Experience Dún Laoghaire Town – Your round up of events and deals for Christmas 2019

Brought to you by DunLaoghaireTown.ie

Supported by Bank of Ireland and DLR CoCo

The Christmas season is nearly upon us, and we wish you all a magical festive season!

The Dun Laoghaire Town Christmas schedule is jam-packed this year, so we at DunLaoghaireTown.ie have put together a quick round-up of everything that’s happening in the lead-up to the Christmas holidays.

This month we are covering:

• Christmas Events
• Where to Eat in Dún Laoghaire Town
• Deals from local businesses

Christmas Events

Highlights

• Dun Laoghaire Business Association Ladies Night Out – Thursday, November 28, 2019

• Black Friday Weekend Sale Event – Friday November 29 – Sunday, December 1

• Santa in Dun Laoghaire and Christmas Lights Switch-On – 4pm Saturday, November 30

• Christmas Market Opens – Saturday, November 30

November 28 – DLBA Ladies Night in Dún Laoghaire Town

Last year’s festival of events around the theme of Ladies Night hosted by businesses in the town was a great success. This year the Dún Laoghaire Business Association is coordinating the event. 

Christmas shopping begins this week, and Dún Laoghaire ladies get a head start on their present shopping (and prosecco drinking) with the Ladies Night Out on Thursday, 5pm till 8pm – November 28.

Stores around town are offering late opening times, special deals just for ladies, and quality local shopping! – DLBA

To see the festival entry on the DunLaoghaireTown.ie site please see https://www.dunlaoghairetown.ie/events/ladies-night-out-dun-laoghaire/

Here it is on the DunLaoghaireTown.ie Facebook Page

For more information about how your business can participate in this festival please contact – [email protected]

November 30th – December 23 – Dún Laoghaire Christmas Festival & Market 2019

It’s the moment the kids (and kids at heart) have been waiting for: Christmas in Dún Laoghaire officially kicks off on Saturday the 30th of November with the annual Dún Laoghaire Christmas Festival and Market.

Saturday is the day to come down and get into the festive spirit. The Christmas Market opening event takes off at 4 PM in Harbour Plaza with live music as well as a special performance from the Chorus Choir.

When is Santa arriving in Dún Laoghaire?

Kris Kringle’s scheduled arrival is 4 PM on November 30th in Harbour Plaza. He’ll join us to switch the Christmas lights on in Dún Laoghaire and kick off the festive season for the whole family.

Once the market is in full swing, you’ll enjoy a mix of traditional German and European market treats and a fantastic selection of Irish vendors selling hand-crafted gifts, including:

• Trendy Socks
• PaperBera greeting cards
• Photographic prints
• Jewellry
• Hurling watches and clocks
• Much, much more

There’s even more fun for the whole family at the Christmas vintage carnival, featuring 55-foot retro Ferris Wheel, which rumour has it appeared in the original Grease film. Buy yourself a ticket and enjoy spectacular views of the Dún Laoghaire Harbour. Don’t forget to take a ride on the vintage Chair-O-Planes, which just so happen to have a starring role in the film Into the Badlands.

Some of the other attractions at the fair include hobby horses, a rollercoaster, candyfloss, and of course, a magical Post Box that just so happens to deliver mail straight to Santa.

You can find the Dun Laoghaire vintage carnival at Moran Park, next to dlr LexIcon.

More Information – See https://events.dlrcoco.ie/event/christmas-festival-2019 

December 9 to 20 – Best shop window display and Best Residential House

This Christmas Dun Laoghaire Central Residents Association would like to encourage residents and visitors alike to take winter walks through Dún Laoghaire. Dún Laoghaire is a cheery place to be every holiday season, and this year, the Dún Laoghaire Central Residents Association (DLCRA) wants local residents to show-off their decorating skills and make Dún Laoghaire the most festive town in Ireland.

To show their appreciation for all that you do, the DLCRA are offering two top prizes:

• Best Shop Window Display
• Best Residential House/Front Garden

The winners will be announced by the end of December, and your festive scenes will be judged between the 9th and 20th by the eagle-eyed 6th class of the Dominican Convent Primary School. Your home or premises qualifies for the competition if it falls within the boundaries of the seafront, People’s Park, Tivoli, Road and York Road.

Best Shop Window Display

To recognise the effort that shopkeepers and businesses make to give Dún Laoghaire a festive glow, DLCRA will award a prize to the owner of the best shop window display. DLCRA are looking for displays and shop fronts that are pretty, festive and eye-catching. The children of the 6th class of the Dominican Convent Primary School will be the judges. The winner of the Best Shop Window will receive a prize and the Primary School will receive a gift for taking part.

Best Residential House/Front Garden

In addition to the Best Shop Window Display, DLCRA are also offering a prize to the best decorated house or front garden. Many residents decorate with great love and attention for the festive season and DLCRA would like to appreciate their contribution to the atmosphere and beauty of the town. There are no extra points for flashing reindeers!

For more information see https://www.facebook.com/DunLaoghaireCRA/ 

And now for something completely different to try this Christmas

‘Fad Saoil Saunas’ is a mobile Health and Wellness Sauna Service providing the facility of an outdoor mobile sauna in urbanised swimming spots around the country to “Enhance Well Being and Lifestyle Choices”.

Why not book your slot with them at the Forty Foot this Christmas?

 For more information see – https://www.facebook.com/fadsaoilsaunas/

Where to Eat this Christmas

Are you already tired of cooking or just looking for a fantastic night out close to home?

Here are a few of our top picks for dining out this holiday season:

Toscana is running its annual Christmas menu filled with classic Italian dishes for those a bit tired of ham and mince pies.

There’s nothing like a warming bowl of ramen on a cold winter’s evening? Head down the road to SOUP Ramen for some classic Asian cooking and some of the best stock in the land. If you’re still on the hunt for something Christmas-y and you travel in a pack, book in for SOUP’s Christmas menu — they also cater for dietary restrictions and food allergies.

SOUP Ramen

• 28 George’s Street Lr, Dún Laoghaire
• Soupramen.ie
• Contact – 0833405846

What’s special about SOUP

SOUP Ramen comes to us from Dún Laoghaire-native Will Shannon and Conor Hughes After graduating from IADT and picking up ten years of experience each working in restaurants across Dublin, the pair found that Dún Laoghaire was a hospitable place for a small business. Premises rents made opening up here more achievable than Dublin City, and they saw a real gap in the market for something new and interesting that both wanted to see grow and thrive in town.

When we caught up with Will, the restaurant was very busy. After a year and a half of business and some fantastic press in both local and national papers, they see customers come from across Dublin for both lunch and dinner service, but Will says the best part of their customer base still comes from down the street in Dún Laoghaire.

Will and Conor are more than just here to stay. Now that they’ve brought something new to town, Will says he sees Soup as a “work in progress.” So, we can continue to expect great things from one of Dún Laoghaire’s most talked about restaurants.

SOUP is running group menus for the holiday season. If you haven’t booked your Christmas night out yet, give Will and Conor a call on 0833405846 to chat!

While you’re here, check out this fantastic write-up (https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/food-and-drink/soup-d%C3%BAn-laoghaire-this-stunning-restaurant-serves-the-best-ramen-in-dublin-1.4025104) from Catherine Cleary in The Irish Times, who calls Soup a place “so good it should become a destination in itself.”

Strudel Artisan Bakery

Hungry from shopping? Stop by Dún Laoghaire’s ‘Bakery of the Year’ for 2019!

• 105 Patrick Street, Dún Laoghaire
• Strudelbakery.com
• Contact – 012808695

What’s special about Strudel

Strudel Artisan Bakery on Patrick Street started out as “Ciara’s Bites.” The team behind our new favourite local bakery first began their journeys with the intention of supplying cafes and restaurants across Dublin.

After two years of working out a kitchen in Dublin City, the team found a space in Dún Laoghaire, and now, we get first pick of all their sweet and savoury treats every day of the week!

The start of the show here is, of course, the mighty strudel — and the bakers place an emphasis on traditional techniques. They love local Irish ingredients, but all the flour that becomes their signature product comes from Hungary.

Pop in and say hello, and don’t leave without a chocolate-pistachio croissant!

Purty Kitchen

The Purty Kitchen’s Christmas menu is also a great option, and they offer fab deals for both lunch and dinner starting at 25 per person. If you’ve had enough of Christmas and the crowds, remember that the team runs two fantastic mid-week deals including two courses for 24.50 and three courses for 28.50.

For more information see – https://www.purtykitchen.com/

Deals this Christmas

There are many deals to be had at Dún Laoghaire Ladies Night Out and the Black Friday Sales as well as throughout the year.

Here’s a brief list of what’s on over the next few weeks:

Dún Laoghaire Ladies Night Out

Christmas shopping begins this week, and Dún Laoghaire ladies get a head start on their present shopping (and prosecco drinking) with the Ladies Night Out on Thursday, November 28.

Stores around town are offering late opening times, special deals just for ladies, and quality local shopping!

You’ll find great deals at:

• Tierney’s Gifts (half-off and a glass of bubbly)
• Biju Lingerie Stylist (up to 20% off selected items)
• Le chocolat de Fred (free regular hot chocolate when you order a crepe, waffle, or galette)

These VIP ladies’ deals are one night only, so don’t miss out!

Black Friday Weekend Sale Event

Stores across Dún Laoghaire are joining in on the classic American holiday known as Black Friday. There are over 280 retail outlets and businesses around town, so there’s more than a fair few deals to be had this weekend. 

Some of the confirmed Black Friday deals available in store include:

• Viking Marine
• Frewen & Aylward 
• Opening Minds (online)
• Tierney’s Gifts (in-store and online)
• Diffney Men’s Wear (20% off all stock)
• Allcare Pharmacy (specials start November 28) 
• Golden Discs (up to 40% off)
• The Pen Place (mention Facebook or website for 10% discount)
• Name It

So, before you travel all the way into Dublin City to do your shopping, head into in Dún Laoghaire Town to find more great discounts close to home.

Be sure to check DunLaoghaireTown.ie as well as our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/DunLaoghaireTown/) for the latest holiday deals and sales around Dún Laoghaire.

Do you run a small business in Dún Laoghaire? You can submit your special offers to be featured!

One simple form captures all the details that DunLaoghaireTown.ie needs to add it to the town’s DEALS listing and promote it on the DunLaoghaireTown.ie social media networks. The only thing we ask is that the deal is available from a business located within Dún Laoghaire Town.

Submit your Deal to DunLaoghaireTown.ie Form

That’s a Wrap for 2019!

That’s it from us for 2019! We wish you a prosperous holiday period and a well-earned rest at the end of the year. Remember, we’re not just here for Christmas! Dún Laoghaire Town is a fantastic place to live, work and play all year round!

Nollaig shona duit!

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