A 25-day cultural adventure across Waterford, Dublin, Killarney & Galway — where North American high schoolers discover Ireland's heritage, make lifelong friends, and grow in confidence.
Every summer, students return home changed: more curious, more capable, and more connected to a culture and a community an ocean away.
Learn the language, the cooking, the dancing, and the everyday rhythms of Irish life — from the inside.
Walk in your ancestors' footsteps and discover how they lived, worked, and played generations ago.
Journey alongside like-minded young people and form the kind of friendships that last a lifetime.
Grow in independence and confidence while seeing the beauty of the wider world for yourself.
Whether you're a curious student, a thoughtful parent, or a proud alum, there's a place for you here.
Discover what makes our 25-day Irish summer so unforgettable.
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See what awaits — the classes, the tours, and the friends.
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Safety, accommodations, and answers to every question.
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Stay in touch and help the next generation discover Ireland.
Learn moreStudents rotate through four Irish home bases, each with its own character, history, and home away from home.
Settle in at the Newtown School, a short walk from the historic city centre, and begin your immersion into Irish history and language.
Live at the King's Hospital and explore the capital — from a live match at Croke Park to the cobbled streets of the city centre.
Stay at the Gleneagle Apartments inside Killarney National Park — a stone’s throw from the Lakes, Muckross House, and Torc Waterfall.
Stay near Eyre Square and venture to the Aran Islands to practice your Gaelic with native speakers.
Being able to have the opportunity to travel to Ireland through the Irish Life Experience, was probably the best decision I could have ever made. By far a summer I will never forget. I made some really great friendships from this program. And I will definitely be going back to the motherland soon!
The Irish Life Experience was everything we could have asked for-and more-thank you so much. Our son Ian was nervous and skeptical about going overseas, not knowing anyone and being away from family and friends. But it was transformative for him. The combination of classes, traveling throughout the country with a new group of people-who became good friends, was exactly the type of immersive experience that allowed Ian to learn and have a great time doing it.
Ireland is a beautiful country with friendly people-just like the Irish Life Experience. My daughter Elizabeth was so very fortunate to attend the Irish Life Experience this past summer in 2019. As an alumni of the Irish Way in 1987, I have spoken highly of my summer in Ireland over the years and Elizabeth was eager for her turn. I dropped off a shy, nervous girl that first day and she came home a stronger, more self-assured young woman. She made many friends from all over the US and had so many experiences, that she cannot possibly top this trip of a lifetime! #ILE19 allowed her to spread her wings for the first time and gave her more self-confidence and poise. She is already talking about when she will be able to go back as a Counselor in a few years. Thank you Irish Life Experience and Taryn for an amazing life-changing experience for my daughter.
Real students, real friendships, real Ireland — follow along on Instagram for more.
Meet the team, follow this summer's adventures, and get a feel for the ILE family.
Meet James — a Waterford primary-school teacher and All-Ireland-winning piper who has been part of ILE since 2014.
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Natalie went on the program in 2022 and returns every summer — this year as your Irish-American History teacher.
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I am especially looking forward to making lasting memories, building connections, and celebrating Irish culture in a whole new way...
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Have questions about the program, pricing, or what your student's summer will look like? We'd love to help — reach out and a real person will get back to you.
