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Ireland

The 2025 Ireland program is available during the Summer 2025 Intersession from May 19 - 22 2025 in Lafayette and May 24 - June 8, 2025, in Ireland.

About the Program

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Study Abroad in Ireland is a three-week, two-city program that offers you a chance to study and earn six credit hours in some of the friendliest, fun, and fetching locations in the Western world. Ireland is a land of contrasts — a tiny island nation that threw off the yoke of the mightiest empire in the world, and reclaimed their heritage, their language, and their identity. 

You will be in residence at University College Cork while in Cork and at Trinity College Dublin while in Dublin. Guided strolls through neighborhoods, visits to local markets and grocers, and navigating public transit in rural, cross-country, and urban settings bring students face-to-face with a small country with a giant heart and an even larger history and culture.

You’ll discover a land of saints and sinners; poets and farmers; and rock stars, high-tech entrepreneurs, druids, fairies, and holy wells. Or, just come for the travel learning and the craic!*  

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About Ireland

Travelers will attend at least one group orientation meeting to learn about Irish culture and customs, and practical considerations such as monetary exchange (what to wear, what to expect while traveling, how to talk “Irish,” etc.). Each course involves travel to a number of sites, including areas throughout Cork, West Cork, and Dublin, such as 

  • Blarney Castle & Gardens
  • Cobv and Spike Island
  • the Shandon Bells (the Four-Faced Liar)
  • St. Fin Barre's Cathedral (7th c.)
  • the English Market
  • the Butter Museum
  • Timoleague Abbey
  • Trinity College & the Book of Kells
  • the Abbey Theater
  • Kilmainham Gaol
  • St. Patrick's Cathedral
  • the Great Book of Ireland in the Boole Library

We'll also spend time exploring unique areas outside of both cities, such as the historic towns of Bantry, Skibbereen, Clonakilty, and Kinsale. We'll study the folklore of the island and the sea that surrounds it. We’ll map the history of ancient towns and cities (Cork, 6th c.; Dublin, 9th c.). We'll follow the narratives of uprisings, rebellions, and civil war, and develop our own travel and adventure narratives along the way.

You will share a constellation of cultural activities, ranging from a storytelling session in a local pub to a performance at the Abbey Theater to a walking tour for independence. There will be other guided and unguided excursions during your stay. No matter whether you study history, folklore, or fiction and creative writing through your travels, your time in Ireland is a strategic educational immersion that allows you to experience daily life in Cork and Dublin while advancing toward your university degree. 

Program Requirements

The program cost is $4,699, plus University fees of $240, totaling $4,939. After you have applied for your desired program, you must make a deposit of $500 via ULINK. The $500 deposit is applied towards the cost of the program. The initial deadline to apply and pay the deposit is December 16th. A $100 late fee will be charged after December 16th. View Payment Policies & Instructions.
The program's cost includes tuition for 6 credit hours, lodging, insurance, museums, entrance fees, field trips, and public transportation passes. 

English Courses with Sally Donlon

This course explores Ireland through the powerful media of film and literature, delving into its rich narratives while immersing you in the beautiful landscapes of one of the most captivating and friendly places in the English-speaking world. You will examine how literary texts are adapted into film and how both mediums shape the modern understanding of Irish identity. Ireland's history is compelling—a story of a small island that rebelled against Empire, experienced civil war, and emerged as a land known for its saints and scholars. The skills gained in this course will help you apply a similar lens to other cultures and narratives as well.

If you're a creative writer, consider spending three weeks in Ireland, the "Land of Welcomes," to immerse yourself in travel writing. This genre can inspire readers to explore new places, opening minds to different cultures and ways of life. Travel writing not only helps us reflect on our journeys but also fosters empathy and curiosity about the world.

You'll practice honing your craft, capturing your experiences, and learning how to make your work stand out in today's evolving publishing world. This course offers a great opportunity to improve your writing while enjoying the excitement of discovering new places and experiences.

Ireland Program Contacts

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* Often, the craic. Fun & entertainment, especially good conversation & company. Origin of craic: First recorded in 1970-75; from Irish, from English crack, in the originally American sense of “wisecrack,” or from the Scottish-English and northern English dialect sense of “chat, gossip.”