There is nothing quite like an Irish Christmas. 

Of course, this year will be a little different with covid restrictions and trying to limit our contacts as best we can. 

There are still plenty of events happening around the country and many of them are taking place outdoors or don’t require any direct contact with others. During the times we live in, these extra precautions are both necessary and important. 

Working as a GP at Christmas 

One of the great things about being a GP in Ireland is that you will often have days off during the festive period. Some GP surgeries close from the 23rd of December, until early January. 

Of course, this varies from surgery to surgery. 

We note that some of you may be working extra hours or even with out of hours services. 

That is why we haven’t gone for an ‘article on winter escapes’, but rather ‘festive activities’. 

After all, there is always time to get into the Christmas spirit. You will certainly need to recharge your batteries, as the few weeks in the lead up to holidays is amongst the busiest periods of the year for GPs. 

The Pandemic and Events

Of course, the covid pandemic also means that we are trying to be as conscious as possible with where we are going and what we are doing. Most of us are not attending too many events where risk is high. 

It is a time of social responsibility and one where we need to reduce risk as much as possible. That is why our list includes only outdoor events, or ones where you do not have to interact directly with the public. 

Moving away from all this negativity, here is a list of some brilliant outdoor events that will help you wind down and enjoy the festive period. 

Wander The Zoo 

Over the past number of years, Dublin Zoo has been putting on spectacular lighting displays around this time of year. Bookings are limited, so you should definitely sort your tickets as soon as you can. 

It is an outdoor event and this year’s illuminations are their finest yet. It is a magical experience, which will make you feel like you have been moved to the other side of the planet. 

Of course, travelling throughout the world might be beyond most of our capabilities this year. That being said, these illuminations will allow you to enjoy some of the globe’s most famous landmarks. 

The Phoenix Park venue will transport you places like Spain, Morocco, The USA, France, and Egypt. 

It is a lighting extravaganza that will even extend to the African plains portion of the zoo for the first time ever. 

It is a wonderful experience, which will refresh any GP in need of some down time. 

Enjoy The Drive-in 

Drive-in theatres are great during covid times. 

They allow you to stay in your own vehicle, while you enjoy one of your favourite festive films and in some ways it is even better than going to the regular cinema. 

That is because you can bring your own snacks and even wear your pyjamas while there and bring a cosy blanket while there. It is your car after all, so relatively speaking, you make the rules. It is a great way to see some of your favourite Christmas classics. 

This year, there is an abundance of drive-in offerings available. For instance, at Leopardstown Racecourse there are several Christmas movies being shown. There is even a sing-along karaoke evening and a covid-safe Santa Claus experience for children. It is an ideal outing for all of the family. 

If drive-in movies aren’t your thing and you are in Cork, you can go along to the pop-up movie experience in Marina Market. 

This year, they are showing a whole bunch of Christmas favourites. Just be sure to wrap up warm, as it is outdoors, and we all know how the Irish weather can be at this time of year. 

Enjoy The Christmas Market in Galway 

Galway’s outdoor Christmas market is back this year. If you have passed through the city, we are sure you have seen it. It is bringing a wonderful European feel to the West of Ireland. 

It has a host of outdoor stalls, as well as a German beer tent, a traditional carousel and a ferris wheel. It can be very busy during peak times, but if visited during midweek, it can be a magical experience. 

It is the perfect place to enjoy a festive mulled wine and enjoy some downtime. You can even do some of your Christmas shopping while there. 

Winterval in Waterford 

Here is another excellent Christmas market that has everything you might be looking for. From delicious festive treats to wonderful entertainment, Winterval has a little something for everyone. 

It is Ireland’s largest Christmas festival, and it happens in the Cathedral Square in the city. This year, it even has Ireland’s largest Christmas tree and if you are lucky, you may even see Santa. 

Enjoy Some Downtime on The Farm 

Nothing takes your mind off work like being close to nature and taking a trip to your local open farm can be a fun way to spend downtime with the family. These places often have great Christmas experiences. Why not substitute the stethoscope for the shovel on one of Ireland’s wonderful open farms? 

For instance, Turoe Pet Farm in Galway is renowned for having an excellent Christmas atmosphere. 

Causey Farm in Meath is another place that feels wonderfully Christmassy and offers a little something for all the family. 

If you are down south, Leahy’s Open Farm in Cork has an excellent Santa experience, with their advertisements paying particular attention towards social distancing guidelines. 

Online Christmas Events 

In the current climate, online activities have become much more popular. 

AirBnB now offers a range of excellent online activities, where you don’t have to leave your home to take part. They are ideal during covid times and offer an opportunity to socialise with friends without any risk involved. 

More and more Christmas parties are moving to the virtual world too. Instead of having to cancel the festive shindig, it may be worth trying an online version. It is not the same, but it is better than not being able to connect and socialise with your colleagues. 

Go Skating 

Ice skating is a terrific experience. That is especially true when it is in a beautiful location and Cork On Ice is taking place in Fota Island this year. You can’t ask for something much more beautiful than that. 

It is an outdoor experience where you can skate through Fota’s gorgeous grounds. This is an experience that has to be seen to be believed. 

For those of you who are not great at staying upright while ice-skating, there are aids you can rent and each one of them is fully sanitised between sessions. 

It really is a beautiful event and the only of its kind in Ireland. For something truly unique, try this one out. 

Christmas Racing Festival

It is not for everyone, but Ireland’s Christmas Racing Festival is renowned for being great fun around the festive period. Leopardstown is once again the destination, with their Stephen’s Day event known not only for the great sporting experience, but also for the entertainment. 

Limerick is another destination that offers fantastic racing for those of you that are interested. It can be a fun way to spend a day and take your mind off the stresses of the day-to-day in your surgery. 

Enjoy Your Locality 

With all the commotion over events throughout the country, it can be easy to forget the simple pleasures of going for a walk in your local area with a loved one. 

Unfortunately, we are in another festive period where there will be a focus on covid and this can be tiring for us all, but especially for those working on the frontlines. 

It is important for GPs, and anyone working within the healthcare system to occasionally take a break and recharge the batteries. 

Otherwise, fatigue and burnout can become a real issue. 

Above we have listed several outdoor and socially distanced events. Of course, there may still be risk at any event, so it is important that you only go and take part in events you feel comfortable with. 

However, most importantly, don’t forget to try to enjoy the festive period and have a happy Christmas.