Tours
About Us…
The Irish National Sailing School is Ireland’s premier watersports provider. Since our establishment in 1972 we have introduced tens of thousands to the water and pride ourselves on our excellent reputation and great value for money. Based in Dun Laoghaire, we are fortunate to have excellent public transport connections. And with a day with us on offer from just €19 per student, there has never been a better time to get on the water!
So why not come to us and try a different type of outing this year?!
The Day…
We can tailor a programme to suit your needs – the age profile of students and the amount of time available will have a bearing on how we put your programme together. Generally we offer two main types of programme – a Full Day option and a Three Hour option. See below for details of what is entailed…
Sample Programmes…
Full Day Package - Outline Plan
10am | Group Arrives |
10.05am | Group are allocated gear - wetsuits, lifejackets etc. Students get changed. |
10.10am | Students are ready to go! Head Instructor briefs students on plans for the day. |
10.15am | Students take part in a 'Land Drill' - essentially a land based tutorial on how to assemble the boat. |
10.35am | Students are ready to go to sea! The morning lesson will see the students get to grips with the boat, learn how to turn around and finishes with some swimming / pier jumping! |
12pm | Finish up for lunch. |
12-12.45pm | Lunch at the Clubhouse. (Students bring a packed lunch. The tuck shop will be open for eats and treats in the Clubhouse too!) |
12.45pm | Back for the afternoon lesson. The plan for the afternoon is a trip to the open waters of Dublin Bay. On the way we'll meet Dun Laoghaire Harbour's resident family of seals, see the Lifeboat and The Stena HSS Ferry! |
2.30pm | Arrive back at the Clubhouse. Time to get changed. |
2.45pm | Once students are changed we have our presentation of Certificates to our new batch of sailors, accompanied by a complimentary cup of Hot Chocolate! |
3pm | End of Day. |
Half Day Package - Outline Plan
(Sample Times - this package can be any 3 hours during the day)
10am | Group Arrives at Clubhouse |
10.05am | Briefing from Head Instructor
Group get wetsuits, lifejackets and change |
10.15am | Group go from Clubhouse to Boatyard |
10.20am | Group learn how to sit in boat, how to turn boat around and how to 'right' boat after capsize. (All of this is done on land!) |
10.45am | Launch time! Group get going on the water! |
10.45am-12.30am | Group go sailing. Sailing Area is Dun Laoghaire Harbour & Dublin Bay. Focus on sailing session is on fun, learning a new skill and developing water confidence! |
12.30am | Group return to Boatyard & put boats away |
12.45am | Group gets changed. |
1pm | Debriefing from Head Instructor on performance of group. 'Taster' Certificates awarded to all participants - a nice touch at the end of the day. |
Our Season…
We cater for School Tour Groups from April to September. Book early to avoid disappointment!
Prices & Groups…
Programmes start from E19 per student. We can accommodate groups of up to 120 students.
Gear To Bring…
We provide all necessary Watersports Kit including Lifejackets and Wetsuits.
Students should bring the following:
- Hat & Suncream
- Swimming Togs, Towel, Shower Gear
- Old runners to wear on Boats
- Spare change of clothes
Enquire Further…
To enquire further or make a booking simply call us at 01 2844195 or email us at sailing@inss.ie
Some of our Happy Customers…
Primary Level
- Castlepark School
- Castleknock Educate Together National School
- Booterstown Youth Club
Second Level
- Presentation College Bray.
- St. Fintan’s High School, Sutton.
- St. Colmcilles Community School, Knocklyon.
- Blackrock College.
Testimonials…
“Students receive a wonderful experience of watersport and they learn valuable team skills at the same time. In a beautiful location with great facilities, this is an experience students will remember forever.”
– Colm Kehoe, Oatlands College
“Clarity has been a hallmark of everything we practised and learnt - explanation beforehand, analysis afterwards over a cup of well earned hot chocolate. The Teacher meanwhile was invited to participate to the degree to which he or she felt comfortable. The methodology was perfect: familiarity and fun: Less talking about and more doing—with everyone having their chance to participate in each skill and activity.
Schools are restricted to budgets and the Irish National Sailing School programme has allowed us to stay within budget.
The INSS pursues excellence on the water and off it. The welcome, hospitality, enthusiasm, equipment, facilities and coaching ensure that all participants will enjoy their sailing in a safe and enjoyable environment, inculcating a range of skills, nautical and interpersonal, without even being aware of it.”
– Daniel McNelis, Gonzaga College S.J.
Getting to Us…
Keep Costs Down! Public Transport Options:
By Bus to Dun Laoghaire – Schoolchild Ticket = 65 cents per journey on all Dublin Bus services.
We are well served by a number of routes, including:
4 / 4A – Serves Blackrock, Calling at Ballymun, Glasnevin, City Centre, Merrion.
7 / 7A – Calling at Loughlinstown.
17 – Serves Blackrock. Calling at Rialto, KCR, Terenure, Rathfarnham, Dundrum & Clonskeagh.
45 / 45A – Serves Bray, Shankill, Deansgrange, Merrion.
46A – From City, Calling at Mountjoy Sq, College Green, Leeson St, Donnybrook, Stillorgan, Foxrock.
59 – Calling at Dalkey & Killiney.
75 – Calling at Tallaght, Firhouse, Templeogue, Rathfarnham, Dundrum, Stillorgan.
111 – Calling at Loughlinstown & Sallynoggin.
746 – Calling at Santry, Whitehall, Drumcondra, Dorset Street and continues to Dun Laoghaire as 46A route.
By Rail to Dun Laoghaire Station…
Irish Rail Schoolchild Fares from Wicklow / Maynooth / Howth / Balbriggan / Dublin City Centre to Dun Laoghaire Station start at E1.70 return. The Station is well served by both direct and connecting services from these locations. Our Clubhouse is less than 5 minutes by foot from the station. We can schedule your day out around the times of your arriving and departing train.
Bus Service – Door to Door
We can also offer excellent rates on our private coach service. Please call us to enquire further.