By UL international student Ambassador Ana Ramírez
If you are one of those people that are very much into the Christmas spirit like me, here’s a list of how to make the most of your time here before and during Christmas while you are studying abroad!
Go to the see the Christmas lights switch on in Bedford Row
Limerick gets in the Christmas spirit the last weekend of November, setting up a a big Christmas tree at the city centre and gathering everyone to sing along Christmas carols with Santa Claus.
Enjoy a delicious hot chocolate with good company at Aroma’s Cafe
With the rainy and cold evenings arriving in Ireland, it is time to enjoy a hot chocolate and some good company, so get as soon as possible to a cozy café like Aroma!
Go to the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at UL and the Christmas Farmers Market
What’s better than taking a look at the famous Farmers Market of UL during Christmas time, listening to the best Christmas hits, eating some food and starting the countdown to switch on the Christmas tree at the Main Plaza with your friends on campus?
Attend the Christmas UL Orchestra concert
Enjoy some beautiful classic music and Christmas carols from the UL Orchestra.
Walk “in” Galway’s Christmas market and drink a glass of hot wine
Only a short bus ride from Limerick is Galway, a beautiful city, that is even more so during Christmas. The Galway Christmas markets are famous in Ireland and will get you into the essence of Christmas! So take a glass of hot wine and enjoy a walk around every stand. 
For those who want to get your letters to Santa Claus sent on time…
You can still doing it while studying abroad in Limerick! There’s hundreds of grottos in town, there’s even one on UL campus during the Christmas tree lighting ceremony, so you can get Your letter to Santa as soon as possible!
Get together with your Irish and international friends and enjoy a cozy evening of Christmas movies, board games and hot chocolate
Christmas is all about family, so what’s best than hanging out with your family of your time abroad and get into the Christmas spirit together?
Christmas Shows in Dolans Pub
With four Venues (plus the big top), Dolans are putting on over 50 music gigs in Limerick for the months surrounding Christmas. From Irish trad live in the main bar every night, to Mick Flannery, Paddy Casey, Ash, La Galaxie and more. There are also a host of Christmas performances where you can have dinner and a show to get you into the festive spirit.
Potluck Christmas edition with your international friends!
Arrange a Christmas Potluck with your international buddies and enjoy food from all over the world and have an early Christmas dinner with them. One of the best thing of studying abroad and getting to know people from all over the world is learning things about their cultures. Why not taking a bite of it in Christmas?
Watch Limerick’s 3D Christmas illuminations
Limerick screens some Christmasy scenes on Penney’s building some weeks before Christmas for those who has not get into the spirit yet!
If you happen to be traveling…
If you happen to be traveling during Christmas, don’t forget to enjoy the Christmas decorations in Dublin airport, look for every single Christmas tree that they have and take a picture with one of the Santa in the benches. Dublin airpot is full of Christmas lights and trees all over its terminals with the most famous Christmas songs playing, but…look who’s there!? Santa is sitting there!
Limerick on Ice
Limerick on Ice comes to Limerick in November and stays until after Christmas. It’s located in Arthur’s Quay, beside the river Shannon next to the shopping center. There’s Christmas music, food & ice skating! You can get good student deals online.
Christmas at the Milk Market
The Milk Market has a very busy festive season! In their four weeks of Christmas markets, over 60,000 shoppers come into the Markets. They kick off on the 30th Novemeber. It’s a great place to get handmade Irish presents if you’re going home over Christmas!
Family Fun
If you happen to have family over for Christmas there is a huge market and family event at King Johns Castle, and a free family fun raceday with Face Painting /Jewellery Making/Nail Art and Kids Tattoos. Anna & Elsa from Frozen,The Hulk & Mickey Mouse will be there too.
And don’t forget to keep on being kind!
Visit http://christmas.limerick.ie for more ideas of things to do in Limerick!
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