Blas, the International Summer School of Traditional Irish Music and Dance, will return for its 15th year at the University of Limerick this year.

Students attending the course at the university’s Irish World Academy will benefit from the wisdom and tutelage of eminent figures of the trad world, such as Dónal Lunny, Dennis Cahill and Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, while Martin Hayes will return as artist-in-residence for the 2011 semester.

Blas is open to students of all nationalities aged 16 and over, and will run from June 20th until July 1st. This year also sees the introduction of the Paul Brady Blas Scholarship, although the deadline for applications is today. The €20,000 scholarship will be spread over three years, and will enable 25 students of music, song and dance to enrol in the programme.

Brady said he was “delighted” to be associated with the Irish World Academy, and hoped the scholarship would enable students who may not otherwise have had the opportunity “to access the expertise of some of our finest traditional musicians, singers and dancers”.