The Emerald Isle Explorer 2023

Wednesday 3 May – Thursday 11 May

We are delighted to confirm that our 10th ‘Explorer’ tour will be to the stunning Emerald Isle in Spring 2023.

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. We’ve got it all covered – we’ve chosen the best routes and locations, we’ve researched the best hotels and must-see excursions, we’ll sort out your luggage and transfers so you can relax and savour every moment. Read on to hear more details on the current plans for this amazing tour.

Fill in the form below to be request a quote for this tour and receive a brochure once it has been printed.

FULL ITINERARY

Day 1 – 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.
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).

Pullman Style Dining passengers will stay at the elegant Georgian 4 star Davenport Hotel, located on Merrion Square near the National Gallery. Premier Dining passengers will stay at The Alex Hotel. The hotel has been designed by award-winning Irish studio with an iconic 1950s feel and look throughout the hotel which reflects the hotel’s railway heritage. Premium Standard passengers will stay at the centrally-located Jurys Inn on Parnell Street or the newly launched Travelodge Plus.

Day 2 – Dublin to Galway via Athlone

We set off after breakfast behind steam from Dublin and head west right across the Emerald Isle before stopping at lunchtime at the charming city of Athlone, which lies on the banks of the River Shannon, Ireland’s largest waterway. During our break here, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a river cruise along the Shannon or visit the castle which dates from the 12th Century.

After lunch, 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.

Dining passengers will enjoy an evening meal in their hotels.

Pullman Style Dining passengers will stay at the Glenlo Abbey Hotel & Estate. This elegant hotel is set in an imposing 18th-century manor house in its own stunning grounds. Premier Dining passengers will either stay at the Hardiman Hotel, a refined hotel dating from 1852 set on Eyre Square or SaltHill hotel situated just outside of Galway on the spectacular Salthill promenade with panoramic views of Galway Bay and steps from the beach. Premium Standard passengers will stay at the Jurys Inn overlooking the beautiful River Corrib.

Day 3 – Exploring Galway

This is a day at leisure in Galway – but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to do! 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.

In the evening, dining passengers will have the option of making their own arrangements or booking the evening meal in their hotel (supplement applies). Pullman Style Dining passengers will also have the exclusive option to dine on board an original carriage from the Orient Express, beautifully restored and set on the grounds of Glenlo Abbey hotel (limited availability).

Day 4 – 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

Pullman Style Dining passengers will stay at the luxurious Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa in Ireland’s Lake District, set outside of Killarney with breathtaking views of the surrounding lakes and mountains. Premier Dining passengers will stay at the historic Great Southern Hotel in Killarney built in 1854 with the remit to ‘take the guest’s breath away.’ Premium Standard passengers will stay at the light and spacious Hotel Killarney with fantastic facilities, a 15 minute walk from the station and one mile from Killarney town.

Day 5 – Killarney at leisure or optional steam trip to Tralee

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.

Later in the day, 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.

As before, dining passengers can make their own dinner arrangements or Steam Dreams can book an evening meal at your hotel (supplement applies).

Day 6 – 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.

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 center 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 you wish (supplement applies).

Day 7 – Killarney to Kilkenny

Once again, we set off after breakfast towards Mallow and then Limerick Junction where our train reverses in one of the more unusual movements and more unusual junctions of the world – where else but in Ireland?

From here, it’s a just a short way to Tipperary, where we will stop for a photo opportunity before steaming to Waterford. There will only be a short break here, but for those who would like to visit the Waterford Crystal Factory and Visitor Center, you can spend more time here and transfer by road coach to your hotels in the early evening.

From Waterford our train will travel North, diesel-hauled, 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.

Pullman Style Dining passengers will stay at the exclusive Mount Juliet Estate set outside of Kilkenny in its own stunning grounds, with an original 18th Century Manor House boasting splendid Georgian architecture and the chic sophistication of Hunters Yard. Premier Dining passengers will stay at the New Park Hotel, on the edge of Kilkenny, a deluxe upscale hotel set on a 40-acre park. Premium Standard passengers will stay at the Hotel Kilkenny, a modern and stylish hotel perfectly located just a 5 minute walk from the city centre.

Day 8 – Kilkenny at leisure

If ever a city exemplifies the delights of Ireland, it is Kilkenny, boasting a Cathedral, Castle, brewery and distillery! Spending a day at just these attractions is not enough time in this convivial city.

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 – Wexford to Dublin

Sadly, our wonderful trip on the Emerald Isle is coming to a close. After breakfast in our 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 Connelly station at approximately 1400hrs.

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.

CARRIAGES, LOCOMOTIVES & SERVICE ON BOARD

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.

This tour is planned to be steam-hauled throughout (with the exception of the short section from Waterford to Kilkenny on day 7) and some passengers will be pleased to know that it is in fact not allowed for a diesel to work with steam so no diesel-assisted sections! 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. We also expect to use No. 131, another express passenger locomotive.

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. 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 so you can relax and savour every moment.  This is the case for all passengers, regardless of class of travel.

We look forward to welcoming you to Ireland, the Steam Dreams way!