As Galway becomes "Gollywood" this week for its annual film fleadh, the city's university says it has initiated a new diploma course in acting through the Irish language.
The diploma course will be part-time, and based at NUI Galway's Ceathrú Rua campus, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, in Connemara.
Beginning in September, it will involve Saturday workshops, and is open to all with an interest in acting "as Gaeilge" at either professional or amateur level.
Previous experience is not required, but applicants should have a "passion for drama and the Irish language", and may be considering employment opportunities in stage and screen acting.
Oscar award-winner Kathy Bates was among the guests in the city last night for the opening of the 18th Galway Film Fleadh by Labour Party president Michael D Higgins.
Among participants and visitors will be David Kelly, who starred in the recent remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, along with John Hurt, Patrick Bergin, John Lynch and cult director Nic Roeg.
Outdoor screenings in Eyre Square have been lined up over the weekend and the new mayor of Galway, Cllr Niall Ó Brolcháin (Greens), has invited all of the city's national and local elected public representatives to the fleadh's screening of An Inconvenient Truth, a film about climate change made by the former US vice-president Al Gore.
Speaking at last night's opening, Galway West TD Mr Higgins compared the fleadh to Babette's Feast, with "an assembling of material and ingredients, a parade of sensual invitations, an excitation of forgotten tastes, and an invitation to the new".
"At the same time there is an introduction to the 100 crafts of preparation and a disputation as to their purpose," Mr Higgins said.
The film fleadh runs until Sunday, the eve of the Galway Arts Festival and opening of the alternative Project 06 event.
