Explore the beautiful North and South of Ireland on this 2026 trip. graphic courtesy of EF
Envision a walk through the historical roads of Derry, paying a visit to St. Patrick, listening in on those wonderful accents, and acknowledging beautiful Gaeilge.
Block off two weeks in the summer of 2026 in order to be available for the Irish adventure organized by Education First (EF). English teacher Amber Wilson is the lead adult for the trip, and is thrilled to go to Ireland. Her Irish ancestry has led her to learn more about Irish culture both in her own time and through academics, even taking a full semester of Irish Literature in college. Wilson said she “cannot wait to experience the land and culture of Ireland with the students and other travelers on the trip.” This eleven-day visit will include excursions in both Northern and Southern Ireland. EF will set an itinerary for the trip, but participating students will have free time within each group to explore and find lunch. The cost per person is approximately $4,400, and this payment is available to be cut into monthly deposits for the next fourteen months (which would be approximately $315 a month.) Additionally, EF offers a student scholarship of $1,000, which will be available for applicants in the fall of 2025.
EF was founded by Bertil Hult in 1965 Sweden. Hult brought a group of Swedish students to Brighton, England, so that they could learn English on their vacations. The company offers language training, academic degree programs, cultural exchanges and educational trips. EF is primarily a student travel company that acts as a tour director for all their sanctioned trips– arranging transportation, accommodation, and meals. Students can even earn three college credits if they choose to take a 16-week online course related to their tour experience (post tour) with Southern New Hampshire University. If any travelers choose to do this, EF offers a discount of only $120 per credit. Not only will a trip like this look good on a resume, but taking a course relating to it is something employers might like to see as it shows dedication and commitment.
While the requested dates of the Ireland trip are June 13 through the 23, anyone interested would need to block off their calendars from June 9, 2026 to June 26, 2026, with these dates being the earliest possible departure and latest return. EF requires some flexibility in the beginning to ensure the best experience for their students. However, confirmed dates will be received as early as three months before departure. With the current tentative planning and availability, day 1 would be full of travel with an overnight flight to Ireland. Day 2 is a walking tour through Dublin and day 3 would be an expert-led look around Dublin with a visit to St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the EPIC museum (The Irish Emigration Museum). Day 4 is full of exploration of Galway and a tour of Connemara, Maam Cross, and Spiddal (all must-sees within Ireland). Day 5 is a visit to the Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty Castle, and Folk Park. Day 6 is a tour of the Ring of Kerry, and a visit to the Kerry Bog Village Museum. Visit Blarney Castle and the Cobh Heritage Centre on day 7, and stop by the Kildare National Stud Farm on day 8. The trip will end in the North of Ireland: a guided tour of Derry on Day 9, Giant’s Causeway and Belfast on Day 10. Finally, on Day 11, the trek back home will commence. Travelers are expected to bring their own passports, baggage fees, and tips (for tour guides, bus drivers, etc.) as well as snacks and lunches.
Good news for those interested with friends outside of TJ: all students are welcome. That means that students are able to invite their friends from other schools. If any interested students are not yet committed, note that Ireland is already a beautiful country in its own right, with plenty to offer its travelers. If tourists are fearful of snakes, Ireland does not have any. After the ice age, snakes never had the chance to slither onto the Emerald Isle before the nation’s connection to Europe was submerged. Travelers can even kiss the Blarney Stone for the gift of perfect speech. This Ireland trip will immerse students in a new culture that everyone is sure to learn from and enjoy.
