Irish Gap Year

This program was very beneficial for me. I was part of the arts and culture program here. One of the biggest values I got from this experience was that it ended up being very mentally refreshing for me, which was something I needed after feeling burned out from high school. I knew that I wanted to take a gap year between high school and college, and when I found this program it seemed like a good fit, as it offered a program centered around culture and art and creativity, all things I am passionate about and wanted to feel a renewed sense of motivation towards after graduating. In all honesty, going into the program, I knew it sounded like something I might enjoy, but I wasn't entirely confident in how the experience would play out, and how fulfilling it would be, until I actually got here and was able to live it out. I feel that I met a lot of my personal goals for myself here. I’m my experience, the art tutors here are all had something unique to offer and they pushed me to create art in ways I hadn’t before. I have made a lot of work I’m very proud of here, and they are a large reason for that. Another reason was the group and the friends I made here, who created an environment that felt lighthearted, welcoming, and not high-stress. It was nice to be able to try so many avenues of creativity without having to worry about how my work would translate into a grade. It made me feel much more motivated to create art than I had in academic settings in the past. Overall, I reccomend checking this program out. I had a very positive experience here, and I feel that it’s helped me to push my independence, make great friendships, and grow my skills in art.

I got a lot from the time that I spent in Ireland while being a part of this program. I got the opportunity to see some of the coolest historical sites & most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. The social atmosphere was a mix, fortunately I got along really well with my housemates, but that was not necessarily a universal experience across all the houses. I met some people I really love, but there was a period of adjustment in the first few weeks as I realized that not everyone across both programs came here for similar reasons as I did. It all works out if you find your people and stay focused on what you want to do. I would recommend the arts program to anyone who enjoys painting and drawing, or doesn’t necessarily know which medium is their favorite yet. I enjoyed working with all of the arts tutors and got a lot from the workshops, though as someone who doesn’t prefer to focus on painting and drawing, I was disappointed I did not get more opportunities to work in other mediums. Going into this program having been to college I think made the living away from home/sharing spaces with roommates easier, it seemed to be harder for others just out of high school. I think this experience could be good practice for people who aren’t used to those settings. I entered this experience spontaneously and with no expectations, and looking back at my time here, I can say that I’m very glad I chose to last minute go on academic leave and fly to Ireland. I will take the lessons I learned here+places I went+friends I made with me for a long time.

Irish Gap Year is a really well run and designed program that cultivates a sense of both independence and community.
I spent three months making art under the guidance of very talented professionals, all while developing relationships with my peers (who were all very talented artists), and learning how to live away from home. I’m sure the adventure part is great too.
There is also such a sense of kindness and support. Moments of stress were well handled, and creative solutions were figured out when needed.
A really great balance of structured and free time, and the overall stunning Irish landscapes, really helped this program shine.

I had a great time in the Irish Gap Year Arts and Culture program. The program location, right on the sea, is stunning and very inspiring as an artist. It was refreshing to come to Bundrowes House and work on art during the workshop days. The artist mentors were all incredibly nice, I worked the most with Anna Leask and Michael Wann but all of the mentors are some of my favorite people. I have improved on my skills while being here, and learned new mediums and techniques. I have made connections in this program that I hope to keep throughout the rest of my life. If you are considering joining this program be sure to be prepared for the Irish weather, even though you are inside a lot of the time in the fall and winter Bundrowes House is an old building so the cold is felt inside. I was thankful to have a light scarf even on the warmer days.

I really enjoyed my experience in Ireland and Bundoran and personally felt that the program helped me to grow a lot as an artist and an individual. I have never really experienced a group of people where I felt that I have meshed with all of them outside of my family. Spending time and getting to know other artists and creative people really helped to get rid of my artist block and explore different ways of thinking and creating. Getting to know all sorts of people from both the arts and adventure and leadership programs was a big positive part of my experience as I was able to become close with people who are drawn to different things and who have vastly different mindsets. Being able to travel all over the Irish countryside and visit a couple of big Irish cities really helped me to get to know the country and the people here, as well as gave me an opportunity to have a window into the way Irish people live. Overall I had an amazing experience in Ireland and with Irish Gap Year.