Emerald Pullman Private Rail Tour

Recently, I went to Ireland with my mom and sister. This was an exciting first time visit for all of us. My sister researched sightseeing tours and came across Railtours Ireland First Class. We booked the September departure! What a fantastic journey across Ireland in a private heritage train. The hosts were wonderful and shared many stories as we rolled along the rails. An open bar, many snacks and live music maintained a festive atmosphere! Gorgeous accommodations along the way. Truly a family trip I will cherish forever ♥️

My husband and I had a wonderful time on our trip through Ireland and Northern Ireland. The guides David, Jim, and Mervyn were fantastic. The train was comfortable and the scenery was fabulous. The staff on the train were very personable and we enjoyed talking with them. Killarney and Clifden are wonderful towns and we really enjoyed the hotels there. Our favorite activity was watching the sheep herding by the shepherd and his dog. We saw so many rainbows; yet, the rain was nearly always when we were inside a bus or train, so all the outdoor activities were great. Just know that the climb up Blarney Castle is not easy, so make sure you really want to do that activity.

We had the Ireland/Northern Ireland trip of a lifetime. Itinerary was perfect and the staff were well organized, fantastic hosts. On-board service was supplemented by volunteers of the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland - what a treat. Everything was first class...highly recommended.

This was so much more than a tour of Ireland. Travelling on the Emerald Pullman was a treat in itself, admiring the beautiful countryside, whilst enjoying afternoon tea, served by the wonderful railway volunteers or getting to know fellow passengers over a drink. Travel around the more inaccessible places was by luxury coach, which also transported all our luggage. Accommodation and food in all 3 hotels were excellent, and, as our host at Abbey Glen had already spent time with us on the train, our stay there felt like a house party with friends. The included visits to places such as Waterford Crystal, Blarney Castle and The Giants Causeway, as well as small villages and larger cities introduces you to the varied history and culture of Ireland. Surprises such as the sheep dog demonstration, Celtic Steps show and stop at Maam Cross, also added much to the fun! It was a busy week but there are opportunities to take time out or do your own thing and the relaxed but seemless organisation meant it didn’t feel regimented. We saw so much of Ireland but it was the Railtours team, volunteers and fellow passengers, who make this a unique and memorable experience.

We loved the pullman train as well as staff and volunteers. The tour of Ireland and Northern Ireland was magical. David and Mervyn were excellent tour guides with loads of stories. The trip included lots of excursions to historical sites during the week. The Great Southern Hotel, AbbeyGlen Castle, and Europa Hotels were a nice mixture of historic and modern hotels. Brian was a gracious host at Glenabbey and arranged a car to Connemara Golf Course for our round of golf. If you have a week to spare and want to tour the island, I highly recommend Emerald Pullman Private Rail Tour from Dublin.