Irish New Year

There are only a few weeks to go until the New Year and whether you want to see 2011 in with a bang or a gentle pop you need to start planning now.  Most of us tend to turn into one of two types of New Year reveller. The party animal loves to start the celebrations early and makes sure that there’s plenty of people, lots of noise and liquid refreshments to toast in the New Year before partying on well into the night.  Or there’s the relaxed reveller who prefers to see in the New Year with close friends and family, enjoying good food and a champagne toast at 12 before heading off to a warm bed, ready to take on the first day of the New Year in style.

Whether you’re a party animal or a relaxed reveller there’s one way to make sure that you don’t get stuck at home in front of the TV at New Year and that’s to book yourself a New Year holiday break. It’s not just Edinburgh’s Royal Mile or London’s Trafalgar Square that do great New Year celebrations, Ireland is a fantastic place at New Year and there is nothing like the Irish craic to help you see in 2011. Take a look at our New Year video.

Celebrate Your New Year in Ireland

Ireland’s cities can easily compete with special events, lively pubs and entertainment all through the New Year break. Dublin really comes alive especially after dark, so just strolling around the city’s streets at night is an attraction in itself. If you’re a party animal head off to Temple Bar, Dublin's vibrant cultural quarter, where you'll find lots of traditional Irish bars, disco bars, and nightclubs which all have their own countdown at midnight. Or for big kids and small kids alike why not book tickets to a traditional pantomime like Aladdin at the Gaiety Theatre or Jack and the Beanstalk at the Helix.  Carry on the tradition and ring in the New Year to the sound of the Christchurch Bells which will be heard ringing throughout the entire city at midnight. This is a big tradition in Dublin city centre where hundreds of people flock to Christchurch Cathedral to hear the tolling of these famous bells. You’ll need to get there early, wrap up warm, get a good spot and join in with the other revellers outside the Cathedral.

For the relaxed revellers amongst us there’s plenty of other things to see and do in Ireland at the New Year. For some seasonal fun why not try Galway Bay on Ice where Nimmo's Pier in the Claddagh area of Galway City is transformed into a Winter wonderland. The whole family can try out their ice skating skills at the indoor ice arena and warm up afterwards at the Ice Café. For the braver amongst you sample the exhilaration of a New Years day swim. Chose from the RNLI fund raising New Years Day swim at Dugort Silver Strand or swim at Knightstown, County Kerry. If you’re a strong swimmer and don’t mind the cold take the plunge, but it’s just as much fun to join the crowds on the shoreline and cheer on the swimmers. 

Fireworks and Music

The locals in Dingle really know how to welcome in the New Year by holding a huge street celebration. The fun starts with a spectacular fireworks display on Dingle Bay at 10pm with locals and visitors gathering at The Pier to watch the wonderful spectacle. The evening progresses with a trip around the streets of Dingle led by the Dingle Fife and Drum Band and moves on to the midnight finale where about 2,000 people gather at The Bridge for the New Year countdown.

Relaxing New Year Short Breaks

If you crave a quieter New Year celebration Ireland is the perfect place.  Choose to take a short break at a self catering holiday cottage and you can magic yourself away to some stunning locations, hideaway in front of warm peat fires and toast the New Year in with the locals at one of many traditional Irish pubs.  Why not take a look at Cork, Kerry, Mayo, Donegal and Wexford to find your New Year retreat. Walking is a great way to work off the celebratory excesses and Ireland offers hundreds of very special walks – from short strolls to long hikes. Take in the beautiful scenery of the Antrim Hills and the spectacular Causeway coast of County Antrim. Plan a route and walk part of the Kerry Way or the Wicklow Way or ramble through the Glen of Aherlow in County Tipperary.

Holidaying in Ireland

So if you want to party the night away or escape the boozy crowds and inflated prices try the experience of an Irish New Year. Getting to Northern Ireland or any part of Eire is easy. Ferry prices are often cheaper than at high season and if you book in advance you can take advantage of low air fares.  Going self-catering means you can choose from a fantastic range of destinations and property types, and if you’re celebrating New Year with family and friends prices per person per night work out to be very affordable.   Imagine Ireland is a company that specialises in Irish Holiday Cottages and can also plan and book your ferry travel to and from the UK.  With only a few more weeks until New Year why not take a look at Imagine Ireland’s Irish properties and plan your New Years celebrations. Just visit www.imagineireland.com