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All aboard! The Wexford Festival Opera Train returns after almost 20 years for the 75th anniversary festival. Presented in partnership with Railtours Ireland for one very special journey on Thursday, 22 October.

Audiences will once again be able to travel from Dublin to Wexford on the Opera Train, enjoying dinner on board before an evening at the opera and returning to Dublin after the final curtain.

The black-tie experience begins at Dublin's Connolly Station with a champagne toast. Once aboard, guests will enjoy a four-course dinner as the train travels south along Ireland’s spectacular east coast towards Wexford for a performance of Sergei Prokofiev's The Gambler.

Opera Train Experience | Thursday 22 October

  • Welcome: Champagne reception on the platform at Dublin's Connolly Station
  • 15:30: Depart Connolly Station on the Emerald Pullman Heritage train
  • Dining onboard: Four-course dinner with wine
  • 18:00: Arrival at Wexford O’Hanrahan Station with private coach transfer to the National Opera House
  • 19:30: Opera performance: Sergei Prokofiev's The Gambler
  • 22:30: Performance ends. Coach transfer to Wexford train station
  • 23:00: Opera Train departs Wexford
  • Supper onboard: Soup and sandwiches
  • 01:10: Arrival at Dublin's Connolly Station
  • Onboard bar: Full cash bar available throughout the journey

Tickets: €479 per person. A limited number of places are available. Early booking is advised.

For generations of Festival-goers, the journey to Wexford was part of the magic. The legendary Opera Train brought audiences from Dublin dressed to the nines, with dinner served en route to Wexford and supper on the return journey after the performance. Now you too can enjoy this magical experience.

In a wonderful coincidence, The Gambler was last performed at Wexford Festival Opera in 1973. RTÉ archive footage from that year captures the spirit of the tradition: passengers dining together as the train makes its way to Wexford for the Festival. Watch here.

For any queries relating to any aspect of the Opera Train, please contact operatrain@wexfordopera.com.

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