INSTITUTe Of STUDy AbROAD IRelANDeducational and Cultural Programs in Ireland • isaireland.com

WhO We AReThe Institute of Study Abroad Ireland wasfounded in 1996, to provide authentic culturaland educational experiences in Ireland for visitors from North America. Since then, wehave hosted hundreds of students, adults, families and groups, and provided a unique and unforgettable visit to Ireland.

The Institute of Study Abroad Ireland works with anumber of partner organizations, cultural associationsand educational institutions in the United States, Ireland and Northern Ireland. Our contacts and connections with educational, recreational and cultural providers allow us to design programs thatwill suit your requirements. We are happy to provide references from high schools, community colleges,private colleges and universities, from parents, students, teachers and individuals who have had their Ireland experience with us.

Niamh Hamill and John O’Connell are the directors of the Institute of Study Abroad Ireland. They coordinate a team of instructors, local experts, partner-organizations, and cultural artists to workwith you, from the planning stage of your trip rightthrough to the day you (reluctantly) return home.

I could never haveasked for a warmer, morewelcoming, more good-natured group of people towelcome me into Ireland.ISAI isn’t about goingthrough the motions. It’sreal and from the heart. I feel such a strong connec-tion to Ireland itself—I’d always loved the idea of itbefore, but after living therefor a few weeks it feels likehome. Through ISAI, youcome to know the place ofIreland: the land itself, thehistory, what makes it so incredible, without gimmicksor tourist traps. My staythere only strengthened mysense of Irish heritage, and I still ache to return.

—mackenzie SuessUniversity of Colorado

NIAmh hAmIll, Ph.D.Director of education, ISA Ireland

Niamh, an experiencedlecturer in Irish historyand culture, will designand deliver a programtailored to your needsand desired learningoutcomes. Niamh hasbeen teaching U.S. visitors since 1996, and her enthusiasticapproach and love ofIrish culture ensure a memorable and authentic experience.

JOhN O’CONNellDirector of hospitalityISA Ireland

John’s expertise as ahotelier and tourismprofessional ensures agreat Irish ‘cead milefailte’—a hundred thousand welcomes—for our visitors. Johnmanages your require-ments in accommoda-tion, transfers andtransport, activities,meal plans and any extras you need.

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OUR lOCATIONThe Institute of Study Abroad Ireland (ISAI) is based along the Wild Atlantic Way route, in the town of bundoran, County Donegal. This area offers us easy access to the glorious scenery of counties Sligo,leitrim and Donegal, including yeats Country, the kingdoms of the great O’Donnell chieftains, and the castles, caves and cottages of thebeautiful northwest. We have the spectacular Atlantic waves at ourdoorstep, and every direction takes us to places of great historic and cultural importance.

Donegal is renowned for its scenery, culture and friendliness. Our programs are designed to deliver the most important element of traveling abroad—authenticity.Our guides and teachers are highly qualified experts who take you to the real Ireland. You will experience Irish culture as Irish people do, and you’ll see for yourself the cities, the rural areas, and everything in between. Although Donegal is in the Republic of Ireland, its proximity to Northern Ireland provides us with agreat location for the study of conflict resolution and peace studies.

The Institute of Study Abroad has been welcoming U.S. visitors since 1996. Wehave programs to suit all ages, shapes and sizes, with one thing in common: ourprograms are about culture and education. Whether you are of Irish descent ornot, you will know a lot more about Ireland when you complete your trip—and we are certain that you will return again and again, as most of our visitors do.

PROgRAmS fOR COllegeS AND UNIVeRSITIeS ShORT fACUlTy-leD TRIPS: Ireland is an ideal location for a short study-abroad trip. It’s safe, friendly andwelcoming. We take care of your trip requirements, from transfers, accommodations and meal plans, and acurriculum that meets your requirements including Irish history and culture, service, environmental studies, cultural experience, peace studies, humanities, and business studies. We operate year round and can design a program to suit your calendar and core curriculum.

QUARTeR AND SemeSTeR PROgRAmS: The Institute of Study Abroad is the perfect location for longer overseas study programs. We provide all you need, including Irish studies courses and lecturers, student-friendly accommodations, transport, guided tours and faculty resources.

INDePeNDeNT STUDeNTS: The Institute of Study Abroad Ireland welcomes students of all ages who are interested in doing a semester abroad as part of a gap year, study abroad experience or fulfilling that desire tospend some quality time in Ireland. We have a range of options including a semester in Irish history and culture,a semester in outdoor adventure and surfing, Irish language programs, internships and work placements.Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

ISAI helped me to plana wonderful experientiallearning program featuringIrish culture and history ina magnificent location. I met their teachers andguides, enjoyed their hospi-tality, and experienced formyself how they deliver awonderful and professionaltrip at affordable prices.The Institute of StudyAbroad Ireland is genuinelyproviding an opportunityfor community collegesthat will be of great benefitto our students.

—Dr. Cynthia m. bellacero Craven Community College

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PROgRAmS fOR TeeNAgeRSWe love teenagers! So much so that we have a special campus just for our younger summer camp and schoolgroups. Our campus is purpose-built for teens, and includes a high ropes suite, a surf school, and lots of indoor and outdoor facilities designed for maximum enjoyment. Our excellent staff is highly trained and experienced in working with teens, and we provide round-the-clock attention for all our groups and visitors.

hIgh SChOOl PROgRAmS: We welcome teachers and student groups all year round. Our high school programs include classroom time, service learning, peace studies, outdoor activities, arts and music, and are a superb cultural immersion experience for younger students. Faculty are fully supported from the planningstages, and all of the programs are custom designed to suit the needs of the students. Faculty are welcome to attend our annual site visit for a preview of trip options.

SUmmeR CAmP: Our Summer programs run through July and August, and we welcome individual teenagers to join with other teens from Ireland, U.K. and Europe in a wonderful multicultural and multiactivity program.U.S. teens learn all about Irish history and culture, in a fun and informal environment, through classes, field trips,tours and discussion. There’s also surfing, hiking, singing, dancing, Gaelic sports, city visits and a packed dailyitinerary that has something for everyone.

I led a group of highschool students on a trip inMarch 2013. It was, withoutquestion, one of the best in-ternational trips that I havetaken with students. Niamhand her crew were knowl-edgeable, professional andfun; the activities were ex-tremely well-organized andsafe; the educational por-tion was fabulous—interac-tive and experiential. I willdefinitely return with an-other group in the future.

—Kathleen letellierExchange CoordinatorAthenian School, CA

Studying abroad was thebest experience for me. Itbuilt up my confidence andmade me feel better aboutmyself. Meeting people fromall around the world was anamazing experience. I amglad I got the opportunity to experience a beautifulcountry like Ireland.

—Nyssa lynn PercivalTeen Summer Camp

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JANUARy CONfeReNCe IN IRISh STUDIeSEvery January, the Irish Studies Department of the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies at Drew University(N.J.) and Institute of Study Abroad Ireland co-sponsor the Transatlantic Connections Conference in Donegal, Ireland. This interdisciplinary conference involves all aspects of Irish and Irish-American culture. It’s a forum forstudents, scholars, lecturers, enthusiasts and local experts to engage in conversations about Ireland and Irish-ness. All are welcome to participate in this different type of conference, that also includes performances of Irishmusic, drama, poetry, art exhibitions, and the fun of the Irish pub in a small coastal town. Visit taccireland.com.

JANUARy IRelAND TRIPThe January trip to Ireland precedes the Transatlantic Connections Conference, and offers an extra four days of lectures, guided tours and special events before the conference begins. The combination of trip and conference provides an excellent immersion in Irish history and culture and is open to all.

Thanks for the mostunique conference I haveever attended. I made somefriends and learned a lot.

—Peter buckinghamLinfield College

I really had such a rich experience at the confer-ence—it was inspiring.

—Sheila maloneUCLA

A wonderful conferencethat was refreshing—yourconferences are always special, and not just routinestuff.

—Professor Werner huberUniversity of Vienna

My advice to anyone in-terested in Irish Studies is totake the January trip andconference. It’s an awesomecombination of the bestthings about Ireland. You willbe inspired, educated andthoroughly entertained.

—Kyra WhiteheadDrew University

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ASSOCIATIONS, ClUbS AND ORgANIZATIONS We are happy to arrange, at any time, a group trip for adults who are interested in a cultural or educationalcomponent as part of the visit. Please note! We are focused on education, culture and authenticity, so you needto be adventurous, mobile, curious and enthusiastic. We can help you with transportation, accommodations,lectures and talks, field trips, visits to places of interest, outdoor activities and entertainment.

fAmIly TRIPSIf you’ve always dreamed of taking the kids, the grandparents and the cousins on a trip to Ireland, we can helpyou plan an affordable and cultural experience, which will keep everyone busy and entertained. Bundoran,County Donegal has fantastic facilities for families, including a multiplex cinema, waterpark, endless beaches,horseriding, surf lessons, kayaking, climbing and many more fun activities. We would be delighted to help youplan a great family experience that has something for everyone.

OCTObeR SITe VISIT fOR gROUP leADeRS (7 days)Every October, the Institute of Study Abroad Ireland invites interested faculty, study abroad advisors, groupleaders and organizers to attend a site visit in Ireland. This subsidized, seven-day site visit allows you to experience, first hand, what opportunities are available for your group. You can apply for a place on this trip by emailing us and completing the site visit application form.

You will not get moregenerous hosts than Niamhand John, or friendlier people than those we met in Donegal. Everywhere wewent, we were made welcome, and we learnt somuch from our guides andthe people we met. We feltlike we had a glimpse of anIreland that most touristsdon’t see. We got rain andrainbows, peat bogs andsheep, castles and cathe-drals, and every evening, we enjoyed returning to our little cozy pub in Bundoran,for a Guinness and a song.We were surprised at howdelicious the food was, andyou can never, for a second, forget the most beautiful,magical landscapes at everyturn. It took us a long timeto finally make the trip, andnow we wish we had done it sooner, so we could goback more often.

—Ron and betty garrenNew Bern, NC

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CONTACT US: Phone from U.S.: 011 353 87 2941232email: info@isaireland.com Web: isaireland.com Skype: irelandstudyabroad

Why DONegAl?•Donegal wears Irish history on her landscape; ancient tombs, monasteries,

the Flight of The Earls, castles, famine sites, stately homes and Irish cottages.

•Donegal is famous for exceptional landscapes and seascapes, including thehighest sea-cliffs of Europe and the staggering beauty of the Wild Atlantic Way.

•Donegal includes several Irish-language-speaking areas, called ‘Gaeltachts,’along the coastline.

•Donegal is the heartland for traditional Irish music and singing.

•Donegal’s proximity to Northern Ireland allows for exploration around thebeautiful counties of Derry and Fermanagh. It is an ideal base for those studyingthe Northern Ireland Peace Process, and discovering the many treasures of thenorthern counties including the Giant’s Causeway, the Fermanagh Lakelandsand Belfast City.

•Donegal’s natural environment, and attention to sustainability in farming andfishing, provide gastronomic delights for the foodie and craft beer enthusiast.

•Neighboring Yeats Country offers many places associated with poet W.B Yeatsand painter Jack B. Yeats, including Lissadell House, The Lake Isle of Inisfree,Glencar Waterfall and the Yeats collections in Sligo.

•Donegal is the home of Irish surfing, with miles of uncrowded beaches and alively surf culture in coastal towns.

•Donegal is Ireland’s friendliest county. There is a ‘cead mile failte’ (one hundredthousand welcomes) everywhere you go.

Institute of Study Abroad Ireland @isaireland

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Cover image: ©Brittni Stasiuk