Location

Caherciveen is located at the tip of the Iveragh peninsula in the Skellig Coastal Region in the south-west of Ireland. Few would disagree that this area, situated between the Kerry Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean, is home to some of the most beautiful and dramatic scenery in Ireland.

With a population of only 2,000, Caherciveen is an ideal, safe place for language-learners young and old to mix with local people in a safe and relaxed environment. For the over-18s a great selection of pubs offer plenty by way of live entertainment, traditional Irish music and dancing, and the Caherciveen Celtic Music Festival is a focal point for many in the summer.

The area immediately surrounding Caherciveen is full of archaeological remains from Celtic and prehistoric times. Many picturesque villages such as Waterville and Portmagee are within easy reach of Caherciveen, and the larger towns of Killarney and Tralee are just one hour away. Our excursion programme ensures that students benefit from the variety of landscape, both urban and rural, for which Kerry is famous.

Accommodation

Asana will be happy to arrange accommodation for you in a carefully selected family home. Families provide breakfast, a packed lunch and full evening meal every day. Only one student of each nationality is placed with a family unless otherwise requested.

Each house provides a clean, tidy room with desk/table for study, adequate storage for clothes, and a comfortable bed with a weekly change of bed linen. There is a facility to have a shower every day with adequate hot water and towels provided.

Many of our family homes are within walking distance of the school. Farm-houses and family homes in the countryside can also be arranged. In cases where the students' accommodation is more than a 20-minute walk from the school a private bus is arranged free of charge.

Top quality guest-house accommodation, bed & breakfasts and apartments can also be organised on request.

Facilities

Our main centre is located right in the centre of Caherciveen town, and consists of five classrooms, library, canteen / students' common room, yoga and meditation space and a community garden and a developing hedge school.

Our summer school for juniors is a state-of-the-art second-level college, also located just one kilometre from the town centre, with extensive grounds including football fields, tennis courts and a modern gymnasium & sports hall where students may practise basketball, volleyball, badminton, indoor hockey and indoor football.

Both centres have breath-taking views of the ocean and surrounding hills and are within easy walking distances of all services.

Getting here

Asana will arrange free transfers to your host family and back to the airport provided you travel on a Saturday or Sunday and fly in to one of the following airports:
Kerry Airport: www.kerryairport.ie
Cork Airport: www.corkairport.com
For students arriving or leaving on a week-day, Asana will arrange a private taxi with the following surcharges:
Kerry Airport: 80 euros each way for up to five people
Cork Airport: 180 euros each way for up to five people

Asana can also arrange to collect you on weekends from Cork city centre or Killarney town centre if traveling from another part of Ireland by road or rail.

Please make sure you have provided Asana with correct details of your flights including flight numbers, dates and times of arrival. Please also send an email to confirm details two days before your departure for Ireland.

Our school taxi / bus drivers will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall with an ASANA sign clearly visible. You will also be provided with the driver's mobile telephone number well in advance of your trip. If you cannot locate your driver you should phone or send them a text and proceed to the information desk in the arrivals hall.

Travel preparation

Students should take out travel and medical insurance prior to their trip. EU citizens should bring their national medical insurance card with them. Non-EU students must provide for their own insurance or arrange insurance cover through the Asana School of English.

Please ensure that Asana are aware of the precise details of your arrival (airport of arrival, flight number, date and time). If you have requested a shuttle transfer or taxi please email Asana well in advance of your arrival to confirm times.

We recommend that you bring the following items with you to Ireland:

at least one warm jumper
a water-proof jacket
a pair of sturdy boots for walking, preferably water-proof
swimming costume and beach-towel
a musical instrument if portable
a good sense of humour and adventure!