Cork's Elizabeth Fort to be transformed into a festive winter wonderland  

Preparations are under way for the inaugural ‘Nollaig — A Journey To Believe’ experience at Elizabeth Fort, a collaboration between Cork City Council and award-winning creators of The Nightmare Realm.

Created by husband-and-wife duo, Karl and Sylvia O’Connor, the festive event will see attendees embark on a guided tour through a winter woodland, before meeting residents of Jingle Town as they prepare for Christmas Eve, culminating in a visit to Santa Claus.

The historic 17th-century fort on Barrack St will be transformed into a hidden Christmas world, complete with woodland pathways, a festive workshop, bakery, and a cast of characters preparing for Christmas Eve.

Among the characters are Nollaig, the gentle guide who first discovered the hidden Christmas world after following the Woodland Guardians through the forest many years ago; and Éala the Lantern Keeper, who lights the woodland paths each evening to guide families on their journey.

Mr O’Connor said he and his wife wanted to create a Christmas experience where “families didn’t feel rushed from one attraction to the next”.

“We wanted them to slow down, reconnect, and become part of a world that felt as though it had always existed,” Mr O’Connor said.

“Nollaig is everything we believe Christmas should feel like, and we couldn’t imagine a more perfect home for it than Elizabeth Fort.”

‘Nollaig — A Journey To Believe’ will run across 18 selected nights in November and December, with a dedicated sensory-friendly morning event taking place on November 29 from 9am.

Each family will enjoy a personal visit with Father Christmas, while every child will receive a Woodland Guardian gift to take home.

Tickets start at €19.50 for adults and €29.50 for children, with free dedicated parking available.

For tickets and further information, visit: https://nollaigsantaexperience.ie.