Free events galore in Dublin

HOTELS ALL around Ireland are vying for business by offering a free night’s accommodation.

HOTELS ALL around Ireland are vying for business by offering a free night’s accommodation.

At Fota Island Resort in Cork (fotaisland.ie) you can get three nights for the price of two until the end of January. Prices are from €150 per person sharing.

To mark 50 years in business Flynn Hotels is offering a free night’s stay in two of its hotels to anyone celebrating their 50th birthday – the Imperial Hotel in Cork (rooms from €49.50) and the Newpark Hotel in Kilkenny (rooms from €99). Another Flynn hotel, the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis, Co Clare is offering two nights for the price of three, with prices from €119. See flynnhotels.com.

In Connemara, Delphi Mountain Resort has a midweek deal offering three nights for the price of two, including breakfast from €229 until March 31st. Visit: delphimountainresort.com.

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Catch:look closely at the deals on offer. Some free overnight stays don't include breakfast or are midweek-only.

Take note: dealsoftheweek.ie has more special offers, including a third night free at the Merrion Hotel, Dublin.

THERE WILL be lots of free events in Dublin city centre for Family Day on December 8th, including street entertainment on main shopping streets, lantern making workshops for kids in the Ilac Centre and St Stephen’s Green shopping centre and other locations around town, Christmas characters roaming the streets and a Christmas market at Wolfe Tone Park at the bottom of Mary Street in Dublin 1 from December 8th to 12th.

Family Day is being organised by Dublin City Business Improvement District and Dublin City Council, and there’s also an elf hunt around the city in conjunction with 98fm. Find one of the elves and you could win a prize.

There are also kids-go-free promotions in participating restaurants, including Saba on Clarendon Street, Koh on Jervis Street and Sushi King on Dawson Street.

Seedublinatchristmas.ie.

Catch:hopefully the weather won't scupper proceedings, although Dublin City BID say many events are indoors.

Take note:Luas and Dublin City BID launched a "Hop, Shop and Drop" service which will mind shopping bags free of charge in two points at St Stephen's Green and the GPO Arcade until you are ready to go home. See www.luas.ie.

TO KEEP boredom and crankiness at bay on long car journeys, why not occupy the kids with some good old-fashioned travel games.

Lots of websites offer free print-outs of games, like join the dots, spot the difference, word puzzles, pictures to colour and car bingo. They include momsminivan.com, kidsites.com, familyfun.go.com and kidzpage.com.

Catch:best to avoid print-outs if they suffer from car sickness.

Take note:Free-puzzles.net has a printable scavenger hunt that lists items to look out for while on the road. The first person to point out an item gets to tick it on their sheet. First to tick all items wins.

Found a freebie on holiday? E-mail emorgan@irishtimes.com