Program Reviews

The IGY Adventure and Leadership program gave me the opportunity to do things I'd never have gotten to do otherwise. I was able to learn Irish history firsthand from those who experienced it, went to iconic Irish cities and landmarks, and visited some of the most beautiful places I'd ever seen. The staff was supportive, and as a group, we all began to form a close relationship with the staff members. I would recommend this program for anyone who wants to break out of their comfort zone in a safe and controlled environment.

The activities that IGY offered were varied and very fun. They ranged from surfing (my favorite) to hiking to cliff jumping, and many, many, other outdoor activities. I thoroughly enjoyed the freedom that this program offered, while still maintaining a safe and comfortable environment. I would recommend this trip to anyone who loves the outdoors and isn't afraid to get dirty. Anyone without these qualities will almost certainly struggle.
Housing was great. The houses were a bit old and things did tend to break like the dishwasher and laundry machine, but they were very cozy and otherwise functioned pretty well. They also had a maintenance man on call so any problems that did occur were fixed quickly.

Going on this program was one of the best decisions I ever made. On top of getting to fully experience my love for the outdoors through hiking, surfing, and loads of other activities, I was able to discover new cities and learn about Irish history and culture. The atmosphere of this program pushed me socially, mentally, physically, and emotionally, and caused me to grow in ways I didn't know I could. There were definitely challenges in all aspects that caused me to discover myself, and the leaders and staff are right there to support us. The amount of growth and maturity we attained through a gap year and this program is unmatched. This program gave me the opportunity to try so many new things and to do so in a safe environment. The past three months have been the best, and quickest, months of my life. Time has flown so fast and we have done so much. I wish I could do this program all over again, just so I could take it all in one more time, the highs and the lows. This trip has taught me things I will carry with me for a long time, and I am so grateful for that.

My three months with Irish Gap Year have been an incredible experience. Every week was filled with new adventures that allowed me to get out of my comfort zone in a safe environment. We went surfing, hiking, rock climbing, cycling, and toured major cities across Ireland. The views even right outside of the houses are breathtaking. One of my favorite experiences was our backwoods expedition. We spent time in the beginning of the program learning how to process firewood, start fires, cook food, set up shelter and more. After this we spent two nights camping which were amazing. Another rewarding experience was volunteering with Liquid Therapy where we spent four sessions helping kids with additional needs surf.
This program allows a lot of independence as the students live on their own. The staff is very involved and always available but not overbearing. Living in a house with other students definitely comes with it’s fair share of challenges but problem solving is a very valuable skill. This program challenged me and I gained confidence in my own abilities and learned a lot about myself. I highly recommend this program.

It was awesome! I was very nervous at the start, but everyone was incredibly supportive and helped me to overcome homesickness really quickly. The art classes themselves were great. The tutors are amazing and very easy to talk to, both for asking for tips and tricks on their specialized mediums but also just generally sharing about themselves. Charcoal was incredibly intimidating to start, but Michael (the tutor) made it very straightforward and demonstrated how easy it is to play with the medium and have fun with it! It was great to explore Ireland and develop my artistic skills while making new lifelong friends.

After my three month stay with IGY I find myself almost sad but excited to leave for IGY has help set me up for the upcoming years of my life and IGY takes you out of your world and puts you into another one. I loved all the art teachers and grew a connection with some of them outside the class room. They are wonderful talented artists. The trips were definitely my favorite part of the trip, place’s like, Sligo, Derry and Dublin were all amazing places with a great CRAIC! All in all my time here was well spent

Doing this program has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I was so nervous getting on the plane to come over here, I had no idea what to expect. But I immediately found a new home. All of the staff at IGY are very welcoming and helpful, and Ireland itself is absolutely stunning. I have made friends here that I am going to keep for life. We were able to go around Derry, Galway, Dublin, Belfast, and some other areas. Our art tutors were absolutely amazing as well, I really watched my art transform while I was here. I could not have had a more amazing time while I was here.

I have made so many incredible friendships here during these last 3 months in Ireland. I tried so many new things- surfing, drawing in charcoal, watercolor etc.
I loved being able to show our art in the exhibition at the end of the three months here. It was the first time I had done anything like that and it was such an amazing feeling showing off all the art we made.
We also got to see so much of Ireland with all the trips we took. The land is truly beautiful- I especially liked the trip to Killarney national park.

I am so glad that I decided to join Irish Gap Year! The experience exceeded my expectations. The housing is gorgeous, the staff are so friendly and lead the group responsibly while still allowing participants a lot of freedom and independence. We learned to make bog oak jewelry, paint with watercolor, and draw with charcoal from amazing local artists. We were given time to explore Dublin, Belfast, and Galway, as well as witness the spectacular landscapes of Ireland, from mountains to forests to rocks to oceans. I learned so much about Ireland's illustrious history and I am already hoping to return as soon as possible!

I had such an amazing time. I had the best housemates and the staff was so respectful and kind. I felt like I had a family with everyone and enjoyed every workshop I did as part of the arts and culture and loved the pieces I made in them. I’ve never been happier and felt more accepted in a place and I made friends that will last a lifetime. The inside jokes and the weekly karaoke parties are things I will never forget and our group is already is planning a reunion to return to Ireland again and I can’t wait for our next adventure together.