Program Reviews

I was so nervous to do this gap year program. Being away from home for three months was something I had never done before, and I went in not really knowing exactly what to expect. Doing this program brought me out of my comfort zone in more ways than one, and I’m so glad it did. I have experienced things that I never would if I hadn’t done this program. We surfed, volunteered, and went on insanely beautiful hikes. I have learned more about myself as a leader, and my confidence has grown overall. I have great respect for the leaders who I not only look up to, but who also feel like friends to me. I am so glad I got to experience all of this with an awesome group of people. Read my blog to get a deep understanding of the program:
https://www.irishgapyear.com/blog/

This spring I spent a wonderful semester with Irish Gap Year. There is such a variety of activities ranging from hiking and surfing to volunteering with different local community groups that you will definitely get to try something new. Based in Bundoran, right on the water, the views from the house are beautiful, and you also get the chance to travel all over the country. Living in a house with your fellow gappers allows you to make close friends really quickly while still developing a sense of independence. The leaders are passionate and energetic about every activity and make each day fun. At the same time they’re there to support the students during the trip and are some of the kindest people I have ever met. I had an amazing three months and I’m sure that anyone else who chooses this program will feel the same!

My time with Irish Gap Year has been quite the adventure. Traveling across across the globe to spend three month with people I'd never met before is quite a leap, but was the best decision I've ever made. Almost everything about the program and Ireland itself exceeded my expectations. The house we lived in was beautiful and it's location was right by the water where we experienced the most beautiful sunsets I've ever seen. I liked having a smaller group because we all got along very well and actually bonded very quickly which made all the activities we did together much more enjoyable. The leaders, while strict when they needed to be, treated us like adults and acted more as a friend than a superior. Everywhere we traveled to was beyond beautiful, and I saw sights I would never have gotten at home. While there were some ups and downs, overall I definitely had the time of my life and am grateful for this experience.

I had an amazing experience with Irish Gap Year. We were able to spend a lot of time in Bundoran as well as all over the country. Being able to travel all over the country and live independently for three months has definitely helped us all develop some of the skills needed for college. The trip as a whole was so much fun and definitely brought us outside our comfort zones. We got to go camping, rock climbing, zip lining, hiking, surfing, and so much more. We were also able to learn all about the culture and history of the country. If you are someone who wants a chill program that’s not very rigorous, this isn’t for you. But if you love the outdoors, traveling, experiencing new things, learning, and challenging yourself, you should definitely at least consider Irish Gap year.

I had a very good time. I got to explore the Irish country side learn a bit of ancient and modern history both with archeologists giving tours and in museums. Also got much better at hiking and surfing, the views on the mountain were really pretty and the beaches and forests, p.s. big Is really fun to walk on (super squishy). The surfing was awesome and now Im leaving and I can actually stand up on a board! I got a very good tour of Ireland and have a new understanding of the country, much more in depth. I also met a ton of the local people from communities we volunteered at like with clean coasts on Aran Mor island, and the locals in Bundoran. On top of meeting so many people I also got to make really good friends with the other people on the program and the program leaders. I’m

It was a lot of fun the staff members where all so cool and the people in the house where all so cool they tools on some of the coolest hikes ever and we got to do some amazing things like go camping on a beach or rock climbing a giant sea stack the over all trip was amazing and if you get the chance to go I would do it the people here where amazing and I have made a lot of new friends and memories and the house we stayed in was super nice everyone had there on space and there was never a problem with the house and if you need something like if you where sick or you needed something for the house some one on the staf would get it for you one of the best experience of my life I can’t thank everyone enough this trip is truly life changing I would just like to thanks again for a great experience

Irish Gap year was absolutely incredible; from the places we visited to the people we met, all of it was a once in a lifetime experience. If I could do this program a second time I would no doubt sign up for it as soon as I could. We travelled all over the country visiting the different major places and some that weren’t, both were equally as entertaining. If you’re looking for a laid back program in a major city then this isn’t for you. We hiked, we surfed, we visited historical sites and even got the chance to make our own dairy milk! The trip is what you make of it and there is no other way I could imagine spending a gap year than using irish gap year. I had one of the best times of my life and met some of the coolest people I know while visiting Ireland and I hope you can do the same!

I had such an amazing experience with Irish Gap Year. I think it really equipped me with the necessary skills to thrive in college and beyond. Additionally, living in another country for three months really allowed me to immerse myself in its culture and learn more about its rich history. The program leadership did a tremendous job of helping students acclimate to a wholly new country, and within a short period of time, myself and my peers miraculously felt at home and not as overwhelmed with the long journey ahead of us. The activities we partook in as a group always had variety and were by no means redundant, allowing us to experience a new aspect of Irish culture every day. The program leaders also did an amazing job of recognizing our adult status and thus allowing us a great deal of autonomy and not at all overbearing or encroaching on our free time.

The three months I spent with Irish Gap Year were absolutely wonderful and were everything I could have hoped for from a gap year program. It is a program that makes the daunting task of traveling to, living in and learning about a completely new country not only manageable but rewarding and fun! Each week our group would do a number of activities ranging from surfing, hiking or biking to attending leadership workshops or volunteering with local organizations. Bundrowes house is gorgeous and quickly became a home away from home for us gappers. The staff members are caring, supportive and clearly, love their jobs and coworkers which made every activity all the more enjoyable. I believe that this program is truly for anyone and everyone. Whether you consider yourself more introverted, extroverted, cautious, spontaneous, or somewhere in between you will be able to gain from this program. The friends and memories I made in Ireland have taught me about myself and others and I know these experiences will help me as I move into the future!

It has been an amazing twelve weeks in Ireland. We have been based in Bundoran while traveling around for hikes and to visit different cities. It's been a great balance of being outside and active while learning about the culture and history of Ireland. We also did a charity work ranging from working with local kids to a whole week dedicated to beach cleans. We even got to walk in the local St. Paddy's parade in town. There is also a fair amount of free time at the house, and while traveling. We get ample opportunity to explore the cities on our own, and also do some shopping. It's a really great program where you learn a lot about yourself, others and Ireland. There are a lot of once in a lifetime type of experiences, and I'm really glad to have been apart of it.