Hi Sadie,
Welcome to JY! I come from Ireland and join up with the other travellers at the UK departure point. There are a few others who travel from Ireland as well. On my various JY hols I've met a number of folks who use the company from holidays and live outside the UK - the have come from places as far apart as Spain, the Caribbean, and would you believe it there is one chap who lives in the Far East (I think it's Thailand) and flies to the UK to join up with tours!
Obviously coming from abroad adds a lot of travelling time and expense but I think that a number of people do this shows what a good company JY are and how great the holidays are! I hope you give them a go. I was looking for a company like this for a number of years but there is nothing comparable in Ireland.
Best wishes,
Bob