Cow House

Going to Cow House studios was such an amazing experience. You are able to live in an environment where you can truly grow both as a person and as an artist.

The studio offers you all of the time and resources you could ever need to make art. From the amazing dark room and all of the camera equipment, to the countless tubes of paint and rolls of loose canvas, you can really execute any creative project. Rosie and Frank, the couple who run the program, are also incredibly supportive and really try to push you creatively. They are both incredibly experienced artists who can offer invaluable technical advice, all the while encouraging you to question and further develop your creative process.

I also got to meet some of the most amazing people there. It was wonderful to be able to spend so much time with people my age who are just as passionate about art. I was able to discuss my work with all of my peers and receive feed back on it that helped me develop my ideas so much further. Through these conversations we were all able to connect and from truly meaningful relationships. I will always be grateful for the people that cow house brought into my life.

The food, excursions and staff were also a major highlight. Caitriona, the chef, and Tony, a member of the staff, were both so kind to me during my time there. They are both truly wonderful people. All of the food Caitriona and Frank would make was so amazing. they would put so much thought into each meal, and I would be genuinely exited whenever it was time to eat. Because of Covid we didn't get to go all around Ireland, like some of the previous gappers, but the places we did get to see were so beautiful. We were able to go on some truly amazing hikes, and we got to visit some of the wonderful town in and around Wexford county.
I can wholeheartedly recommend Cow House for anyone looking to do a gap year, I cannot say enough good things about it.