The Linguaviva Centre, English school in Dublin
The Linguaviva Centre has been teaching English in Dublin since 1977, in a Georgian setting in the city centre. Here is who they are, how they teach, what sets them apart, and the centre we offer.
Who is The Linguaviva Centre?
The Linguaviva Centre is an independent, “boutique”-type English school founded in 1977: its official website presents it as one of the oldest language schools in Ireland, with more than 45 years of experience. It has been run since 2020 by two directors, Aidan O’Shea and Ian Brangan, who took it over to continue its reputation.
The website states that the school is accredited by ACELS, a member of Quality English and English Education Ireland, and a centre validated by Trinity College London for teacher training.
We offer its centre for adults: Dublin.
How they teach
The school puts the learner and their individual journey at the centre of its programme: a placement test on arrival, individual tutorials, regular assessments and an additional weekly pronunciation class. The General English course follows a skills-based approach: speaking, comprehension, reading and writing are worked on together, with speaking as the main goal, and grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation learned through the culture of contemporary Ireland.
Classes are international. According to the website, they have 10 to 12 students on average and 15 at most in the morning; the English for Professionals course is held in small groups, of about 6 students.
Group courses start every Monday. Students have access to the Viva Social Club, the end-of-course certificate and the school’s facilities.
What sets The Linguaviva Centre apart
- A small school in the heart of Dublin. In a Georgian setting, within walking distance of St Stephen’s Green, with transport and cultural venues nearby; the school recruits few students per country, for a good mix of nationalities.
- A social and cultural programme. The Viva Social Club offers walking tours of Dublin and museums, a weekly food market, visits to attractions (for example the Guinness Storehouse) and weekend excursions (Cliffs of Moher, Belfast, Giant’s Causeway, Glendalough, Kilkenny…). Outings are free or paid depending on the activity, from about €20 for a half-day to about €60 for a weekend according to the website.
- Courses for specific goals. A course for professionals who work in English, with a project each week and a meet-up coffee at the end of the week, and specialist English courses (for example aviation, healthcare or beauty) built on an interview before arrival.
- Teacher training. The school also offers teacher training and Erasmus+ programmes for serving teachers; these programmes are not in our catalogue.
Its programmes, and for whom
For adults, the school offers in particular: English for Professionals, General English and Culture in the morning or the afternoon (the latter, according to the website, Monday to Thursday), specialist English (20 or 25 hours per week) and the Work & Study programme, aimed at students from outside the European Union: six months of study for an eight-month visa, with the possibility of working part-time.
In our catalogue, these courses can be booked in Dublin from age 17: English for Professionals, General English & Culture (morning and afternoon), English for Special Purposes (20 h and 25 h per week) and Work & Study (morning or afternoon, 25 weeks). The catalogue also includes three package programmes for young people, Family Programme, Young Adult Homestay and Young Adult Residence, with accommodation included: their age is not given in the catalogue, so we do not state it here.
Prices, school by school
2027 rates from the Synergee price engine, for the General English & Culture course, departing on January 11, 2027. The “from” price is the lowest per week among the durations priced by the engine; the detail for all durations is in the expandable table below. The exact quote depends on your dates, your duration and your accommodation.
- Dublin, Ireland : from 235 EUR per week (12-week course, excluding fees and accommodation)
See all 2027 prices
| Centre | Reference course | Lessons / wk | 2 weeks | 4 weeks | 12 weeks | Registration fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin, Ireland | General English & Culture | — | 530 EUR | 1,020 EUR | 2,820 EUR | 90 EUR |
Course price only, excluding accommodation. Registration fee is added. Each country uses its own currency.
Accommodation
In the catalogue in Dublin: host family (half board or full board), Viva Residence (3 minutes’ walk from the school, self-catering, from age 18) and Ardcairn House (single rooms with private bathroom, about 30 minutes by bus). Price of the engine’s reference host family, per week, for a 4-week stay; the other options and their rates can be seen in the quote.
See accommodation prices
| Centre | Homestay, per week (4 weeks) | Residences in the catalogue |
|---|---|---|
| Dublin | 260 EUR | 2 |
The centre in detail
The Linguaviva Centre — Dublin
Ireland · 8 courses in the catalogue
At 45 Lower Leeson Street, in a Georgian setting in central Dublin, within walking distance of St Stephen’s Green. A small “boutique”-type school: classes of 10 to 12 students on average, 15 at most in the morning; Viva Social Club with visits, weekly market and weekend excursions.
Sources: The Linguaviva Centre official website (linguaviva.com: home, about, team, courses, accommodation, Viva Social Club), consulted on 7 November 2026; prices: Synergee engine.