Cork Lifelong Learning Festival will take place on Sunday 7th – Sunday 14th of April 2019
The eagerly awaited 16th Cork Lifelong Learning Festival will take place from Sunday 7th – Sunday 14th of April 2019. The annual festival has grown year on year since 2004 and encourages members of the public to embrace learning in all its forms regardless of age, interest or abilities. It’s a great opportunity to try out new experiences by participating in events, attending lectures or exhibitions and enjoying demonstrations of skills both new and old. The eight day long programme includes performances, poetry, workshops, walks, displays and demonstrations, and really does have something for everyone.
The festival prides itself on its inclusive nature and all of Corks Lifelong Learning Festival events are free to the public and open to all. The only limit is your appetite to try something new! Some events can be in high demand so check the programme to see if you need to book in advance.
Festival co-ordinator Siubhán Mc Carthy says: ‘This year for the first time we are delighted to announce that the Festival Programme is available online with a searchable programme available at www.corklearningfestival.ie where events can be searched by day, event type or by subject matter. The festival is all about bringing the ‘fun’ back into learning. Regardless of your age, interests or abilities there’s an event for you in Cork during Festival week. We want to spread the message that learning isn’t something that should be confined to the school or college going years. Embracing learning as a lifelong activity is good for individuals, families, communities and by extension the whole world. We all have different interests and abilities and the Lifelong Learning Festival is a really positive and inclusive way of celebrating this diversity.’
The key themes for this year’s festival centres on families, music, the environment, and STEM. This year, there really is something for everyone!
The Barrack Street Band Family Fun Day
is an annual event happening on 14 April in Fitzgerald’s Park. Corkonians (and visitors!) are encouraged to bring the family to an afternoon of fun. Why not bring a picnic and enjoy all that the beautiful park has to offer for the afternoon. For more, please contact Billy O’Callaghan 086 8378367.
Families
The Festival Kicks off with ‘Cork Play Day’ – a day where Corkonians young and old are encouraged to get out and use games and playfulness as a way to engage, break down barriers and build relationships across all communities. Join us on the Marina from 11.00 – 13.00 to experience a range of outdoor games & activities including paddle boarding, kayaking, street games, sports, suitable for all ages & abilities.
Environmentally friendly
‘Dark Matters – viewing the dark in a new light’ will run on 8 April with prominent light pollution campaigner and organiser of the Mayo Dark Sky Festival, Georgia MacMillan. Georgia will talk on the benefits of dark skies, the ill effects of light pollution on humans and animals, and what we can do to combat it.
On 12 April all are welcome to attend the ‘Stop Food Waste Workshop’ being held in Nano Nagle Place from 11.00 -12.30 . Donal O’Leary from Waste Down will give an introduction to the’ Stop Food Waste’ programme www.stopfoodwaste.ie with simple tips on how to reduce household food waste and save money. This will be followed by a comprehensive and practical overview of composting for different household and community needs. For more:
Music lovers
On Monday 8 April, The Leeside Serotones will perform in the Crawford Art Gallery. The Leeside Serotones are a choral group based in Cork, made up of HSE mental health staff, service users and friends. The group developed as part of an Arts + Minds Choral Project, which began in Autumn 2012.
STEM : Science Technology Engineering & Maths
Have you ever wondered how the app on your mobile phone was created? Come along to a taste of computer programming and you can learn how to write your first computer program. Join the ‘Taste of Computer Programming’ on 8 April from 18.00 – 19.00
‘Engineering the Future in Global Environmental Innovation’ is sure to draw great interest on 11 April. CIT plays host to the 33rd Annual Cork Mechanical, Manufacturing & Biomedical Engineering Exhibition; Europe’s Largest Educational Engineering Event. Expect 250 Stands Showcasing Engineering Student Projects of the School of Mechanical, Electrical and Process Engineering CIT.
The printed festival programme is out now and available in libraries, City Hall, and from many host venues and you can also find the festival programme online with a searchable programme available at www.corklearningfestival.ie.
