This year, as part of the annual Adult Learners’ Festival, there were 149 events – large and small – across the island of Ireland, from yoga and mindfulness to flower workshops, to a session on how to use your smartphone.
The team at AONTAS were out and about during the festival week, visiting adult and community education groups and chatting with staff and adult learners.
Brian, our Membership and Digital Engagement Officer, headed to the National Library of Ireland for a tour. The tour group learned about the development of the library from its foundation in 1877 until today.
Brian says, “Did you know that Samuel Beckett’s grandfather was the builder, and that Thomas Moore is the only Irish writer represented in the stained-glass windows in the entrance? A Lego model in the library was built over four years by a couple who started it during the COVID-19 lockdown. You can apply online for a Reader’s Card to access the library. It houses every book ever published in Ireland.”
Larisa, our Adult Education Initiatives Officer, headed to Monaghan for an “Introduction to Mural Wall Art” – hosted by Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB). Larisa said: “Exciting mural painting class! Full of creativity and engagement and the teaches and learners are really lovely.”
Ruby, our Education Projects Officer, headed to Ballymun for the Ballymun Bike Library, hosted by Community Collectives, and Kate and Rachael (from our Impact and Engagement, and Comms Teams) did yoga and meditation with Claire at South Inner City Dublin Adult Education Service in Dublin 8.
Rebecca, our Policy and Advocacy Officer based in Galway, went to Galway Adult Basic Education Service (GABES) for Pancake Tuesday! Rebecca said Gabes are “fantastic, doing great work for people who really need it”.
Brian also headed to Loughlinstown Adult Guidance Service with Dublin Dún Laoghaire ETB for a Gardening taster session organised by Orla, Carly and Mary.
“Nigel, the tutor, showed us how to grow basil, tomatoes, and cress by using great kits available in Lidl. They put me to work digging for new apple trees. The group are from Women’s Collective Ireland and are working toward their QQI Level 3 certification. It was a lovely informal way for adult learners to come along and see the wealth of courses available.”
And Brian also headed to Dundrum Adult Training Education (D.A.T.E.) in Dundrum in Dublin, for a taster session for adult learners. “D.A.T.E. have been offering adult education courses for 40 years. Marguerite and the team celebrated the Festival with a morning where tutors could sample each other’s classes and learners and new learners could sit in and sample conversational Gaeilge, Spanish, Yoga and Tai Chi. I tried out some Tai Chi and Gaeilge on the day. There was such a great atmosphere with the tea flowing as well as the Chi!”
Our CEO Dearbháil headed to Bunclody for a Paper Flower Workshop, hosted by Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board.
“I had a gorgeous time in Bunclody,” Dearbháil said. “The staff from WWETB were so welcoming and spoiled me rotten. I met loads of learners, took part in a paper flower workshop and got to see the lads in action doing wood carving. They also baked cakes and we had a little tea party too!”
Others on our team were at a Beauty Lounge Workshop hosted by Women's Collective Ireland Ronanstown, a Culture and Heritage Studies Guided Tour and Coffee Morning with the National Print Museum, “Simmer and Share: Launch of ‘Soup’, a literacy-friendly reader”, hosted by Dublin Adult Learning Centre, Sustainable Speakers Online Taster Session hosted by Sustainable Speakers Club, and Warrenmount Community Project – hosted by Warrenmount Adult Education Centre.
More on the Adult Learners' Festival