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

Overall, it was a pretty cool program! The best part by far was just getting to be outside so much. I was nervous at first, but ended up absolutely loving the surfing, however, I do wish we got to do more of it. The hikes we went on were also so fun, though it can get annoying hiking through bogs, the natural and different beauty of Ireland is something I will never get enough of. The bushcrafting workshops were also a huge highlight, it was so much fun to learn how to set up a camp and cook over a fire, and then get to actually use those skills to camp!

Shoutout house 8🙏

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

definitely take full advantage of being in such a naturally gorgeous place. it is so worth it to explore the cliffs and polar dip and even just sit in silence near the ocean!

Pros

surfing
hikes

Cons

food
challenges/competitions

I couldn’t be happier that I chose to do this Irish Gap Year program. I have grown so much as a young adult on this trip and it has also strongly informed my college decision and aspirations for the future.

The surfing in Bundoran is so good and the town itself has a lively yet chill beach town vibe.

I also met several cool people that I hope to stay connected with in the future. Because it was such a small group of gappers, it gave me the opportunity to really get to know my peers and build meaningful connections.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

Bring lots of snacks on hikes and activities

Pros

Surfing!!!
Vibrant night life in the cities
Super nice girlfriends 💕

Cons

Repetitive food
House dynamics were sometimes tough
Getting sick on program :(

Great craic!!

I was on the spring adventure & leadership program 2025. Nature in Donegal (& all of Ireland) is absolutely beautiful! Weather not so much (cold!! rainy!!) but it gets better in late April/into May. The hikes are mainly off trail, but I think they are suitable for most people as long as you are relatively athletic. Surfing is cold, and waves unpredictable, wetsuits are provided though and you are well supported in the water by staff!

Speaking of staff— everyone is absolutely amazing! Everyone is so friendly and genuine, I felt very supported and I will miss them all a lot. Shoutout to the legends themselves Joe, Sheelagh (and her very cute very sweet dog Ludene), Andrew, and Jules!!!!

The housing in Portbeg is kind of far from town, it’s a long walk (15 minutes to the closest buildings) but they might move the houses so idk how relevant this will be. The wifi and hot water go out a lot. Rooms are very nice, and some people have their own.

Bundoran is small, there’s not much nightlife here, especially because it’s off-season. Some good live music at a couple of pubs!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

Be prepared to go with the flow. Plans change frequently & days will often not go the way you expect. We don’t really have a say in the original plans for the week though the staff is super responsive to feedback and won’t make the group do something they expressed they don’t want. My group didn’t end up doing the amazing race because of this and instead had a nice trip to Belfast!
Basically, be communicative & open minded.
Also— bring so many layers, more than you think you need, I was freezing 90% of the time.

Pros

Connected to nature!
Amazing staff
2 for €5 protein bars at Supervalu

Cons

Small group
Provided meals are kinda gross
Not a lot of free time

This has been everything I wanted in a gap year program. I came here hoping to explore Ireland, make art I could be proud of and learn new skills, make some friends, and overall have a good time. I got all of that and more. The arts tutors are all amazing, and with their help we put together an amazing exhibition. The location's also great- the cliffs are beautiful, the beaches have lots of cool shells and other fun treasures, the sky's great for stargazing on clear nights, and Bundoran's fun to explore on the weekends. I couldn't be happier that I chose this program.

Pros

Art workshops
Bundoran
Many dogs to befriend (and cows and a horse)

Cons

Housemate complications
Two rounds of illness
Town's kinda far

I think it’s definitely an exciting program, with each day being very packed. If you enjoy the outdoors and want to see the beautiful scenery of Ireland, this program is definitely for you. I was pushed outside of my comfort zone many times, from cold plunging to cliff jumping. While these things seemed daunting, they refreshed me afterwards. I also learned the importance of being self reliant when it came to preparing for activities for the day.

While I certainly enjoyed this program, it may not for everyone.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?

The most nerve racking moment I had was sending it off the cliff during our time cliff ziplining with Ian and Jeff. Although I had a harness to hold me, it still went against my instincts to throw myself off a cliff. It was also unfamiliar as I opted to be the first person in the group to zipline. However, I eventually told myself that I would be fine since Ian had set similar things up before. Once I sent it off the cliff, it felt pleasant.

Pros

I got to explore the small town of Bundoran and it’s natural beauty
The people were generally welcoming
The pubs were exciting and I could go to them

Cons

It was difficult having braces
I missed people back home
It was hard sharing a room sometimes

4.85 •13 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.