The Irish Experience is a TCDSB summer credit abroad program for Ontario high school students who want to experience Ireland by hiking its countryside, exploring its cities, and studying its rich history and celebrated literature while earning Grade 11 or 12 high school credits in English. Following the  Ontario Ministry of Education curriculum, it is open to all Ontario students who will have completed prerequisite courses by June 30, 2024

The program takes place over a four-week period in July beginning with 5 days of remote learning. For 9 days, the students will be based in the beautiful university city of Cork in the South of Ireland. They will attend classes on the picturesque campus of University College Cork, where they will study in an informal and relaxed atmosphere.

The next part of the program will be spent in Galway in the West of Ireland during the International  Arts Festival when the city centre is abuzz with performers and musicians.  Galway is a major centre of Irish music and language and the students will enjoy a traditional session of Irish music and dance at Monroes Live

After 5 nights in Galway, we travel to vibrant Dublin.  One of the oldest capital cities in Europe, Dublin has one of the youngest populations; almost 50% of the city’s people are under 25 years old.  Many historic figures and giants of the literary world have made their home and we will retrace their footsteps in our daily classes and tours.

The students will enjoy a true Irish experience and gain a sense of Irish history and culture through guided tours to sites of historical, cultural, literary and aesthetic interest from street performers to Norman Castles, from prehistoric burial sites to Viking Adventures. Several evenings will be spent enjoying the music, dance and general ‘craic’ which is such a prominent part of Irish life.  Highlights of this year’s program will include trips to the Cliffs of Moher, in the Burren of County Clare, Mizen Head off the south-west coast  and the spectacular Wicklow Mountains.

**Last updated August 2024 (description taken from the program’s website)