In April 2026, the Limerick Lifelong Learning Festival returned for its 16th year, with more than 130 free events taking place across Limerick city and county.
The festival theme, “Discover Lifelong Learning 2026”, captured what the festival is really about: encouraging people of all ages, backgrounds and stages of life to try something new, reconnect with learning, and see the opportunities that exist across their own communities.
I was pleased to be involved through Learning Limerick and to highlight the continued importance of lifelong learning across community, education, enterprise and civic life.
The festival is a reminder that learning does not belong to one institution, one age group or one stage of life. It happens in schools, colleges, workplaces, libraries, parks, community centres, homes and local organisations. It supports confidence, inclusion, wellbeing, employability and community participation.
This year’s festival also connected strongly with themes that are increasingly important for Limerick, including intergenerational learning, community connection and the role of AI in everyday life.
As Chair of the Learning Limerick Steering Group, I was also glad to reference the forthcoming Learning Limerick Strategic Plan, which sets out how we can widen participation, strengthen partnerships and continue embedding learning across community development, enterprise, culture and civic life.
What makes the Limerick Lifelong Learning Festival special is the partnership behind it. It brings together education providers, community groups, public bodies, businesses, learners and volunteers around a shared belief: that learning should be visible, accessible and open to everyone.
Originally published by I Love Limerick on 20 April 2026.