Legends & Loughs Aboard the Grand Hibernian

The gleaming carriages of Belmond Grand Hibernian await, step on board and join the Train Manager in the Observation Car for a welcome champagne toast. A traditional Irish afternoon tea is served as the train journeys south towards Cork. Settle into your cosy en suite cabin and glimpse the lush countryside passing by.

Disembark in Cork for a short walking tour of nearby Cobh with a renowned local historian. The seaport of Cobh was the departure point for 2.5 million of the 6 million Irish who emigrated to North America between 1848 and 1950. Your tour ends at Cobh Heritage Centre which houses an impressive exhibition of the history and legacy of the town which is also famed for being the Titanic’s final port of call on 11th April 1912.

Re-join Belmond Grand Hibernian in Cork and enjoy your first dinner in the elegant dining cars, Wexford and Sligo, as the train makes its way north to Charleville. Afterwards, join your fellow travellers in the Observation Car for coffee and liqueurs.

Enjoy a leisurely a-la-carte Irish breakfast as you travel south towards Cork where you are offered a choice of morning activities.

Join your Host for a historical walking tour of this vibrant riverside city in the company of an entertaining local guide. Stroll through the lanes, see the major landmarks and visit the bustling English Market where you have an opportunity to taste some of Cork’s famous local delicacies.

Alternatively,  learn about the complex process of Irish whiskey-making at the world-famous Jameson Distillery in Midleton, accompanied by a Craft Ambassador. Look inside the Master Distiller’s Cottage, enjoy a demonstration of cask-making in the cooperage and sample a rare Midleton.

Return to the train for lunch on the move en route to Killarney, set on the shores of Lough Leane in County Kerry. Alight for an entertaining trip in a traditional jaunting car as your driver, locally known as a ‘jarvey’ escorts you on a gentle trot through Killarney National Park to the beautiful lake by the 15^th-century Ross Castle. Board the Lily of Killarney boat for a scenic voyage and learn about some of the many colourful legends of the lough.

Back on dry land, either return to the train to relax or spend a little time exploring Killarney with its cobbled lanes, quaint shops and plentiful pubs. Pre-dinner drinks and canapés are served before dinner. Round off the evening in convivial style listening to after-dinner entertainment in the Observation Car.

Today begins with mouthwatering pastries, tea and coffee, served in the Observation Car as the train travels north. Sit back and enjoy the ever-changing scenery as you spend a relaxing morning on board.

A leisurely brunch is served before the train arrives along the west coast to Galway, one of Ireland’s most engaging cities, where the River Corrib meets the Atlantic Ocean. Here, choose from three ways to spend your afternoon.

For a glimpse into rural Irish life, drive into the rolling hills behind Galway to a local sheep farm to watch a sheepdog demonstration as the farmer relates stories of life in the country. Enjoy a delicious home-made cream tea in the thatched farmhouse. Continue to the picturesque 16^th-century Dunguaire Castle on the shores of Galway Bay and return to Galway in time for a look around the town.

Or for nature lovers, visit the awe-inspiring Cliffs of Moher, which soar 700ft above the Atlantic Ocean. From one of many vantage points you might glimpse the Aran Islands and Twelve Bens Mountains on a clear day. Don’t miss the grass-roofed Visitor Centre where you can discover more about the geology and wildlife of this beautiful rugged area.

Alternatively for those wishing to spend the whole afternoon in Galway, join a knowledgeable local guide for an introductory walking tour of this ‘City of Tribes’, so-called as for centuries it was run by 14 merchant families. Afterwards, explore at your leisure Galway’s vibrant Latin Quarter, 18th-century Eyre Square and wealth of boutiques, art galleries and traditional pubs which are frequently alive with music and dance.

Re-join the train in time for pre-dinner drinks and canapés as the train makes its way towards Athlone on the River Shannon in the heart of Ireland. After dinner, you are invited to the Observation Car for the evening’s entertainment.

This morning the train travels north-west to Westport on the coast of County Mayo where a full day’s activities await. Your first stop is the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life. Set in the magnificent grounds of Turlough Park House, the museum gives you an insight into rural Irish lifestyles between 1850 and 1950, with eye-catching displays relating to agriculture, fishing, crafts, customs and clothing.

A hearty lunch is served in a local tavern before your visit to Westport House, one of the country’s best-loved stately homes with rich interiors dating back over 350 years. The house was built on the foundations of one of the many castles which belonged to Grace O’Malley, the Pirate Queen of Connacht who ruled the land and seas around the estate. Grace’s dungeons can still be seen today in the basement area of the house. The vast expanse of Clew Bay, the Atlantic Ocean and Ireland’s holy mountain, Croagh Patrick, in the distance provide an idyllic backdrop. Walk in the leafy gardens and woodland trails and perhaps witness a hawk-flying display.

There is time to explore Westport’s bustling Georgian town centre with its pretty river, tree-lined promenade and independent boutiques before re-joining the train in time for pre-dinner cocktails and canapés as you travel east towards Roscommon. Retire to the Observation Car after dinner for a nightcap and entertainment.

Breakfast is served as the train courses along its final leg to Dublin Heuston Station, your journey's end. We wish you a fond farewell and look forward to seeing you again soon. 

Return to Dublin Heuston Station at 08:50