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Rural Tourism Internships 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

Numerous farms in Ireland offer guest rooms, culinary experiences, and activities where one can enjoy and learn about rural life. This is generally known as Farm stay, Farm Holidays or Agrotourism. We organize internships on such farms. You will get free accommodation and meals for your involvement in Irish countryside tourism.
Description

Irish Hospitality and Landscapes

Hospitality holds a high value in Ireland. In Irish, there is even a specific expression that describes the friendly attitude of the Irish towards guests: "céad míle fáilte" literally translates to "a hundred thousand welcomes" and is lived on the green island accordingly. Did you know that approximately 11 million tourists visit Ireland annually? That's more than twice the entire population of the island! Irish hospitality is an essential component, ensuring that visitors remember their stay positively.

Nature enthusiasts also fall in love with Ireland: Due to its lush green landscapes, Ireland is often referred to as the "Emerald Isle." Rolling hills, meadows, and the countryside contribute to a picturesque and tranquil environment. Along the coast, scenic sandy beaches invite you to extensive walks. In addition to quaint villages and historical ruins, you will find breathtaking coastal panoramas and impressive cliffs that almost vertically descend into the sea. 


Holidays on Farms in Ireland

In Ireland, agrotourism activities often revolve around experiencing rural life, agriculture, and the natural beauty of the countryside. Here are some typical agrotourism activities you might find:

  • Farm Stays: Visitors can stay on working farms, experiencing daily farm life, participating in farm activities, and enjoying the peaceful rural surroundings.
  • Farm Tours: Guided tours of farms where visitors can learn about agricultural practices, animal husbandry, and sustainable farming methods.
  • Horse and Pony Riding Experiences: Farms may offer horse and pony riding experiences for children, and/or guided trail rides through scenic countryside or along coastal paths.
  • Cheese or Dairy Tours: Exploring dairy farms and cheese production facilities, learning about the cheese-making process, and tasting locally produced cheeses.
  • Visit Farmers' Markets: Attend local farmers' markets to sample and purchase fresh, locally grown products, homemade goods, and artisan products.
  • Cooking Classes: Hands-on cooking classes using fresh, farm-to-table ingredients, often hosted by local farmers or chefs.
  • Nature Walks and Hiking: Exploring the natural landscapes surrounding farms, with guided walks or hiking trails showcasing the scenic beauty of the Irish countryside.
  • Fishing and Angling: Some agrotourism locations may offer fishing experiences, allowing visitors to try their hand at angling in nearby rivers or lakes.
  • Foraging Experiences: Guided foraging tours where participants can learn to identify and gather wild plants, herbs, and mushrooms with an experienced guide.
  • Traditional Irish Crafts: Workshops or demonstrations on traditional Irish crafts such as wool spinning, weaving, pottery, or basket making.
  • Culinary Events: Participating in or attending events that showcase local and seasonal foods, often prepared by local chefs or food artisans.


Agrotourism in Ireland provides a unique opportunity for visitors to connect with the rural lifestyle, appreciate local food production, and immerse themselves in the culture and traditions of the countryside.


Agrotourism Internship in Ireland

Farms offering guest rooms and tourist activities are typically small, family-run businesses that conduct tourist-related activities as a supplementary income alongside farming. As an intern in agrotourism ("Farm stay"), you usually participate in everything related to the hospitality and tourism services that the farm offers.

You will be involved in communication and bookings with international guests in your native language and in English, check them into their rooms, and prepare the rooms. You might also work in the kitchen or service, assisting in preparing or serving meals, or accompany and assist with tours, events, and activities.

The main tourism season in Ireland is from approximately March to the end of September. However, opportunities in rural tourism are available throughout the year. 


Your Daily Work in Ireland

You typically work 5 days a week for about 40-45 hours and have 2 days off per week. As there is always much to do in tourism and hospitality, especially during the peak season, your days off may not necessarily fall on weekends. If you work on weekends, you will have compensatory days off during the week.

The exact working hours depend on your workplace and may vary depending on the tasks at hand. Therefore, you should be flexible regarding the exact working hours.


Internship Positions

If you are looking for an internship for your university, college or vocational school, this is also possible: Please tell us the requirements of your university/training institute for the internship, and we will find a suitable internship position in the field of rural tourism in Ireland for you. Throughout the internship, you will be guided and supervised by professionals in your field, ensuring you have the maximum learning experience.

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 them 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 know all our host families. Irish families are generally very hospitable and welcoming, involving their foreign program participants in family activities.

Extras

Read more

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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 work experience in the tourism and hospitality industry.

 

No visa needed for many nationalities!

contact miriam

Questions?

your consultant for this program is

Miriam Gebert

(she/her)

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