We are lucky here at Learning Limerick insofar as part of our duties for the festival, we get to attend as many events as we can fit in to our busy schedule. It’s a tough job but somebody has got to do it! Here are some highlights of the events that we have attended so far…
Our 2023 learning journey kicked off on Monday morning with a visit to the Bicycle Engineering Academy in Raheen for an Open Day. We were treated to a tour of the new state-of-the-art campus on the Ballycummin Road, where we got to see the workshops, classrooms, and machine shops where all the work takes place. We also learned about the fully funded and accredited courses, including the world’s first qualification for electric bicycles that are run by the BEA. 
On Monday afternoon we attended a lunchtime talk on Caring for our Well-being in the Limerick City Library. This was a fascinating event where participants took part in a discussion on mindfulness and were encouraged to take charge of their own well-being through the building of resources and resilience. Attendees also received a tasty packed-lunch and a goody bag as a memento of the day.
Our Monday schedule concluded with a relaxing Tai Chi session in St. Munchin’s Community Centre, Kileely. There was an excellent turnout for this gentle martial art which is often referred to as moving meditation and it proved to be a fitting end to a busy day of learning.
Tuesday began with a trip to the Drop in Glass Making workshop in Mary Immaculate College. This was a 30-minute drop-in event where participants received a hands-on tutorial on glass cutting and kiln forming and got to create their own fridge magnet or coaster to take home.
We followed this with 2 public lectures; A Philosophy Café where we had a brief presentation and round table discussion on the Philosophy of Art and the fight for Justice and Solidarity through Artistic Expression, and a fascinating presentation on Researching and Confronting Far Right Social Media Activism in Ireland. While these events may sound slightly high-brow, specialist subjects we found these to be very accessible and engaging and provided us with a lot of food for thought.
We wrapped up our Tuesday schedule with a trip to the International Food Day in the Northside Family Resource Centre, Ballynanty. We got to sample some of the new flavours and authentic cuisine from around the world, while also learning a little about the different cultures where these delicious dishes originate from.
Stay tuned for more updates on our learning extravaganza as they happen!
For more information on LLL Festival 2023 events visit Limerick Lifelong Learning Festival | Limerick.ie
Written by Nessan O’Neill
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