Talented students meet authors at CTYI (Ireland's Centre for Talented Youth)

Author Roddy Doyle with CTYI students

Seven of Ireland's most talented authors today gave readings of their work to a group of over 250 of Ireland's most talented students who are attending this year's summer school at Ireland's Centre for Talented Youth (CTYI) which is based at DCU.

The authors included Roddy Doyle, Paul Howard (aka Ross O'Carroll-Kelly), Tom Humphries, Euan O'Halpin, Ruth Gilligan, Julia Kelly and Claire Hennessy.

CTYI was established in 1992 to provide services for young students with high academic ability. It caters for children aged 6-16 years who fall approximately in the top 5% of the population academically in either mathematical, verbal or abstract reasoning categories.

3,700 students are participating in this year's summer school. The courses have been expanded to include topics such as Gothic Studies, Superhero Science, Theoretical Physics and Sports Science. These challenging courses are designed to provide heightened academic stimulation and they also provide an opportunity for students to meet other young people with similar interests.

The Director of the CTYI, Colm O'Reilly, said, "At CTYI, these students can choose from a range of subjects that they would not normally take at school. Today's Literary Day, for example, is a unique opportunity for students to meet well-known authors so they can hopefully become inspired and improve their own writing skills".

There is also an international dimension to the programme with a number of students travelling from overseas to attend residential summer programmes. This year, students have come from countries such as Belgium, Jamaica, Malawi, The Netherlands and the US.