Cork and Blarney Castle Rail Tour from Dublin
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From $133.48
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12 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
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Overview
Take a Dublin rail tour to Blarney Castle, the medieval stronghold of southern Ireland. On this historical and cultural day trip, you’ll course through Ireland by train and coach, enjoying views of the lush countryside on your way to tour the castle grounds and plant a kiss on the Blarney Stone. Then take a city tour of Cork and visit the Queenstown Story Heritage Center in Cobh, Ireland’s largest emigration port.
- Full-day train and coach trip from Dublin to Cork, Blarney Castle and Cobh
- Travel through Ireland's scenic countryside
- Kiss the famous Blarney Stone
- Free time to shop and have lunch in Blarney village
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Leave bright and early from Dublin Heuston Station on a morning train to Cork to begin your day trip. Have a leisurely breakfast on board as you traverse picturesque southern Ireland (all food and drinks are at your own expense), and then disembark in Cork and head straight to Blarney Castle, just a short coach jaunt from the city.
Tour the grounds and look for marked attractions such as rock formations fancifully named ‘Witch’s Kitchen’ and a ‘Poison Garden,’ housing a collection of poisonous plants. Then explore the castle ruins and learn a bit about the site’s beguiling and chaptered history. Climb to the top to visit the ‘Stone of Eloquence,’ known by many as the Blarney Stone; if you — like many others — wish to acquire the gift of eloquence, take your turn giving the stone a kiss.
Next, take your newly refined speaking ability and head into the village of Blarney. Explore the colorful architecture, do a little shopping and enjoy lunch before heading back to Cork for a city tour.
Your historical excursion concludes with a visit to Cobh and the Queenstown Story Heritage Center. Explore the beautifully restored Victorian railway station that was the largest embarkation point for emigration in Irish history, and hear the harrowing and hopeful story of Annie, the first Irish emigrant to reach Ellis Island, as well as others like her. Then board the train for a relaxing return journey to Dublin, where your day trip ends at the station.
Tour the grounds and look for marked attractions such as rock formations fancifully named ‘Witch’s Kitchen’ and a ‘Poison Garden,’ housing a collection of poisonous plants. Then explore the castle ruins and learn a bit about the site’s beguiling and chaptered history. Climb to the top to visit the ‘Stone of Eloquence,’ known by many as the Blarney Stone; if you — like many others — wish to acquire the gift of eloquence, take your turn giving the stone a kiss.
Next, take your newly refined speaking ability and head into the village of Blarney. Explore the colorful architecture, do a little shopping and enjoy lunch before heading back to Cork for a city tour.
Your historical excursion concludes with a visit to Cobh and the Queenstown Story Heritage Center. Explore the beautifully restored Victorian railway station that was the largest embarkation point for emigration in Irish history, and hear the harrowing and hopeful story of Annie, the first Irish emigrant to reach Ellis Island, as well as others like her. Then board the train for a relaxing return journey to Dublin, where your day trip ends at the station.
Itinerary
On arrival in Cork at 09:35, we transfer to our Railtours Ireland tour coach through Cork City to Blarney Village and historic Blarney Castle – which is over 600 years old.
Explore the beautiful gardens and take the time to kiss the famous stone, which is said to bestow the gift of eternal eloquence on those lucky enough to do so. There is also time for shopping and lunch at Blarney Village.
TIP! We recommend that you have lunch there, as this will be the only opportunity during the day to have a substantial meal.
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.
Duration: 3 hours
Admission Ticket Included
On arrival at Cóbh (pronounced: Cove), we will visit St Colman’s Cathedral. We will then proceed down along the sea front passing the former White Star Line offices en route to the beautifully restored Victorian railway station/transatlantic terminal. This is now the Cóbh Heritage Centre, home to the Queenstown Story to which your entrance is included.
Duration: 10 minutes
Admission Ticket Free
When Queen Victoria visited Ireland in 1849 she came to Cóbh and the town was renamed Queenstown in her honour – it was renamed Cóbh after Irish independence in 1922.
Cóbh was, of course, the final port of call of the RMS Titanic and this theme is well expounded. The centre also houses much information about the Great Famine and subsequent Irish Emigration – 3 million Irish people emigrated from Cóbh (principally to the United States).
The Lusitania was torpedoed off the coast of Cork – marking the United States’ entry to the First World War – and the small number of survivors were brought to Cóbh for refuge.
Cóbh is also the headquarters of the Irish Navy and you will most likely see some navy ships.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Admission Ticket Included
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Traveler Tips
- "The train leaves at 7am, so be there st 6:45am at the Lao." See review
- "For what you see, the tour is fairly high priced." See review
- "Needed more time at Blarney and the rest of the trip was superfluous seemed like killing time." See review
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