Cheap Dublin Christmas market breaks

Irish Ferries Holidays has a self-drive Dublin break from just £183 per person (saving £42 per person) for any three nights’ bed and breakfast, before 23 December, at the Sandymount Hotel, a perfect base from which to visit the city’s Christmas Markets.

The Sandymount has free car parking and easy access to the city centre two kilometres away by DART light rail.  There’s a cosy bar and restaurant and the 168 comfortable bedrooms offer free WiFi and plasma TV.

Dublin’s official Christmas Market is at George’s Dock behind Custom House Quay in the heart of the city.  Every day 7-23 December, between 12 noon and 8pm (open at 10am at weekends) you’ll find dozens of stalls offer everything from Christmas decorations and Irish crafts to hot food and drinks served from a 1950s airstream trailer.  Other attractions include a Victorian carousel ride, carol singing and live music every night.

For artisan gifts, visit the pop-up Christmas Boutique at the Ranelagh Arts Centre (10-18 December) with 20 designers and craftspeople (designerdublin.ie).  And Dublin’s monthly Flea Market is replaced this month by a three-day Christmas Cracker Market (14, 15 and 16 December) at the city’s Smithfield Market venue with over 120 vintage and craft stalls (dublinflea.ie)

“On a self-drive Christmas Market break you can buy whatever you like – including bulky gifts – with no worries about baggage charges,” says Irish Ferries Holidays’ manager Ann Pye.  “Leave the car at the hotel, shop and sightsee in Dublin’s compact city centre and fill the boot for your return trip.”

City centre must-shop stops are on Grafton Street, where Brown Thomas showcases Irish and international designer wear, Wicklow Street, Dawson Street and the Powerscourt Town Centre.  North of the Liffey is Henry Street and at some point you’ll walk down O’Connell Street and come to Clery’s department store.

For more information, visit irishferries.com/holidays.