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The Railway Touring Company · Escorted tour

The Emerald Explorer - July 2026

Nine-day Irish rail tour from Dublin through Connemara, Cliffs of Moher, and Waterford

Illustration of The Emerald Explorer - July 2026

The Railway Touring Company's Emerald Explorer is a 9-day escorted tour of Ireland that departs from London Euston in First Class rail comfort and ends in Wexford. Starting in Dublin, the itinerary traces a broad arc westward through Athlone and Connemara to the Cliffs of Moher, then southward through Bunratty, Cobh, and Waterford, before returning to Dublin for a final evening of traditional Irish music and dancing. Days blend guided group activities with leisure time: you visit Kylemore Abbey and Gardens, explore Connemara Crystal, cruise the River Shannon to Clonmacnoise Monastery, attend a Medieval Banquet at Bunratty Castle, and ride the narrow-gauge Waterford Suir Valley Railway. Eight dinners and full breakfasts are included, as is the company of a Tour Manager throughout. This tour appeals to history lovers drawn to monastic sites and 15th-century castles, food-and-wine travelers, and repeat rail travelers keen to experience heritage railways in their authentic setting.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one departure is currently listed: July 2026. Confirm availability and check the operator's website for other dates before booking.
  • This is an escorted tour with scheduled group activities and free time built into certain days (e.g., Day 2 afternoon in Dublin, Day 8 leisure in Wexford).
  • The package price is per person, two sharing; a single supplement is not quoted in the evidence.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Dublin

    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, then to your hotel for the next two nights. A welcome dinner is served at the hotel this evening.

  2. Day 2overnight: Dublin

    Guided tour of Dublin and Guinness Storehouse visit

    A guided coach tour of Dublin with a refreshment break in Phoenix Park, followed by lunch and a visit to the Guinness Storehouse. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore the city at leisure. Dinner is served at your hotel this evening.

  3. Day 3overnight: Athlone

    Guided tour of Athlone Castle, River Shannon cruise and visit to Clonmacnoise Monastery

    You transfer from Dublin to Athlone for a guided tour of Athlone Castle, then a private charter cruise along the River Shannon, followed by a visit to Clonmacnoise Monastery, founded on the banks of the Shannon in the 6th Century. You transfer to a hotel, your base for the next two nights.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Athlone

    Visit to Connemara Celtic Crystal and visit to Galway

    You travel by train westward to Westport for a visit to Kylemore Abbey and Gardens and Connemara Celtic Crystal, one of the last surviving Irish crystal factories, then depart by coach to Galway to explore ancient sites including St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church, before returning by train to Athlone for dinner.

  5. Day 5overnight: Bunratty

    Cliffs of Moher and Lartigue Monorail and Museum

    A scenic coach tour of the Cliffs of Moher with photo stops, pausing at Kinvara for refreshments, then on to Listowel to visit the Lartigue Monorail and Museum, a steam powered monorail that ran between Listowel and Ballybunion from 1888 to 1924. You travel to Bunratty, where you'll stay for the next two nights, with a Medieval Banquet at Bunratty Castle this evening.

  6. Day 6overnight: Bunratty

    Visit to Cobh Titanic Experience and Blarney Castle

    A visit to the Cobh Titanic Experience, Cobh being the last port of call for the Titanic in 1912, then on to Blarney Village and historic Blarney Castle & Gardens, built in 1446, with time to kiss the Blarney Stone. You return to your hotel for dinner.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Wexford

    Waterford Crystal and Private Charter on the Waterford Suir Valley Railway

    You travel by coach to Limerick Station for a train trip to Waterford and a guided tour of The House of Waterford Crystal, then enjoy a private charter on the Waterford Suir Valley Railway, Ireland's longest narrow-gauge railway, with panoramic views of the River Suir. You transfer to Wexford Town for dinner and overnight accommodation.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Dublin

    Explore Wexford, Celtic dinner and music evening at the Arlington Hotel

    Leisure time to explore Wexford, then you depart by train to Dublin and transfer to your hotel. In the evening you enjoy a Celtic Night with dinner, traditional Irish music, and dancing at the famous Arlington Hotel.

  9. Day 9

    Ferry crossing to Holyhead and First Class Avanti service to London Euston

    After breakfast you meet the rest of your group with your cases for a coach transfer to the ferry terminal and depart Dublin by ferry to Holyhead, then a First Class Avanti Service to London Euston.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Guided tour of Dublin includes a visit to Phoenix Park and the Guinness Storehouse, with free afternoon to explore the city.
  • Day 3Private charter cruise along the River Shannon followed by a visit to Clonmacnoise Monastery, founded in the 6th Century.
  • Day 5Scenic coach tour of the Cliffs of Moher with photo stops, then a visit to the Lartigue Monorail and Museum, a steam-powered monorail that operated from 1888 to 1924.
  • Day 6Visit to Blarney Castle and Gardens, built in 1446, with time to kiss the Blarney Stone.
  • Day 7Private charter on the Waterford Suir Valley Railway, Ireland's longest narrow-gauge railway, with panoramic views of the River Suir.

Included

  • 8 Nights accommodation with breakfast
  • 8 Dinners
  • First Class rail travel from London Euston to Holyhead and return
  • All visits, train, coach and ferry travel as detailed in the itinerary
  • The services of a Tour Manager

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. The full package includes First Class rail travel from London Euston to Holyhead and return, Irish rail services (Athlone to Westport, Limerick to Waterford, Wexford to Dublin), a private charter on the Waterford Suir Valley Railway, and the Lartigue Monorail Museum visit.
Is this an escorted tour or independent?
It is an escorted tour. A Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout the 9 days, managing logistics and providing expert guidance.
What is included in the price?
Eight nights of accommodation with breakfast, eight dinners, First Class rail travel from London Euston to Holyhead and return, all visits, train, coach and ferry travel as detailed in the itinerary, and the services of a Tour Manager.
Which hotels are used and for how many nights?
Dublin (2 nights), Athlone (2 nights), Bunratty (2 nights), Wexford (1 night), and Dublin again (1 night).
When does this tour run?
A July 2026 departure is confirmed. Check The Railway Touring Company website for other dates and availability.
What highlights are included?
Kylemore Abbey and Gardens, Connemara Celtic Crystal, Cliffs of Moher, Medieval Banquet at Bunratty Castle, Cobh Titanic Experience, Blarney Castle, River Shannon cruise, Clonmacnoise Monastery, Waterford Crystal, and traditional Irish music and dancing at Dublin's Arlington Hotel.

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