Irish Gap Year

Why choose Irish Gap Year?

Irish Gap Year operates semester length and short gap year programs in Ireland, Scandinavia and Europe.

Being based on the northwest coast of Ireland in County Donegal has instilled in us a love of adventure, untouched nature, unique culture, rich artistic heritage and travel - All of which are foundational to our gap year programs. Our programs are highly immersive and designed to help your explore yourself and Europe in a fun, safe and supportive environment with your peers.

* 2021's ' #1 Top Gap Year Program Provider on Go Overseas' as voted by students.
* Europe's only Gap Year Association accredited program provider.
* Award winning programs in amazing European destinations.
* A student-centered company run by authentic adventures, artists and seasoned travelers.
* Experienced and retained team of professional program leaders.
* The perfect balance of student support and freedom to learn to live independently.
* Excellent safety record.

Website

irishgapyear.com

Founded

2015

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Diversity & Inclusion 💙

BIPOC Support

We welcome students from all walks of life and backrounds and have hosted many BIPOC students on our programs.

LGBTQIA+ Support

We welcome students from all walks of life and backrounds and have hosted many LGBTQIA+ students over the years. Ireland and Europe in general are quite progressive with regards to LGBTQIA+ policy, lifestyle and support. Irish Gap Year provides support to our LGBTQIA+ students to help them feel secure and safe during their time with us.

Impact 🌎

Sustainability

Irish Gap Year is a Carbon Negative Company, meaning we remove more C02 from the amosphere through our ecological volunteering than we create as an organization (including student flights to Europe).

Irish Gap Year Director, Ryan Allen is the Chair of the Gap Year Association's Sustainability Commitee and created the Association's Climate Action Plan in 2023.

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Reviews

Having been looking for an outdoorsy, social experience, this program met my expectations and more. Each week was filled with activities such as surfing, hiking, bushcraft, and exploring various towns and cities, with each being very enjoyable. There was something for everyone. that said, the best part for me was the tight-knit group. Being in such close quarters creates a strong social connection between everyone through exciting activities. As someone who didn’t quite feel prepared for college. I feel like Irish Gap Year gave me a social experience comparable to it but with far more exciting days and a beautiful backdrop in Bundoran. amazing experience would highly recommend it.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

Don’t waste a moment. If you have the option to get out of your room and spend time with people, take it. and if you don’t, make it. participate in as many activities as possible, because you don’t know what you might enjoy.

Pros

Tightly knit group
Exciting hikes and activities
Fun weekends and nights

Cons

Maybe a bit too much free time in the evenings
I wish there was more strenuous and rewarding hikes/activities
Some of the food was a bit mediocre

This was an interesting program, and overall I enjoyed my time here. Some mental health things made it a little hard to enjoy it sometimes. Overall the program directors were good at addressing that, and kept us safe. There were a few times they made decisions that I felt were unwise or perhaps not thought out completely, and while concerning those decisions never actually put anyone in danger. The art was amazing, and I feel like I grew a lot as a person and as an artist. Living on my own in a house full of people was really usefull as a way to grow, and I hope to take what I have learned in this program onwards in my life.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?

The most surprising thing i saw was the stunning Cliffs by the ocean. I rarely see the ocean back home, and though I am surrounded by mountains I have never seen such beautifull Cliffs.

Pros

Learned a lot about myself, and grew
Explored art that I wouldn't normally get to experience

Cons

Stress, especially in regards to expo prep
House dynamics can be difficult

I’ve really loved this program, and felt that it was a really good fit for me as a person. We had a lot of options, and I got to learn and expand my knowledge on art forms I hadn’t had experience in previously. Charcoal comes to mind as an art form I have had no previous experience in, as does oil paint. I loved the instructors; they were all welcoming and very good at what they do, and I will miss them when I leave. The found art instructor, Ken, helped me see art in a brand new light, and I am very grateful for that. Instructors taught me how to be more carefree with my work and made the process less stressful once my personal anxieties about being perfect were removed.

What was your funniest moment?

This is not one moment in particular, but instead a collection of moments. I have what I call a quote book, which is an online document where I write down funny things I overhear other people say. It’s been going for the entire program, and I strongly recommend others to start one.

Pros

Almost everyone, in the program and out, was very welcoming.
The absolutely stunning skies
Exploring and finding souvenirs

Cons

Lack of spice in food
In physical pain a lot of the time
Stores being a decent walk away, coupled with the pain (I’m a city dweller)

I think this was a lot of fun and I’m really glad I did this. I wish I did more art and I also wish I went on more trips. I also wish I went on more walks on trails because it is such a beautiful country and I want to see more of it. It’s a really peaceful town and I enjoyed that. I’m glad I came here. This program isn’t for everyone but I really enjoyed it and am glad I did this. I think being in a smaller group would have been better but it was already a pretty small group. I loved marking so much art and trying new mediums that I wouldn’t have otherwise.

What would you improve about this program?

I would get better beds and go on more walks in nature.

Pros

I made friends
They fed me
We we’re a group

Cons

Some people were hard to get along with
The food was repetitive
The beds

I came to this program because my high experience had completely stripped me of my love of learning and I wanted something new to try and reanimate myself. This program did just that. If my morning views of the mountains and the cliffs with crashing waves and cows outside my kitchen window weren’t enough, the hospitality of the people in Bundoran and the program leaders along with the exceptional teaching from the art tutors made this an entirely unique and deeply meaningful experience. It’s going to be hard to leave and harder not to come back to Bundoran forever.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

Do everything! Jump in the freezing cold water, explore the cliffs and the caves and the mountains, make art in ways you never thought you could. Keep an open mind to new experiences but make sure you take time to yourself when you need as well.

Pros

Beautiful landscape
Incredible art tutors
Lovely people

Cons

Whack houses
Dodgy housemate dynamics

4.80 •10 reviews

Irish Gap Year’s Dublin Gateway Internship Programme is an...

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I knew I wanted to spend part of my gap year abroad, preferably in an English speaking country. After doing some research, I found Irish Gap Year. Irish Gap Year was very well organized and helpful throughout the entire process, answering every question I had and providing me with all the information necessary regarding my living situation and internship.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

Irish Gap Year arranged me with an excellent host family and a great internship position. In addition, they were extremely helpful throughout my entire stay. All of my train tickets and hostel arrangements for trips on the weekends were handled by Irish Gap Year, which made my traveling experiences stress-free.

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What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

Pack a rain jacket or umbrella every day, no matter what the forecast predicts. The weather in Ireland is extremely unpredictable, and while it does not usually pour, there are usually light rain showers for at least 15 minutes a day. In addition, it's also worth packing a few extra layers, as it can get windy/chilly.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

My workday began at 10AM and ended around 3:30PM. Usually, I would take a train into the city center after work (approx. 15 minutes away) and either grab some food, run errands, or check out a museum if I had time. During my free weekends in Dublin, I was able to explore all over the city, visiting all of the essential tourist destinations and finding some of my personal favorite pubs, restaurants, and locations.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

I was initially worried about how well I would be able to adapt to life in a city, as I live in the suburbs in the US and have not had a huge amount of experience in an urban setting. However, after I arrived, I realized that, while Dublin is a big city with a lot to offer, it is also very manageable to navigate and live in. Everything is for the most part within a walking distance, and I had no trouble finding my way around after the first week.

What is one small difference about Ireland that caught you by surprise?

Many of the apps and services I use on my phone in the U.S. weren’t as popular in Ireland. Rather than using iMessage, WhatsApp is much more popular in Europe. In addition, Uber is not nearly as popular in Dublin. While these are by no means big dilemmas, it can take a little while to get used to using the alternatives.

Tristanio Coppola

2017 Alum

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

What is your favorite travel memory?

Swimming in the Atlantic Ocean!
During the summer myself and my family enjoy traveling around Ireland on short camping trips. We always try to visit and experience new places. In 2020 we visited a campsite in Donegal near Downings. We didn't know what to expect but when we arrived we thought it was beautiful! Set on a hillside overlooking an amazing sandy beach with rolling hills across the bay. I ran straight down and jumped into the clear blue ocean. It was amazing!!

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I have met some really interesting people who have come on our gap programs and I feel I learn a lot from them as they go on their Gap Journey. I have learned to support the students while still allowing them space to develop their own independence and sometimes this can challenging as every individual is different.

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What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

I spoke to one of our return students who took part in our Adventure and Leadership Program and came back the next year to do the Irish Arts and Culture Program. They were very inspired by their experience and wanted to become an adventure photographer which combined learning from both programs. it was lovely to see a young person gaining confidence and inspiration from what we do at Irish Gap Year.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

I would choose Adventure and Leadership because I really enjoy the outdoors and always want to have new and exciting experiences. I think the Leadership element is especially beneficial to our students and had I had the opportunity to take part in such a program when i was younger I feel i would have grown in confidence at a young age.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

Irish Gap Year is a unique company because we offer two very different programs. I feel the Irish Arts and Culture Program in particular is a great course to take part in as the students get the best of both worlds by traveling and exploring Ireland and also develop their creativity with the many different workshops.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

I feel that teamwork and strong communication is the most important element of a successful company. If you trust and respect each other as colleagues then you will have success. Lastly, an important element of success is pre-planning and organizing, this way everyone has a clear idea of what is expected of them.