Ireland Student Exchange--Fall or Spring?
 

I'm planning on spending a semester in Ireland as an exchange student, and I'm trying to decide whether I should go in the fall of 2006 or spring 2007.

If I go to Ireland in the fall, then I can't guarantee that I will have housing when I return to my school for the spring semester. If I go for the spring semester, I can't guarantee that I'll have housing IN Ireland; apparently the apartments/houses at the University of Limerick fill up pretty quickly.

Also, if I go in the fall, I'll have to arrange to take my exams before Christmas break, rather than staying over Christmas and then taking them. I've been told that this isn't really a problem with the professors, however.

Another thing I want to keep in mind is the cultural events during each season. The fall semester will be September through mid-December, and the spring semester is February through May. I can't find any websites or anything that can tell me what events are happening this far in advance. I'm assuming there are several annual events, but I really don't know what there is.

So could anyone give me their opinions and knowledge of any events that may be going on?

Thanks! :)

Well, clearly you don't want to miss out on St. Patrick's Day in Ireland. Let's hope your liver can survive it! That's one vote for the spring semester, though I'm not sure about housing. If you could get more confirmation about housing, then without a doubt I'd say the spring semester would be the one to visit during.

I'd love to be there for St. Patrick's Day, but it might be kind of pointless, as I don't drink. lol If I went in the spring, though, I might drink just on that occasion (and on my 21st b-day, which is in February).

Well you're in luck, because I studied abroad at the UL a few years back in the Spring semester! I had no trouble getting housing, what university are you going abroad through? I can tell you that I had a fantastic time there in the spring. Limerick is pretty awesome, you'll hear people bad-mouthing it, but I actually enjoyed Limerick a great deal. I also spent a lot of time in Dublin. Feel free to fire away questions, I'll do my best to answer as best as I can remember!