Program Reviews

I had a great time with Irish Gap Year despite being nervous about how COVID would impact the program. I really feel that I got to see a lot of Ireland despite being on lockdown for half of the program. We got to see Belfast, Derry, Sligo, Enniskillen and other Irish cities. It was really fun living and getting to know people my own age while also getting to experience the beauty of Ireland. I would highly recommend this program to anyone who loves the outdoors and loves to hike and surf!!!!!!!!

Despite ever-changing covid guidelines in Ireland, the past three months have truly been some of the most memorable months of my life. The IGY leaders have a good balance between creating structured plans and allowing the gappers to independently explore/ decide what we want to do. The town of Bundoran is a very nice beach town and I really enjoyed waking up next to the ocean each day. My group became very close throughout our three months of camping, hiking, surfing, and exploring this beautiful country together! Highly recommend for anyone looking to reconnect to nature and make new friends.

Irish Gap Year was 10/10. I had so much fun in Ireland, despite COVID-19 restrictions. The programs leaders did a great job of making sure that we had a full experience, and we got to do a ton of activities, like hiking and surfing. It was incredible actually living in a foreign country, and engaging with the town and cities around us. I would definitely recommend this gap year program to anyone looking to immerse in Irish culture and enjoy the beautiful natural scenery, as well as forming great relationships with other students. I miss it so much!

My experience with Irish Gap Year was so much more than I ever could have expected. I felt respected as an adult in every instance, which made a perfect bridge between high school and college. The staff was personable and welcoming, making me feel comfortable to share my needs and issues no matter what while still maintaining a friendly relationship that allowed us to have a bit of, as the Irish would say, craic.

This was my first experience abroad and never once did I feel isolated or unbearably homesick. The environment that was fostered both by my peers and staff was second to none.

The activities got me into a routine that I never would have been able to develop or expect of myself before, and I left a changed, more mature person.

Irish Gap Year gives students a lot of individual freedom to grow as a person and as an artist in their art program. It is a great way to experience life while still having a safety net. There are so many opportunities to meet new people and create bonds that can last long past the program's end. There are so many skills learned both from the art tutors and each other. The staff is also wonderful and makes sure we are safe and happy. It is one of the most valuable experiences I have had in my life.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me. I went into this program knowing that Covid would restrict some of what we do but, I feel as if I made the absolute most out of this program. Staying in the house with everyone was the best part of the program. We had a very fun and interesting group dynamic and I can honestly say there wasn’t a day where I was not bored. Despite Covid restrictions, the leaders did there best to keep us active and entertained. My favorite activity during the trip was surfing and I do plan on continuing to surf back in the states. I highly recommend this program to anyone wanting to try something new and exciting.

I had a great time in Ireland with Irish Gap Year and would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone. It was the perfect mix of adventure and fun while still developing leadership skills, making a positive impact in the community with volunteer work, and learning about topics ranging from environmental science to Irish history and so much more. From surfing and cliff jumping to hiking and jewelry making, all of the activities are amazing and the program does a great job of providing opportunities to try new things and always have fun doing it.

I had a fun time on this trip a lot because I was able to meet new people and spend time in a place that I had never been before. We were able to also do many activities that I had never done. I like the fact that we had a set schedule every week so we know what we are doing every day and we are prepared. The leaders were good people and were very helpful the whole time. I would recommend this program to anyone who is interested in doing activities like hiking, surfing, and cliff jumping. Great time overall.

Disclaimer: My experience was different from what other groups have done on this program given that I completed this program during COVID 19 and there were rules/restrictions in place. Regardless, I had an awesome time on this program. What made this program special was the relationships I made. I thought the activities done and the living arrangements (among other things) created great camaraderie among the group. I also thought the program did a great job of keeping us busy. Personally I am happy staying busy and it was a welcome change from the unfortunate alternative of living with covid.

I loved my semester with Irish Gap Year! Despite covid restrictions, we were still able to explore Belfast, Derry, Enniskillen, Galway, Sligo, and the Cliffs of Moher among other towns. Living in a house with a group pf people my age is a unique opportunity IGY provides and I have come out of this program with many friendships. My leaders are fantastic and so much fun! They are always positive and flexible. Our days are filled with surfing, hiking, cliff jumping, camping, fishing, exploring cities, volunteering, and workshops. I have come out of this program with countless new skills, like setting up shelters, and navigating. I am taking the connections I made and unique experiences away from my gap year with IGY.