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The emergence of the House of Lancaster could have led to a major decline of the English realm, yet it achieved its greatest success against the enemy of France. We will begin by looking at the latter part of Henry IV’s reign, and his struggle with his own eldest son the Prince of Wales, and in particular focus on how that rivalry manifested itself in a competition between Henry’s sons. Thereafter however we will then go on to concentrate on the Agincourt campaign under Henry V and the subsequent consequences of the renewed conflict of the Hundred Years’ War.

Do you want to learn the basics of watercolours? Have you tried before and given up in frustration? Why not join this course for support and encouragement? Watercolour, simply put, is water mixed with pigment which is then applied to paper. But painting with watercolours is something entirely different. It can be complex, confusing, and fun at the same time. While not a medium to be controlled or manipulated, part of the very beauty of working with watercolours is learning to let go! Come and join us to find out more.

Longer, darker evenings of Autumn provide the opportunity to familiarise yourself with the night sky. We will concentrate on some of the objects (stars and planets) that can be seen over the autumn with the unaided eye. You will be given guidance on how to observe them. Astronomy is a very dynamic subject, and we will consider news stories of note. The course is for beginners/those with some experience and targetted observing challenges will be set. You will be encouraged to undertake independent research (via ‘mini-projects’) and, if you are willing, share with class members. Weekly knowledge quizzes will be set so that you can see your progress.

Social media is one of the biggest marketing channels today. Whether you’re a small business owner, charity worker, community service operator, or local performer, having a presence online can help you get in front of your target audience. Social media courses give you essential digital training to be able to set up and run social media accounts. They also help you learn to market yourself online. This social media marketing course is aimed at beginners, so don’t worry if this is new to you! We will cover five main platforms: LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Understand how these channels work and learn to set up your profile. Understand how to define your target audience and create content that they want to see. Learn how to schedule posts and plan a content calendar.

Have you ever wondered how to look at a painting and how to figure out what it means? This course will give you keys to develop your understanding and appreciation of paintings and their history. Based on the study of many concrete examples, taken from a variety of historical periods and styles, we will study all the aspects of a painting, from its format and technique, to its subject matter. As we do so, you will have many occasions to apply this knowledge and techniques for yourself.

This course will examine Ireland’s unique contribution to twentieth century poetry in English. We will explore the work of two Nobel Prize winners, W.B. Yeats and Seamus Heaney, plus the work of Patrick Kavanagh, Louis MacNeice and Michael Longley. Additionally, we will refer in passing to poems by numerous other poets such as Paul Muldoon and Derek Mahon. We will analyse those elements which have contributed to Ireland’s distinctive contribution to world literature in the last 100 years, and discuss the relationship between a politically troubled history and creativity. There will be ample opportunities for discussion in what will be lively sessions.

Exploring five arguably lesser known classics produced by British film studios Ealing and would be ‘rivals’ Gainsborough, both stalwarts of 1940s and early 1950s cinema. Ealing Studios are still renown for their many now classic comedies produced throughout the 1940s and into the 50s but perhaps the repeated focus on the same films has lead to other equally remarkable classics from their own studio becoming overshadowed. Likewise, a repeated focus on Ealing Studios has perhaps stolen praise from other British studio of the era Gainsborough. This course aims to reinvestigate some of these ‘forgotten’ classics.

Enhance your storytelling skills with our Short Story Workshop. Learn the art of crafting compelling short stories through practical exercises and expert guidance. Ideal for writers of all levels looking to refineIn this course students will explore the art of short story writing, focusing on the fundamental elements that make a compelling narrative. Through guided exercises, discussions and peer feedback, participants will learn how to develop characters, craft engaging plots, build vivid settings and experiment with narrative voice and structure. By the end of the course students will complete a polished short story, showing structure and plot effectively and gain practical skills for refining their storytelling craft. This is a friendly and supportive Writing Workshop where learners are able to receive feedback each week on the previous week's Homework writing assignment. their short fiction writing abilities.

Would you like to improve your core strength? Do you know which muscles make up the core? Or what the benefits of a stronger core are? This yoga course will help you to identify the muscles that form the core, and help you to understand that a stronger core stabilises the spine and improves our balance. You will practice a range of accessible postures that help to build core strength in a safe way and also improve core muscle flexibility. Each session will focus on warming up safely for posture practice and a balanced range of postures that help to build core strength and flexibility. You will learn how breathing influences the muscles of the core. Each session will end with a relaxation.

Dante’s Inferno, one of the masterpieces of Western literature, is structured as a journey Dante takes through the different levels of Hell, observing the souls damned for various kinds of self-centred actions (sins) while alive, providing us with a series of insightful images and dramas, taking us deep into the psychological depths of humanity. The course takes us through the 34 cantos of Dante’s Inferno, progressing slowly so we can question, discuss and savour the literary features and the vision of human nature presented in the poem.