Lifelong Learning Festival returns with 120 free events to take place across Limerick

IT’S THAT time of year again!

The Limerick Lifelong Learning Festival returns for a 15th iteration this April with its most comprehensive line-up of events to date. 

Taking place from Monday, April 7 to Sunday, April 13, this year’s festival theme is Literacies for Life and will feature over 120 free events and activities throughout the week both online and in-person.  

The 2025 festival presents a wide variety of interesting and diverse topics that include art, IT skills, language tasters, entrepreneurship, guided tours, open days, educational pathways, dance, music, cookery, well-being and more.

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This year’s festival was launched in Newcastle West Library by the Mayor of Limerick, John Moran on Friday, March 21. 

Limerick City and County Council, Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board and PAUL Partnership are lead partners in the festival. The initiative is also supported by a multi-agency steering group.  

Eimear Brophy of Limerick and Clare ETB and chair of Learning Limerick Steering Group said: “The theme of literacy is very timely and celebrates all the literacies that we need to embrace throughout our lives, including digital, financial, health environmental literacies.

“At this time of year, we are also reflecting on the work of Learning Limerick over the last year and the importance of connection and our membership of regional, national and international fora promoting lifelong learning.

“We are very proud of our membership of the UNESCO’s Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) and the Irish Network of Learning Cities (INLC) and value the sharing of best practice ideas and supporting other cities as we all continue our good work.”

Limerick is a UNESCO Learning City, an initiative ran by the  United Nations agency that promote education and humanitarianism.  

Some of the events taking place through the week include: A Craft Workshop in Moyross with Limerick and Clare ETB tutors, hosted by Moyross Adult Education Group, a Multicultural Ceilí in the Tait Community Kitchen hosted by PAUL Partnership and a Do You Know What You’re Eating? seminar running in both the City and Kilmallock Libraries, which explores the impact of nutrition, hosted by Healthy Limerick.

As well as this, there is a Self-Employment Information Session for Migrants hosted by Ballyhoura CLG, an Open Choir Rehearsal hosted by Mary Immaculate College Community Choir, an introduction to Script Writing event hosted by College of FET, Mulgrave Street Campus and a Childcare Employment & Careers Expo hosted by Limerick Childcare Committee.

Noting the positive effect of the festival, Mayor Moran said: “At the heart of the festival is the belief that learning should be fun and accessible for everyone.

“Following our motto – Communities, Connecting, Learning - we invite you to come with us on a journey of exploration, engagement, and pure celebration. I anticipate strong participation from our local communities and the broader public, both from within Limerick and beyond, mirroring the high levels of engagement we have witnessed in previous years. 

“It is a mark of our commitment to promoting learning in all its forms and the interest shown in lifelong learning across all groups across Limerick.”

The full schedule of festival events is available on www.limerick.ie/lovelearning.