Adventure and Leadership Program: Semester Length, Fall and Spring Cohorts

If you are looking for a program that is outdoors adventure, than this is your place to go. throughout this program I have meet so many people that are going to be life long friends, I have made some amazing memories that I will cherish forever . it is the perfect amount of traveling around Ireland and staying put in the small town. and the leaders/ staff are very personable and easy to talk to. Most of the time it feel like I'm talking to a friend instead of someone "in charge" or "Higher up". the outdoor activity's are equally challenging and breath taking. Irish gap year has help me become more confident with myself because of the leadership workshops we do I've also become a stronger. peer leader I 100% recommend doing Irish gap year!

For those who love hiking and getting a bit out of your comfort zone this program is meant for you. I personally have never been the most outdoorsy person but this program pushed me and I learned to appreciate the experience and ended up having a lot of fun. The program is based in bundoran which is a great little town right on the water and the community is very tight knit and is easy to get involved with. There is plenty to do around the town on the off days you are given to go explore (every Sunday) in addition the Bundrowes house is in a beautiful location about a 20 minute walk from the town. The staff/leaders of the program are very easy going and supportive and the house cook Rita always makes amazing home cooked meals. I would recommend this program

This fall I had the amazing opportunity to spend a semester in Ireland, with Irish gap year. I was a little nervous to leave home and live in a different country for three months, but Ireland soon became my new home and everyone in the program became my second family. All of the leaders are so passionate and enthusiastic about every activity, and make all of the activities so much fun. They are definitely some of the kindest people I have met.
The program has a variety of activities ranging from hiking to surfing and volunteering with local community groups. My favorite activity was definitely surfing, the feeling when you ride your first wave is so incredible. I am so incredible blessed to have spent this semester in Ireland, and I can’t wait to come back and visit some day!

I can truly say that Irish Gap Year’s adventure and leadership program pushed me to be a better person. I got to experience the natural beauty of Ireland through activities such as surfing, hiking, kayaking, cliff jumping and more. I was surrounded by people that constantly inspire me and leaders that pushed me out of my comfort zone in order to experience new things. If you go on the adventure and leadership program, you will be rich with experiences that are unique to this program and make lifelong friendships. The most rewarding part of the program for me was volunteering with an organization called Liquid Therapy. Basically, we were paired with kids with additional needs and took them surfing. It was so rewarding interacting with these kids and seeing how happy they would get from surfing and playing outside. Overall, I cannot recommend this program enough!

I took part in the adventure and leadership program during the fall of 2019. Initially I came on this program with the idea that I wanted to do something outside of education and just explore something new, and this program was perfect for that. What followed were three months filled with lots of surfing, hiking, traveling, and getting to know the Irish culture, not to mention the rainy weather. You’re kept on a structured weekly schedule but you’re given plenty of free time and independence to explore for yourself and interact with the locals which provides a well rounded experience. For anyone that is on the edge about what program to take if you’re embarking on a gap year, I would highly recommend this program for anyone who likes the outdoors and is interested in Ireland.

I did this program over the 2019 fall semester and it was a life changing experience that has taught me valuable lessons that will carry throughout my entire life. It helped me grow on my own and become very independent before I go on to college, and that’s why I think this program was so helpful. Some of the most important things I learned were key values to becoming a better leader. Working with other people that you don’t know was a vital skill I picked up that will help me in my future career path. The leaders are some of the best people I’ve ever met. They helped us through tough times or motivated us. I can’t recommend this program enough for anyone. There was a wide array of different people that were on this trip and they all got what they put in.

My experience in Irish Gap Year was unique, when most people would be going into town or spending the days we had off relaxing I would be off helping a local farmer and his son do work around their property. The main thing I did with them was go to markets to help them sell their livestock. Through this I was given a good view of Irish culture and history from a farmers stand point. I enjoyed learning about myself through the problem solving I would need to do to accomplish my goals to be successful in this program. We would go to many different parts of Ireland such as Galway and Belfast. The program leaders were named Sarah and Joe both did an excellent job at guiding and providing opportunity to grow. The house cook Rita was one of the best cooks I have ever met she was always making something good in the kitchen.

I went into this experience looking forward to being able to spend time outdoors and meet new people. I was late on getting on to the program, and felt very happy to be able to get a spot. After spending three months here in Bundoran, I really feel lucky because I never expected myself to enjoy my time so much here. Being able to go hike, surf, and explore Ireland’s beautiful country made me appreciate how much it means to be spending time away from school. As I spent my three months in Ireland, I got to watch all of my friends back home tell me how lucky I am to not be in college. I really do feel lucky in the sense that I was able to take time for myself and learn more about what kind of person I am and who I want to be in this life. It has helped me better shape my understanding as to what I might want to do in the future and understand what social experiences I want going forward.