Goldsmith Summer School Abbeyshrule, Co Longford May 31st-June 2nd

The theme of this year's Goldsmith School is "Fiction and Drama Two Masterpieces". The programme has not been finalised yet, but the novelist, poet and playwright, Dermot Healy, will be giving a reading. Tel 0902-32374.

Byrne Perry Summer School Gorey, Co Wexford June 28th-30th

"The Women of 98" is the theme of the second Byrne Perry Summer School, which will be opened by the Minister for the Environment, Brendan Howlin the Gordon Wilson Memorial Lecture will be given by Albert Reynolds, TD. Other speakers include John Gray of the Linenhall Library in Belfast, who will give a lecture on Mary Anne McCracken, and Kevin O'Neill of Boston College who will speak on "Mary Leadbeater and 98". There will be a panel discussion on. Women in Contemporary Ireland with Irish Times columnist Mary Holland chair of the Council for the Status of Women, Noreen Byrne and journalist Mary Kenny. Tel 055-21117.

Jonathan Swift Seminar Maynooth College, Co Kildare June 5th-7th

"Swift, Rationality and Madness" is the theme of this year's Swift Seminar. Dean Victor Griffin, former Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, will speak on "Swift, Religion and Reason" Dr John Cleary of Maynooth College will speak on "Reason in Calculative Mastery" Dr Marie Louise Legg of Birkbeck College, London, will speak on "Unreasonable Speculation Edward Synge and the Letter of the Law" and writer and critic Bruce Arnold will speak on "Swift in Love Passion Unseats Reason". Tel 01-7083667.

Yeats International Summer School Hawk's Well Theatre, Co Sligo August 3rd-17th

A variety of themes will be discussed at the 37th Yeats Summer School, including "Politics, Irish Nationalism Postcolonialism" and "Representing History The Famine and Irish Emigration". The large cast of invited lecturers includes Professor Helen Vendler of Harvard Professor Robert Tracy of the University of California at Berkeley Professor Barbara Hardy of Birkbeck Collage, University of London Professor Denis Donoghue of New York University and Professor Terence Brown of TCD. There are seminars in the afternoons and tours to various places associated with Yeats, such as Coole Park and Lissadell. There will be readings by poets Derek Mahon, Paula Meehan, and Rita Ann Higgins and by the historical novelist, Thomas Flanagan. Paul Muldoon will direct the poetry workshop. Tel 071-42780.

William Carleton Summer School Clogher Valley, Co Tyrone August 5th-9th

"The Writer and Rural Ireland" is the theme of this year's school, now in its fifth year. Dr Conor Cruise O'Brien will deliver the keynote address and other speakers include Professor Terence Brown, Owen Dudley Edwards, Dr Desmond Fennell, Dr Bill Maguire and Dr Antoinette Quinn. Writers reading from their work include John Montague, Paul Muldoon, Tom MacIntyre and Colm Toibin. There will be a dramatic presentation of the work of Patrick Kavanagh by poet Noel Monahan and a guided tour of Carleton country led by Clogher historian, Jack Johnston. Tel 01868-767259.

Synge Summer School Rathdrum, Co Wicklow June 29th-July 6th

The theme of this year's Synge School is "Irish Theatre National and International" with Irish theatre from Yeats to Beckett under discussion as well as the works of Synge. Speakers include Professor Roy Foster of Oxford on "Yeats's Revolutionary, Theatre" Gerry Dukes, English lecturer at Mary Immaculate College (on "Synge, Beckett and the nature of Creative Borrowing") and Professor Lyn Innes of the University of Kent (on "Gender and National Identity in the Plays of Synge, Soyinka and Walcott"). There is a strong lineup of writers, including, playwrights Brian Friel, Tom Murphy and Sebastian Barry, the poet Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill, and the novelist, Richard Kearney (also known as Professor of Philosophy at UCD). There will also be a Beckett reading by Barry McGovern. Tel 0404-46131.

Bram Stoker Summer School Clontarf, Dublin June 25th - 30th

"Stoker, Dracula and Associated Gothic" is the theme of this year's school, and speakers include Dr R.J. Clougherty of Tennessee Technological University (on "Voiceless Outsiders Count Dracula as Bram Stoker") supernatural fiction writer and fantasy aficionado Mark Valentine (on "The Femme Fatale in the Fiction of Bram Stoker and Arthur Macken") Carol M. Davison of Concordia University in Montreal (on "Blood Brothers Dracula and Jack the Ripper") and international Stoker authority Dr Clive Leatherdale (on "Stoker's The Jewel of Seven Stars"). There will be a Bram Stoker Pitch and Putt Tournament and a Stoker Walk around Clontarf. Tel 01-8481298.

Parnell Summer School Rathdrum, Co Wicklow August 11th-18th

The Parnell Summer School, which is always a forum for lively debate, will be opened by Judge Catherine McGuinness, and this year's theme is "The Irish Diaspora". The main event of the school is, a symposium entitled "The Impact of Emigration on Ireland", with a panel including Olive Braiden of the Rape Crisis Centre, Senator Marian McGennis of Fianna Fail and Senator Joe O'Toole of the INTO. Professor Terry Eagleton of Oxford will speak on "Literary Exiles and Emigres" Dr Grace Neville of UCC will speak on "The Dark Lady of the Archives Women and Emigration in Irish Folklore" Dr Brian Trainor (of the Ulster Historical Foundation) will speak on "Ulster Emigration to North America 1700 1900" and Liam Greenslade of the University of Liverpool will speak on "The Blackbird Calls in Grief Mortality and Madness Amongst the Irish Communities in Britain." There will also be a workshop on Sources for the Study of Emigration and a cricket match in period costume. Tel 01-2874124.

Patrick MacGill Summer School Glenties, Co Donegal August 11th-17th

The theme of this year's school (the 16th) is "Are We Drifting Towards Lawless Society?" No speakers have been confirmed yet. Tel 075-51103.

Merriman Summer School Ennistymon, Co Clare August 17th-24th

"Music and the People"/ "An Ceol agus an Pobal" is the theme of this year's Merriman School, which will discuss topics such as how Irish music reflects our identity, whether there are musical shades of Orange and Green, and is Ireland a nation of musical illiterates?

The bilingual school is renowned for a winning mix of fun and hotheaded debate, and attracts many of Ireland's leading figures on their August holidays. The school will be opened by Dr Ciaran Mac Mathuna and guest speakers include some of Ireland's best known names in music of all kinds, from traditional to classical Micheal O Suilleabhain, Finlan Vallely, Brian Boydell, Raymond Deane. The school director is Niall Doyle, chief executive of Music Network. There will also be concerts, singing and sessions galore. Tel 01-7068200.

General Humbert Summer School Killala, Co Mayo August 21st-25th

This is the tenth year of the Humbert School, and President Robinson will be present in her home town of Ballina to open the proceedings at Moyne College on the 21st. The theme is "From Lemass to the Millennium", to commemorate Sean Lemass, who died 25 years ago. Speakers include Peter Sutherland, chairman of Goldman Sachs International Mary O Rourke, Deputy head of Fianna Fail Colm Larkin head of the EU Commission Office in Dublin George Watson, Professor of Irish literature in English at Aberdeen University and John Horgan, Professor of Communications, at DCU. Crime novelist Eugene McEldowney will read from his work. Tel 01-4903963.

Desmond Greaves Summer, School Labour History Museum, Dublin 4 August 23rd-25th

Desmond Greaves (1930-88), the labour historian and biographer of James Connolly was a Liverpudlian of Irish descent, and his memory is celebrated in this annual school which has been running for, eight years. The main speaker this year is Terry Eagleton, and there will be a symposium on the Peace Process in the North. Other speakers will be confirmed later. Tel 01-4973145.

Lady Gregory Autumn Gathering Gort, Co Galway September 27th-29th

This new summer school, the first after the Kate O'Brian Weekend to honour a famous Irish woman, started last year and continues this year with lectures, performances of Lady Gregory's plays, and a walk through the woodlands of Coole Park. Speakers include Dr Riana O'Dwyer (UCG) who will speak on the divergent views of Lady Gregory and James Joyce on the literary Ireland of their day Professor J.B. Lyons (Dept of the History of Medicine, Mercer's Library, Dublin) on Oliver St John Gogarty writer and broadcaster John Quinn who will speak on Lady Gregorys' life and the Hon Desmond Guinness on the Big House. Tel 091-521836.

Oscar Wilde Autumn School Bray, Co Wicklow October 24th-30th

The school is only three years old and though not, strictly speaking, part of this page's summer brief, is well worth a mention just the same. It already has a strong and adventurous identity. This year's programme will not be ready until June. The format will be similar to last year's, in that each day will dwell upon one particular theme relevant to Wilde's life and work, from the staging of his plays to his fascination with clothes, with plenty of debate and discussion along the way. Anyone interested should send an SAF to the School via the Chamber of Commerce House in Bray.

Gerard Manley Hopkins Summer School Monasterevin, Co Kildare July 2nd-7th

This year's school has an impressive international list of speakers on the unique poetry of Hopkins, including Professor Kazu Yoshi Enozawa from Keio University in Tokyo speaking on Japanese Responses to Hopkins and Professor Antony Johnson of the University of Pisa in Italy on Hopkins and Italy. There is also the usual interesting line up of poets from a variety of countries Marin Sorescu from Romania, Nic Webber from Luxembourg and Kama Kamanda from Zaire. There will be a writers' workshop with Professor Robert Welch and a puppeteering workshop with Fred Curchack, as well as several art exhibitions and classical concerts. Tel 045-433930.

Glandore Classic Boat Summer School Glandore, Co Cork July 2nd-7th

This summer school, now in its third year, will be opened by the maritime expert and historian Dr John de Courcy Ireland. Traditional Irish boats of all kinds will be in Glandore for the occasion, from Work Boats of the Famine period to Galway Hookers. David Taylor, head of Maritime Folk life at the Smithsonian Institute, will give a lecture entitled "Recording Folk life An American Perspective", and there will also be lectures on Sand Dredgers, Lough Beg Shrimp Boats, and even "Nickies, Nobbies and Zulus" (the latter by Michael McCaughan of the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum). Tel 021-545333.

James Joyce Summer School Newman House, Dublin July 14th-26th

This year is the first in the nine years of the Joyce Summer School's existence that will take place without the presiding light, wit and expertise of the late lamented Gus Martin, whose inimitable presence will be much missed this year, and always. This year's visiting academics include Dr Timothy Martin of Rutgers University, New Jersey Dr Richard Brown of the University of Leeds and Dr Anne Rigney of the University of Utrecht as well as Dr Declan Kiberd (UCD) and Professor Terence Dolan (the new director of the school). Other speakers include the playwright and film maker, Gerry Stembridge and Eileen Battersby, critic and journalist with The Irish Times. Tel 01-7068480.

John Hewitt International Summer School Carnlough, Co Antrim July 29th-August 3rd

The theme of this year Hewitt School (now in its' ninth year) is "Regions of the Mind". Speakers include Professor Terry Eagleton of Oxford, the poet and critic Tom Paulin, Rabbi Julia Neuberger (Chancellor of the University of Ulster) and W.J. McCormack, Professor of English at Goldsmith's College, London. There will be readings with poets John Montague and Bernard O'Donoghue and the novelist (Deirdre Madden. The Collected Poems 1943 - 1995 of Roy McFadden will be launched, and there will be seminars on John Hewitt's poetry and a ceili. The school has recently been embroiled in controversy, involving the resignation of Professor Edna Longley as Academic Director. Hopefully, it will have reached _ calmer waters by July Tel 01266-44247.

KISS Tralee, Co Kerry July 28th-August 9th

The theme of this year's Kerry International Summer School of Living Authors is "Rites and Religions, Vision and Division in Modern Ireland". Poet and Oxford academic Professor Bernard O'Donoghue will speak on "Heaney's Religions" Dr Anne Fogarty of UCD will speak on Jennifer Johnston, Mary Lavin and Kathleen Coyle Professor Colbert Kearney of UCC will assess the work of Dermot Bolger Professor Eamonn Wall of Creighton University, Nebraska, will speak on Aidan Higgins and the Hungarian poet and translator, George Szirtes, will look at "The Irish and European in Derek Mahon's Poetry". There will be readings by Brendan Kennelly and Edna O'Brien on Saturday August 3rd, which is a day devoted to the memory of Gus Martin. There will be readings by the fiction writer, Joe O'Connor, and the poet, Anne Hartigan and a dizzying range of afternoon seminar options. Tel 066-21472.