Kilkenny has eight different schools dealing with ongoing and adult education and details of what they've got to offer can be had from the Adult Education Centre in Kilkenny (056.65103).

A flavour of what's on offer can be had from a look at courses in Duiske College, Graiguenamanagh, which runs a number of PLC courses.

These include a VTOS (Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme) - a second-chance education and training programme for the long-term unemployed - and a computer applications and information processing course.

An art, craft and design course at Duiske looks at traditional handcrafts; night classes there include stained glass, watercolours and upholstery.

Grennan College in Thomastown, runs one-year, full-time PLC courses leading to a diploma in reception, a N.C.V.A business studies - secretarial (Level 2) and a certificate in tourism awareness.

The Thomastown college has another PLC course in electronic security, this one leading to the NCVA Level 2 Certification and accredited by the Security Institute of Ireland. At Grennan Equestrian College they offer PLC courses which will give participants stages 1, 2, 3 and preliminary teaching qualifications of the British Horse Society. Another course leads to the Irish Certificate in Equestrian Science and another offers the NCVA horsemanship award.

All of these are over one year and are full time. Colaiste Mhuire is in Johnstown, Co Kilkenny, and says that, depending on demand, they will be providing a course in first aid this autumn. Other adult courses, which are planned to start at the end of September - in general they take up one night a week between 7pm and 9pm, - include engineering, metal work, cookery and soft furnishings.

Computer studies are an annual reliable and cover three stages - word processing, spreadsheets and databases.

Colaiste Mhuire's PLC courses offer studies in child development and child care, in business studies and (though this will again depend on demand) pre-nursing.