Become a host family
Open your home. Welcome the world.
We're looking for warm, welcoming Irish families in Gorey and the surrounding area to host international students during the year and over the summer.
More than a bed and a meal.
Hosting is at the heart of what we do. The classroom teaches grammar — but the dinner table, the school run and the Sunday walk are where students actually start to think in English. That happens in your home, with your family, on your terms. We're looking for people who enjoy company, want to share a bit of Ireland, and are open to having a young person from Spain, Italy, Poland or France around for a week or two at a time.
- · Flexible. Choose the weeks that suit you. No long-term commitment, and you can take a season off whenever life calls for it.
- · Fully supported. A local team you can call any time, a 24/7 emergency line during programmes, and clear guidelines so you always know what to expect.
- · Carefully matched. We know our students and our families. We pair them on age, interests, dietary needs and house dynamics — not at random.
- · Genuinely rewarding. Many of our families stay in touch with their students for years. Some have been invited to weddings. Most just discover that the world feels a little smaller, and the kitchen a little livelier.
What we ask of host families
- · A spare bedroom (single or shared) within walking or short driving distance of Gorey town centre.
- · Three meals a day during the stay (breakfast, packed lunch, hot dinner).
- · A welcoming environment in which English is the everyday language at home.
- · Garda vetting (we cover the process and costs).
- · A house visit by our team before your first hosting.
What hosting brings home
It's not just about the student.
Families tell us, year after year, that the real surprise of hosting isn't what they give — it's what they get back. A new perspective at the dinner table, kids who suddenly want to learn another language, recipes from places they've never been, and a house that feels a little more open to the world.
A real reason to practise their own language at home — and a window into how teenagers in Spain, Italy or Poland actually live. Many of our host kids end up visiting their student's family the following summer.
Conversation, company and a bit of a routine in a quiet week. New food, new music, and the small, daily satisfaction of being good at something — making someone feel at home.
A spare room earning its keep, a fridge that gets used, and a calendar that has something on it. Nothing dramatic — just a household that's a bit more alive than it was last week.
A quiet contribution to the town
Hosting helps Gorey, too.
International students don't just stay in your home — they fill our cafés on weekday afternoons, buy lunch at our bakeries, take surf lessons at Courtown, fill seats on the local bus, and join sports clubs that need numbers. The summer programmes alone keep dozens of local guides, drivers, instructors and shop owners busy through July.
Gorey has been a destination town for decades — but that only stays true if the houses are open. Each new host family makes the difference between a programme that grows and one that has to turn groups away. And every group that comes through leaves a little something behind: word-of-mouth abroad, returning students, and families who one day come back on holiday.
Beyond the economics, hosting plugs your household into something bigger. You meet other hosts, end up at the same group dinners and farewell BBQs, and become part of a small community that takes quiet pride in being the reason a teenager from Verona suddenly wants to live in Ireland.
Frequently asked
Common questions about hosting
How long does a hosting stay last?
Most stays are between 1 and 3 weeks. You choose the weeks that suit you — there's no long-term commitment, and you can take a season off whenever life calls for it.
How are students matched to families?
We match every student personally — never randomly. We look at age, interests, dietary needs, allergies, house dynamics, pets, smoking, and any specific requests from either side. You receive the student's profile before they arrive.
What do you ask of host families?
A spare bedroom (single or shared) within walking or short driving distance of Gorey town centre, three meals a day during the stay (breakfast, packed lunch and a hot dinner), a welcoming environment in which English is the everyday language at home, Garda vetting (we cover the process), and a house visit by our team before your first hosting.
What about Garda vetting?
Every adult living in the house must complete Garda vetting before the first student arrives. We cover the process and the costs and walk you through every step.
What support do I get during a stay?
A 24/7 emergency line during programmes, an accessible local team for everyday questions, group dinners and farewell events you're invited to, and a community of experienced host families to lean on.
What if a placement isn't working?
It rarely happens, but we're prepared. If a placement isn't working — for the family or for the student — we listen to both sides and, if needed, move the student to another family quickly and discreetly. The wellbeing of the student and the family both matter, and we work with everyone to find the right outcome.
Ready to host?
Tell us a bit about yourself and your home. We'll get back to you within one working day to arrange a friendly chat.