There's nothing for it but to take the entire summer off: squeezed into the packed calender, between summer schools and arts festivals, comes a new Dublin Writers' Festival. Poetry Ireland, The Irish Writers' Centre and the Cultural Committee of Dublin Corporation are joining forces to organise this three-day event (June 13th-16th).

Visiting writers, including James Kelman and Marina Warner, will join Seamus Heaney, John Banville and Aidan Higgins, among others, from the home team. Full details will be announced on June 3rd. Further information from Poetry Ireland, tel: (01) 671 4632.