EMERALD ISLE EXPLORER WEDNESDAY 3 RD MAY 2023 – THURSDAY 11 TH MAY 2023 A spectacular nine day holiday across the width and breadth of Ireland
EMERALD ISLE EXPLORER: WEDNESDAY 3 RD MAY 2023 – THURSDAY 11 TH MAY 2023
Join us on a trip of a lifetime combining steam travel in atmospheric vintage carriages with beautiful countryside, fascinating cities, lovely hotels, great food and wine and above all - the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed and stress-free holiday. We are pleased to confirm that our 10th ‘Explorer’ tour will be to the stunning Emerald Isle in Spring 2023. As with all our ‘Explorer’ holidays, this tour is designed to remove the pressure of planning an itinerary or worrying about driving. We’ve got it all covered – we’ve chosen the best routes and locations, we’ve researched the best hotels and must-see excursions, and we’ll organise your luggage and transfers so you can relax and savour every moment. If you have been to Ireland in the past you will know what an amazing experience it is and the warm welcome you can expect wherever you go. With high class hotels, lovely scenery and world-famous tourist attractions, a journey to Ireland is the perfect way to escape to another world without venturing far from home.
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CONTENTS
Galway – Day 2 & 3
Page 4, 5 & 13
Page 5 & 6
Killarney – Day 4, 5 & 6
Kilkenny – Day 7 & 8
Page 6, 7, 8 & 9
Page 10, 11 &12
Travelling from England
Carriages and Hotels
Page 14
Page 15
EMERALD ISLE EXPLORER: WEDNESDAY 3 RD MAY 2023 – THURSDAY 11 TH MAY 2023
Dublin – Day 1 & 9
Tour Summary 1 night in Dublin | 2 nights in Galway | 3 nights in Killarney | 2 nights in Kilkenny 3
Day 1 – Wednesday 3 rd May 2023 – Meet in Dublin All passengers, whether making their own arrangements to travel to Ireland or with the Steam Dreams team from London, will spend their first night in Dublin in Steam Dreams Hotels.
EMERALD ISLE EXPLORER: WEDNESDAY 3 RD MAY 2023 – THURSDAY 11 TH MAY 2023
A UNESCO City of Literature that’s twice been named Europe’s friendliest city by TripAdvisor, Dublin is a joy to explore with vibrant art, cobbled streets, hip cafés and traditional pubs. Dining passengers who have travelled to Ireland with Steam Dreams will enjoy an informal evening meal in their hotels. All other dining passengers can either make their own dining arrangements in the evening or book an evening meal at their hotel through Steam Dreams (supplement applies).
Hotels in Dublin Pullman Style Dining passengers will stay at the elegant Davenport Hotel, located on Merrion Square near the National Gallery. The hotel has undergone a recent refurbishment which showcases its Georgian heritage. There is an on-site restaurant and bar. Premier Dining passengers will stay at either The Alex Hotel, a stylish boutique hotel designed to reflect the hotel’s railway heritage, or the recently-refurbished Mont Hotel. Both have an onsite bar and restaurant and are located in the heart of Georgian Dublin near Merrion Square. Premium Standard passengers will stay at the 4 star Jurys Inn on Parnell Street.
Trinity College Dublin
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Ha’penny Bridge Dublin
Day 2 – Thursday 4 th May 2023 - Dublin to Galway We set off after breakfast behind steam from Dublin Heuston and head west right across the Emerald Isle before stopping at the charming city of Athlone, which lies on the banks of the River Shannon, Ireland’s largest waterway.
Dining passengers will enjoy an evening meal in their hotels.
Hotels in Galway Pullman Style Dining passengers will stay at the wonderful Glenlo Abbey Hotel & Estate. Just a 15 minute journey from Galway, this high-end hotel is set in an imposing 18th-century manor house and boasts a golf course and fishing lake. Pullman passengers will have the unique opportunity to step back in time and dine aboard the Glenlo Abbey’s two AA rosette award winning Pullman Restaurant*. Comprising of two original carriages from the Orient Express beautifully restored and set on the grounds of the hotel. To facilitate all Pullman passengers this will be available across both nights and bookable in advance through Steam Dreams with the option to also dine on the other night in the stunning River Room within Glenlo Abbey Hotel. * Please note only the Pullman Restaurant dinner is included in your package. A second dinner in the Glenlo Abbey Hotel can be booked through Steam Dreams for an additional charge.
Premier Dining passengers will stay at the Hardiman Hotel, an upscale hotel dating from 1852 set on Eyre Square. Originally the station hotel, it is centrally located just a minute’s walk from the train station and a 5 minute walk from the pedestrianonly Shop Street. There is an on-site restaurant and bar. We also have rooms at the coastal Salthill Hotel situated on the spectacular Salthill promenade with panoramic views of Gallway Bay and the Clare Hills. This unique hotel, steps from the beach, is a 15 minute walk from Galway and has its own on-site restaurant and bar. Premium Standard passengers will stay at the 4 star Jurys Inn overlooking the River Corrib. It is just a 4 minute walk from Shop Street, and 11 minute walk from the station. There’s a lovely restaurant and coffee shop, plus a bar with a terrace and views of the Spanish Arch as well as a riverside beer garden.
EMERALD ISLE EXPLORER: WEDNESDAY 3 RD MAY 2023 – THURSDAY 11 TH MAY 2023
In the afternoon, we steam on to the vibrant city of Galway, where the River Corrib meets the Atlantic Ocean. The city’s hub is 18th Century Eyre Square, a popular meeting spot surrounded by shops and traditional pubs that often offer live Irish folk music. Nearby, stone-clad cafes, boutiques and art galleries line the winding lanes of the Latin Quarter, which retains portions of the medieval city walls. You will be transferred to hotels by the early evening where we will spend two nights.
No. 85 ‘Merlin’ in Kerry Neil Dinnen
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Day 3 – Friday 5 th May 2023 – Galway at leisure This is a day at leisure in Galway. Optional excursions will be on offer to some of West Ireland’s finest attractions and may include trips to the Aran Islands, the Cliffs of Moher and Kylemore Abbey.
EMERALD ISLE EXPLORER: WEDNESDAY 3 RD MAY 2023 – THURSDAY 11 TH MAY 2023
In the evening, dining passengers will once again have the option of making their own arrangements or booking the evening meal in their hotel (supplement applies).
Day 4 – Saturday 6 th May 2023 – Galway to Killarney via Limerick After breakfast in our hotels we head off by steam southwards to Limerick along a line which was only opened 12 years ago. Our break in Limerick which will no doubt inspire passengers (as has happened before) to write a poem about their tour. Prizes awarded for the best! After a couple of hours in Limerick we reboard the train before it turns inland, passing Limerick Junction and heading southwest to Mallow from where we join the mainline southwards to Killarney. In previous years we have enjoyed fabulous steam-hauled journeys along this route which twists and turns its way through this hilly and mountainous area. As you can imagine, our locomotive will be working hard before we arrive at Killarney, which will be our home for the next three nights. Dining passengers will enjoy an evening meal in their hotels.
Kylemore Abbey
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Cliffs of Moher
Hotels in Killarney Pullman Style Dining passengers will stay at the luxurious Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa in Ireland’s Lake District, which offers breathtaking views of the surrounding lakes and mountains. There’s a refined restaurant, a lounge and a terrace bar with lake views. There’s also an indoor pool and a sauna, as well as a fitness centre and a luxury spa. Premier Dining passengers will stay at the elegant Great Southern Hotel in Killarney. Just a two minute walk from the station, the hotel boasts an ornate, fine-dining restaurant with garden views, a wine bar and a grand foyer with afternoon tea. Other amenities include a day spa, a heated pool, a sauna and a gym, plus tennis courts and gardens. Premium Standard passengers will stay at the modern, light and airy Hotel Killarney, just a 10 minute walk from the station. The hotel boasts leisure facilities, a swimming pool and restaurant.
Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa
EMERALD ISLE EXPLORER: WEDNESDAY 3 RD MAY 2023 – THURSDAY 11 TH MAY 2023
Connemara National Park
Great Southern Hotel
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Day 5 – Sunday 7 th May 2023 – Killarney at leisure or optional steam trip to Tralee
EMERALD ISLE EXPLORER: WEDNESDAY 3 RD MAY 2023 – THURSDAY 11 TH MAY 2023
It’s difficult to know where to start with all the fabulous options available in Killarney! We are planning to offer a tour of the Ring of Kerry, one of the most popular tours - a famous scenic route which attracts visitors from far and wide and takes us through stunning parts of this rural part of Ireland including views of lakes, rivers and waterfalls. Other excursions such as a boat tour on Lake Killarney may be available, and the compact town itself is a treat for the senses with welcoming pubs, a craft brewery and a beautiful cathedral. In the afternoon Steam Dreams will be offering an optional steam trip to Tralee which tests our locomotive with some challenging gradients whilst we are treated to views of the Slieve Mish Mountains on one side and the Stack Mountains on the other. During the journey, dining passengers can enjoy a Champagne Cream Tea on board and a short break in Tralee before arriving back in Killarney in the late afternoon/early evening. As before, dining passengers can make their own dinner arrangements or Steam Dreams can book an evening meal at your hotel (supplement applies).
Tralee
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Lake Killarney
Day 6 – Monday 8th May 2023 – Killarney at leisure or optional steam trip to Cork You will again have the choice of an array of fabulous excursions to join today, including a full day steam excursion to Cork or another chance to experience the Ring of Kerry tour. Passengers who choose to join us on the trip to Cork will leave hotels after breakfast and join the train which takes us back to Mallow and then south to Cork, where passengers will have the chance to spend at least two hours. The compact city centre is set on an island in the River Lee, surrounded by waterways and packed with grand Georgian avenues, modern masterpieces such as the opera house, and narrow streets crammed with pubs, shops, cafes and restaurants, fed by arguably the best foodie scene in the country. On the return journey, the climb out of Cork is one of the steepest in Ireland and the sound of the engine is something to behold. Upon arrival into Killarney in the early evening, dining passengers will once again have the option of making their own arrangements or the evening meal can be booked in hotels if they wish (supplement applies).
EMERALD ISLE EXPLORER: WEDNESDAY 3 RD MAY 2023 – THURSDAY 11 TH MAY 2023
Fitzgerald’s Park, Cork
Woodpark Cork
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Day 7 – Tuesday 9 th May 2023 – Killarney to Kilkenny Once again, we set off after breakfast towards Mallow and then Limerick Junction.
EMERALD ISLE EXPLORER: WEDNESDAY 3 RD MAY 2023 – THURSDAY 11 TH MAY 2023
From here, it’s a just a short way to Tipperary, where we will stop for a photo opportunity before steaming to Waterford where passengers have the chance to visit The House of Waterford & The Crystal Cafe. From Waterford our train will travel North to a new destination for Steam Dreams, Kilkenny, where we’ll stay for the next two nights. Dining passengers will be served an evening meal in their hotels.
Tipperary
House of Waterford
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Waterford
Mount Juliet Estate
Hotels in Kilkenny Pullman Style Dining passengers will stay at the fabulous Mount Juliet Estate outside Kilkenny, an original 18th Century Manor House boasting splendid Georgian architecture, luxurious accommodation and facilities, a Michelin-starred restaurant, and some of the best landscapes in Ireland. We have organised a special stop at Thomas Town station located by to the Mount Juliet Estate where we will transfer you the short distance to your hotel. We also have limited rooms at the stunning Waterford Castle Hotel, set on an enchanted 310 acre private island. Passengers staying here will be transferred from Waterford to the hotel. Premier Dining passengers will stay at the Newpark Hotel in Kilkenny, an upscale hotel on a 40 – acre park which offers fine dining in an elegant restaurant, as well as a casual brasserie. The hotel is a short taxi ride or a 15 minute walk from Kilkenny. There is a fitness centre on site with a heated outdoor pool, an indoor pool, and a sauna. Premium Standard passengers will stay at the 4 star Hotel Kilkenny, a stylish hotel a 10 minute stroll from the city centre. Hotel guests have the benefit of a bar on site offering refined dining, as well as an indoor pool and sauna.
Newpark Hotel
EMERALD ISLE EXPLORER: WEDNESDAY 3 RD MAY 2023 – THURSDAY 11 TH MAY 2023
Mount Juliet Estate
Waterford Castle Hotel
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Day 8 – Wednesday 10 th May 2023 – Kilkenny at leisure If ever a city exemplifies the delights of Ireland, it is Kilkenny, boasting a Cathedral, Medieval Castle, brewery and distillery. We will be offering transfers from hotels into the city for passengers staying at the Mount Juliet and Newpark Hotel.
EMERALD ISLE EXPLORER: WEDNESDAY 3 RD MAY 2023 – THURSDAY 11 TH MAY 2023
For those who want to maximize their steam mileage, you can join an optional day trip on board our train as it moves to Wexford, in readiness for tomorrow’s journey. As the crow flies, it’s a distance of just 30 miles or so, but will be a couple of hundred miles as the Irish railways dictate! Our journey starts by heading north, steam hauled, towards Dublin where we change steam locomotives in the suburbs. We continue, passing through the city center and along the beautiful marquee line along the coast to Wexford. From Wexford, you will be transferred by road coach to Kilkenny by the early evening. In the evening, dining passengers will have the option of making their own dinner arrangements or enjoying an evening meal in their hotel, which can be organised by Steam Dreams (supplement applies).
Day 9 – Thursday 11 th May 2023 – Wexford to Dublin After breakfast in hotels, we will be transferred by road coach to meet our train in Wexford. This is a fantastic way to finish the tour as for large sections of the journey we will hug the coast as the railway dips and climbs. As we approach Dublin, we cross the River Liffey and arrive back at Connolly station in the early afternoon. From here, passengers can make their own way home, or Steam Dreams can organise an extra night’s stay in Dublin and the ferry crossing and train journey back to London Euston the following day.
Kilkenny Castle
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Kilkenny
Main tour Portrush Coleraine Ballymoney
Optional tour Airports
LONDONDERRY Ballymena
Ports
Larne Antrim
Carrickfergus Bangor BELFAST Lisburn Lurgan
Portadown Sligo
Newry
Ballina
Westport
Dundalk
Longford
Claremorris
Drogheda
Navan Mullingar DUBLIN
Athlone GALWAY Ballybrophy
Wicklow Carlow
Ennis
Limerick Junction Cahir Charleville WATERFORD Mallow
Tralee
Killarney
Arklow
Gorey KILKENNY
LIMERICK Foynes
Dun Laoghalre
Kildare
Portarlington
Wexford Rosslare Europort
Youghal CORK
Cobh
Main Tour (8 nights, 9 days)
Table for 2 supplement
Single Supplement*
Transfers to/ from London
Pullman Style Dining
£3,995
£1,000
£1,010
Premier Dining
£2,995
–
£710
Premium Standard
£1,995
–
£350
Confirmed 6 months before travel
25% deposit payable upon booking, further 25% due 3 December 2022, final balance due 3 February 2023.
What’s included – Main Tour • 8 night’s hotel accommodation on a bed & breakfast basis. • Coach transfers between the train and your hotels. • L uggage courier service throughout, transporting all luggage directly to and from your hotel rooms.
EMERALD ISLE EXPLORER: WEDNESDAY 3 RD MAY 2023 – THURSDAY 11 TH MAY 2023
Carrick on Shannon Kingscourt
• A team of helpful staff both on board the train and at all hotels to ensure you have a memorable and enjoyable journey with us. • A choice of optional excursions by road coach or steam (supplement applies). Final details about optional excursions will be confirmed in early 2023. Please visit www.steamdreams.co.uk for updates. • P ullman Style Dining passengers will be welcomed on board with a glass of bubbly and will receive a light meal on board the train on days 2, 4, 7 and 9, served with a half bottle of wine per person. You will also receive dinner in your hotel on days 2, 4 and 7 (wine not included). • P remier Dining passengers will be welcomed on board with a glass of Bucks Fizz and will receive a light meal on board the train on days 2, 4, 7 and 9. You will also receive dinner in your hotel on days 2, 4 and 7. • A ll passengers will be served complimentary tea and coffee when travelling on board the train. *
Double room for sole occupancy
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EMERALD ISLE EXPLORER: WEDNESDAY 3 RD MAY 2023 – THURSDAY 11 TH MAY 2023 14
Travelling from England – optional transfer with Steam Dreams In past years our passengers have appreciated the convenience and luxury of a transfer by train and ferry from England to Dublin. On day one, Wednesday 3rd May, we will catch the morning train from London Euston to Holyhead, departing at approximately 0900hrs and usually stopping at stations along the way for those outside London. All passengers who book this option will have allocated seating and will enjoy a breathtaking journey along the North Wales coast. Once on board the ferry we will head to the Club Class lounge with magnificent sea views, where complimentary snacks, drinks and newspapers will be available. A very civilized way to travel which will make you feel as though your holiday has begun before you even set foot on Irish soil! Upon arrival in Ireland, we will be transferred by road coach to hotels in the late afternoon and dining passengers will enjoy an evening meal in their hotel. On day nine, Thursday 11th May, passengers who have chosen to travel with Steam Dreams from London will have another wonderful opportunity to explore Ireland’s Capital City. They will be met at Connolly station and will be taken to their hotels, where an evening meal can be organised for dining passengers if required (supplement applies). On the morning of Friday 12th May, after an early breakfast in hotels, you’ll be transferred to the ferry terminal for the crossing to Holyhead joined by the Steam Dreams team. The arrangements will follow as per our outward journey, arriving back at London Euston in the late afternoon.
Locomotives Throughout the tour we will be working with the volunteers of the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI), who are – even on an island well known for its hospitality – extraordinarily welcoming and friendly. The RPSI have a number of steam locomotives and the mainstay for our tour will be old favourite V Class No. 85 Merlin, built in 1932 for express passenger trains. Merlin will be joined by No. 171, Slieve Gullion, an express passenger locomotive built in 1913 which will be making its debut on our tour! It is a highly distinctive design reminiscent of the LSWR T9 with large driving wheels.
The crowning glory of the carriages we will be using is the wood-paneled bar car – the only railway bar in the world to serve draught Guinness (as well as many other drinks!). Passenger carriages will consist of a set of refurbished 1960s Craven coaches. They are different to those used on our trains in the UK as uniquely in Ireland they have a wider 5ft 3ins gauge. The carriages each have 64 seats on tables of four (a whole table can be booked privately for 2 in Pullman Style Dining) and wide gangways and while less decorative than some of our UK coaches they have a very singular Irish ambience, are very comfortable and are excellently looked after by the RPSI.
Luggage As always with Steam Dreams, your luggage will be transported directly between your hotels whilst we are in Ireland so you can relax and savour every moment. This is the case for all passengers, regardless of class of travel.
Hotels For those who are new to the hotels in Ireland, the hotels are of an excellent quality and all hotels have been hand-picked by our experienced team, who have visited the hotels personally. Pullman Style passengers will be staying in the most luxurious accommodation Steam Dreams has yet offered Please note that spaces in these hotels are limited so book early to guarantee the five star options. The highlight for many will be the Mount Juliet Estate outside Kilkenny, described as Ireland’s leading 5 star Estate, set in 500 acres of some of the finest landscapes in Ireland with luxurious accommodation and facilities, as well as multiple dining options including their Michelin-starred restaurant. Premier Dining passengers will be allocated high-end quality four star hotels. All the hotels have been carefully chosen to either offer an insight into the local railway heritage or excellent facilities among elegant surroundings. Premium Standard passengers will be allocated good quality three or four star hotels with central locations, close to local amenities and often with their own leisure facilities.
EMERALD ISLE EXPLORER: WEDNESDAY 3 RD MAY 2023 – THURSDAY 11 TH MAY 2023
Carriages
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The Steam Dreams Rail Co, Albury Lodge, The Street, Albury, Guildford, Surrey GU5 9AE. Registered in England No. 4036827
