Program Reviews

My exsperiance with Irish Gap Year is one that I will never forget. We are not just a cohort, we are a family. I have made life long friends that i would do anything for and I know they would do anything for me. Irish Gap Year pushs you mentally and physically while giving you the preparation and support you need. The volunteering opportunities are meaningful and rewarding. Working with Liquid Therapy was a highlight of my time here. Teaching children with additional needs to surf while creating a relationship with them and their families was refreshing. Overall, Irish Gap Year has far exceeded my expectations. Choosing Irish Gap Year was the best decision I have ever made.

This program has truly been one of the greatest experiences of my life. I have met some of the greatest people, had incredible new experiences, and learned so much about myself. The workshops were so beneficial and it is so fun to create bonds with the tutors while learning more about things you are interested in. Going to new places and exploring Ireland with so much freedom also makes the trip so much fun. There is so much support from the staff and all your peers that really enrich your experience. You will not regret choosing Irish gap year for your next adventure.

My experience was unique in the fact that this trip had some of the most interesting and different personalities that I’ve ever met. I made close friends with people I’m not sure I would have had I not been on this trip, as well as taking a class I’m not sure I was interested in beforehand. The amount of activities and events I have experienced definitely pushed my comfort levels sometimes, but always enabled me to take away something positive each time. As far as personal growth, I would say this program certainly allows each participant to come away from this trip with something positive, although it is ultimately up to the person attending about whether or not they are going to push their comfort zones and grow.

I had so much fun and I grew as a person a lot. I learned so much about myself. This gap year program made me realize what I am truly capable of. This program made me see my true potential. I got to see and learn so much about the history of Ireland and Ireland as a country itself. Every hike and trip I went on was so much fun and everytime I was blown away with how beautiful the town/cities and the views on the hikes were. I 100% would recommend this gap year program. I would totally be down to do it again

This program has been amazing! There's a great balance between the arts and exploration. We traveled all around Ireland, and got to see a lot of historical and cultural sites. My group was amazing, and we had a lot of time to become really close. Everyone was really nice and made me feel very at home. The art mentors are kind and very helpful. We worked in water color, acrylic paint, charcoal, photography, film, leather working, jewelry making and found art. This has been a monumental experience for me, I highly recommend it!

This program was a truly incredible experience. As an approaching college student, I was looking for a way to spend my gap year where I where I would also grow as a person, gain leadership skills, and be able to work on my weaknesses as a student. This program gave me all that and more. From the incredible, challenging yet always rewarding and beautiful hikes to the educational and fun city trips, Irish Gap Year has been one adventure after another. Perhaps the best thing I've gained from the program is the social connections and friends, as cheesy as it sounds. I was previously worried about going to college and living with people other than my family. This program gave me a taste of how that would go and what I needed to improve on and what my skills already were. The greatest thing about this program is the staff. All the program leaders and staff here were extremely supportive and it's obvious how much they care about the students and how much they enjoy their job. All in all, I must reiterate how much of an incredible experience this was and how strongly i recommend it to other students craving adventure, leadership opportunities, and strong community.

I was super excited for this trip but also terrified because I’ve never been away from my family for this long but especially because I’ve never really been great with making friends so I was really nervous. But after the first two days all those worries went away everyone was really welcoming and kind and I was really comfortable around everyone. For the art section of the program it was unbelievably helpful. I was able to learn so much in only 3 months Michael was the best teacher for me teaching me on how to use the greyscale a lot better and how to improve as an artist as a whole

I really loved this program! The staff is so welcoming and personable. They really made the experience what it is. They always made themselves available to talk if need be. They handled problems with a great amount of thought, grace, and efficiency.
I really grew a lot as a person during this program because the activities we did pushed me. It made me realize that I am a lot more capable mentally and physically then I previously thought.
Also, the Irish people welcomed us with open arms. We really got to know people from local businesses. I met a lot of great people on this trip that I will keep in contact with and I know that if I ever come back to Ireland there are people hear I call up. One of my favorite things that I will miss is being able to walk out of the house, look left and see the ocean and the cliffs, look right and see Aroo Mountain. It is the most humbling feeling. I would recommend this program to people who love the outdoors and are up for anything.

I loved the program and the time that I spent here. The group that I was with was accepting and supportive, both peers and guides. The classes and mentors are engaging and throw themselves into helping with our projects. Everyone from the staff was great and we all felt like a family with the first week. I went on this program to try and start becoming more independent after high school but still be supported and this program delivers. I was lucky that I was able to go on this trip. I was lucky to be on this trip and meet and experience the people that I did.

Deciding to go on this program may have been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The program is very well organized with exciting activities and busy schedules almost every day. The location of the program is so beautiful, and ended up being way better than I expected. All art lessons are done in a beautiful old house with windows that look out over the ocean and green grassy fields. The art teachers are so supportive, unique, talented, and maybe even a little bit crazy. This program has given me the space to explore my creativity in a space free from pressure or judgement, which has been quintessential to my personal growth as an artist. The most important part of it all was the people I met here. Everyone here in this silly little art group are genuinely so unique, creative, funny, and supportive beyond belief. I am so eternally grateful to know all of these crazy goofballs for the rest of my life.