School's Still Out

Always plenty of activity on the seafront at Bray, Co Wicklow, especially during the extended Christmas holiday, as these girls enjoy a stroll along the beach with the backdrop of a towering and misty Bray Head.

Big Thaw

 

After the big freeze, we now have the big thaw so goodbye for now to all the misery you see above as we attempt to deal with burst water mains and the resulting water rationing!

Misty Time

Dusk, Christmas Day - misty and grainy.

Ice Blue

An ice blue setting on a train trip from Wicklow into Dublin for Christmas holidays.  This is a camera phone view of Dublin Bay at Sandymount.

Par For The Course

We've just experienced the worst winter weather since records began and and we really can't cope.  We rarely have snow in these parts never mind the deluge we've had over these past weeks together with Siberian low temperatures .  All over east Leinster major roads are still treacherous to negotiate and minor roads are almost impassable. So, maybe, in the future, we have to learn some things from our eastern European neighbours who would regard this kind of weather as par for the course.

A Well Earned Rest

This is Rudolph, Dancer and Prancer enjoying a well earned rest in their Christmas stable at the Powerscourt Estate after a long night working with Santa delivering Christmas gifts.  Merry Christmas!

Last Minute

Passing the delightful gate lodge into the Powerscourt Estate near Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, it's time for some last minute Christmas shopping at the Garden Pavilion and maybe a hot toddy in the adjoining Ritz-Carlton.

Last Orders

Yesterday was the last day to visit Santa's Magical Kindom at Wicklow's Historic Gaol in Wicklow Town.

A Frozen Harp

Today we're at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Powerscourt, near Enniskerry, Co Wicklow and it's icy, very icy, even the harp sculpture out front is frozen.

Winter Welcome

 

This particular house front in Bray, Co Wicklow is always attractive particularly now at Christmas time.

Compare this to their Halloween decoration which I haven't previously published:

Branching Out

Today we see The Happy Pear, Natural Food Market, Greystones, Co Wicklow branching out for the season to dispense Christmas trees to a discerning populace.

Hear Ye, Hear Ye

Immediately after the Christmas lights were switched on in Wicklow Town, we followed Santa to the nearby Coach House where the Artisan Food Hall, part of the forthcoming Christmas At The Coach House, was open and there was Roast Pig on a Spit, Fresh Crepes and hot chocolate in the Courtyard to revive our flagging spirits.

Christmas At The Coach House will take place on Saturday & Sunday 4th/5th & Saturday & Sunday 11th/12th December.

Below, Sinead Quinn, the event organiser with Santa.

Wicklow Lights

Last evening it was Wicklow Town's turn for the Christmas lights switch-on and there was a fantastic atmosphere as huge crowds of children, with the requisite adults in tow, converged on Fitzwilliam Square for the arrival of Santa who performed the ceremonial task.  Brilliantly organised by Wicklow Town Chamber Retail Committee, we even had snow, well, the remains of the heavy overnight snow which lingered here and there and completed that touch of Christmas.

A Corporate Thing?

So the umbrellas would seem to suggest as we all waited in the torrential rain for Santa at the Big Switch On of the Christmas lights last Sunday in Greystones, Co Wicklow. But the obvious delight in the childrens' faces tells a different story and so we forget about the weather, and business, and simply enjoy the moment.

On the right, the ceremonial switch-on by Ciaran Hayden, Mayor of Greystones.

Bray Lights

 

Yesterday evening and it's time to switch on the Chrismas lights in Bray, Co Wicklow.  So here we are in the Civic Plaza being entertained by Bray Gospel Choir and a local school choir as the countdown to the big moment begins.

A huge crowd packed into the Plaza for the occasion and just for a few moments we forget about the country's woes and look forward to the festivities ahead.

Left, this boy gets to help Santa throw the switch.

And now they're on!