Seamus Heaney is the most frequently mentioned possible successor to the late Ted Hughes as Poet Laureate, despite, as The Guardian put it last week, his "expressed dislike of being called British". Other possibilities are Wendy Cope, Andrew Motion, Tony Harrison and James Fenton, with John Hegley and Roger McGough not far behind. Pam Ayres (remember her?) and Billy Connolly are the more bizarre suggestions; presumably Connolly's royalist credentials have now been established, following his starring role as Queen Victoria's devoted equerry in last year's film, Mrs Brown . . . Meanwhile, far from Buckingham Palace, Heaney is unveiling a sculpture by Michael Warren on Saturday (1.45 p.m.) in the Devil's Glen, Ashford, Co Wicklow, which will be the latest addition to the Sculpture In Woodland collection there. Warren's piece,entitled Antaeus, is a five-metre-high work made from poplar and larch, situated close to the forest's entrance. Seven other large-scale timber sculptures dotted throughout the wood are by Jorge du Bon, Derek Witticase, Jacques Bosser, Maurice MacDonagh, Naomi Seki and Kat O'Brien. Further information from: 01-201 1111 . . . Gore Vidal has cancelled his reading engagement at the Belfast Festival, which begins next Thursday, but the literature and talks programme has still enough interesting names to bear the loss. They include Louis de BerniΦres, Julian Barnes, Booker Prize winner Ian McEwan, Gitta Sereny, Fergal Keane, Brian Eno and Deirdre Purcell. (Booking for all festival events on: 0801 232-665 577)

The Royal Irish Academy is marking its 150th birthday with a documentary, Dots On The Page, produced and directed for RT╔ by Sheila de Courcy (to be broadcast on Monday, November 16th at 8 p.m., RT╔ 1). Presenting a snapshot of the life of the academy, it follows the course of young musicians' careers. Contributors include Roger Doyle, Veronica Dunne, Richard Pine, Frank MacNamara, staff andstudents at the academy, as well as its director, pianist John O'Conor.