Bunratty Castle, Medieval Banquet and the Cliffs of Moher
Departs from Dublin Heuston Station
Apr-May/Oct: Tue Jun-Sep: Tues, Wed & Fri
Travel West By Train
Experience one of Ireland’s most famous cultural and historical nights – The World Famous Medieval Banquet in the Great Hall of Bunratty Castle overnighting in quality hotel accommodation in Bunratty Village and enjoying a tour to the Cliffs of Moher and Galway Bay – the next day. Time to explore Galway City on Day 1.
DEPARTS FROM DUBLIN Heuston Station at 11:25 am on Day 1
RETURNS TO DUBLIN Heuston Station at 9:45 pm on Day 2
Itinerary
Day
1
Dublin to Galway
Depart 11:25
Check in for 11:25 departure from Dublin Heuston, opened in 1844 as the headquarters of the Great Southern & Western Railway and is now the official principal station of Iarnród Éireann, Ireland’s national railway company. As your train departs, we travel in a south westerly direction, through Dublin's western suburbs and then through the lush fertile countryside of Co. Kildare. Our journey takes us through the Curragh which is famous for its racecourse, home of the Irish Derby, and there are many stud farms in the vicinity. Your route takes you into the midlands and the Bog of Allen, vast tracts of peat-land. Before then we pass through the County Town of Tullamore and then to Clara across the gentle farmlands of north Offaly. The train crosses the Shannon marks the historic border between the province of Leinster and Connacht –the historic province of the West of Ireland. You are now heading due west, surrounded by peat bog on both sides of the line. On the last few kilometres before Galway, you will get your first glimpse of Galway Bay.
13:40 Arrive Galway City - Free time to Explore Galway City. Galway City is one of the fastest growing cities in Europe. It began as a small fishing village centred around the estuary of the River Corrib, a river traditionally called Abhainn na Gaillimhe (The Galway River) after Galvia, a mythological princess said to have drowned in its waters. There is vibrancy to this friendly University City, which many delight in, and few forget. Music, festivals, horse racing, pubs, restaurants, shops, theatres and most of all Galway people, combine to create an atmosphere you'll want to return to again and again.
18.00 Depart Galway City for Bunratty Village for check in into your hotel.
20.45 Medieval Banquet at Bunratty, Irish Mead reception in Bunratty Castle before medieval banquet and legendary Irish entertainment. Afterwards perhaps enjoy a nightcap in Durty Nellys famous traditional pub beside the castle.
Overnight Stay: Bunratty Castle Hotel
Day
2
Bunratty Castle & Cliffs of Moher
Enjoy your breakfast at leisure
10.00 – meet Railtours Ireland host for tour of Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. After the visit to Bunratty Castle and Folk park we make our way to Co. Clare. There is a lunch stop at O’ Connor’s Pub in Doolin before arriving at the Cliffs of Moher, among the highest sea cliffs in 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 Irish Language, 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. 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. Some free time in Galway to explore the streets around Eyre Square or grab a bite to eat.
19:15 Depart from Galway by train and return to Dublin by a different route, via Athenry, Tullamore and Athlone, where we cross the mighty river Shannon once more.
21:45 Arrive Dublin Heuston Station
Availability
| Room Type | Single | Double | Triple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 24-May 31 | $889.00$889.00 | $689.00$689.00 | $689.00$689.00 |
| Jun 1-Sep 30 | $889.00$889.00 | $689.00$689.00 | $689.00$689.00 |
| Oct 1-Oct 31 | $889.00$889.00 | $689.00$689.00 | $689.00$689.00 |
Prices are per person in Canadian Dollars.
Exclusions: Lunch, dinner and refreshments.
Tour Inclusions
- Return rail travel
- Reserved seats on the train
- Railtours Ireland Host throughout
- Visitor attraction admissions
- Escorted coach
- 1 night Bunratty Castle Hotel
- Full Irish breakfast in Bunratty
- Medieval Banquet at Bunratty Castle
