NEW! Celtic Rails: Trains, and Treasures of Ireland  

May 1-11, 2010

Land tour from $2749.00

HURRY! Tour closes March 19, 2010.

Join us for great scenery, unusual trains, Celtic heritage and history, friendly people, music and song in a real Irish pub, Guinness beer and steam trains. Welcome to the Republic of Ireland. Although Ireland has a fine railway network and has just spent nearly a billion dollars on passenger service modernization, virtually all tours of the country travel entirely by bus. Our program makes use (where practical) of the railroad and uses motorcoaches when essential, such as for the wonderful drive around the Ring of Kerry.

This fine new tour is escorted by our British escort, Geoff Cooke, and is part of the 2010 program of Geoff’s Trains Ltd. Highlights include sightseeing in Dublin, Wexford, Cobh, Killarney, and Limerick and rides on fast intercity trains contrasted with a three- day mainline steam train tour. We see some of the best scenery Ireland offers as we drive the Ring of Kerry and explore the lovely countryside on the scenic rail lines to Wexford, Cobh and Cork. We learn about the ill-fated cruises of the “Titanic” and the “Lusitania”, enjoy a pint of Guinness high above Dublin, and see how to switch trains on a monorail (it's fascinating, even if you aren’t a railfan). Of special interest is a three-day steam train experience offered by the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland as part of this tour.

Special efforts have been made to keep rates reasonable on this tour. We use three star standard hotels. All rooms have private baths with a full Irish breakfast included daily, but we do not represent these as “deluxe” properties. Our lodgings are located centrally in both Dublin and Killarney and are clean, cozy and comfortable with a real “Irish” feel. Please note on one tour day you will need to handle your own overnight bag. Some walking is necessary to fully enjoy this tour. Complete details follow. All aboard!

Optional Pretour Day, Friday April 30 Flights leave North America today for Dublin. Air travel to/from the Republic of Ireland tends to be very competitively priced. You should book flights arriving in Dublin on the morning of May 1. If you need help with flight reservations and don’t have a regular travel agent, our ticketing partners at Gateway Travel are expert in booking travel to Ireland.

Day One, Saturday, May 1 (D) Arrive Dublin. We arrive in Dublin this morning and transfer to the comfortable Best Western Ashling Hotel, located virtually adjacent to the main Heuston Railway Terminal. Because flights can arrive at various times throughout the day, we cannot provide a single included transfer. Geoff Cooke, your tour escort, will meet you at the airport to offer any assistance you may need. Cab fare from the airport directly to the hotel typically runs 25 Euros, or about $37.50 USD. A convenient and economical way to reach the hotel is on the Airlink Coach which goes to Heuston Station, a very short walk from our hotel. The current Airlink fare is 6 Euros, or about $9.00 USD.

No group activities are planned during the day, so we can rest up from the flight. Our hotel and Heuston Station are on the new LUAS Light Rail system, which can be ridden into the older part of the city. At present an all day unlimited ride LUAS ticket is only 5.30 Euros, or about $7.95. We overnight for two nights at the Best Western Ashling Hotel. Tonight’s Welcome Dinner is the tour’s first scheduled event.

Day Two, Sunday, May 2 (B) Tour Dublin. This morning we have an open top double-decker bus tour of the city of Dublin. This bus service can be used throughout the day to access famous sites on a looping route, getting on and off as we wish. Our tour includes a visit to the Guinness Storehouse, where exhibits include a steam locomotive; and all who wish receive a free pint at the end of the tour. Following our tour, there are a number of options to enjoy in this vibrant city. For railfans there is the opportunity to ride the DART suburban system as well as the LUAS downtown street trams. Rail Travel Center will provide a detailed Weissmann Travel Report on Dublin with your final documents which lists museums and hours, restaurants, and shopping suggestions.

Day Three, Monday, May 3 (B,D) Scenic train to Wexford; tour New Ross and the Rock of Cashel; arrive Killarney. This morning we walk to the station to join our train to Wexford. This is a particularly pretty line which closely follows the Irish Sea coast, then climbs through rugged coastal headlands. CIE (the Irish Railways) have recently replaced their long-haul coach fleet with all new equipment. Our motorcoach collects our luggage at the hotel and drives to Wexford station to meet us.

Upon arrival at Wexford we drive to New Ross, the ancestral home of the Kennedy family. We visit the “Dunbrody”, a recreated sailing ship that carried emigrants to America in the 1840’s. Guides in period costume will explain the harsh conditions endured on board. This afternoon we drive to the Rock of Cashel for a conducted tour of a spectacular group of medieval buildings atop an outcrop of limestone in the Golden Vale. Highlights include a 12th century round tower, the High Cross and Romanesque Chapel, a ruined 13th century Gothic cathedral, the 15th century Castle, and the restored Hall of the Vicars Chorale. Later this afternoon we motor to Killarney, where we spend four nights at the comfortable International Hotel, located in the heart of the village.

Day Four, Tuesday, May 4 (B) Full day tour of the Ring of Kerry. The day is devoted to the incomparable circuit drive around the Ring of Kerry. We traverse the towering headlands overlooking the south coast, then climb over a high mountain pass to the Queen’s View, with its glorious vista of the Lakes of Killarney. This is considered the most renowned scenery in Ireland.

Day Five, Wednesday, May 5 (B) Free Day in Killarney. We enjoy a free day in Killarney. Options include riding on a horse-drawn “punt” cart for a tour of the gardens and parks of Killarney; touring stately Muckross House; taking the short train ride to near-by Tralee (small added fare paid at the depot); or just relaxing in the very pretty village of Killarney, which offers many fine shops and excellent restaurants. Those wanting a full-day excursion can book a tour around the Dingle Peninsula from our Irish partners at Deros Tours. The Dingle Peninsula lies at the rugged, remote southwestern tip of Ireland. Here the first language of many residents remains Irish Gaelic, and the scenery rivals anything in Ireland! This tour lasts from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and currently is priced at 27 Euros, or about $37 USD.

Day Six, Thursday, May 6 (B) Rail tour to Cobh and the Heritage Center. Today we take to the rails again as we travel to the city of Cork and then on to Cobh. Our train trip is through classic Irish countryside: first rolling hills and green pastures, then along the rivers to the coastal port of Cobh. The town was once known as Queenstown, and from here nearly 2,000,000 Irish sailed to homes in the New World, Australia and New Zealand.

We visit the Cobh Heritage Center to discover Cobh's unique history, which is dramatically recalled during “The Queenstown Story”, a multi media presentation shown in the lovingly restored Victorian Railway Station. Themes include the “Titanic”, emigration, and the terrible potato famine. Later we walk into town to see the Lusitania Monument and the magnificent cathedral. This afternoon we return by train to Killarney.

Day Seven, Friday, May 7 (B) Ride the Lartigue Monorail; explore Bunratty Castle and Folk Park; train from Limerick to Dublin. This morning our coach takes us north to Listowel where we ride Ireland’s most unusual railway, the Lartigue Monorail. When completed in 1888, this was a “wonder of the Victorian age”. A short section of the famous monorail has been rebuilt. To ride this unique train and watch the interesting switching movements needed to turn the locomotive, is an unforgettable experience.

We continue to Limerick and visit Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. We explore the mighty castle citadel and its adjacent re-creation of a late 19th/early 20th century Irish village. Later we take a fast cross-country/cross-island train back to Dublin’s Heuston Station. Once again our accommodations are at the Ashling Hotel adjacent to the station.

Days Eight, Nine and Ten; Saturday, Sunday and Monday; May 8, 9 & 10 (B) Three-day Railway Preservation Society of Ireland Steam Tour. We enjoy a remarkable three-day steam train tour of Ireland. Each year, over this weekend, a series of one-time only all-day steam-powered trips are offered on the regular Irish Railway mainlines. Engines from the late 19th to the early 20th century are featured, with seats in restored historic “carriages” (coaches). The exact itinerary and engines to be used will not be known until early in 2010, but the trips travel over some of Ireland’s most attractive lines. The plan is to use two different mainline steam locomotives on our train. Weather and safety permitting, an exciting feature is the opportunity to take great pictures during arranged “photo run-bys”.

We travel out of Dublin to the countryside on May 8 and spend the night at a destination that will be advised as soon as route planning has been completed. We return to the Ashling Hotel in Dublin on May 9, after one night away. Participants must carry an overnight bag onto the train on the 8th, with the rest of your luggage stored at the Ashling Hotel. Bag handling is not available on or off the steam train while away from Dublin. On May 10 a same-day round trip is offered out of Dublin. The steam trains are operated by the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland. This is not a charter, and other passengers will enjoy the journey with us. Limited catering and refreshments are available on board.

Day Eleven, Tuesday, May 11 (B) Tour ends. The tour ends with independent departures from Dublin today.

TOUR PRICES include all rail and coach fares; hotels; sightseeing and admissions described as included above; luggage handling (except on May 8 and 9 on the steam train); tour manager services; and transfers round-trip from/to the Ashling Hotel in Dublin. Rail travel is in “Standard Class”. A full Irish breakfast is included daily, plus dinner on Day One in Dublin and Day Three in Killarney.

All rooms have private baths, but we do not represent these hotels as “deluxe” properties. Irish hotels used on this tour are not air conditioned. To keep prices reasonable, other meals are not included, but you can eat very reasonably in Ireland if you patronize pubs and/or local cafes. Our hotels also offer reasonably priced meals. Most long-distance Irish trains provide a light snack/sandwich service at seat or from a centrally located buffet. Not included in the tour price are airport transfers and items of a personal nature such as souvenirs and alcoholic beverages. Please note that to properly enjoy this tour you need to be able to walk at least a half mile, climb stairs, and handle your own overnight bag during the steam train experience. Irish castles do not have elevators, and the streets are often hilly.

$2749.00 per person, double occupancy

$3199.00 single occupancy

Prices are based on current rates (as of August 2009) for the three-day steam excursion on May 8-10, 2010. If the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland increases these costs, a surcharge could be assessed. Prices also could change should the dollar decline against the Euro. However we will guarantee rates for any reservation that is paid in full.

Conditions and Booking Information (the fine print)

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Last modified: February 11, 2010