If it’s your first Christmas in Ireland chances are you don’t know a lot about it – we’re here to help!

Can I go out on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

In general, on the evening of Christmas Eve (December 24) and on Christmas Day (December 25) the whole country takes a day OFF, which means that nearly everything is closed. That includes pubs, restaurants, nightclubs, public offices and most shops (but not churches!). Most of these places only stay open until about 5 pm on Christmas Eve and then reopen on December 26. So make sure you stock up on food and other necessities because otherwise you’ll be stuck with nowhere to go! Also bear in mind that in Ireland it is illegal to sell alcohol on Christmas Day so even if you find a shop that is open you won’t be able to buy any drink.

What about public transport?

The same goes for public transport. After about 9 pm on Christmas Eve there are no services until December 26. Many taxis also take a day off so if you need to get somewhere on Christmas Day it’s best to arrange your own transport (or try hitchhiking!)

Where do I find Christmas sales?

Christmas sales with offers of up to 70 and 80 per cent off usually kick start on the morning of December 26 in big stores like Brown Thomas, Marks&Spencer, Next, River Island, PC World and so on. The shops usually announce sales a few days before Christmas (not to put off people buying their stuff at current prices of course). The sales go on until start of January or even further, but by the end of December 26 most of the best bargains will have been snapped up. Some people start queuing late on Christmas Day and spend all night in front of the shop to get the stuff cheap!

Can I go out on New Year’s Eve?

Yes, you can! Most pubs and nightclubs in Dublin will be open on New Year’s Eve and they will be more than happy to have you! There will also be a festival called NYF Dublin in the city centre, with a colourful parade, fireworks display and an open-air concert. Check out www.nyfdublin.com for more details. January 1 is a public holiday, but most shops will be open on that day, so there’s no need to worry about buying food in advance.

Can I light fireworks on New Year’s Eve?

In many countries it’s hard to imagine a New Year’s Eve celebration without people lighting fireworks, but in Ireland all fireworks are illegal (except those used by professionals). So if a Garda officer sees you with a firework you can be arrested and fined – you’ve been warned!

I partied really hard on New Year’s Eve and don’t remember anything… what’s going on?

That’s OK! All you need to know is that classes in SEDA start on Monday, January 10. See you then!

Originally published in SEDA News