Yes, you could travel to Ireland yourself, and should if all you want is a vacation, and want the headaches of planning everything yourself, but if you'd prefer to learn something on your trip, and have an expert guide to help you to avoid the traps, consider taking this course.
I have purposely planned enough structure into the trip to keep you moving and focused on key things, yet have unstructured time built in to provide you with a chance to explore on your own. We'll be staying in nice accomodations, and will be "living the urban life-style" for the week in Dublin. Your instructor has spent a semester in Ireland during the Spring of 2011, so I know my way around, and can help you to maximize your travel experience.
The course fees are designed to "be fair" - we aren't trying to be cheap, but we aren't going to waste money foolishly - the budget is designed to optimize your travel dollar/euro.
If you are looking for a fantastic experience in Ireland, this is the way to do it!