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DLI NEWSLETTER 27 JULY 2026
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All roads lead to UL this weekend as our much-awaited 60th DLI Summer School gets underway - we wish all our students and tutors a wonderful week in Limerick. Our Summer School Director & DLI Chairperson have special messages for all participants!
DLI SUMMER SCHOOL COMMITTEE
L-R Valerie McGuile, Willie O'Brien, Christine O'Brien, Ollie Kenny, Elaine McLoughlin.
Photo Michael Lysaght
DLI SUMMER SCHOOL DIRECTOR Ollie Kenny
 It is with great anticipation that we look forward to welcoming our biggest summer school number of participants for many years on Saturday next, 1st August. All of our eight courses are full to capacity, and the excitement is building by the day as the 2026 student body looks forward to teaming up with their respective tutors. This special 60th anniversary Summer School has meant that we needed to add on an extra course this year to cater for the expected high demand, and our line-up of tutors was enthusiastically welcomed with all eight courses booking out within a few hours of launch.
The 60th anniversary has had a big impact on our social calendar this year, with the keystone event being a night of celebration on Wednesday 5th of August. We have invited a number of special guests along for the evening to help us celebrate this special occasion.
We have put in a huge effort to ensure that this landmark Summer School will be remembered for all the right reasons, and I'd like to say a huge thank you to all of the members of the organising committee of Christine O'Brien, Elaine McLoughlin, Willie O'Brien and Valerie McGuile for the the trojan work they put in throughout the year.
We are very much looking forward to welcoming our tutors and participants to UL on Saturday next, and wish you all a safe journey getting there.
THE CLASS OF 2025!
 Greetings Members!
Here we are with only five more sleeps until our eagerly awaited trip to Limerick for the DLI annual Summer School, this year with the added bonus of the 60th Birthday Celebrations. I've been thinking about all the reasons why we so look forward to going, and why our friends and relatives who've never experienced Summer School think that we're a bit obsessed.
Registration on Saturday: we run into the buddies from previous years, some of whom we haven't seen since last year, and we're immediately back in a conversation that began one night long ago in The Stables and it's all familiar and comfortable and fun. We observe the first timers and although they may be a little shy and nervous, we know that by tomorrow they'll be fine.
We meet our tutor and go to our introductory class. Now we're wishing we'd actually looked at the course material, but it'll probably be fine. We hope.
The apartment. A refresher course in how an induction hob works. We'll have it figured by Friday.
 En route to the Stables we meet Brown Thomas and tell him it's nice to see him again.
The Social Calendar. Some of us have brought 5 musical instruments, learned the melody of all the latest hits, packed the entire contents of our drama group's wardrobe and emailed everyone in our class with suggestions. Some of us are winging it.
 Peril Pole and Bridget have been in touch to avoid any wardrobe clashes. The Canon is praying for us all.
The esteemed DLI 'S GOT TALENT Team:
L-R Mary Newman MC, Peril Pole (Moll Fullam) Former SS Co-Director Jane Leslie, Bridget Minogue (Bernie Harten) Canon Gilhooley (Edward Hayden)
Classes: What happens in class stays in class.
Pool Tournament: Poor Ollie. He does his best.
The tutors: Experts in their fields. We find we love learning, genuinely.
To quote Hamlet: Word, words, words. All week. Some wise and profound, some a little slurred. All lovely.
It all adds up to sixty years of wonderful friendships, great teaching, improved standards in all aspects of amateur drama and it all happens because of the hard work of successive Summer School Directors and their dedicated committees.
I can't wait!!
DLI CHAIRPERSON
Mary Newman
 PS Our Script Exchange has become a popular feature during SS Week. DLI donates a few unneeded multiple copy plays from our library collection for participants to take away. In turn, if you are coming to UL, feel free to contribute YOUR surplus scripts to the event. There will always be a grateful recipient!
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 This is the last newsletter until late August/early September. So, please note:
Our office in Dundrum is closed on THURSDAY 30th July in anticipation of Summer School.
Emails to office@dli.ie will be answered as usual from UL 1st-8th August. There will be no library service during SS Week.
The office in the Mill Theatre reopens on Monday 10th August until Thursday 13th when library service will resume. It will then close for holidays until WEDNESDAY 26 AUGUST.
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ADCI/DLI ONE ACT CIRCUIT 2026
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The link for registration will become live at 12noon on SATURDAY 1 AUGUST.
It will be posted on the ADCI and DLI websites and on our respective social media platforms.
All One Act Circuit enquiries to Joanne Keane
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CONTACT DETAILS CONTINUED
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2026 DLI/ADCI PLAYWRITING COMPETITION
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