Join Next Hop Ireland

No, Next Hop Ireland is not an accredited or formally recognized program by any educational or governmental body in Ireland.

It is not affiliated with, accredited by, or endorsed by official organizations such as:

• Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI)
• Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
• Solas or Skillnet Ireland
• Any Irish university or college

This is not a degree, diploma, or QQI-certified course, and it does not contribute to any formal academic framework.

Instead, Next Hop Ireland is a personal, community-driven learning initiative—created out of a passion for teaching, mentoring, and giving back. Its purpose is to help learners deeply understand real-world network engineering, connect with others on a similar path, and build careers based on practical skill and technical excellence.

If you're looking for a university credential, this won't meet that need. But if you want to learn the craft of networking from someone who has lived and breathed it, while joining a community of learners and future professionals, you're in the right place.

Next Hop Ireland is a year-long, part-time learning journey designed to help you become a skilled, confident network engineer—no matter where you're starting from.

Each week, we meet online for a 4-hour live session, combining structured teaching, hands-on demos, and open discussion. You'll learn everything from the basics of IP addressing and routing to more advanced topics like BGP, automation, and real-world network design.

In between sessions, you'll get access to labs, suggested readings, and practical exercises you can do on your own time.

Once a month, we also host in-person community meetups at a local venue (often a café, coworking space, or pub), where we talk shop, share stories, troubleshoot together, and build real friendships. It's not just about learning—it's about belonging to something meaningful.

This program is entirely remote-first (for the online classes), but proudly Ireland-based, with a strong emphasis on building community and opportunity within the country.

Next Hop Ireland was created to support and grow the network engineering talent pool within Ireland. One of its core goals is to connect local learners with local employers, helping to address a national skills gap through practical, community-based education and mentorship.

That said, we understand that interest in this initiative extends beyond Ireland's borders. While the program is currently intended for residents of Ireland, we're actively exploring the possibility of welcoming a limited number of international participants in future cohorts.

There are challenges to consider—especially around employment pathways, visa sponsorship, and aligning the program's mission with the realities of the Irish job market. Most companies in Ireland do not currently sponsor work visas for junior or entry-level network engineering roles, which is why we've prioritized Irish-based learners for now.

However, if you're located outside of Ireland but feel deeply aligned with the mission and are committed to your growth, we encourage you to still submit an application. Each application is personally reviewed, and we will be evaluating how best to accommodate international participants without compromising the integrity and focus of the initiative.

We will share a public update on this soon.

For now, thank you for your interest. It truly means a lot.

Next Hop Ireland is built to strengthen Ireland's network engineering talent pipeline, so applicants living in Ireland with the intention to work here after the program will receive priority.

We also consider exceptional international applicants who can fully participate and contribute meaningfully to the community.

Read our full selection policy below on this page.

If your application to Next Hop Ireland wasn't accepted, please know this: it's not a judgment of your potential or your worth.

This initiative is still in its early stages, and for this first cohort, we've had to limit participation to a small group (no more than 40 students) to ensure personal attention, mentorship, and a strong sense of community.

Selections were made based on a range of factors—alignment with the program's goals, readiness to commit, diversity of experience, and the overall balance of the group. In many cases, the decision came down to capacity, not capability.

If you're still passionate about becoming a network engineer, we genuinely hope you'll stay connected. We'll be sharing resources, stories, and updates through my newsletter and may open applications again for a future cohort.

Most importantly: don't give up.

If you're willing to keep learning, keep building, and keep moving forward—you're already on the right path.

And that next hop? It might just be closer than you think.

The inaugural cohort of Next Hop Ireland begins in March 2026.

Applications will open a few months in advance, and spaces may be limited to ensure a high-quality, personal learning experience. If you're interested in joining, learning more, or getting early updates, you can sign up to our interest list—we'll make sure you're the first to know when enrollment begins.

This first edition will set the tone for everything that comes next, and we're excited to welcome our founding group of learners, builders, and future network engineers.

No prior networking experience is required! Our program is designed to take you from complete beginner to job-ready professional. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds who are motivated to learn.

You'll need a computer with reliable internet access and somewhat decent hardware to run network topologies with virtual routers and other network devices. We'll provide detailed instructions on setting up your own labs using Packet Tracer, EVE-NG, PNETlab, and Containerlab for practical activities.

Yes, our program is designed for working professionals. Classes are scheduled in evenings and weekends, and much of the coursework can be completed at your own pace within weekly deadlines.

Upon completion of the program, we provide comprehensive career support including resume reviews, interview preparation, networking opportunities with industry professionals, and potential job placement assistance. Your success is our ultimate goal!

The short answer is nothing—zero cost. You won't pay a dime. However, you may incur other expenses such as Internet access fees, electricity, and any other resources you need for studying. As far as the Next Hop Ireland lectures and activities themselves are concerned, everything is completely free.

Absolutely—and thank you for considering it.

Next Hop Ireland is a personal, non-commercial project built to give back to the Irish community and nurture the next generation of network engineers. While this initiative isn't driven by profit, it thrives on community support, and we welcome sponsorships that align with our mission.

Sponsoring this program means investing directly in Ireland's future technical talent. Your support can help us:

• Provide lab access, hardware, and software tools to students
• Organize community meetups and technical workshops
• Bring in guest instructors and real-world engineering perspectives
• Maintain and grow the quality of our content and learning experience

In return, sponsors will be recognized as key contributors to a grassroots effort that aims to build a stronger, more inclusive, and job-ready network engineering community in Ireland. We're also happy to collaborate on career opportunities, speaking engagements, and visibility (with integrity and student experience always at the core).

If you'd like to be part of this mission, please reach out—we'd love to chat.

That means a lot—thank you.

Since Next Hop Ireland is a personal project built on passion and community, one of the best ways to support me right now is through my independent newsletter:

👉 The Routing Intent

It's where I share deep insights on network engineering, automation, and career growth—and every new subscriber or share helps amplify the mission behind both the newsletter and this educational initiative.

If you enjoy the content, consider subscribing, sharing it with friends or colleagues, or even becoming a paid supporter. Your encouragement, feedback, and reach all help fuel this journey.