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SUMMER COURSES FOR CHILDREN:The Gaeltacht model works so well. Total language immersion; sports, arts and hilarity and the comfort and safety of a host family to make your kids feel at home. Now wouldn’t that be great if it all happened in the sun? There are countless Gaeltacht-style language schools running all over Europe, but in the past you would need to plough your own furrow to find them. Now Stein Travel has established Ireland’s first summer school travel service so you can send your child to one of 40 Gaeltachta in the sun; without the Irish of course, writes LOUISE HOLDEN.

Closer to home, the summer camps market continues to grow, with a number of new players this year in the field of film making and animation. With the success of films such as The Secret of Kells, Ireland has a growing presence on the global animation scene. Perhaps a stint at a summer school could lead to a promising career. Read on for more options for kids this summer.