I BHFAD, i bhfad i gcein . . . far, far away. An information pack launched in Dublin recently by actor Mick Lally deals with the problems faced by refugees and asylum seekers in Ireland and abroad.

The pack is aimed at schools, community groups, politicians, journalists and NGOs.

It's been produced to coincide with touring performances of Farawayan, a play about what it's like to be an outsider in an unwelcoming country.

Donal O'Kelly's play, which he also directs, recently had a critically acclaimed run in Dublin's Olympic Ballroom. It plays tonight in Cavan's town hall, and moves on to Galway's Leisureland Centre on Friday, and Saturday. The pack, which is written by development-studies lecturer Andy Storey and our own Harry Browne, looks at reasons why immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees flee their homes, why they end up in places like Ireland and how they are treated - by the State, the media and others - when they try to have a normal life here.

It also looks at the experience of Irish people as emigrants.

The pack is available from Calypso Productions at 7 South Great Georges Street, Dublin 2 (tel: (01) 670 4539; fax: (01) 670 4275).