Why a Dublin Christmas is one of the best in the world
Collins
MAGICAL: A winter sunset over the Ha'Penny Bridge
Friday December 18 2009
TRAVEL experts have heralded Dublin as one of the most festive places in the world to spend Christmas.
Lonely Planet travel writers have recommended that tourists should spend time in the capital's bustling streets in their list of the top ten destinations for Yuletide, regardless of religion or location.
Dublin comes in sixth place, with Christmas swimming in Dun Laoghaire, carols in St Patrick's Cathedral and the Docklands' market all recommended by the authors of the guide.
“With a cracking sense of humour, the staunchly Catholic Irish have a few novel ways to honour Christmas,” the guide says.
Cheesy
“The most eyebrow-raising is a morning swim on the 25th at the Forty Foot sea-water pool.”
The capital's “cheesy” pantos and “seasonal cheer in Temple Bar” are given the nod while Lonely Planet also advises visitors “don't miss carols at St Patrick's Cathedral”.
The birthplace of Jesus, Bethlehem, where “‘no room at the inn' signs go up early” tops the festive ten, closely followed by the “reindeer-dotted forests” at Santa's Village in Finland.
New York slides in at third place, while “the antithesis of northern-hemisphere Christmas cliches”, Bondi Beach comes in fourth, just ahead of the Vatican City.
The recommendation is a further boost for the Irish tourist industry, which has suffered a hammering over the past year.
The CSO's Tourism Trends 2008 report reveals signs of a slowing sector, with the number of overseas visits dropping from more than 8m in 2007 to 7.8m in 2008.
Earnings from visitors to Ireland also decreased from 2007 levels to €4.7m.
Last month, Cork was recommended by the Lonely Planet travel guide in a separate list of top places to visit for next year.
The southern city was listed alongside cities in the US, Canada and Italy in the fifth annual Best in Travel 2010.
- Claire Murphy
