LIBRARIES
MANY OF THE State's larger libraries are a good bet for free activities and events during the summer. The Dublin Central Library, ILAC Centre, plans to host afternoon story telling and musical events on Mondays through Thursdays during July.
A number of the larger Dublin public libraries, including Ballyfermot, Coolock and Ballymun, also promise free events - arts and craft sessions, games, chess tournaments and inter library quizzes during July and August. Check with your local libraries nearer the time.
Cork City Library, Grand Parade, will hold `Story Time' every Friday morning (11.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.) and art competitions and other events throughout the summer.
In Co Limerick, Adare and Newcastle West public libraries, promise children's summer projects. Check with libraries for details.
FREE FUN FESTIVALS
LOOK OUT for free music and family fun days in parks in the greater Dublin area during the Summer. South Dublin County Council is organising its first ever summer festival this year. Don't miss the family days which will take place in the regional parks on the four Sundays in July.
Enjoy a variety of entertainments including magicians, jugglers, bands, face painting, clowns, folk dancing, treasure hunts and fortune telling between 2 and 5.30 p.m. at Grisseen Valley Park, Lucan (July 7th); Tymon Park, Tallaght (July 14th); Corkagh Park, Clondalkin (July 21st) and at a venue to be arranged on the 28th.
On various dates in June and August, puppet days will be held in Grisseen Valley, Corkagh and Tymon Parks.
The council is supporting up to 40 community based children's projects. A series of, children's events, including library readings, performance art and creative workshops, will be held during the summer months. Telephone (01) 4620000, ext 3314, for details.
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Council is grant aiding children's summer projects in 27 communities throughout the county. Activities include arts and crafts, adventure sports and day trips. Look out for the "Family Fun Days" during the summer months at Marlay (June 30th) and Cabinteely (July 7th) parks, the People's Park, Dun Laoghaire (July 21st) and Blackrock Park (July 27th). Free entertainments, organised by the council, will include street theatre, face painting, bouncing castles, live music and sports displays.
July 1st is the date set for the start of the summer recreation programmes supported by Ogra Chorcai for children and young teenagers in Cork city and county. Activities include arts and crafts, cookery, sports, drama, dance, and day trips. Costs range between £2 and £10 depending on the activities offered and the length of the programme.
Keep you ears pinned for details of visits to the aircraft carrier USS John F Kennedy, which will be anchoring off Dun Laoghaire July 2nd to 6th. The US Embassy says if will be announcing them on May 17th.
DUBLIN GALLERIES
DON'T MISS the exhibition in the Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin, which runs from the end of May through the summer. The Merry Go World or Begat by Chance and the Wonder Horse by Californians Ed and Nancy Kienholz is a fantastic, almost lifesize merry go round, containing tigers, horses and monkeys, that you can walk into. Before you enter you spin a wheel and inside a special window lights up for you.
A series of children's workshops cent red on the "Merry Go World" will be held during the summer months. Check with the gallery for details.
Make a note in your diary: June 15th is the date for a free art extravaganza for families at the National Gallery of Ireland. The day long programme includes art classes for children and art workshops for teenagers with professional artists, music, song and dance.
The National Gallery's Family Hour takes place at 3 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month starting in July. The programme consists of an informal talk for parents on a particular painting and drawing for children. (Bring your own materials). Free Eyespy Worksheets - for all the family - will be available from the information desk.
The gallery's "Summer Club" takes place daily between July 2nd and 25th and includes European art heritage talks and workshops for teenagers, an art adventure programme for nine to 13 year olds and "little masters" drawing classes for four to eight year olds. Season tickets cost £60 and £45 and individual classes £2, £3 and £4, depending on age.
Sadly, the Irish Museum of Modern Art summer series of family workshops is already booked out.
Do check out the Ark, the new children's cultural centre in Dublin's Temple Bar. Two by Two, which runs till the end of June, is an exhibition of arks made by prominent artists. The summer programme is to be arranged.
MUSIC AND DRAMA
MUSICAL six to 12 year olds will love the National Concert Hall's half day children's workshops, directed by Peter Sweeney (August 28th and 29th). Telephone (01) 6711888 for more details in June.
Take your family back to its musical roots by attending the one week South Sligo Summer School of (traditional) Music, Song and Dance (tel: (071) 85010). All ages are catered for. Beginner classes in the tin whistle, singing and set dancing and classes for a variety of Irish musical instruments take place each morning.
The summer school offers free camping to participants who bring their own tents or trailers. Adults cost £40, children under 16 years £20.
Both shy and extrovert children will benefit from summer drama courses, which are designed to draw on their creativity and imagination. In Dublin, the Gaiety School of Acting (tel: (01) 679 9277), the Betty Ann Norton Theatre School (tel (01) 475 1913) and the Leinster School of Music (tel: (01) 475 1532) all run children's programmes during the summer months.
OUT AND ABOUT
IN DUBLIN, don't miss the Dublin Writers Museum, where you'll find a room dedicated to contemporary Irish children's literature and where you can see Tara's Palace - a 23room doll's house.
Of course Meanwhile, the Zoo, the Museum of Natural History, the National Wax Museum, the Museum of Childhood, Dublinia, the Newbridge House farm and the Fry Model Railway Museum at Malahide Castle are musts for children of all ages.
A ride on top of a doubledecker bus or a trip on the DART will give lots of car bound kids a thrill, while teenagers will enjoy the Rock n Stroll tour of the city's music scene (map available from Dublin Tourism £2.50) and a few hours mooching in Temple Bar.
If you fancy a day out with the kids but are reluctant to drive, why not consider a family fun day trip with Iarnrod Eireann? On summer Saturdays, two adults and up to four children (under 16) can make a return rail journey to any station in Ireland for a total of £35. For £50 you can chose a family trip from Dublin to Fota Wildlife Park, Cork, on Saturdays during July and August, a trip to Dublin Zoo from other areas of the country or a visit to the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Cultra, Co Down (from Dublin, weekdays only).
Don't forget that, in addition to that museum, Northern Ireland boasts some great attractions for children. Top of the list is the Armagh Planetarium, where, whatever the weather, you can fly through space and see the stars under the silver dome. The Dunluce Centre, Portrush, Co Antrim, is a Victorian themed entertainment centre which promises stomach churning Turbo Tours - a cinema where seat movement is synchronised with on screen action adventures. And for more high tech infotainment, try the Knight Ride, Heritage Plaza, Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, and travel through the town's 1,000 years' history by monorail.
If you're children are keen to participate in adventure, sports during the summer, check out the adventure centres run by the VECs throughout the country. You'll find they offer great value. Typical is the Achill Outdoor Adventure Centre, Achill Island, Co Mayo, where a residential summer camp for 12 to 18 year olds runs during July and August and costs £18 to £20 per day. You can also participate in activities on a non residential basis. For £5 per morning (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.), seven to 14 year olds can enjoy Canadian canoeing, kayaking, surfing, belly boarding, orienteering and games.
A similar programme plus windsurfing is available for adults at £6 per half day and £12 per full day. But be warned you need to book in advance.
SPORT
SOME OF THE best sporting value around has got to be the Parks Tennis League. For a once off nominal fee, children aged between seven and 17 years are guaranteed a minimum of two 90 minute tennis coaching sessions - with qualified coaches - each week during the five weeks of July. Even if you're going to be away for part of the month, it's still worth registering, the organisers say. Coaching takes place in 60 venues in Dublin city and county, in Cork Limerick, Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny, Carrick on Suir, Derry, and in counties Wicklow (Newcastle and Enniskerry Community Centres) and Kildare (North Kildare Sports Centre, Kilcock, Leixlip Tennis Club and Newbridge Tennis Centre). Dublin registration takes place on June 28th. Telephone (01) 833 8711 for details and registration dates in other areas.
Dublin Corporation's basketball and rowing camps are also great value. In recent years basketball has become one of Ireland's fastest growing sports. During July, youngsters (aged 10 to 18) can receive a week coaching by top Irish US and British basketball coaches for £20 at Artane Beaumont Recreation Centre, Kilmore Road.
For only £10 per week (half days only), 12 to 16 year olds who are able to swim can learn to row at the Municipal Rowing Centre, Islandbridge. Application forms are available in Dublin Corporation offices and public libraries; places are limited, so book early.
Sailing provides many people with lifelong pleasure. The Irish National Sailing School, West Pier, Dun Laoghaire, (tel: (01) 284 4195) offers weekly sailing courses, during June, July and August, for children (aged eight to 17) who can swim (£95 including insurance).
The privately run sports camps tend to be expensive, but many of them offer excellent facilities and are booked out at an early stage. Camp Blackrock (tel: (01) 288 8681) runs a series of camps for children aged three to 14 years, which include sport, art, drama and music camps. Prices are £52 to £57 for a one week, 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m., programme. The King's Hospital sports camp, Dublin (tel: (01) 626 5933), offers its first hockey camp this year for children aged between 12 and 16 years (day camp £60, residential £145 per week). Other camps include a multi sports camp for six to 15 year olds (£90 per fortnight, £215 residential) and a Montessori camp for three to six year olds (£42 per week).
DCU Sports Camp, from June 24th to August 16th, offers five different programmes, including adventure activities and multi sports, multi sports and computers, soccer and computers (ages six to 10 and 11 to 14) £40 per week; Gaelic games and computers (eight to 12) and leprechaun rugby (eight to 14) £30 per week.
Newpark Venture Camp, also in Dublin, offers a one week junior sports camp for three to six year olds for £28, a fortnight camp for six to 14 year olds for £75, and an intensive swimming course for £28 per week. Community schools and centres around the country offer good value in summer sports and activity camps for children. Check locally for details.
Rollerblade enthusiasts will want to make the 10 km rollerblade event in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, on June 30th, which promises to be a fun family afternoon, with celebrities in attendance. It is open to anyone who can rollerblade. Entry forms will be available soon at branches of Champion Sports or the Irish Wheelchair Association.
LANGUAGE COURSES
SUMMER IS a great time to brush up on languages. Starting in early June, Gael Linn is offering residential Irish courses at its colleges in counties Donegal, Cork and Mayo from £210. During the summer there will be three two week courses in Merrion Square, Dublin, for sixth class and pre Leaving Cert students (£110). Telephone (01) 6767283 for details of these, and other courses to be held in Glasthule, Co Dublin, and in Galway. But hurry - places on the courses are already being filled.
The Alliance Francaise, Dublin (tel: (01) 676 1732), is organising a number of summer programmes for children and young people, including a children's theatre workshop, beginner's French for children entering second level, and programmes for students embarking on both Junior and Leaving Cert French.
