IF THE THOUGHT of sitting around, weaving stories on a small island off the south coast holds some appeal, then the Cape Clear Island Storytelling Workshop may be for you.

Liz Weir, storyteller-in-residence at the Verbal Arts Centre, Derry, and author of several books, and Billy Teare, ex-stage hypnotist, jester, juggler and magician and a well known storyteller too, will be storytellers-in-residence for the workshop.

The theme is improving storytelling styles through telling and critiquing new stories, learning new stories and mastering memorisation techniques.

Organiser Chuck Kruger explains that as assistant headmaster of an international school in Zurich he had the opportunity of bringing a storyteller into the school, and he saw the powerful effect it had on students; he is delighted to welcome teachers to the workshops.

As well as 15 hours of storytelling instruction and nightly stories around a fire, Kruger is offering guided island walks, including a tour of major historical and archaeological sites.

The course, which runs from Saturday, October 26th, to Monday, October 28th, costs £50, with a £10 registration fee. Accommodation costs vary, ranging from camping to self-catering and bed and breakfast.

The workshop is sponsored by the Leader II programme, through Comhdhail Oileain, and is supported by the in-career development unit of the Department of Education and the European Social Fund. Partial travel grants for available for post-primary teachers.