Honey time: The Co Dublin Beekeepers Association will hold a five-week beekeeping course for beginners starting on February 10th at 8pm. Lectures will be held at Wesley House in Leeson Park, Dublin, and there is a limit to the number of places available. For more information or to book a place phone (01) 288 8873.

Art workshops: The Decorative Arts Centre in Great Strand Street, Dublin, is holding a series of one-day Saturday workshops from January 31st with paint effects and decorative motifs. Advanced paint effects and the Chinese art of creating a harmonious interior environment, Feng Shui, will be covered on February 7th. Those interested in curtain making are catered for on February 21st and again on April 4th. If 1998 is your year for giving a dilapidated piece of furniture new life, there is workshop covering preparation, repairs and finishes on February 14th and again on March 7th.

All workshops start at 10.15am and end at 5.30pm. The cost per workshop is £55 including lunch. Curtain making workshops cost £65 including lunch.

There is a 10 per cent discount for those booking more than one course and a 20 per cent discount for students, OAPs and social welfare recipients. Some of the courses offered are covered by community employment and FAS schemes. For information about the workshops or to book, phone (01) 872 9697. Great Strand Street is just beside the Jervis Street Shopping Centre.

Auctioneers: The Irish Institute of Auctioneers and Valuers will begin a 15-week certificate course on fine and decorative arts appreciation on Tuesday, February 3rd. The course is held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and covers topics such as the history of furniture, painting, interiors, glass and silver. For information phone course director Liam O'Donnell at (01) 678 5685.

Ballymaloe: Those already involved in B&B, or thinking about setting up a business in this area, may be interested in a one-day course at the Ballymaloe Cookery School in Co Cork. Called The Irresistible Breakfast, it's a full day (March 7th) devoted to all that's tasty and appealing for the breakfast table. The cost is £105.

On March 21st, Ballymaloe has a day for wine enthusiasts. John O'Connell will cover everything from what glasses to use to how to serve wine and how to marry food and wines successfully. The cost is £98. For information phone Ballymaloe Cookery School at (021) 646785.