Explore Ireland on New Emerald Isle Pass

If Ireland is your destination, look into the Emerald Isle Card, a new bus and rail pass good in both Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The pass, introduced by New York City-based CIE Tours, offers unlimited travel on all scheduled rail services of Irish Rail and Northern Ireland Railways. In addition, you can use all regularly scheduled long-distance buses and city bus services in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford in Ireland, as well as Belfast, capital of Northern Ireland.

The passes are flexible, allowing users to choose a number of travel days within a larger time frame. For example, an eight-day pass lets you select any eight days out of a 15-day period. This pass costs $142. A 15-day pass, priced at $240, permits visitors to pick 15 travel days out of a 30-day period.

The passes can be bought in the United States or Ireland, but buyers have to indicate their starting date at the time of purchase.

A combined rail and bus pass offering unlimited travel for 8 out of 15 days is available for $110; for 15 out of 30 days it’s $156.

For train travel only, a pass good for 8 out of 15 days costs $78; 15 out of 30 days is $115. The bus-only pass is good for city-to-city, not intracity, service at the same rates.

Contact CIE Tours at (800) 243-7687.

The city of Dublin has introduced a new Dublin Heritage Trail sightseeing program. The special bus makes stops at or near major attractions in the Irish capital, including Trinity College, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Parnell Square/Garden of Remembrance, St. Stephen’s Green, Royal Irish Academy Library, Mansion House, Merrion Square, National Gallery of Ireland, Christ Church Cathedral and Tailor’s Hall.

Hourly departures allow for flexible itineraries. The program runs daily until Sept. 30.

Prices: about $7 for an adult, about $4.50 for children under 16. Tickets have to be purchased in Dublin.

More information is available from the Irish Tourist Board, 757 3rd Ave., 19th Floor, New York 10017, (800) 223-6470.