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Farmwork in Ireland

Duration

4 - 52 weeks

Language requirements

English

Availability

All year

Age

18+

Price starts with

840 EUR

Type of program

Working Holiday or Internship

Set out on an adventure with a job on a farm in Ireland and find out what it feels like to live and work abroad! In Ireland we offer jobs in agriculture for which you get free accommodation and meals in exchange for your work!

Description

Living and Working on a Farm in Ireland

We arrange placements on farms in Ireland. Most of them are engaged in cattle and dairy farming, with a size ranging from approximately 50 to 500 cows. Did you know that Ireland is globally renowned for its dairy products? Irish dairy cows spend almost the entire year outdoors in pastures with daily access to fresh green grass, which is the reason for the excellent quality of Irish dairy products!

Some farms are mixed farms, meaning they have not only cows but also other animals such as pigs and sheep or crops alongside. Due to the climate in Ireland, there are very few farms solely dedicated to crop cultivation. Similarly, there is no explicitly labeled "organic farming" as most farms naturally keep their cattle, cows, and sheep on untouched meadows. For a farm job in Ireland, you should enjoy working with livestock! 


Activities on a Farm

Working on a farm in Ireland is diverse and multifaceted! You take care of cows and calves, handling tasks such as independently feeding and milking the animals. On many farms, small calves are born during spring. With some luck, you may witness the birth of a calf and welcome it to the farm.

On mixed farms, you can also assist in the care of other animals and occasionally hop on the tractor when it's time to head to the field — whether for repairing fences or harvesting. Each day is a bit different, ensuring you won't get bored.

These placements on Irish farms are not paid, but in exchange for your work, you receive free accommodation and meals from your workplace.

Through a placement on an Irish farm, you can gain international experience and acquire practical skills that can be immensely valuable for your resume, future studies, or training. Another great side effect: While working in Ireland, you naturally improve your English language skills. 


Your Daily Work in Ireland

Placements are available throughout the year. You work for about 40-45 hours over 5 days a week, with 2 days off. As there is always much to do on a farm, your days off may not necessarily fall on weekends. If you work on weekends, you have compensatory days off during the week.

The exact working hours depend on the farm and can vary — depending on tasks and when the animals need care. Therefore, you should be flexible regarding specific times and not shy away from early mornings.

Program details

FAQs

How does the booking and matching process work?

Once you have booked, we will look for a farm in Ireland for you. As soon as we have found a farm, you will receive a "placement advice" from us, including a profile of the farm and contact details. You can then communicate directly with the farm yourself, ask questions, and decide whether to accept. If you accept the farm, you sign the placement advice. If there is an understandable reason not to accept the farm, we will look for other farms and send you a new placement advice.

Rates

Who can join

Due to Irish Labor Laws, participation is only open to participants who are enrolled in, or have recently graduated from, school, training or college at the time of their stay in Ireland. There needs to be a relation between the farm work and your future professional plans.

The participation is only possible to citizens who don't need a visa for Ireland for their planned duration of stay (e.g. citizens of the EU and EAA, USA, Australia etc) or who can arrange a visa on their own (e.g. Working Holiday Visa). Please note that Ireland is not part of the Schengen countries.

No knowledge or previous work experience is required.

You should have no hesitation about physical work and be comfortable with getting your hands dirty, waking up early, and tackling tasks in rain, cold, etc.

Additionally, you should enjoy living on a farm in rural areas, where there may not be all the comforts and entertainment options available as in a big city.

Program start

The start is usually possible throughout the year on any day of the week, and you coordinate the exact arrival date with your Irish farm.

Getting there

You fly to Dublin or, in case your job is on the west coast, to Shannon. Your flight should ideally arrive in the morning or early afternoon. From the airport, you will travel independently by train or bus to your assignment location. We will provide you with a detailed travel plan. You will be picked up by your host family at the nearest train or bus station.

Visa

The following citizens can join the program without any visa:

  • Citizens of the European Union and EEA (incl. Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein)
  • Citizens of the following countries can participate for a maximum of 3 months without any visa: Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominica, El Salvador, Fiji, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Lesotho, Macau, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Swaziland, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu, Ukraine, UAE, United Kingdom, USA, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vatican
  • Those who have a residence card issued by an EU or EEA country
  • Many nationalities who have a visa for the UK


Participation is also possible on a Working Holiday visa for Ireland for a maximum of 1 year. This visa is currently available for citizens of Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, and the USA, with different age limits depending on the country, from 18 to 25, 30, or 35 years.

Please note that Ireland is not a Schengen country. We cannot provide any documents required to apply for a visa. You can only join this program if you do not need a visa to enter Ireland.

Accommodation Options

In exchange for your work, you receive free accommodation and meals. In most cases, you live directly on the farm, providing you with exciting insights into the daily life of Irish families and, incidentally, improving your English skills! If accommodation is not available on the farm, you will stay with a host family nearby. Our on-site staff personally knows all our host families. Irish families are generally very hospitable and welcoming, involving their foreign program participants in family activities.

Extras

Read more

Report by our participant Anna about her farmwork internship

I was quite nervous when I headed to the airport for my one-month internship. It was my first time flying alone, my first time visiting Ireland, and the first time being away from home for an extended period. My host family welcomed me with great kindness and immediately tried to make me feel at home. During the initial days everything was new for me, from how the shower worked to the food, and I felt a bit overwhelmed. But gradually, I got into the routines, and I became more confident in my work on the farm. I had never worked on a farm before, but my host father explained everything to me with a lot of patience. After the first week, I knew my tasks and could help more independently.

I did all sorts of things, from hanging laundry and walking the dogs to milking, cleaning the barn, vaccinating cows, vacuuming, and cutting vegetables. On my days off, I explored the area, went to pubs, and went shopping, sometimes on my own, sometimes with other foreign students, and sometimes with friendly locals who invited me. I managed to settle in and establish my daily routine, so returning after a weekend off almost felt like coming home. Four weeks passed by quickly, and after many TV evenings, hours on the farm, and dog walks, it was time to return to Germany.

Once home, I missed the host family and the slightly different way of life. I never thought that in four weeks only I could become so accustomed to farm work, another country, and another family. Actually, "accustomed" might be an understatement, as I would describe the relationship with the host family more as an affectionate friendship. Looking back, I would have liked to stay longer to see more of Ireland and meet more people. :)

Book or Send an Inquiry

Selected program price
Choose Base Package
Choose Extension Time and Extras

2nd Farm Placement during your program participation

+ 300.00 €

3rd and further Farm Placement during your program participation

+ 200.00 €
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What is included?

VM_WHAT_IS_INCLUDED?
  • Individual Consultation and Preparation prior to your arrival
  • Access to the World Unite! Online Resource Centre which has Preparation Materials
  • Farm matching process
  • Pick-up and transfers from the train or bus station closest to your placement location (please see information how to get there in the slider "Getting There")
  • 24 hours emergency support by our Irish support team
  • Accommodation and meals are provided by your Irish family at no extra charge
  • Issuance of Confirmations/Certificates for your university, scholarship, insurance, etc. and filling out/signing Internship Contracts for your university
  • CO2 compensation of your long-haul flights: Costs for 10 seedlings of indigenous trees that we plant on the slopes of Kilimanjaro

Not included?

VM_WHAT_IS_NOT_INCLUDED?
  • Travel to/from Ireland and to the train/bus station nearest to your farm location (you book it on your own and we assist you)
  • Insurance (Travel Health Insurance, Liability Insurance, Travel Cancellation insurance; you book it on your own, we can assist you)
  • Personal expenses
  • Vaccinations

INSIGHT

5 REASONS why to join
this program
 

Short duration of participation is possible (from 4 weeks) and possible to book with short-time notice! (We only need around 3 weeks of lead time).

 

Low cost, as accommodation and meals are provided.

 

Work and live with an Irish family and improve your English skills.

 

Gain practical experience in farming.

 

No visa needed for many nationalities!

contact miriam

Questions?

your consultant for this program is

Miriam Gebert

(she/her)

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