It’s Christmas Eve, Babe…

Greystones SUN24DEC23

eckon it might be that ridiculously mild-verging-on-warm weather that is making Christmas 2023 seems a little unreal.

Like bears staying up way past their hibernation time, Greystonians are walking around more than a little dazed and confused.

Of course, that could also be simply the festive tipples kicking in, but even on Christmas Eve, there was a calmness and a balminess that was more than a little disorientating.

Taking a spin through Greystones, Kilcoole, Delgany and Killincarrig this evening, everything looked a lot like Christmas though, from The Beach House swathed in lights to the Church Road sparkle wonderland, from Kilcoole’s mighty fine tree to The Wicklow Arms and The Horse & Hound putting on the glitz for Delgany.

Just as The Orchard made sure Killincarrig was shining bright, with the old Cherry Orchard tearooms awash in projected baubles too.

Oh, and remind us to clean not only the camera lens next year. It was only when we got home that we noticed the car windscreen could have done with a wipe on the outside too. Let’s just pretend those dried raindrops are shooting stars.

On Christmas Day itself, for those keen to get out in the open air, The Fat Fox are open from 9am to 11am, in aid of the Dublin charity Liberty. 

And then, at noon, it’s the annual Christmas Day Swim. Which, for once, won’t be turning anyone blue with the cold.

In the meantime, have a great one. And then, an even greater one.

And you can jump back through 12 years of Christmas splashes here, and the Greystones festive light shows here.

Cover pic: Sheena Griffin