No Dublin Castle Christmas market this year as EU Presidency curtails festivities
12/12/2019 (L-R) Minister of OPW and Flood Relief Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, OPW & DUBLIN STAFF COMMISSIONER John McMahon, Lord Mayor of Dublin Paul McAuliffe, during the official opening of Christmas at Castle (Image: Gareth Chaney/Collins)The much-loved "Christmas at the Castle" event will not be going ahead this year or next year.The free event has delighted Dubliners in recent years by offering a host of festive activities in the courtyard of Dublin Castle. The market was first launched in 2019.However, it will not be going ahead for the next two Christmases as Dublin Castle will be needed for official Government business. Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from July to December 2026 with preparations now underway.The Office of Public Works confirmed to Dublin Live that due to next year's EU Presidency, the "Christmas at the Castle" event will not be running this Christmas or next. The New Year’s Eve Festival will be going ahead at Dublin Castle.A spokesperson for the OPW told Dublin Live: "The Christmas season will soon be upon us and some of Ireland’s best known heritage sites such as Farmleigh, the National Botanic Gardens and Sligo Abbey, to name a few, will be celebrating the festive season with a wonderful programme of events to suit all tastes. From Christmas markets, to sustainable fairs to Christmas decoration workshops there is something for everyone to enjoy."Due to other Government business requirements, ‘Christmas at the Castle’, Dublin Castle, was not scheduled to take place in 2025 or 2026. Dublin Castle is first and foremost a campus serving Government business. The OPW is engaged in preparations for Ireland’s Presidency of the EU next year."Dublin Castle will be a central location for a large number of events during the Presidency which runs from 01 July-31 Dec 2026. The New Year’s Eve Festival with Fáilte Ireland will be proceeding at Dublin Castle on 30th, 31st December and 1st January."Visitors can discover the magic of Christmas at numerous OPW locations nationwide, where historic sites and stunning locations provide the perfect backdrop for the festive celebrations. Please visit www.heritageireland.ie in the coming weeks for more information about our Christmas events."Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content.We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice .For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage .
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