Living and working in Ireland offers as much adventure and challenger as a summer could bring. Have you ever contemplated walking on top of the sweeping Cliffs of Moher or strolling along the same brick-layed old streets tread by Yeats, James Joyce, Oscar Wilde and of course, U2? From Dublin to Galway, Ireland offers historic gateways in its boisterous cities as well as its quaint, friendly and picturesque towns that seem a world away from the global village as we know it.

Here is a snippet of the cultural scene that hits every corner of this little Island:

• Cat Laughs – Comedy Festival in Kilkenny May 29th to June 2nd
• Leonard Cohen – Concert in Dublin 13th, 14th and 15th of June 2008
• Maritime Festival –Dublin Docklands May 30th to June 2nd.
• Listowel Writer’s Week- May 28th to June 1st
• Taste of Dublin –June 12th to 15th
• The AIB Street Performance World Championships, June 13th to 15th
• Festival of World Cultures, August 24th to 26th
• Dublin Fringe Festival, Sept 8th to 23rd
• Galway Arts Festival, July 14th to 27th
• The Galway Sessions (traditional music)- June 16th to 27th
• Walking the Ancient Celtic Way, Aran Islands Galway, 14th to 21st of July

And this is only a small list…

This is what Discover Ireland has to say about Bloomsday:

“BLOOMSDAY marks the day in 1904 on which all the action of James Joyce’s novel Ulysses takes place. It is celebrated every year on 16th June by Joyceans all over the world. In Dublin, where the novel is set, Bloomsday celebrations go on for a week, with most of the attention on the day itself. It is traditional to dress up and go out for the day, visiting the locations of the book and taking part in readings, walks, reenactments and convivial activities of all sorts which in some way connect with Ulysses, its author and its world. As an occasion rather than a festival, Bloomsday has no ‘official’ programme or organizing committee. Events on this list are arranged by a number of different bodies and occur at venues in and around the city.”

These are only a few of the great cultural, spiritual and recreational events that keep more working holiday seekers coming back for more each year. A vibrant summer employment milieu as well as different professional possibilities during the year which means Ireland can be work and holiday all-in-one.

On the Sunday we will all hop on another bus to do the Burren Trip. This breath-taking tour will take us to the majestic Cliffs of Moher – where the next stop across the ocean is NYC. We will then turn back inland and visit the Burren region –deriving its name from the Irish word for rocky land. Perfect for easy walking and enjoyment of this special place.

Each night we take to the streets of Galway and hit some of the famous pubs – each with its own unique gathering of traditional music enthusiasts or simply those wanting a good pint after a day out sight-seeing. There is plenty to see in the city to keep you occupied to the wee hours of the morning.

Name: Meaghan Johnson
Age: 22 yrs.
University: Bentley College
Length of time here: 4 months.

What job are you doing in Ireland and how did you find it?
I Working in Operations at Truvo (Yellow pages) Ireland Ltd. Found through a temping agency.

Many participants choose to work through temping agencies. These temporary recruiters can find you a 4 month placement or less…even just a couple of days if that is what you need. The great advantage is a 9-5:30, Monday to Friday work week. This gives you the weekend to travel and can also help to build your resume in administration, marketing or PR work while you are here. We even have one of our temping agencies www.lacreme.ie available at your orientation to take a look at your resume and possibly to get you started working the next day!

Where & Who are you living with here?
Living in Ranelagh with 2 amazing Irish guys.

Ranelagh is a neighborhood in Dublin. The City is divided into 24 really small neighborhoods. At orientation upon your arrival participants all receive a detailed description of the different areas and how much you can expect to pay for rent. Meaghan’s place cost her €500 a month but this is a relatively easy rent to pay as wages are quite competitive in the city.

Whats your social scene like? Where do you go? What do you do etc?
Social scene consists of local pubs in Ranelagh, Harcourt St and Camden St. Have traveled so far to London, Prague and Rome. I play tag rugby 1-2 times a week.

Going out to local pubs with friends can actually represent a good portion of your social life while in Ireland. Pubs generally fill up at the end of each work day and then of course on weekend nights. For those who need something more active you can take up tag rugby or any number of different recreational league sports that are offered in Ireland. In addition, many people join hill-walking groups that head to the hills on the weekend for some exercise and good “craic”.

Your most memorable thing to date in Ireland?
None yet but I know the most memorable will be Electric Picnic!

Meaghan is already getting geared up for the one of the biggest events to hit Ireland. Not far from Dublin in county Laois, August 28/29/30th, Electric Picnic features Art and Music performances. This year the main headliners are Sinead O’Connor, Cathy Davey, The Sex Pistols, as well as long-time Irish favorites like Christy Moore. The menu also features a variety of circus, comedic and visual art acts. This is definitely a favorite for all our participants and sure to deliver all that it promises this year.

Can you sum up your experience on the program in Ireland to date?
Experience has been absolutely amazing. Very easy transition, but it was a little tough at first with dollar exchange rate.

The dollar to euro exchange may be one reason you are second-guessing about coming to Europe. However, that is why the work and travel option is so appealing. Once you get here and start working, you find that you have some expendable income to see those places you always wanted to see in Ireland and even on the European continent. It can cost a little extra to get set up when you first arrive. That is why we recommend coming with a little extra cash in your bank ($2000) to tie you over until you land that first job.

What Advice you would give any students thinking about going on the WII program?
I would tell people to absolutely do it. It is the most amazing experience where you get to improve your resume and meet amazing people.

Lots of students choose to spend their summers at back at the job waiting at home. While this does offer some security –there are certainly other potentially eye-opening and challenging opportunities available for those who want them. Not only can you fulfill that overdue dream of traveling but you can also bolster your resume with valuable “work abroad” experience. Across the board, employers are looking for this kind of initiative when hiring.

I hope that this month’s newsletter has given you a bigger picture about the Work and Travel Ireland program and what it can become for you! Keep visiting us online for more updates and contact us with questions or concerns you may have.

Is Mise le Meas!

The Work and Travel Ireland team
June 2008