The Yeats Summer School begins today and continues until August 11th in Sligo. Lectures will take place in the Hawk's Well Theatre and day visitors are welcome to attend for £5. Details from the Yeats Society on 071-42693.
Interest in volcanoes recently has encouraged Explore Worldwide to increase capacity on its Sicilian Volcano Hike and the Ring of Fire trip to Kamchatka in Russia. The Sicilian hike will provide the opportunity to climb three active volcanoes, Mount Etna (3,323 m), Vulcano (500 m) and Stromboli (924 m). Other volcanic destinations include Nicaragua, Mauritius and Reunion. Details from Maxwell Travel, 1 Hawkins Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-6793662.
Stena Line has some late availability for family holidays in Britain. Stena and British Holidays, who operate a number of mobile home parks, mostly in Wales and the north of England, have a seven-day package for up to six people for £664, which includes car transport on the ferry and accommodation. All the parks have swimming pools, a children's club and entertainment. As an encouragement to Irish holidaymakers, they will change £200 Irish for £200 sterling. Details from Stena on lo-call 1890-226688.
Football fans may be interested to know that Stena has packages to Rotterdam for the World Cup qualifier in September. The cost is £150 per person and is based on four sharing a car, travelling via Holyhead and Harwich to the Hook of Holland. It also includes one night's accommodation in a four-star hotel. Details from 1890-226688
More football from Elite Travel, which has trips to Ireland v Portugal in October. The four-day package costs from £499, including a match ticket. Details from Elite Travel, 12A Terenure Road West, Dublin 6W. Tel: 01-4900700.
Next weekend is the Down District Walking Festival, which includes walking in the Mournes. Walks are graded to suit every level of fitness and the base will be in Hillyard House, Castlewellan. Buses will transfer walkers to the starting points. Details from Heather Wilson, Down District Council, Downpatrick. Tel: 04844610800.
Ryanair is operating extra flights from Shannon to Stansted from August 4th to 24th, bringing its daily services to four.
Inghams has some special offers for Austria in August. A seven-night stay, halfboard in the Salzkammergut Lake area starts at £319 and in Zell Am See at £304 half-board. Zell Am See is a very picturesque town on the edge of a lake and overshadowed by the Schmittenhohe Mountain, which you can visit by cable car. Details from your local travel agent or Inghams on 01-6611377.
Joan Scales can be contacted at jscales@irish-times.ie