Dublin Castle Christmas Market 2022: Dates + What To Expect

The Dublin Castle Christmas Market 2022 is officially returning in December.

One of very few Christmas markets in Dublin that took place last year, the Dublin Castle Market is now entering its 4th year.

Below, you’ll find info on the dates and what festive features were at the market in previous years.

Some quick need-to-knows about the Dublin Castle Christmas Market 2022

Photos by The Irish Road Trip

Although a visit to the Christmas market in Dublin Castle is reasonably straightforward, take 15 seconds to read the below points, first:

1. Location

The Dublin Castle Christmas Market, unsurprisingly enough, takes place within the impressive grounds of Dublin Castle. Christmas trees line the entrance to the courtyard and that’s where you’ll find the market.

2. Confirmed dates

The dates for the Dublin Castle Christmas Market have been officially announced. They will run from December 8th to December 21st.

3. Tickets/admission

Admission to Christmas at the Castle is completely free, but you need to book tickets. Update: Tickets have now been booked out unfortunately.

4. Nearby parking

If you’re looking to drive to the Christmas market in Dublin Castle, you’ll have to get parking nearby. The nearest car parks are:

• Q-Park Christchurch car park
• Park Rite Drury Street

5. Getting here via public transport

Dublin Castle is well served by public transport and it’s within walking distance of a lot of bus routes, many of which stop at nearby Dame Street, George’s Street and Lord Edward Street. You can also get the Luas to St Stephen’s Green and walk.

About the Christmas market in Dublin Castle

Photo by The Irish Road Trip

The Dublin Castle Christmas Market came out of nowhere when it launched in 2019, a couple of weeks before Christmas.

The market is contained to the courtyard in the castle grounds and you’d walk around it in well under 20 minutes.

What to expect

In previous years, the Christmas market in Dublin Castle has hosted a wide array of events, with everyone from the Dublin Gospel Choir to local acts taking to the stage.

There’s also all of the usual festive food and crafts, with 26+ vendors in wooden chalets selling everything from burgers and tacos to wooden crafts and jewellery.

Mixed reviews during previous years

People, myself included, visited this market in their droves since its launch and the reviews have been mixed. Many have complained about the cost of food and drink, in particular.

Personally, I enjoyed it. The grounds of Dublin Castle are impressive and the market, although small, brought a lovely festive buzz to the place.

My 2 cents

If you’re looking to visit a market and spend several hours looking around, then the Dublin Castle Christmas Market 2022 likely isn’t for you.

However, if you’re happy to have a wander around, soak up the Christmassy buzz and then head into one of the many restaurants in Dublin for a bite-to-eat (or into one of the many pubs in Dublin) you’ve a decent evening ahead of you!

What’s on at this year’s Christmas at Dublin Castle

Photo by The Irish Road Trip

Now that the schedule for the Dublin Castle Christmas Market 2022 has been announced, we have a better sense of what to expect.

1. The impressive entrance

One of the most notable features of the Christmas market in Dublin Castle during previous years was the entrance – there were hundreds of Christmas trees lining the path that lead towards the courtyard. Visit after dark if you can.

2. The entertainment

There’s a load of musical acts set to perform at this years event. Cantairí Óga Átha Cliath, a female voice choir based in Dublin, Maynooth Gospel Choir, Sea of Change Choir, St. Bartholomew’s Choir, Glória Choir and the Garda Ladies Choir are all set to perform.

3. Food and drink

As is the case with every Christmas market in Ireland, food plays a huge part. Many of the wooden chalets at the Christmas market in Dublin Castle sold some form of sweet or savoury treat. There was also a small enough open-air bar. Here are some of the vendors that had stalls in years past:

• Handsome Burger
• Los Chicanos
• Corleggy Cheeses Raclette
• Sweet Churro
• The Crepe Box
• Ciao Cannoli
• Nutty Delights
• Beanery 76

4. Wooden chalets

The courtyard of Dublin Castle is usually filled with 30 traditional alpine market stalls buckling under a mixture of food, crafts and gift ideas. Here are some of the stalls that featured in recent years:

• Michele Hannan Ceramics
• Inna Design
• Oileann Jewellery
• Sweet Jewels
• Precious Amber
• Bombay Banshee
• Glasnevin Glass
• Wildbird studio
• Alphabet Jigsaws
• Allypals

More Irish markets like the one in Dublin Castle

Photos via Shutterstock

There’s plenty of other markets it the Christmas market in Dublin Castle doesn’t tickle your fancy.

In Dublin, there’s Mistletown and the Dun Laoghaire Christmas Market. Further afield, you have:

• Wicklow Christmas Market
• Galway Christmas Market
• Kilkenny Christmas Market
• Glow Cork
• Belfast Christmas Market
• Waterford Winterval

FAQs about the Dublin Castle Christmas Market

We’ve had a lot of questions over the last couple of hours asking about everything from ‘Do you need a ticket?’ to ‘What’s on?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

Keith O'Hara

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