Salmon Creative Writing Weekends, Knockeven, Cliffs of Moher, Co Clare. Tel: 065 81941 or e-mail salpub@iol.ie
Jessie Lendennie runs these informal courses out of her home, which is also the home of Salmon, a well-established poetry press. Accommodation is in a friendly B&B in nearby Doolin and lunches are included in the £100 fee for the weekend. Particularly strong on poetry and good for those who are just starting to write, participants on courses - which are run throughout the year - are limited to five.
Dingle Writing Courses, Ballintlea, Ventry, Co Kerry. Tel: 066 9159052 or e-mail dinglewc@iol.ie
Since 1996, Nicholas McLachlan and Abigail Joffe have been running writers' courses in Inch, near Dingle, from August through November. Attracting some of the best of Irish authors, this year's programme includes Jennifer Johnston and Anne Enright teaching fiction; poetry with Macdara Woods, and starting to write with playwright Vincent Woods. There is a maximum of 14 on each course, bedrooms are shared, and you may be called upon to get involved with the cooking.
The Poets' House/Teach na hEigse, Clonbarra, Falcarragh, Co Donegal. Tel: 074 65470 or e-mail phouse@iol.ie
During July and August, there are three 10-day poetry festivals at the Poets' House, where groups of 15-20 people work with resident poets James Simmons, Janice Fitzpatrick Simmons and Cathal O Searcaigh, as well as visiting poets who this year include Medbh McGuckian, Paul Durcan, Paula Meehan and John Montague. Each day is made up of a morning lecture, an afternoon workshop and an evening reading, and three poems must be submitted to apply.
Biography and Family History Course, Warren's Boat House, Castletownshend, Co Cork. Tel: 028 36173 or e-mail warrens.boathouse@ireland.com
Those with an interest in writing their family history should hotfoot it down to picturesque west Cork for this course, which is taught by two masters of the art, Victoria Glendinning and Anne Haverty. The course, which takes place from November 18th-21st, will look at research techniques, as well as analysis of the participants' own work.
The Arvon Foundation, Lumb Bank, West Yorkshire. Tel: 0044 1422 843714 Moniack Mhor, near Inverness. Tel: 0044 1409 231338 Totleigh Barton, Devon. Tel: 0044 1409 231338 http://www.arvonfoundation.org/index/
The Arvon Foundation is the grandaddy of all writing courses, having been in existence for 30 years, and with alumni that include Pat Barker, Esther Freud and Andrew Miller - now himself a tutor. The three different centres all run five-day courses for a maximum of 16 students, with two professional writers. This year's tutors include AL Kennedy, Don Paterson, Simon Armitage and Deborah Moggach.
Skyros Holistic Vacations, 92 Prince of Wales Road, London NW5 3NE. Tel: 0044 171 267 4424 or http://www.skyros.com/index.html
If combining creative writing with a bit of sunshine sounds like a good idea, then Skyros courses are ideal. Based on the Greek island of Skyros, with the recent addition of Skyros-in-the-Caribbean which takes place in Tobago, writers teaching this year include Hanif Kureishi, Hugo Williams, Sue Townsend and DM Thomas. Accommodation is in guest houses and there are also courses available in drama, music and personal development.