think of bringing your children during the joyful season, especially one described as “epic”, “cruel” and “tragic”, and which invites visitors to “push the gates of hell and meet the prisoners”, but it’s certainly a more interesting place than most to meet the Man in Red. Jingle Cells is how Wicklow’s Historic Gaol describes their Santa experience and the Man in Red will be there every Saturday and Sunday leading up to the big day.
The visit includes free face painting and on Saturdays visitors can partake in pony and trap sleigh rides, starting from the gaol and circling the town.
It’s also a great excuse to see the jail itself. If parents want to treat themselves at the end of the evening, they can enjoy a glass of wine and a delicious Christmas menu at the Jailer’s Rest Bistro and Wine Bar. You better make sure you’re on the nice list or you could be left behind in a cell.
Santa visits are priced at €12/child, this includes a gift and face painting. A Santa visit with a pony and trap sleigh ride around Wicklow town (Saturdays only) is priced at €15/child and €5/adult.
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