Adult Learners’ Festival

The AONTAS Adult Learners' Festival 2025

3rd to 7th March

This year’s theme is Connecting Communities, and adult and community education is the bridge that connects communities across the island of Ireland.  

Education is political.In challenging times, adult and community education has the power to change minds and change lives - for the better. 

This year, the Adult Learners’ Festival explores how to keep people connected and to strengthen our communities. We face challenges in our society at the moment, and some issues are framed to intentionally divide us. But adult learning brings people together, it helps us to ask questions and examine the world around us.  

Adult and community education is a path forward, for us all. It is a bridge between the past, present, and future, a way to unite people and show the ties that bind. Through adult and community education, we are Learning Together and Living Together, and there is a place for everyone. 

Let’s work together on “Connecting Communities.”  

Use the hashtags #LearnTogetherLiveTogether  #ALF25   

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Adult Learners' Festival 2025 Information Session 

We recently held a short online information session for anyone thinking of getting involved with the Festival and holding an event for adult learners or potential learners in your community.

Take a look at the video here. 

 

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Holding an adult or community education event  

We ask our members and those working in the adult and community education sector to let us help you promote and raise awareness of your work in adult and community education!

We offer FREE resources to promote your event. 

The first 30 groups to register your event on our website will receive a €100 voucher to support your event. 

The first 100 events can request a FREE resource pack to be posted out to you with printed posters, pens, bookmarks and flyers to help you celebrate.

Tag us on social media using the hashtags #LearnTogetherLiveTogether #ALF25 

Click here to register your event on our website! 

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What happened in 2024? 

Let's take a look back at last year's Festival and our theme of "Everyday Learning Spaces"

#FindYourselfHere

There were a fantastic 166 events taking place all across the island of Ireland over the course of the week. We are so grateful to everyone who got involved. 

We were also delighted with our two Dublin-based events. "Who Does It Cost?" - our policy discussion - was a rounding success last Monday 4th March, with discussions of how to strengthen investment in adult learners in Ireland. We'll have more coming on this soon as we launch a national campaign on increasing financial supports for learners. Find out more about Who Does It Cost here.

We also had the fantastic AONTAS STAR Awards in Croke Park on Friday 8th, featuring special guest comedian and radio presenter PJ Gallagher, and the fantastic Dublin Uklele Collective.

Congratulations to all the winners and many thanks to our fantastic judges and presenters. Find out who won at the STAR Awards.

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Contact ALF@aontas.com if you have any questions.