10 minute read
Dublin – Day 1
from EMERALD ISLE EXPLORER - A spectacular nine day holiday across the width and breadth of Ireland
by Clearsite
Fitzgerald’s Park, Cork
Day 6 – Monday 8th May 2023 – Killarney at leisure or optional steam trip to Cork
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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).
Once again, we set off after breakfast towards Mallow and then Limerick Junction.
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
Mount Juliet Estate 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.
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. 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 11th 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.
Optional tour
Airports
Ports
Portrush Coleraine
Ballymoney
LONDONDERRY Ballymena
Portadown Larne
Antrim
Carrickfergus Bangor BELFAST
Lisburn Lurgan
Sligo Ballina Newry
Carrick on Shannon Kingscourt Dundalk
Westport Claremorris
Athlone Longford
Navan Mullingar DUBLIN Drogheda
GALWAY
Foynes
Tralee Ennis
Portarlington Ballybrophy Kildare Dun Laoghalre
Wicklow Carlow
Arklow
LIMERICK Limerick Junction Cahir Gorey KILKENNY
Charleville
WATERFORD
Mallow Wexford
Rosslare
Europort
Killarney CORK Cobh Youghal
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 Confirmed Premier Dining £2,995 – £710 6 months Premium Standard £1,995 – £350 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.
• Luggage courier service throughout, transporting all luggage directly to and from your hotel rooms.
• 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.
• Pullman 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).
• Premier 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.
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.
Carriages
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.
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