School trips to Ireland

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School trips to Ireland offer short journey times and diverse learning opportunities, with most of our school groups choosing to base themselves in the lively capital, Dublin!

Ireland is a great choice for a number of subjects, particularly political history and food technology.

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Why visit Ireland?

Fascinating political history

The UK and Ireland have a long and complex political history. A school trip focusing on this topic will bring to life the historical, social and economical contexts around events such as the Easter Rising and the establishment of the Irish Free State.

Your students will explore some of the challenges of home rule and nationalism. And they'll learn more about how and why Ireland was partitioned in 1921 and how this led to the Irish Civil War.

At Kilmainham Gaol, your students will hear the personal stories of some of the leading figures in Irish nationalism.

And at Glasnevin Cemetery Museum, you’ll learn more about some of those who shaped modern Ireland, such as Eamon de Valera, Daniel O’Connell and Michael Collins.

Iconic cuisine

A school trip to Ireland offers some really exciting opportunities for food technology students. They’ll visit the Guinness Storehouse and Old Jameson Distillery to discover more about the brewing and distilling processes involved in two of Ireland’s biggest exports.

They’ll enjoy a cookery lesson at Dublin Cookery School and discover the role of food in Ireland’s culture on a Food, Folklore and Fairies evening at Dublin’s oldest pub.

And they’ll explore the world of iconic Irish chocolate brand Butlers, where they’ll find out more about the different types of chocolate and how they’re made. There will also be lots of opportunities to try some!

Vibrant culture

School trips to Ireland are always an unforgettable experience for your students. As well as the exciting educational activities available here, there will be lots of opportunities to experience the country’s vibrant culture.

And, wherever you go, you’ll experience a traditional warm Irish welcome.

Activities in Ireland that your school group will love

Dublin Castle

In continuous occupation since its establishment in 1204 AD, Dublin Castle has played a prominent role in Ireland's history. Today,

Historical walking tour of Dublin

This walking tour of Dublin,conducted by history graduates of Trinity College Dublin and the National University of Ireland, explores the

Dublinia

Dublinia is an unforgettable experience at the heart of Dublin City, the crossroads where modern and old Dublin meets. It

Kilmainham Gaol

Kilmainham Gaol has borne witness to many of the most important events in Irish history since it opened in 1796.

Guinness Storehouse

World-famous for its beer production, the Guinness Storehouse is now Ireland's no.1 attraction. Yourgroup will learn all about the history

Glasnevin Cemetery Museum

Glasnevin Cemetery was opened to the public in 1832 and is the largest non-denominational cemetery in Ireland. Until its opening,

Evening of Food, Folklore and Fairies

Visit Dublin's oldest pub to experience an evening of Food, Folklore and Faries. As you tuck in to a traditional

Dublin Cookery School

During your evening cookery course choose from; a demonstration where you will learn all of the methods and techniques to

Old Jameson Distillery Tour

Set in a recreated distillery scene, travel back in time to discover the captivating story of Jameson and how three

Where to visit in Ireland

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Why choose Halsbury?

We build your trip around you

Tell us your learning objectives, curriculum and budget and we’ll do the rest.

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We’re trusted for a reason

We’re members of ABTA, ABTOT and the School Travel Forum. We also hold an ATOL and the LOtC Quality Badge.

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Our Education specialists

Laura Lucas

Tour Consultant

Paul Hudson

Tour Consultant

Laura Martin

Language Sales & Product Manager

Emma Gray da Silva

Tour Consultant

Meet our education specialists and get to know more about the people committed to making your school trip the best it can be.

Meet the education team

FAQs

I can’t see the destination I’m looking to travel to, can you still help me with my trip?

Of course.

We've got great relationships with suppliers all over the world, so we should be able to arrange something for you to suit your budget and trip objectives in your preferred destination.

Just get in touch with us and we'll let you know what we can do. 

Do you offer travel insurance?

We do. Travel insurance is an optional extra and you can find out more about it in our travel insurance resource (which includes the policy documents and FAQs). 

If you decide against arranging this insurance through us (which is absolutely fine, by the way), please just remember you must have suitable travel and medical insurance to cover your group. 

Can the trip itinerary be adapted to my curriculum and requirements?

Every single trip we arrange is tailor-made, so yes, the itinerary can be adapted.

Our Tour Advisers and Itinerary Coordinators are all experienced school travel specialists. They'll work closely with you to make sure your itinerary supports your learning objectives. They'll be able to offer suggestions and advice to make sure you make the most of your time. 

So, when you're browsing through our school trips, just remember that the itineraries and activities you see are there for inspiration only - your own itinerary can look as similar or as different as you want. 

Equally, we've suggested trip durations based on what groups usually request - if you want to go for a shorter or longer duration, just let us know. 

How far ahead should I start planning my trip?

As a general rule, we recommend that you start planning your trip 12-18 months before you want to travel. This gives you plenty of time to get it approved and launched to students and parents.

Planning early will mean you have a greater choice of accommodation and travel options - and it will make paying for the trip easier for families, as they'll be able to break it down into smaller, more manageable payments.

You can check out our trip-planning timeline for a better idea of the process and when you should expect to be doing things. 

If you are looking to travel sooner than this, it is possible. It will depend on availability and you may find prices are a bit higher, but get in touch and we can see what's possible. 

What accommodation options are available?

The accommodation options that are available vary depending on the destination but we're usually able to arrange everything from hostel-style accommodation to more luxurious hotels. 

On each of the trip pages, you'll see some accommodation options - these are usually the most popular for those destinations, but we often have plenty of other options available. You'll discuss accommodation options (and budget) with your Tour Adviser when they're putting your quote together, so don't be afraid to let them know if you want something different. 

We only work with accommodation options that are suitable for schools. As a member of the School Travel Forum (STF), you can be certain that all accommodation contracted by us complies with local legislation with respect to fire and general safety, is contracted by trained Halsbury Travel staff or reputable agents, receives a standard audit and risk assessment prior to use by Halsbury Travel and receives a supplementary audit if it is used on five or more occasions in a year. 

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