A POPULAR CHRISTMAS market which has been held at Dublin Castle over the last few years will not be happening this winter or next.

Christmas at the Castle has been cancelled “due to other Government business requirements”, according to the Office of Public Works (OPW).

The free event ran from 28 November to 18 December last year. Some of its popular attractions included food tents, craft stalls and a merry-go-round.

In a statement to The Journal it said: “Dublin Castle is first and foremost a campus serving Government business.”

It hasn’t made it clear why exactly the market is cancelled this year but said the OPW is engaged in preparations for Ireland’s Presidency of the EU next year. 

The open-air Christmas Market was previously held in the courtyard of Dublin Castle. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Dublin Castle will be a central location for a large number of events during the Presidency which runs from 1 July to 31 Dec 2026.

In 2023, over 216,000 people visited Christmas at the Castle.

The OPW previously described it as “a key element of the ‘Winter in Dublin’ campaign by Fáilte Ireland”.

Last year the open-air Christmas Market, which was held in the courtyard of Dublin Castle, operated daily from midday until 9pm selling festive drinks, seasonal foods and handcrafted decorations.

A Neapolitan crib was also on display in the Chapel Royal and visitors to the market could tour the State Apartments.

The OPW has said that there is a programme of festive events happening this year at some of Ireland’s other heritage sites, including Farmleigh, the National Botanic Gardens and Sligo Abbey. The events will be listed here.

The New Year’s Eve Festival with Fáilte Ireland at Dublin Castle will also be going ahead on 30 and 31 December and 1 January.