Festival of Folklore, Music, Dance and Story

Collins Barracks, Dublin May 24th 29th

The Free University of Ireland in Prussia Street runs an annual summer school concentrating each year on a different topic - last year, like many others, it was the 1798 Rebellion. This year's school has a particularly wide scope; lectures on offer include "Plant lore and folk medicine" with Dr Des Corrigan (TCD), "Traditional Song in Irish" with Dr Rionach Ui Ogain and "Women's Story Telling" with Eilis Ni Dhuibhne. Dr Pat Wallace, director of the National Museum, will deliver the opening address. (Tel: 01 8683368)

Michael J. Murphy Weekend

An Mullach Ban, Co Armagh May 28th 30th

NOW in its third year, this weekend organised by Ti Chualainn, the cultural activity centre, celebrates the life and work of folklorist Michael J. Murphy, a native of south Armagh. The theme this year is "The Rural Landscape in the New Millennium", and lectures such as "Grassroots of Landscape and Revival of the Local" by Prof Patrick J. Duffy (NUI) sit alongside guided walks, a concert by Andy Irvine and archive film screenings. (Tel: 080 1693 888828)

Tuam Summer School

Tuam, Co Galway June 18th 20th

This will be the second year that the Old Tuam Society runs a summer school concentrating on the medieval history of the town. The theme this year is "A Vision of Connacht in the 13th Century" and lecturers include Prof Francis John Byrne (UCD) on the career on Cathal Crovderg O Conor, and David Sweetman, chief archaelogist with Duchas, on the medieval castles of Connacht. (Tel: 093 24522)

Byrne-Perry Summer School

Gorey, Co Wexford June 25th 27th

A particularly strong line-up this year for a school which celebrates two significant 1798 Rebellion figures from either side of the conflict, Miles Byrne and Anthony Perry. An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern will open the school, which takes as its theme "The Act of Union"; Seamus Mallon MP will deliver the Gordon Wilson Memorial Lecture; other prominent speakers include Roseanna Cunningham (SNP), Terry Eagleton (University of Oxford) and Robert McCartney (United Kingdom Unionist Party). (Tel: 053 59769)

McGlinchey Summer School

Inishowen, Co Donegal June 25th 27th

The McGlinchey school, now in its second year, is based in the village of Clonmany and celebrates the local weaver and storyteller Charles McGlinchey. The Patrick H. Kavanagh Memorial Lecture, which kicks off the weekend, will be given by David Dickson (TCD) who will look at McGlinchey's memoir, The Last of the Name, in context. Other highlights include a talk on the folk songs of Ulster with folklorist David Hammond, a field trip to the Isle of Doagh led by Mary McGeoghegan and a lecture on the dialect of Inishowen by Cathal Doherty (NUI). (Tel: 077 76160)

Achill Archaeological Summer Field School

Dooagh, Achill June 28th (eight weeks)

Students get the chance to acquire first-hand knowledge of survey, excavation, planning and draughtmanship, much of it onsite at the deserted village in Slievemore. There are guided field trips around the island and lectures by the likes of Dr Pat Wallace, director of the National Museum. (Tel: 0506 21627)

Willy Clancy Summer School

Miltown Malbay, Co Clare July 2nd 11th

OVER the past 27 years the Willy Clancy has become a high point on the traditional music calendar, and the list of musicians giving workshops, classes and recitals is like a roll call of trad music elders. Seminars include "The Media and Traditional Music" with Cathal Goan (Teilifis na Gaeilge) and "Problematics in Traditional Music" with Nicholas Carolan (Irish Traditional Music Archive), and the many musicians include Sean Potts, Paddy Glackin, Martin Hayes, Tommy Peoples, and Triona and Mairead Ni Dhomhnaill (Tel: 065 7084148)

Synge Summer School

Rathdrum, Co Wicklow July 4th 10th

This year's Synge summer school takes as its theme, "1899-1999, A Century of Irish Theatre" and is particularly strong on contemporary writers. Playwright Conor McPherson will talk on "An Irish Playwright in London"; Jennifer Johnston offers "Living With the Theatre" and John McGahern will read from his own work. Lecturers include Ann Saddlemyer (University of Toronto), Nicholas Grene (TCD) and Anthony Roche (UCD), and it all wraps up with a reading by actor Barry McGovern. (Tel: 0404 46131)

Kiltartan Hedge School

Gort, Co Galway July 4th 11th

One of the summer's most unusual schools, the 26-year-old Kiltartan Hedge School is an ambulatory one conducted by Louis Muinzer. Students explore the poetry of Yeats while wandering through the places that inspired it - Coole Lake, the Seven Woods and the Yeats Tower. The school has the advantage of being limited to a single group of students guided by one instructor. (Tel: 080 1232 649010)

Bard Summer School

Clare Island, Co Mayo July 5th 9th

The home of the pirate queen Grace O'Malley is the home of the Bard summer school, which takes a look at Celtic myths. This year, the focus will be on "Transitions and transformations in the myth of Midir and Etain", and the lecturers include Dr Daithi O'hOgain (UCD), philosopher John Moriarty, author Marie Heaney, and poet and Irish Times journalist, Katie Donovan. (Tel: 01 4904879)

James Joyce Summer School

Newman House, Dublin July 11th 23rd

Joyceans have been heading to Newman House for this academic summer school every year since 1987. Lectures and topics this year include "Ownership in Ulysses" by Prof Trevor Williams (University of Victoria), Prof Terry Eagleton (Oxford University) on "Joyce and Modernism" and Prof Jim Fairhall (DePaul University) on "Northsiders: James Joyce and Roddy Doyle". (Tel: 01 7068480)

Blas

University of Limerick July 12th 23rd

NOW in its third year, Blas is a rather impressive newcomer to the traditional music summer school scene. Hosted by Dr Micheal O Suilleabhain's Irish World Music Centre, this intensive two-week course has both a practical and an academic content, with a busy schedule of lectures, tutorials, master-classes, sessions and concerts. Musicians on board include Matt Cranitch, Martin Hayes, Noirin Ni Riain, Tommy Hayes, Niall Vallely and O Suilleabhain himself. (Tel: 061 202565)

George Moore Summer School

Claremorris, Co Mayo July 15th 20th

This year, the George Moore school is devoted entirely to the work of Anthony Cronin, a committee member of the school for the past eight years. Lecturers will include Prof Terry Eagleton (Oxford University) and Dr Robert Welch (University of Ulster), while Paul Durcan and Mary O'Malley will be among the poets present. There will also be a joint exhibition of work by Cronin's contemporaries, including Louis le Brocquy, Tony O'Malley and Brian Bourke, a collection of Michael Kane's portraits of the writer and the public premiere of Frankie Gavin's musical piece, Northern Lights. (Tel: 086 2459832)

Douglas Hyde Conference

Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon July 16th 18th

1999 is a landmark year for this summer school as it marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Douglas Hyde, first President of Ireland. Fittingly the theme is a large one - "Re-assessment; Irish Leaders of the 20th Century" - but the speakers should be well-equipped to deal with it. Among others, Dr Martin Mansergh and Senator Maurice Manning will speak on figures such as Eamon de Valera, the Dillon family and Tim Healy. (Tel: 0903 37262)

ESB West Clare Jazz School

Kilbaha, Co Clare June 19th 25th

A newcomer to the summer school scene, the ESB West Clare Jazz School has the renowned guitarist Louis Stewart as its artistic director. During the week there will be classes in various instruments provided by tutors who include Myles Drennan, Honor Heffernan, Michael Buckley and Michael Cody, and each night there will be jazz entertainment in local venues. (Tel: 065 58229)

Gerard Manley Hopkins Summer School

Monasterevin, Co Kildare July 24th 30th

There are over 20 different nationalities represented by the lecturers, artists and poets involved in this school, held in honour of the English poet/priest who lived in Kildare for some years. This year's theme is "Hopkins and his Contemporaries" and lecturers include Hugh Kenner (US) Tomislav Sumic (Croatia), Bruno Gaurier (France) and Jerome Bump (USA). Poets include the renowned Swedish poet Tomas Transtromer, Michael McGuckian and Medbh McGuckian, and there will also be translation, poetry and calligraphy workshops, a photography exhibition and concerts. (Tel: 045 525416)

John Hewitt Summer School

Carnlough, Co Antrim July 26th 31st

While the main theme of this school devoted to the Belfast-born poet and critic, John Hewitt, is "Dancing With Others", the two main elements during the week will be a revision of the life and career of Roger Casement and a tribute to the work of playwright Brian Friel, who is 70 this year. Lecturers include Helen Carr (Goldsmiths College, London), Jack Weaver (USA), Irish Times writer Fintan O'Toole and the singer/songwriter, Andy White. (Tel: 080 1232 402080)

Yeats Summer School

Sligo July 31st August 13th

A rather impressive line-up of speakers for the Yeats Summer School, which is opened this year by Seamus Heaney. Dr Helen Vendler of Harvard makes a repeat visit to give both lectures and seminars, historian Roy Foster will talk on "The reconstruction of Yeats's politics 19161921"; BBC's Fergal Keane covers "Yeats and the poetry of war", and Declan Kiberd will lecture on "Yeats, Synge and the bardic tradition". Heaney, Peter Fallon and John Montague will all read from their own work, actor John Kavanagh leads an evening of readings and there will also be a drama workshop by Sam McCready. (Tel: 071 42693)

Bram Stoker International Summer School

Clontarf, Co Dublin August 1st 8th

Speakers at this summer school devoted to the gothic delights of Stoker, the creator of Dracula, include Dr Jeanne Youngson (New York), Dr Elizabeth Millar (Canada), Ann Cahill (Bristol) and Albert Power (Dublin). A slide show on the Dracula trail in Romania by Jonathan Barry, a local history exhibition curated by Don Conroy and various field trips are all on offer. (Tel: 087 2364829)

William Carleton Summer School

Clogher, Co Tyrone August 3rd 7th

AN eclectic array of writers and academics at this school commemorating 19th-century novelist, William Carleton, include Thomas Flanagan (Year of the French), Prof John Kelly (Oxford University and editor of The Collected Letters of W.B. Yeats); Declan Kiberd (UCD); poet John Montague, and folklorist David Hammond. Edna Longley (Queen's University) will talk on "Images of the peasant writer"; historian Owen Dudley Edwards, honorary director of the school, will give a personal perspective of the school, and there will be a symposium on "The achievements of William Carleton; a re-evaluation". (Tel: 080 1868 767259)

Parnell Summer School

Avondale, Co Wicklow August 8th 13th

TO mark the 100-year anniversary of the Local Governments Act of 1898, the Parnell Summer School's theme is "Community and Local Government". The opening address will be given by Father Brian Lennon of Portadown and a symposium on "Local Govenment, Devolution and the European Dimension" will feature speakers including Alex Salmond (SNP), Mary Banotti MEP, Mark Durkan (SDLP) and Prof Elizabeth Meehan (Queen's University). A debate on regionalisation will be chaired by John Waters of The Irish Times and other speakers include Poetry Ireland's Theo Dorgan; the Dublin Theatre Festival's Tony O'Dalaigh and playwright Hugh Leonard, who will speak on "Irish childhood and a sense of place". (Tel: 01 2874124)

Patrick McGill Summer School

Glenties, Co Donegal August 8th 13th

This school devoted to a local writer (author of the Children of the Dead End) and run by his niece Mary Clare O'Donnell, will take "Employment, Enterprise and the Environment" as its theme. Speakers will be confirmed later. (Tel: 075 51103)

General Humbert Summer School

Ballina, Castlebar and Killala, Co Mayo August 18th 21st

The theme for this year's school commemorating General Humbert is "20th Century Ireland: The Balance Sheet". Moderator of the cultural strand is film producer Noel Pearson, while the former Church of Ireland archbishop, Donald Caird, will look at the role of religion and politics in Europe. Other speakers include Mr Justice Vivian Lavan (head of the Law Reform Committee); Brian Lenihan TD, who will look at the Constitution; Northern Ireland minister John McFall and Father Tom Stack. (Tel: 01 4903963)

Merriman Summer School

Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare August 21st 28th

A new location and a new director in Maire Ni Neachtain, for this well-loved summer school that celebrates the work of poet Brian Merriman. "Sing Till I Know You; the significance of song and singing in popular culture" is the theme, and speakers include Dr Maura Cronin (University of Limerick); folklorist and singer, David Hammond; writer and folklorist Tom Munnelly; Prof John A. Murphy (UCC) and Rionach Ui Ogain of UCD. The usual classes in singing and Irish dancing, including the Clare and polka sets, will take place alongside dance nights with the Four Courts at club Merriman. (Tel: 01 2864107)

Lady Gregory Autumn Gathering

Gort, Co Galway September 24th 26th

This school, which looks at the works of both Yeats and his patron Lady Gregory, takes place in her home, Coole Park, in the autumn. After the official opening by Michael Yeats, author and son of the poet, there will be lectures by Dr Catriona Clutterbuck (NUI), US lawyer Joseph M. Hassett and critic Bruce Arnold as well as readings by actor Barry McGovern, guided walks, a film, Lady Gregory of Coole and music by Karina and Nicola Cahill. (Tel: 091 521836)