When the first notes are played by students at the Blas Summer School on the UL campus next Monday, it will be music to the ears of the director of Ireland's most unique music tutoring experience.

Carl Corcoran, who is also the presenter of popular nightly show 'The Blue of the Night' on Lyric FM, first got involved with Blas International Summer School of Traditional Irish Music and Dance two years ago.

"I did an MA in Community Music three years ago at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at UL. It was a great experience from a personal and academic point of view. I got to know Micheál Ó Súilleabháin and I was honoured to be asked to be the director last year. Blas has been running for 12 years and it gives people an opportunity to get a taste of what the academy offers in terms of music and university life," he said.

Blas—which is internationally accredited and runs from June 25 to July 6—has its largest enrolment to date this year with 60 students.

"It's a very personalised experience. Instruction is given in a master-class format and each one is different because classes are dictated by the level of the students. It's fluid but there is also a curriculum that includes lectures and workshops. There is one thing that separates it from other summer schools and that is that it includes a residency on the university campus."

He added that "the facilities are excellent and the school has a great reputation. We also have the pick of the crop when it comes to both guest tutors and the staff at the academy. Many of them are stars in their own right and it's a testament to Blas that it has the drawing power to attract that kind of talent".

Carl explained that the school's ethos is to maintain a low student to tutor ratio for the best possible experience and some of the acclaimed teachers include Martin O'Connor, Iarla O'Lionaird, Donal Lunny, Martin Hayes and Denis Cahill.

The native Dubliner's background is as a singer/songwriter—changing his stage name to Jamie Stone—and in the seventies he recorded several albums and his songs 'Gulliver' and 'I Believe in Love' topped the charts in Ireland.

He went to live in New York in 1978 and while away "got involved with all aspects of the music business from management to performing to production. I came back to Ireland in 1998 and that ultimately brought me to Limerick".

"The call home was always there. I don't think it ever goes away. Time went by very quickly and I was enjoying what I was doing. Things looked very good in Ireland at the time when I decided to come back and I'm very happy I made the move. There are elements of America that I miss but I wouldn't go back permanently."

Carl still performs and is currently collaborating with the bodhrán player, Tommy Hayes, and said that he relishes the chance to allow "the creative side to shine through composing and performing".