Burren College of Art Partnership

LONDON & BERLIN ART EXCURSIONS
Your program at the Burren College of Art includes a four-day, faculty-led trip to London or Berlin. Burren College faculty will led the tours to museums and galleries during the day, and enjoy free time to explore the city on your own in the evenings.

• Fall-term students will visit London, England.
• Spring-term students will visit Berlin, Germany.
• Transportation, housing, and exhibition tickets are included. Meals and other expenses are not included.

IFSA ACTIVITIES & EXCURSIONS
Activities and excursions are designed to pull you into the communities you visit and encourage cultural connections of every kind. There’s no extra fee to participate in these optional outings—everything is included in your program fee.

Below are a selection of activities and excursions from previous terms; options may vary for your program. Due to the seasonal nature of many of program activities, we cannot guarantee a specific activity or excursion will be available in a given term or program.

• Monks Restaurant Outing. This popular spot has been serving up fresh seafood straight from Galway Bay for more than 40 years. Join us for a celebratory meal in Ballyvaughn, right on the glorious Atlantic.
• Ennis day trip. Soak up the lovely market in the county town of Clare, exploring fresh food, quirky shops, historic churches, the haunting ruins of an 12^th century monastery and 13th century friary, and a welcoming library.
• Aillwee Caves. Get new perspective on beautiful Country Clare with hilltop views and underground exploration of the half-mile cave system, with a hidden river, stalactites, and stalagmites, carved into the local karst limestone. In the same location, the Birds of Centre gives you a close look at awesome raptors, including hawks, eagles, and owls.
• Kilkenny weekend. Don’t miss this two-night trip to Kilkenny, a charming medieval city dating back to 1195. Stay in a hostel with IFSA students who are studying all over Ireland and explore this small central Ireland standout, known for its history, artisan food, sporting culture—and Ireland’s most notorious witch. Visit a local farm, try hurling with a local coach, test yourself with a pub quiz, explore Kilkenny Castle, and more.

Students are invited to University of Galway excursions as well as overnight trips.

Limerick Activities and Excursions

• King John’s Castle: Step inside the walls of Limerick’s most iconic landmark in the heart of Limerick’s medieval quarter. Discover the stories of ruthless King John, noble knights, and rebellious natives, which bring 800 years of dramatic local history to life.
• Rugby match at Thomond Park: Take in the atmosphere as you walk with Munster Rugby supporters to the stadium, just outside the city center. Then catch the excitement as you cheer on the home team.
• Historic Milk Market: Established in 1852, the Milk Market was a hub for the local economy. Today, it’s open weekends and full of stalls serving everything from coffee to crafts to pre-loved books. Discover your favorite stalls and chat with the local vendors about their wares.
• Afternoon at Bunratty Castle and Folk-Park: Stroll around this perfectly recreated village, complete with fishing cottages, farmhouses from rural Ireland, a Victorian school, mills, a working farm, and the 15th century tower house from Bunratty Castle. Then enjoy a pub dinner at the incomparable Durty Nelly’s bar, with a unique vibe from 400 years back.

Galway Activities and Excursions

• Historic City Lane Walking Tour: A local guide takes us from the Spanish Arch through the old city to Eyre Square. Along the way, learn about the medieval roots and dramatic family feuds of the City of the Tribes, as well as its global political links. It’s a great way to go beyond a tourist’s perspective to understand the history and rich contemporary culture you’ll see throughout these bustling, bohemian lanes.
• Gaelic Games Experience: Ireland’s national Gaelic games include hurling, Gaelic football, handball, and camogie—ancient sports not widely known outside Ireland. Try them yourself with guidance from local coaches.
• Rugby Match at The Sportsground: Take in the atmosphere as you walk with Connacht Rugby supporters to the stadium, just outside the city center. Then catch the excitement as you cheer on the home team.
• Stand-up Comedy or City Festival: Galway is known for drawing comedians who want to try new material on a discerning audience and monthly festivals that often center on food, film, or theater.
• Day Trip to Connemara and Kylemore Abbey: Hop on the bus to tour the wilds of Connemara and its must-see rugged landscape on the way to the west coast’s best scenery. Stop at Kylemore Abbey and gardens for a tour of this majestic, rural castle and Benedictine monastery, built in the early 1920s by Pollacapal Lough. The landscape alone will take your breath away, inspiring you to return to explore the towns of Clifden and Lenaun again.

Students at Burren College of Art live nearby with other visiting students. Lodgings include the college’s guest house, called The Lodge, and the Bungalow, an adjacent cottage.  

Your program fee covers housing in a room shared by two; if you are placed in a single room, please know that you’ll be charged an additional fee to cover the extra cost. 

Living space:  

• The Lodge. The Lodge has outdoor space with beautiful views of Burren. Houses 21 students in newly refurbished double and single rooms. Common spaces include living room with fireplace, dining room, TV area, well-equipped kitchen, laundry, washrooms, and outdoor gathering space.  
• The Bungalow. Includes two double bedrooms, each with a private bathroom, and two single bedrooms that share one bathroom. Shared sitting area, well-equipped kitchen, and laundry facilities.  
• Bedding and sheets provided; students provide towels. 

Meals: BCA offers an optional meal plan for lunch only. Students prepare the rest of their meals. 

Location: In the village of Burren, a UNESCO heritage site, a 10-minute walk from BCA. It’s a 20-minute walk to the town of Ballyvaughn.