Waterford Crystal, Carriage and Congreve
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Waterford City, Waterford ©Courtesy Celtic Routes
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Jack Burtchaell's walking tour of Waterford
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Jack Burtchaell's famous Walking tour of Waterford
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Crystal Telephone, Waterford Crystal
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Waterford Crystal, Ireland
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Carriage of Waterford & Suir Valley Railway
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Views from Suir Valley Railway
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Waterford Suir Valley Railway - At Mount Congreve Gardens Platform
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Mount Congreve Gardens, Waterford, Ireland
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Treacys Hotel, Waterford, Ireland - Bedroom
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Exterior Treacys Waterford, Ireland
Visit Ireland’s oldest city and base yourself at a Greatdays’ favourite hotel where there are visits to Waterford Crystal, Mount Congreve Gardens. Enjoy the views of the River Suir as we look on from our partially open carriage on the Waterford & Suir Valley Railway. Enjoy a visit to Kilkenny Castle and the Ros Tapestry exhibition within the castle.
Dates
4 May 2026
Suggested itinerary by coach
Day 1
Depart the UK
Travel to Ireland by coach and ferry or fly from your local airport.
Ferry options:
Holyhead – Dublin with a 2 hour transfer to Waterford
Fishguard/Pembroke – Rosslare with a one hour transfer to Waterford – on request
Flight options:
Fly from your local airport to Dublin – on request
Day 2
Waterford City and Waterford Crystal
This morning we enjoy a guided walking tour of Waterford, the oldest city in Ireland. Jack Burtchaell has been exploring the streets of Waterford for decades, each time with varied fascinating stories and anecdotes.
After our familiarisation tour, we visit the world-famous House of Waterford Crystal for a guided factory tour. Feel the heat of the furnace and marvel at the skills of the craftsmen with an up close insight into the centuries old tradition of Waterford Crystal making. Your guide will meander around the factory with you as you watch the four stages of the crystal making. You will conclude your tour in the showroom, where 100s of designs are on sale for you to peruse.
Day 3
Waterford Suir Valley Railway and Mount Congreve*
Something a little different today as we take a ride on the delightful Waterford & Suir Valley Railway along the picturesque banks of the River Suir. All aboard our partially open air carriage from Bilberry in Waterford town. The journey to Mount Congreve takes about half an hour, where we will enjoy the scenic views along the River Suir and the whimsical Magic Wood. As we alight at Mount Congreve, we are welcomed by seventy acres of intensively planted woodland garden and a four acre walled garden. The entire collection consists of over three thousand different trees and shrubs, more than two thousand Rhododendrons, six hundred Camellias, three hundred Acer cultivars, six hundred conifers, two hundred & fifty climbers and fifteen hundred herbaceous plants.
*The gardens will be closed in October.
Day 4
Kilkenny Castle and Ros Tapestry
Today we visit Kilkenny Castle, where we have castle admission and annotated castle tour. The tour begins at the entrance gateway to the courtyard. The guide book follows the tour room by room, providing additional insights to the architecture, decoration, furnishings and paintings of the castle. It also covers intriguing medieval spaces and features beneath the ground floor of the present building. Our group will also have access to a tapestry exhibition within Kilkenny Castle.
Visit by a guided tour only from November 1st to January 31st. This may be subject to change. Groups of 10 people and more must be pre-booked.
Day 5
After breakfast, we travel home.
Featured hotel
Treacy’s Hotel Waterford ***
Treacy’s Hotel, Spa and Leisure Centre is set in the picturesque city of Waterford, ideally located just five minutes’ walk from St Patrick’s cathedral, the Garter Lane Theatre and the Waterford shopping district. This 163 bedroom hotel offers home comfort with all of the hotel essentials. Each room comes with a bath and shower, tea/coffee maker, TV, iron, hairdryer and 24 hour wifi. The hotel also benefits from lift access, disabled rooms and complimentary access to the fully equipped Spirit Leisure Centre, including a 20m swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and drench shower. Whilst here you’ll dine in the Restaurant, where you can enjoy a wide variety of dishes, all created using the finest, freshest, Irish ingredients in a warm & friendly atmosphere.
| Dates | 4 nights/5 days | |
| 4 May 2026 | £375 per person
£99.00 single supplement |
Treacy’s Hotel Waterford |
| Other dates on request |
- 4 May 2026 Price includes return ferry from Holyhead to Dublin, Dublin to Holyhead. 4 nights at the hotel on a Dinner Bed and Breakfast basis.
