Your questions, answered.

We offer courses for children aged 4–12, teenagers aged 13–17 and adults aged 18+. Choose from:

• Standard General English — 15 hours of morning English per week.
• Adult Intensive English — 20, 25 or 30 hours per week, combining morning classes with additional afternoon English.
• Adult Combined English — 15 hours of group English plus 5 hours of one-to-one tuition per week.
• English + Activities — morning English and afternoon activities for children and teenagers. The teenage programme also includes a Saturday day trip.
• One-to-one lessons — individual tuition arranged around your learning needs and availability.
• Part-time English — contact us to discuss a suitable timetable.
• Work & Study — 25 weeks of English, 15 hours per week, plus 8 weeks of holidays.

See course fees and programme dates.

Yes. Our family programmes allow adults and children to study in age-appropriate classes. Adult and children’s classes use separate teaching spaces at our main location on Muckross Road. Teenagers study at our teenage school in Lissivigeen. We will confirm your teaching location before arrival.

Our children’s courses start from age 4. Children aged 4–12, teenagers aged 13–17 and adults aged 18+ study in separate age groups. There is no upper age limit for adult students.

The average class size outside of the summer is six.

The maximum class size in the summer for adults and children is ten students. The maximum size of class for teenagers in the summer is 14.

We offer adult and teenage classes from beginner to advanced, subject to suitable placement and availability. Our usual levels are beginner, elementary, pre-intermediate, intermediate, upper-intermediate and advanced. We do not offer a dedicated Proficiency/C2 class.

Children are grouped by age and English ability. Younger children aged 4–6 follow an introductory approach, while children aged 7–12 can study from beginner through to pre-intermediate levels, depending on placement and availability.

Progress depends on your starting level, course length, attendance, practice and learning goals. Regular use of English outside class also helps. We can discuss realistic goals with you, but cannot promise fluency within a fixed number of weeks.

Our students come from many countries across Europe and beyond. The mix of nationalities changes throughout the year, so each class and season offers a different international experience.

Students receive a Killarney School of English certificate of attendance and achievement on successful completion of their course. This school certificate is separate from any external examination qualification.

We can discuss preparation for examinations such as IELTS and Trinity ISE Digital. Our Work & Study package includes the TIE examination. Contact us before booking to confirm which preparation options and examination arrangements are available for your level and dates.

The shortest course is usually one week. One-to-one and part-time arrangements may differ; ask us about availability.

Killarney School of English is a member of English Education Ireland ↗. ACELS and QQI. Our team can provide the current details of the school’s quality-assurance arrangements and the recognition or immigration eligibility relevant to your chosen programme.

Our teachers have university degrees and appropriate EFL qualifications. They are friendly, approachable and experienced in helping students use English with confidence. Meet our staff.

For a course or class-level question, speak to your teacher or Director of Studies, Nicola Bradwell. For accommodation or administrative questions, speak to Sheena. For travel or immigration-related school documentation, speak to Managing Director Feargal Courtney. Reception will help you find the right person.

The adult General English morning runs from 9:45am to 1:00pm, with a break from 11:30am to 11:45am. Other programmes and age groups may have different arrangements; we will confirm your timetable before arrival.

We arrange host families for individual students and families, subject to availability. We can also help with recommendations for self-catering accommodation, hotels, B&Bs and guest houses and hostels. Confirm who will make the booking before committing to an accommodation option.

Our accommodation officer visits host families when they join us and regularly afterwards. Host families are Garda vetted and receive guidance on the school’s accommodation expectations and student welfare arrangements.

Host families typically accommodate one or two individual teenage or adult students. Individual students normally have their own room. Families staying together are not normally placed with unrelated students. We will confirm the room and household arrangements for your booking.

Please speak to Sheena as soon as a difficulty arises. We will listen, help resolve the issue and discuss whether another host family is needed. Any move depends on the circumstances and suitable accommodation being available.

The weekly price includes accommodation, breakfast, packed lunch, evening meal and transport to and from school. Meals and accommodation cover seven days per week.

Host family accommodation costs €300 per teenager per week and €325 per adult or child aged 4–12 per week. Dietary supplements are €25 per week for a vegan or lactose-free diet and €50 per week for a coeliac diet. See accommodation prices for details.

Tell us about dietary requirements, allergies and medical needs before booking so we can discuss suitable arrangements. Host family availability for particular requirements must be confirmed in advance.

Yes. We offer separate summer programmes for children aged 4–12 and teenagers aged 13–17. See each page for the proposed 2027 timetable.

A Saturday day trip is included in the teenage English + Activities programme. School-organised Saturday excursions are for teenagers; they are not included in the children’s programme. We can recommend independent trips for adults and families. Departure and return times depend on the excursion and will be confirmed locally.

No. You can book morning English classes only, or choose an English + Activities programme for a child or teenager. Check the booking details to see which activities are included in your course.

Students on GE1 morning classes can ask Reception about booking individual afternoon activities, or a teenage Saturday excursion. Places are subject to availability and suitability. Reception will confirm the price and booking arrangements for each activity.

Yes. The published timetables are proposed programmes. Activities and trips may change because of weather, availability, safety considerations or other circumstances. Our team will confirm the week’s arrangements during your stay.

Qualified EFL teachers conduct and coordinate the children’s afternoon programme. Many activities involve tasks and instructions in English, so learning continues beyond the classroom.

There are walks, cycling routes, boat trips, cultural visits, indoor activities and days out around Killarney and Kerry. Explore our Things to Do guide or ask our team for recommendations.

Use our Book Now page for individual, family and group booking options. You can also contact us if you would like help choosing a course or checking availability.

Yes. After enrolment, we will provide an online placement test for adults, teenagers and children aged 7–12. There is no formal entry test for children aged 4–6. Your placement is based on your age, test results and learning needs; our team will confirm the arrangements before arrival.

You can pay by Visa or MasterCard through our online payment page, or by bank transfer. Please quote your booking number.

• Account name: Killarney School of English
• Bank: Allied Irish Bank (AIB)
• Branch: 25 Main Street, Killarney, Co. Kerry, Ireland, V93 W995
• IBAN: IE21 AIBK 9363 3214 0710 09
• BIC/SWIFT: AIBKIE2D
• NSC: 936332
• Account number: 14071009

Use the payment instructions issued with your booking. If you receive different bank details, confirm them directly with the school before transferring money. We send a receipt after payment is received.

A deposit of 25% of the fees is required. The balance is due one week before your course starts, unless your booking confirmation specifies a different arrangement. Work & Study students should follow the payment instructions supplied for their programme and any visa documentation.

There are no enrolment fees, application fees or accommodation placement fees. Accommodation and airport transfers are priced separately from tuition. See our prices for what is included.

The school’s published refund terms provide for a refund of fees, less bank charges and a €100 administration fee, if a non-EU student’s visa application is unsuccessful. Contact us with the refusal documentation and follow the terms supplied with your booking. No refunds are given for late arrivals or early departures.

You can travel via Kerry, Cork, Shannon or Dublin Airport. Routes and schedules change by season, so check directly with the airline and airport before booking. See our travel guide for planning information.

Explore the airport-specific guides below for public transport and transfer information:

• Kerry Airport to Killarney
• Cork Airport to Killarney
• Shannon Airport to Killarney
• Dublin Airport to Killarney

Check current timetables before travelling. Journey times vary with your route, connections and traffic.

Killarney is in County Kerry, in the south-west of Ireland. Our main school is on Muckross Road, beside Killarney National Park. See our location page for details.

Killarney is a base for exploring the Ring of Kerry, the Dingle Peninsula and the wider Wild Atlantic Way. Glengarriff and Blarney Castle are further afield and can be considered as day trips. Explore Things to Do for ideas.

If you have booked a transfer, we will confirm the meeting point, arrival arrangements and destination before you travel. We can arrange transfers from Kerry, Cork, Shannon and Dublin airports, and Killarney’s train/bus station. Send us your flight or train details in advance and contact us if they change. See transfer prices.

The school bus collects students at designated stops within Killarney. Your booking information will confirm your stop and collection time. For host families outside the town, arrangements may involve a lift to school or to a school-bus stop. Please confirm your individual travel arrangements before arrival.

Requirements depend on your nationality, length of stay and programme. Check Immigration Service Delivery ↗ before booking travel. A course booking does not itself grant a visa, permission to enter Ireland or permission to work. For Work & Study, contact us about the documents and programme eligibility relevant to your booking.

Work rights depend on your immigration permission. Students with valid Stamp 2 permission may normally work up to 20 hours per week, or up to 40 hours per week during the designated periods of June–September and 15 December–15 January. These limits do not mean that any holiday you take allows 40-hour work.

Check the official student work conditions ↗. Work & Study does not guarantee employment.

All students should arrange appropriate travel insurance. Students travelling from outside the EU should also consider medical insurance, while eligible EU students should bring their European Health Insurance Card. The AY2 Work & Study package includes medical insurance and learner protection insurance; check the policy details supplied with your booking.