It is that time of year again, the Limerick Lifelong Learning Festival returns for a 13th iteration this Spring with its most comprehensive line-up of events to date. Taking place from Monday 27th March to Sunday 2nd April, this year’s festival theme is ‘Come Learn with Me in 2023’. It features over 160 free events and activities to choose from throughout the week both online and in-person.
The 2023 festival presents a wide variety of interesting and diverse topics that include Art, IT Skills, Language Tasters, Entrepreneurship, Guided Tours, Open Days, Educational Pathways, Music, and Cookery. Participants can also choose from Diversity and Inclusion discussions, Personal and Professional Development talks, Family Learning activities, Public Lectures, Martial Arts and much more.
This year’s festival was officially launched in Istabraq Hall, Limerick City Hall by the Deputy Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Cllr Kieran O’Hanlon. Guests were treated to a Zumba lesson from Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board tutor, Angel Catala Sempere, along with speeches from members of the Festival Organising Committee and Steering Group. The Festival Brochure was also unveiled at the launch where a complete listing of events and activities can be found.
Noting the positive effect of the festival, Deputy Mayor Kieran O’Hanlon said, “the Limerick Lifelong Learning Festival has expanded and grown over the years. The festival now reaches beyond the core of the city and established training and educational organisations into local communities across the city and county. The range of organisations involved in workshops and events, and participation has increased enormously since this first started. This is a mark of commitment to promoting learning in all its forms and the interest in lifelong learning across all groups in society and the general public.”
Eimear Brophy, Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, and Chair of Learning Limerick Steering Group highlighted the importance of Limerick’s role in the Shared Island Programme, an initiative that supports projects and collaboration between Local Government partners North and South. She said, “as an UNESCO Learning-City Region, and proud member and award winner of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC), Limerick is committed to supporting, promoting, and improving lifelong learning across the city and county. Learning Limerick is also an active member of the Irish Network of Learning Cities (INLC), an initiative aimed at increasing collaboration and establishing connections with our partner Learning Cities throughout the Island. These important relationships provide the opportunity for the sharing of learning and best practice initiatives between partner cities, which can then be incorporated into our own festivals’ development.”
Source: Limerick City & County Council
