Cork's 18th Lifelong Learning Festival Launched!

9 March 2023

Cork’s popular Lifelong Learning Festival launch took place in Millennium Hall on Tuesday 7th of March with the release of a weeklong programme of Learning events for Cork City. The springtime festival is a firm favourite in the cities event calendar since 2004 and this year sees the 18th Cork Lifelong Learning Festival take place from Monday 27th to Sunday 2nd of April. The Festival’s organisers have been overwhelmed by a hugely positive response to their call-out for the free programme of learning events and activities.

Over 370 individual Lifelong Learning events will take place throughout Cork city. One of the key aspects of the festival over the years is the opportunity for members of the public regardless of age, interest, or abilities to ‘give it a go’ and learn something new through workshops, demonstrations, classes, lectures, walks and talks.

Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork Damian Boylan said ‘’The positive, inclusive and welcoming message that festival event hosts are giving to all people including our new neighbours, is a powerful way to counteract negativity, and to demonstrate our values as a people, and as a city – a ‘City of Welcomes’.

Festival Chair Willie McAuliffe says: “Cork is recognised globally as an exceptional example of a UNESCO Learning City and the Cork Lifelong Learning festival is the foundation for this. We are simply thrilled that over 370 events are scheduled to take place this year. There is a real appetite in Cork for learning and we owe a debt of gratitude to our event hosts who annually join us in celebrating Lifelong Learning the way Cork does best”.

Corks Lifelong Learning Festival events are free to attend and open to all. This year’s programme promises to include performances, poetry, workshops, walks and demonstrations. With something for everyone, the only limit is your appetite to try something new!

All events are hosted by volunteers, be they individuals, community organisations, private businesses, universities, schools or colleges. The free printed festival programme is now available in Cork City libraries, from host venues, and an online version is available at www.corklearningfestival.ie

The Festival could not happen without the support of partners including Cork Education and Training Board, Cork City Council, MTU, UCC, HSE Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, NAPD, First South Credit Union, The River Lee Hotel, and the Echo and Echo Live.