Ryan Allen of Irish Gap Year

Ryan Allen spent most of his twenties studying, teaching and traveling abroad (a self-described “gap decade”). A passionate surfer, Ryan chased waves in New Zealand, Norway and elsewhere. He eventually made his way to the famous waves of northwest Ireland, where he went on to found Irish Gap year with his business partner, Killian O’Kelly. In our interview Ryan shares how he came to become an experiential educator and describes the student experience of Irish Gap Year.  

University of Canterbury in Christchurch – Where Ryan Studied abroad 

The Ashoken Center in New York – where Ryan worked before moving to Ireland. 

FYI – This is Killian:

Killian spends his free time volunteering for the RNLI, The Royal National Lifeboat Institution. RNLI is the largest charity that saves lives at sea around the coast of Ireland.
Ryan at Whitehill Farm with the McIntyre Family

Surf & Turf – Killian’s surf school in Bundoran 

IGY students
Saoirse the Shih Tzu (approximation)