Ireland Christmas Breaks 2025
Festive Experiences
Ballyfin was made for celebrating, and never more so than during the festive season. At Christmas and New Year, the house and estate are filled with magic and merriment, blending tradition, warmth and a little sparkle in all the right places. A residents-only escape, and a very festive one at that.
Christmas Celebrations
Settle into Christmas at Ballyfin, where each day is full of festive charm.
Christmas Eve begins with lunch in the State Dining Room, followed by mulled wine, mince pies and carols drifting through the house. Later, an intimate wine tasting in the Cellar Bar precedes a Champagne reception in the Saloon, accompanied by our resident pianist, before an evening of fine dining and music.
Christmas Day starts gently with breakfast and the option of a private visit to the local church, before Father Christmas makes his appearance. Chilled Champagne accompanied by a harp sets the scene for a lavish festive lunch, with the afternoon left for board games, a treasure hunt and a little elegant downtime before an easy-going evening buffet.
St Stephen’s Day begins with breakfast and a horse-drawn carriage ride through the estate, complete with a surprise or two. Country pursuits follow, along with lunch in the State Dining Room, a falconry experience and portraits by a visiting illustrator to take home as keepsakes. The celebrations close with a Champagne reception, a final dinner and a lively evening of Irish music.
New Years Eve
There is something rather special about the turning of the year at Ballyfin. The house feels at its most sparkling: lunches that stretch, music in the rooms, candlelight and Champagne, always.
New Year’s Eve begins as it means to go on with lunch, followed by a closer look at the house and its stories. By evening, the Saloon comes alive for Champagne, music and a gala dinner shared around one long table. At midnight, everyone steps outside to welcome the year beneath the fireworks, before drifting back in to carry on awhile longer.
New Year’s Day takes a softer shape. A long brunch, fresh air in the grounds and the freedom to take the estate as you please, whether that means archery, clay pigeon shooting, cycling, a carriage ride or simply a turn about the lake. Later, tea is served with music, portraits are sketched, and by evening the house gathers once more for Champagne, dinner and a final flourish.
