Dear Editor,

I am writing to express my surprise on reading your "Happy days at the Beckett Centre" article (E&L, January 16th).

Professor Kennedy talks of "the further integration of the national theatre with the only real training ground for actors on this island". If only Professor Kennedy, a recent arrival in Ireland, took some time to look at this island he would have discovered the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin has been a real training ground for actors since Joe Dowling founded this school in 1986.

We now celebrate our 10th anniversary by moving into a new purpose built school in Dublin's Temple Bar. The demand for places on our intensive acting programme is unprecedented, our graduate success rate is second to none (does Professor Kennedy not read theatre programmes?). All our part time courses for children, young people and adults are totally booked out until Easter.

It is imperative that the portals of academe do not shield the likes of Professor Kennedy from the realities of this island and its training facilities for actors. Yours,

Executive Director,

The Gaiety School of Acting