This Free Elf Tree in Cabinteely Park Is Pure December Magic
Look, I'll be honest. By the time December rolls around, my ability to engage with expensive festive outings has well and truly bottomed out. Between the school Christmas jumper days (why do we need three?), the endless gift exchanges, and the creeping realisation that I still haven't bought a single present, the thought of shelling out another fifty quid for a "magical experience" makes me want to hibernate until January.
Which is why the Elf Tree in Cabinteely Park is my kind of Christmas outing. It's free. It's outdoors. And according to my friend whose kids dragged her there last week, it's actually quite lovely—even if you're operating on four hours' sleep and your last meal was a stolen Jaffa Cake.
The Legend of the Elf Tree
So what's all the fuss about? Apparently, a rather magical tree in Cabinteely Park has been absolutely overrun with hundreds of little red elves. Yes, hundreds. We're talking full-on elf convention vibes. Local legend (and by that I mean Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council's press team) suggests this is the actual meeting spot for all those Elf on the Shelf characters who've been causing chaos in Irish sitting rooms for the past decade.
It's where they gather to plot their mischief, compare notes on whose child cried the hardest when they "moved," and presumably share tips on how to look menacing while dangling from a curtain rail. Honestly, the mental image alone is worth the visit.
These little ones are getting into the festive spirit surrounded by a whole tree full of mischievous Christmas elves!
The tree sits along the illuminated Christmas Light Trail in Cabinteely Park, which runs every evening from 4pm to 8pm, seven days a week. It's fully accessible for buggies and wheelchairs—a genuine relief for anyone who's ever tried to navigate a "festive trail" that turned out to be a muddy assault course. The whole thing is set under twinkling lights, and while I'm usually immune to seasonal sparkle by mid-December, even I can admit it sounds rather peaceful.
These cheeky little elves are ready to keep an eye on the kids this festive season!
Even better? It's dog-friendly. So if you've got a hyperactive terrier who needs wearing out before he eats another sofa cushion, you can kill two birds with one stone. Festive walk, tired dog, happy kids. That's what I call a December miracle.
More Festive Fun (If You've Got the Energy)
The Elf Tree is part of dlr Christmas 2025, which is basically Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council's gift to parents who are trying to keep their children entertained without remortgaging the house. Alongside the light trail, there's Wonderlights at Marlay Park, the Alpine Skate Trail at St Michael's Pier, and even a Santa appearance at Dún Laoghaire Shopping Centre—because apparently one Santa sighting per season is never enough.
There are also magical Santa Post Boxes dotted around the county at dlr LexIcon in Dún Laoghaire, Marlay Park in Rathfarnham, Deerpark in Mount Merrion, and Cabinteely Park. The kids can post their letters to the North Pole, and—wait for it—Santa actually writes back to every single one. Yes, really. I don't know who's managing Santa's correspondence, but they deserve a pay rise and possibly a medal.
If your lot are into tech (or you just need five minutes of peace), there's also a free Augmented Reality app where they can meet Mrs Claus, Santa, Rudolph, an elf, and something called the Talking Tree. You can download it at the Santa Post Boxes or from webcloudone.com/dlrchristmas. I'm picturing this as the digital equivalent of sticking them in front of the telly while you drink a lukewarm cup of tea, and I'm here for it.
The Elf Dash and Beyond
If you're feeling particularly energetic (or if your children have been mainlining sugar since breakfast), there's the dlr Elf Dash on Sunday, 7th December. It's a costume-filled fun run in Cabinteely Park, which sounds equal parts adorable and chaotic. Expect glitter, questionable fancy dress choices, and at least one child having a meltdown because their elf hat keeps falling off.
And if you manage to survive all of that, the season wraps up with the NYF Dublin Fireworks Spectacular at Dún Laoghaire Harbour on New Year's Eve at 7pm. Because nothing says "we made it through December" quite like standing in the cold watching explosions in the sky.
But honestly? For me, it's the simple stuff that wins. A free walk under twinkly lights. A tree covered in daft little elves. The kids burning off some energy so they might—might—go to bed without seventeen rounds of negotiations. Sometimes the magic really is in the little things. Even if those little things are hundreds of miniature red fellas plotting festive chaos.