Host Family Example 1 - Mrs. M

Mrs M holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Masters Degree in Occupational Psychology.  She has worked for many years in Human Resources Management.  She has specific experience in the areas of Training & Development, Recruitment and Occupational Skills.  She lives with her husband, Tadhg and her son Tadhg Junior.

Home/Location

They live on their farm which is located 12miles from Shannon Airport and close to the picturesque village of Quin in County Clare.  Within a short distance, there are many historic sites; Craganaowen Ring Fort, Knappogue Castle and Quin Abbey to name but a few.  Glór, an Irish music and cultural center, is located in Ennis town which is only 10 miles away.  A day trip to the cliffs of Moher is a must!

On the farm they breed Organic Kerry Cattle, and Connemara ponies with spring and summer being the business period.

Students Room

It is double room with private bathroom.  It is a bright and comfortable room.

Family Interests

Hobbies and interests include horse-riding, golf, walking, socialising and fishing.  They even have their own river for fishing!  

Pets

Two golden Retrievers, CJ and Cracker live as part of the family. Their Connemara ponies Suzie, Liath, and Casey.  They also have two Donkeys, Jack and Nellie.

Smoking

This is a non-smoking household. Smoking in the house not allowed.

Host Family Example 2 - Mr & Mrs. N

Mrs N holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, a Higher Diploma in Education and a teaching English certificate.  She has 16 years teaching experience.  Her husband is also very highly qualified with a Master Degree in Teaching English. They live with their daughter who is 16 years old.

Home/Location

The family live in a four bedroom, detached house that has a large garden.  They live near the local village.  They live about 30 minutes from Limerick city.  There are lots of activities available in the area including river fishing and horse riding.

Students Room

It is a bright and comfortable double room.

Family Interests

Hobbies and interests include cooking, walking, sports and history.  Their daughter plays cello and is very interested in animals.  

Pets

They have 2 friendly dogs and 1 cat.

Smoking

This is a non-smoking household. Smoking allowed outside the house.

Host Family Example 3 - Mrs. McD

Mrs McD holds a Diploma in Business Administration and a certificate in teaching English. She also works part-time as a clerical officer with the Health Service Executive.

Home/Location

Mrs McD lives in County Kerry with her husband and four children. The Kerry region is one of the most beautiful parts of Ireland and attracts thousands of tourists each year. They live on a small farm and have a variety of animals including rabbits, hens and ducks. They also have a large vegetable garden and lots of fruit trees. Students who choose the English & Farmstay programme can get involved in farm activities including taking care of baby rabbits and chickens! They can organise walks/hikes with a leader - up the Dingle Mountain and Killarney mountains.

Students Room

There is a choice of 3 rooms.

• 1st room - this room has a 5ft bed with private bathroom with walk in wardrobe.
• 2nd room, this room has a double bed and a shared bathroom.
• 3rd room, this room is a twin room and a shared bathroom.

Family Interests

Hobbies and interests include gardening, walking, outdoor activities and all sports.

Pets

Ozzy the dog (spaniel), Blacky the cat.

Smoking

This is a non-smoking household. No smokers please.

Host Family Example 4 - Mrs D

Mrs D is a communication’s coach and teacher and runs her own communications business.  She has over 20yrs experience in this area and her strengths are in teaching Interview Skills, Presentation Skills, C.V Preparation, Career Makeover, Voice Production, Drama for Confidence and most important, English as a 2nd Language.
She graduated from the London College of Speech and Communications with a Teachers Diploma. She also has a TEFL qualification which was awarded through the Phoenix programme.

Home/Location

Mrs D is married to Michael and they have two daughters.  Their daughters visit periodically as they do not live at home.  Another very important family member is Holly, a King Charles dog who loves students and is very well behaved. Mrs D and her husband live 1km outside the pretty village of Adare in County Limerick. Adare is known as the prettiest village in Ireland.  Its history dates back to the 12th century and local historic sites include the abbey, monasteries, a castle and charming thatched cottages.  Shannon airport is only 40 minutes away. Adare is also known for its fine food and restaurants. Horse riding, river fishing and golf are all available in the local area. 

Students Room

The students room is large and with private bathroom. It is newly decorated, has two windows, and is overlooking 75 acres of wood.

Family Interests

Family interests include golf, drama, travelling, walking, reading and Cooking.

Pets

Holly, a lovely King Charles spaniel dog will guarantee a warm welcome.

Smoking

This is a non-smoking household. They do not accept smokers.