hi edwrd01
You might look to the north for some of the companies in Derry or Belfast – for example Darkwater in Derry or in Belfast CanDo Interactive or Weeman.
You will want to have some work in a portfolio to show them that you can assist in some way.
Regardless it looks like you will have to travel to a company and maybe stay over if you have family/friends there.
Many game companies are very small and taking in a transition student can be hard for them. Don’t be too disappointed if they can’t take you.
Aphra.