Rich in culture and pride, modern Dublin is a vibrant city with more than half of its population under the age of 25. This colorful, cosmopolitan city is home to a world-class art scene and is known for its literature and famous writers, such as George Bernard Shaw, Oscar Wilde, and Samuel Beckett.
In the Irish General Studies Program, you will learn about the Irish culture, “troubles” in Northern Ireland and the ongoing peace process. You will enroll in IES Abroad courses in the humanities and social sciences that focus on the theme of tradition, change, and identity in modern Ireland. You may also choose to participate in an internship.
Dublin will also be your classroom. Explore the city’s well-known landmarks such as the River Liffy, Mountjoy Square, the Dublin Castle, and the Garden of Remembrance. Through our Peace & Conflict Studies Concentration, you can participate in field studies in Dublin to better understand the trials Ireland faced and meet guest speakers who describe their journeys of living in Ireland. Everything you do will be part of your learning experience that will help you complete the picture of what this country has been through—and where it’s going. Welcome to study abroad!
We want you to feel at home in Dublin, so we will do everything we can to help you integrate into life in Dublin, from internships to cultural activities. Our orientation will introduce you to the beautiful city and help you get to know your classmates and the IES Abroad staff. After you’ve created a home base, you’ll visit County Kerry (in the spring) and Glendalough to help you make the most out of your study abroad experience.
These dates are preliminary and are subject to change. Students should not book flights according to these dates.
Our mission is simple: to provide you with the best study abroad program possible—which includes the highest quality academic and cultural experiences. We offer unique courses that explore Irish cultural studies and Irish history through an in-depth and hands-on approach. Our Irish professors enhance your academic experience and provide you with new perspectives each day in class.
You take 15–19 credit hours per semester, and all courses are worth three credits unless otherwise specified. You craft your own academic experience by selecting from the following required and optional components:
Peace & Conflict Studies Concentration in Dublin This three-course, 9-credit concentration helps you gain a complete picture of Northern Ireland’s past and the conditions and possibilities for a just, permanent peace in post-conflict Ireland. This concentration features compelling coursework, relevant field study, and first-hand accounts of the Irish “troubles” from guest speakers.
Guest speakers include former IRA members, Unionists, Loyalists, Sinn Fein, British army officers, and intelligence experts. You will also spend two days studying in Belfast and other sites that hold historic and symbolic value in the Northern Ireland conflict.
This is a list of planned course offerings. After you are accepted, you will see a list of final course offerings in your MyIESabroad account.
While adding study abroad to your resume is impressive enough, adding an international internship experience is even more powerful, and can help distinguish your application for graduate school or a job opportunity in today’s competitive job market.
An internship provides an invaluable cultural experience, and helps you develop professional and personal skills. All IES Abroad internships are supervised and offered as academic options earning IES Abroad credit. Placement examples include:
Our job is to make sure that your greatest challenge is deciding what landmarks to see first or discovering the best café—not finding a place to live where you feel comfortable. We do our best to locate housing that is reflective of how the local students are living. Our goal is that when you leave Dublin, it will feel like home.
Three to five students share an apartment that consists of a kitchen, two or three bedrooms, and a common area. Student apartments are completely furnished and include wireless Internet access. The apartments are located in various residential areas of central Dublin. Meal plans are not included.
Part of making you feel at home in Dublin is doing our best to help you feel safe and cared for. Whether it is an orientation program that makes you feel prepared, housing that is welllocated and comfortable, or the field trips that take you to places off the beaten path—we’re all about our student services. This is just one of the things we’re known for.
The program begins with a two-day orientation that introduces you to the IES Abroad Dublin staff, your fellow students, and the city of Dublin. Topics such as academics, housing, transportation, and health and safety are covered during this time.
Additionally, CORE™, IES Abroad’s Comprehensive Orientation & Re-entry Experience, begins during orientation and continues throughout the semester with activities focusing on cultural adjustment, goal achievement, and preparing for the return home. You will also take guided tours around the Center and areas of interest in Dublin as part of your orientation.
Redefine the way you live and learn in Dublin through our cultural events, such as:
Although your adventure begins in Dublin, our field trips take you to rural areas and Northern Ireland to provide contrast and context for what you are learning in Dublin. You share a portion of the cost with IES Abroad.
Glendalough 1 day Visit the area’s two lakes and monastic ruins.
Northern Ireland 3 days Take a famous “Black Cab Tour” of Belfast and visit Dunluce Castle, Bushmills Distillery, and the Giant’s Causeway, a World Heritage site.
County Kerry 3 days | Spring Only Visit Killarney National Park, the Dingle Peninsula, and other historic and natural sites.
Causey Farm 1 day Visit an open farm where you will have the chance to try out Irish dancing, bake traditional Irish bread, play hurling (Ireland’s national sport), and visit a bog.
Features include:
Ashley TaggartIES Abroad Center Director Ashley Taggart has directed IES Abroad Dublin since it opened in Summer 2000. He previously lectured at IES Abroad London for five years. He holds a master's degree in Renaissance Literature and a doctorate in Modern Drama from the University of York. Originally from Belfast in Northern Ireland, he has written short stories and screenplays.
IES Abroad Staff Caroline EnrightStudent Welfare Officer and Internship Coordinator
Megan MarkeyAssistant Director
FacultyGeoffrey Corry Peace and Conflict Studies Master of Science Employee of Glencree Centre for Reconciliation Lecturer, University College Dublin
Ruth FergusonArt History Relations Master of Arts, University College Dublin Curator, Newman House
Regina FitzpatrickIrish Studies Master of Arts, University College Dublin Researcher, Gaelic Athletic Association, Boston College
Darren KellyAnthropology Candidate, Doctor of Philosophy, St. Patrick's College Lecturer, St. Patrick's College
Amanda MaguireTheater Actor/Writer for Theater Graduate of ALRA Licenciate, Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Stephen McMahonCreative Writing and Literature Master of Arts, Queen's University Belfast, Senior English Tutor and Lecturer, St. Patrick's College, Dublin City University
Michael MurrayPeace and Conflict Studies Doctor of Social Science, National University of Ireland, Maynooth Researcher, Lecturer, National University Maynooth
Brendan O'BrienPeace and Conflict Studies Master of Arts, University of Ulster Journalist, RTE, Newstalk 106 Lecturer, University College Dublin
Gillian O'BrienHistory Doctor of Philosophy, University of Liverpool Lecturer, St. Patrick's College, Dublin City University
Michelle PiazzaIrish Studies Master of Arts, Univeristy of Leeds, Doctoral Candidate Lecturer, University College Dublin
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