DH36 : & Castle, Ring of Kerry and Cliffs of Moher

Day 1 –Welcome aboard. By now you should be in your reserved seat on the 07:00 train to Cork. There is breakfast available on this train, (Monday to Friday). Your host will advise you of the location of the dining car. On Saturdays, light snacks are available for purchase.

Day 1: Kiss the world famous , visit Cóbh, where Titanic made its last port of call. At the end of the tour we transfer to Killarney, where you will taken to your accommodation. The evening is free.

Day 2: You will be collected from your accommodation for your tour of the Ring of Kerry and after the day’s touring you will have the evening free in Killarney once more.

Day 3: You will be collected from your accommodation once more and transfer by road to Limerick, where we join the cliffs tour. We will visit after a short city tour of Limerick before arriving at the Cliffs of Moher. At the end of the tour you will be taken to the railway station for the return to Dublin.

As your train departs, we head south westerly direction, passing some of Dublin’s western suburbs. The western and south-western suburbs of the city are quickly passed and soon we are in the lush fertile countryside of County Kildare. The train passes through the town of Newbridge, well known for its cutlery and carpets. The town also marks the northern boundary of the Curragh of Kildare, which soon comes into view on both sides of the line. The Curragh (pronounced curra) is famous for its racecourse, home of the Irish Derby, and there are many stud farms in the vicinity. In fact, at this time of the morning you are likely to see some of 's finest bloodstock being put through their paces. The Curragh is also the headquarters of the Irish army and their buildings can be seen in the distance to the south. Shortly after the Curragh we pass the town of Kildare, and the Church of Ireland (Protestant) cathedral of St. Brigid’s –completed in 1223 –can be clearly seen to the south, or left-hand-side when facing the direction of travel.

The train now rushes through Monasterevan, an old transport convergence, where the River Barrow, the Grand Canal, the main road to the south and the railway all meet. Looking to the north, as we pass Monastereven, the River Barrow is crossed by a very quaint five-arched bridge.

Our first stop this morning is the town of Portlaoise (Pronounced Port Leesh-eh) and is home to Ireland’s only maximum security prison –the sharp eyed will see it on the southern side, as we approach the town. On the northern side of the railway are the Slieve Bloom Mountains. Departing Portlaoise, we sweep on through the midlands before passing the town of Templemore –home of the Garda Síochána Training College –Ireland’s national [and unarmed] police force. Shortly after passing Templemore, we pass Loughmoe Castle, which can be clearly seen on the southern side of the train. Originally built in the 15th century, the Purcell’s lived there until 1760, when it went into ruin. We sweep on through the midlands before reaching the border of County Tipperary and the towns of Templemore - home of the Garda Síochána training college –and Thurles –spiritual home of the Gaelic Athletic Association. At Limerick Junction our Cliffs of Moher clients will be alighting for their train to Limerick –please remain on the train until we reach Cork.

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DH36 : Cork & Blarney Castle, Ring of Kerry and Cliffs of Moher

On arrival in Cork at 09:35 hrs, we join our transfer through the Southern Capital, Cork City and on to Blarney village –the location of Blarney Castle. The Castle was built in 1446 for Dermot Mc Carthy and you will have time to kiss the famous stone, which is perched at the very top. It is said that it bestows the gift of eternal eloquence on those lucky enough to do so. There is also time for shopping, which is tax free for visitor’s resident outside the European Union. There is also plenty of time for lunch in Blarney and we recommend that you do so here.

You depart Blarney at 13:30 hrs. Approximately - or as directed by your Host - for Cóbh, via the city centre and a short city tour. With a population of about 140,000, Cork is Ireland’s third largest city after Dublin and Belfast. It is home to Beamish Stout and Murphy’s Stout –Cork’s answer to Guinness. It is also home to Paddy Irish Whiskey and is the only city centre in Ireland that is situated on an island.

On arrival at Cóbh (pronounced Cove), we will visit St Colman’s Cathedral and then walk down along the sea front passing the former White Star Line offices en route to the beautifully restored Victorian railway/transatlantic terminal. This is now the Cóbh Heritage Centre, home to the 'Queenstown Story' to which your entrance is included.

Cóbh was of course the final port of call of the R.M.S. Titanic and this theme is well expounded. The centre also houses much information about the Great Famine and subsequent Irish Emigration – 3 million people from this very spot. Note the Annie Moore Memorial on the quayside –she was the first Irish person to register as an immigrant at Ellis Island, New York in 1892 and a similar bronze statue of Annie Moore is housed in the museum there. Cóbh is also home to the Irish Navy and the naval base can be seen across the bay from the Annie Moore Memorial. There are 8 ships: Aisling, Aoife, Ciara, Eithne, Emer, Niamh, Orla and Róisín. (pronounced: ashling, ee-fa, kirra, et-na, ee- mer, neeve, orrla and row-sheen respectively)

We depart Cóbh at 16.15 (or as directed by your host) for Mallow. Here, we change trains and board the 17:25 for Killarney. On arrival in Killarney at 18:15 you will be met at the entrance/exit to the station's booking hall by our Killarney representative. Ensure you have your yellow travel pack visible to help identify you. Please wait until the representative arrives and please do not attempt to make your own way to your accommodation. The rest of the evening is free and there is a large selection of cafés, restaurants and bars in Killarney town.

Please note that all customers arriving in Killarney are met by Railtours Ireland representatives, provided by our handling agents, Deros Tours Ltd. Tel: 087 6166 778.

For clients staying at B&B’s When checking into your bed & breakfast, if there are any shortcomings, please bring such matters to the attention of the proprietor immediately, or as soon as possible. Every effort will be made to rectify matters –such issues cannot be rectified at a later date.

For clients staying at Bed & Breakfast accommodation: 2

DH36 : Cork & Blarney Castle, Ring of Kerry and Cliffs of Moher

You are booked and confirmed at your B&B accommodation for two nights –you will be collected from the railway station upon arrival at 18:30 and escorted to your B&B –the exact details of which will be advised upon your arrival.

Your accommodation details are as follows:

[ ] Single Room [ ] Twin Room (with separate beds) [ ] Double Room (with one double bed) [ ] Triple Room (usually one double bed and one single bed) [ ] Family Room (one double bed and two single beds)

Day 2: Ring of Kerry You will be collected from your accommodation at 09:45 for your Ring of Kerry tour. If you are staying at the International hotel in Killarney, please meet at the Deros Tours Office, 22 Main Street, Killarney (just around the corner of the International Hotel) at 10.15am for a 10.30am departure of your tour. There are plenty of stops along the Ring of Kerry for morning tea, lunch and photo stops etc. Ireland’s highest mountains are located in Kerry, and Carrantuohill –which can be seen en route –is the highest, standing at 1041 metres. An essential part of any visit to Ireland, this tour circles the magnificent MacGillycuddy Reeks and runs through its many passes and valleys along the shores of Dingle Bay and Kenmare Bay. The unspoilt nature of the Ring of Kerry provides many photo opportunities, as it passes through the many picturesque villages such as Glenbeigh, Waterville and Sneem. We return via Ladies View, the famous Lakes of Killarney and through the Oakwoods of Killarney's magnificent National Park. At the end of the tour you will be returned to your accommodation where, again, the evening is free.

Day 3: Cliffs of Moher Between 07.00 and 07.15 you will be collected from your accommodation and transfer by road to Limerick City, where you will join the coach for the Cliffs of Moher & Galway Bay tour. We arrive in Limerick shortly after 9am, where we will join our Railtours Ireland tour coach. Limerick has a population of about 90,000 and its city charter was granted by 1197AD, making it older than London!

As we cross the river Shannon –Ireland’s longest river –there are views of King John’s Castle to the right. The castle was completed in c1200 and marks the origins of the city. Limerick’s most famous author, Frank Mc Court, grew up here and was the setting for his book, ‘Angela’s Ashes’. Limerick is also the birthplace of celebrated BBC radio DJ, Terry Wogan and home of 1990’s pop senstation, The Cranberries. We will pass the GAA grounds of Páirc na nGael –the home ground of County

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DH36 : Cork & Blarney Castle, Ring of Kerry and Cliffs of Moher

Limerick’s Hurling and Gaelic Football teams. Limerick is also the home of Irish Rubgy and the grounds –Thomond Park –is located nearby.

After a brief city tour we head out to Bunratty Castle and admission is included. The castle was completed in 1425 and, after many years of neglect, has been restored to its former glory. There is also a folk park here and many of the buildings –including the village –were dismantled at various locations in the region and rebuilt brick by brick at their present location. Even the 18th century church was relocated to its present position using this method!

There is a lunch stop at O’ Connor’s Pub in Doolin before arriving at the majestic Cliffs of Moher –among the highest sea cliffs in Western Europe. There is plenty of time to visit Ireland’s second most popular tourist attraction and your host will advise you of the departure time. From here we take the coast road for much of the way to Galway, with time for photos along The Burren. This is a national park and the word Burren comes from the –it means ‘rocky place’.

It is a unique lunar landscape of limestone which was described in 1649 by one of Oliver Cromwell’s men as: “No tree to hang a man, no water deep enough to drown him and no soil deep enough to bury him”. Today the Burren is noted for its diverse Flora with few parallels elsewhere in Ireland or indeed, Europe. As time permits, we will make a short stop here for photographs. We continue along the coast road to Black Head, passing the quaint coastal villages of Ballyvaughan and Kinvara before joining the main road to Galway, where will arrive shortly after 17:00 –ask you host if there is time to explore the streets around Eyre Square.

Upon arriving at Galway Station please present your Railtours Ireland ticket and travel pack at the ticket barrier and you will be directed to your reserved seats on the train, where your host will be waiting for you.

Departure by train from Galway will be at 19:20 and arrival in Dublin Heuston is at 21:45 approx.

There is a snack service on this train, serving tea, coffee and a selection of alcoholic beverages available. Your host will be able to advise you of the location of the snack car. If you enjoyed the tour and would you like to book our half-day Wicklow tour, your host will be happy to make all the necessary arrangements. Please inform him or her before the train departs from Galway.

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