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Vacations By Rail has withdrawn this trip from sale. We keep the page for reference and comparison. The same itinerary is still sold by another operator, listed under Also sold by below.

Vacations By Rail · Escorted tour

Dublin & the Enchanting Emerald Isle

9-day escorted Irish loop from Dublin through Cork, Killarney and Galway by rail and

Illustration of Dublin & the Enchanting Emerald Isle

Vacations By Rail's 9-day escorted tour of Ireland departs Dublin and loops through Cork, Killarney, Galway, and back, combining rail, coach, and ferry travel with 4-star hotel stays and an expert Tour Manager. The journey balances cultural highlights with scenic drives: a Jameson whiskey tasting in Cork, Blarney Castle in the south, a boat trip beneath the Cliffs of Moher, a Jaunting Car ride to Ross Castle on Lough Leane, and a medieval banquet at Bunratty Castle. Days are structured with included breakfasts and dinners, guided tours and excursions, and pockets of free time in Galway and Dublin. The one rail segment, from Dublin Heuston across the Curragh plains to Cork, sets the tone. Accommodations include a stay at Kilronan Castle, an 18th-century stately home. This tour suits couples and history lovers seeking a guided, all-in-one Irish experience with good meals and minimal logistical planning.

What to know before you look closer

  • Flights and airport transfers are not included; add these to the tour price.
  • The single rail journey is Dublin Heuston to Cork; most other travel is by coach or ferry.
  • Day 9 is unguided: you must arrange your own transport to Dublin's airport after breakfast.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Dublin

    Arriving in Dublin

    Free day to explore Dublin before checking into the spa hotel set amid parkland and a golf course outside the city center. Meet the Tour Manager for a welcome drink and the first three-course dinner.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Cork

    Jameson whiskey tasting and exploring Cork

    Coach to Dublin's Heuston station, then rail through the country across the Curragh plains to Cork. Tour of the Jameson whiskey distillery in Midleton with a tasting, then free time in Cork before dinner at the hotel.

  3. Day 3overnight: Killarney

    Myths and legends at Blarney Castle

    Coach to Blarney Castle to explore and optionally kiss the Blarney Stone, then a stop at Molly Gallivan's Visitor Center for tea, scones and a poitin tasting, before arriving in Killarney for dinner.

  4. Day 4overnight: Killarney

    Dramatic landscapes of the Ring of Kerry

    A Jaunting Car ride through Demesne parkland to Ross Castle on Lough Leane, then a scenic drive around the Ring of Kerry taking in Torc Waterfall, Moll's Gap and Ladies View. Dinner at Muckross House for an Irish Night in Quills farmhouse.

  5. Day 5overnight: Ennis

    Setting sail under the magnificent Cliffs of Moher

    Visit the Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum for Irish coffee, then a ferry across the Shannon to Clare and a boat trip into the Atlantic to view the Cliffs of Moher from below. Check in to the hotel in Ennis.

  6. Day 6overnight: Ennis

    Through the Burren to lively Galway

    Travel through the limestone landscape of the Burren to Galway, visiting a traditional tavern on Eyre Square to learn how to pour a pint of Guinness, with free time to explore before returning to Ennis for an evening medieval banquet at 15th-century Bunratty Castle.

  7. Day 7overnight: Ballyfarnon (Kilronan Castle)

    Coal and castles in County Roscommon

    Travel to the Arigna Mines in County Roscommon for an underground tour with a former miner, then check in to the 18th-century Kilronan Castle stately home on Lough Meelagh, dining in the castle restaurant.

  8. Day 8overnight: Dublin

    Discovering Dublin's fair city

    Travel by coach back to Dublin, checking into a hotel near the Iveagh Gardens, with the rest of the day free to explore museums, the Guinness Storehouse, Trinity College's Book of Kells or Temple Bar.

  9. Day 9

    Homeward bound

    Free to make your own way to Dublin's international airport for the flight home after breakfast.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Rail journey from Dublin Heuston across the Curragh plains to Cork, followed by a Jameson whiskey distillery tasting.
  • Day 3Visit Blarney Castle with the option to kiss the Blarney Stone and sample poitin at Molly Gallivan's Visitor Center.
  • Day 4Jaunting Car ride through Demesne parkland to Ross Castle, then a scenic drive around the Ring of Kerry with views of Torc Waterfall, Moll's Gap, and Ladies View.
  • Day 5Ferry across the Shannon to Clare followed by a boat trip into the Atlantic to view the Cliffs of Moher from below.
  • Day 7Underground tour of the Arigna Mines with a former miner, then check in to the 18th-century Kilronan Castle on Lough Meelagh.

Included

  • Expertise of a Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 8 nights' 4-Star hotel accommodation
  • Standard Class rail travel on local rail networks
  • All rail, coach and cruise travel throughout your tour
  • Breakfast each day, 7 dinners
  • Group luggage transfers between hotels from Cork to Killarney
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour but can be arranged
  • Flights and Airport transfers not included

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed by more than one company. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. Standard Class rail from Dublin Heuston to Cork is included, as well as all coach and ferry travel throughout the tour.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. Vacations By Rail provides a Tour Manager throughout the 9 days.
What meals are included?
Breakfast each day and seven dinners are included. One dinner is a medieval banquet at Bunratty Castle.
What hotels are used?
The tour uses the Castleknock Hotel in Dublin, Metropole Hotel in Cork, Randles Hotel in Killarney, Hotel Woodstock in Ennis, and Kilronan Castle in Ballyfarnon, all 4-star properties.
How much walking is involved?
The tour has a Mobility Rating of 2, which includes walking tours of castles and towns, plus other activities like a Jaunting Car ride and a boat trip.
What is not included?
Flights, airport transfers, and travel insurance are not included. Day 9 is unguided, and you arrange your own transport to the airport.

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