Dublin on Ice at Smithfield

I used to live in Smithfield and unfortunately the sound of the fans keeping the ice up and running used to keep me awake some nights, but as retribution for my sleepless nights all residents of Smithfield were given free tickets to the rink.
The rink itself is quite small and is often very crowded, so if you are planning on going I suggest you pick a time that would be less crowded, i.e. 3PM on a Saturday afternoon would be less than ideal. In order to combat overcrowding, they do request that you reserve a space on the ice. For a list of available times and prices you can visit their website.
The rink is very convenient as it is literally a two minutes walk from the Smithfield luas stop, which is only a short ride in from city centre and actually is quite a reasonable walk from O’Connell street as well.
If you’re feeling a bit peckish after your skating there’s always the concessions offered at the rink, but may I also suggest that Fresh market is literally a few steps from their entrance and there you can find tables and pastries and hot drinks at more of a value.

The ice rink in Smithfield Square is back for the Christmas period and while it isn’t exactly the Rockefeller Center in New York, it does the job. (This year it is fully enclosed, so there is no chance of valuting over the safety barrier to the cobbles beyond.)
Bear in mind that it can get packed as the big day draws closer, so if you are in charge of small children you may prefer to try it out on a weekday. An hour session costs 12 euro for adults and 8 euro for kids.
If you don’t fancy risking your fingers when you inevitably fall down on the rink, you can also visit Santa or sit things out with a hot chocolate — or a combination of the two…