The Emerald Explorer

From Dublin to Westport, Waterford to the Cliffs of Moher, this new rail tour distils Ireland’s proud culture, heritage, and history into 9 days of memorable highlights. Starting and ending in Dublin, you’ll cover the length and breadth of this stunning country by rail and coach and discover first-hand the legends, traditions and outstanding hospitality Ireland is renowned for.

• Enjoy a guided tour of Dublin and the Teeling Whisky Distillery.
• On the Atlantic seafront tour Kylemore Abbey and Gardens, Connemara Celtic Crystal and explore Galway.
• Travel highlights include the Waterford Suir Valley Railway and a cruise on the River Shannon.
• Marvel at the wild Cliffs of Moher and visit West Clare Railway and Museum.
• Savour a Medieval Banquet at Bunratty Castle.
• Experience the mysteries of Blarney Castle and Clonmacnoise Monastery.
• Finish the tour on a high with traditional Irish music and dancing at Dublin’s famous Arlington Hotel.

Thursday 25th July
First Class Avanti Service to Holyhead and Ferry Crossing to Dublin

Meet your Tour Manager this morning in the First Class Lounge at London Euston, before you travel First Class on an Avanti Service to Holyhead. On arrival, you transfer to Holyhead Ferry Terminal for a ferry crossing over the Irish Sea to Dublin. On arrival, you transfer to a comfortable hotel where you’ll stay for the next two nights. There will be a welcome dinner at the hotel this evening. (D)

Friday 26th July
Guided Tour of Dublin and Whiskey Distillery Visit
Today after your hotel breakfast you’ll enjoy a thrilling guided coach tour of Dublin, with a refreshment break in Phoenix Park. One of the largest enclosed public parks in any European capital city, it was originally designed for royal hunting in the 1660s. After the tour you’ll have time for lunch before a scheduled tour of the Teeling Whiskey Distillery. Dublin was once home to over 37 distilleries, and this is the first new distillery here for over 125 years. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore the city at leisure. Dublin has a compact centre, so most attractions are within walking distance of each other. Walk in ‘Stephen’s Green’ or check out the shops and cafes on Grafton Street, perhaps stopping to take a picture alongside Molly Malone, one of Dublin’s most famous statues. Visit Leinster House, where the current parliament sits, or Dublin Castle, the seat of English rule from the 13th Century. Dinner will be served at your hotel this evening. (B D)

Saturday 27th July
Guided Tour of Athlone Castle, River Shannon Cruise and Visit to Clonmacnoise Monastery
Following breakfast, you transfer from Dublin to Athlone and enjoy a guided tour of Athlone Castle. Here the Great Siege of Athlone is brought to life through interactive exhibits and an immersive 360-degree cinematic experience. Climb the steps to the castle keep and enjoy the views across the majestic River Shannon. After lunch you leave Athlone Castle for a private charter cruise along the River Shannon. Named after the Celtic goddess ‘Sionna’, the Shannon is a series of lakes, rivers, and canals almost 200 miles in length and is Ireland’s longest river. Later you transfer by coach to Clonmacnoise Monastery. St Ciarán founded this ancient monastery on the banks of the Shannon in the 6th Century. It was once a great seat of learning, a university in its time with students from all over Europe. After your tour you transfer by coach to a comfortable hotel, your base for the next two nights. Dinner will be at the hotel this evening. (B D)

Sunday 28th July
Visit to Connemara Celtic Crystal and visit to Galway
After a leisurely breakfast you leave the hotel for a short walk to the train station. You travel westward to Westport, at the south-east corner of Clew Bay on the west coast of Ireland. You then have a visit scheduled to the enigmatic Kylemore Abbey and Gardens, a nineteenth-century castle now owned by Benedictine nuns but originally part of Kylemore Castle, built in 1868 as a private home. There’ll be time to explore and buy lunch before you visit Connemara Celtic Crystal, one of the last surviving Irish Crystal factories. It incorporates Celtic designs and Gaelic motifs on ornate, beautifully crafted crystal pieces. You then depart by coach to Galway. Located near an earlier settlement, Galway grew around a fortification built by the King of Connacht in 1124. You’ll have time to explore some of the ancient sites such as St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church, the largest medieval church still in everyday use in Ireland, before returning by train to Athlone and dinner at your hotel. (B D)

Monday 29th July
Cliffs of Moher and The West Clare Railway
After breakfast you leave Athlone by coach for a scenic tour of the stunning Cliffs of Moher with photo stops, pausing in the sea port village of Kinvara for refreshments. Afterwards you head to Kilkee, where you will have time to enjoy lunch before moving on to visit the West Clare Railway and Museum. The West Clare Railway was one of a network of narrow gauge lines built across rural West Ireland in the wake of the 1883 Tramways Act. The line was closed in 1961. Afterwards you travel to Bunratty Castle Hotel, where you’ll stay for the next two nights. A tour highlight this evening is a magnificent Medieval Banquet at Bunratty Castle. (B D)

Tuesday 30th July
Visit to Cobh Titanic Experience and Blarney Castle
You leave your hotel by coach after breakfast to visit the Cobh Titanic Experience. Cobh is a picturesque town in Cork Harbour. It’s also famous for having been the last port of call for the ocean liner ‘Titanic’. The Experience is in two parts, the first retracing the steps of the 123 passengers who boarded Titanic from Cobh on April 11th, 1912. Part two examines the almost impossible sequence of events that caused Titanic to sink. After lunch you leave Cobh and travel to Blarney Village and historic Blarney Castle & Gardens, built in 1446 by Dermot McCarthy. You’ll have time to kiss the famous stone, which is said to bestow the gift of eternal eloquence on those lucky enough to do so. A must see is the Rock Close area and Poison Garden where the world’s most poisonous plants are kept. After your visit you return to your hotel where dinner will once again be served in the hotel restaurant. (B D)

Wednesday 31st July
Waterford Crystal and Private Charter on the Waterford Suir Valley Railway
After breakfast you travel by coach to Limerick Station for a train trip to Waterford in the south of Ireland and a guided tour of The House of Waterford Crystal. See in detail how this stunning crystal has been made since 1783 and the traditional methods still used to this day. After your Waterford tour you enjoy a private charter on the Waterford Suir Valley Railway, Ireland’s longest narrow-gauge railway. Enjoy the panoramic views of the River Suir as you journey to and from Carriganore, where the merchants of Waterford are said to have hidden their treasures from Cromwell’s soldiers. Later you transfer to Wexford Town and a local hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B D)

Thursday 1st August
Explore Wexford and Celtic Dinner and Music Evening at the Arlington Hotel
This morning you have leisure time to spend exploring Wexford. Walk around the vibrant centre and indulge in the many cafes, pubs and eating places. You then depart Wexford by train and travel to Dublin before transferring to your hotel. In the evening you have a final tour treat with an unforgettable Celtic Night with dinner, traditional Irish music, and dancing at the famous Arlington Hotel. Later you return to your hotel for overnight accommodation. (B D)

Friday 2nd August
Ferry Crossing to Holyhead and First Class Avanti Service to London Euston
After breakfast at the hotel, you meet with the rest of your group in reception with your cases. You then have a coach transfer to the ferry terminal and depart Dublin by ferry to Holyhead. On arrival, you transfer to Holyhead train station where you depart on a First Class Avanti Service to London Euston. (B)