The Limerick Lifelong Learning Festival makes an inspirational ninth return to the city and county from 8-14 April 2019 with over 200 free events and activities taking place for the enjoyment and learning of all. There promises to be something to entertain and involve people of all ages, interests and backgrounds during the week-long festival.
The festival is organised by the Learning Limerick Steering Group, which represents the main stakeholders, including Mary Immaculate College (MIC), involved in promoting learning across Limerick City and County. All events throughout the week, including the full progamme of activities, seminars and workshops at MIC, are free of charge and available to everyone!
Speaking at the launch of the Limerick Lifelong Learning Festival 2019 in Adare Heritage Centre, Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Cllr James Collins said: “Learning is never a wasted experience. It helps us to grow intellectually as well as physically. It allows us to broaden our horizons. The Limerick Lifelong Learning Festival brings together the joy and wonder of learning for all those who participate. It is done in a way that eases the learner in, making them feel involved in the whole process. I would encourage everyone to take a look at the programme of events. There is something there for everyone.”
The festival aims to promote learning as something that is fun and enjoyable, with events including performances, taster sessions, tours, displays, lectures, walks, demonstrations and workshops. The events take place right across Limerick in a variety of indoor and outdoor venues, including in libraries, museums, castles, colleges, resource, family and community centres, parks and on the streets. There are hundreds of events on varied topics ranging from drama, business and entrepreneurship, maths and science to guided tours, exhibitions and workshops, all across the city and county.
MIC is delighted to be offering a varied and engaging range of events through the week. Dr Maeve Liston, Director of Enterprise & Community Engagement at MIC and a member of the Learning Limerick Steering Group and festival Organising Committee stated that: "Mary Immaculate College as a key stakeholder within Learning Limerick is committed to promoting access to lifelong learning opportunities for all and influencing lifelong learning policy practice through networking, connecting and collaborating. We recently formalised this commitment through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the lead partners for the Learning Limerick project committing MIC in advancing Limerick’s progress as a Learning Region.’
She added that MIC staff have organised and are delivering a wide variety of free events for people of all ages including for example Maths, Drama and STEAM Workshops for primary and post-primary students and a poster exhibition on the ‘Psychology of Education’. The College also has two very engaging events connecting Irish and American culture through music, dance and food via the ‘Tae, plé agus craic!’ event and ‘The Entrepreneurial Self in Higher Education’ seminar where participants will be encouraged to reconsider what innovation, creativity, problem solving, civic engagement and social responsibility might mean in the context of higher education.
For further information on all events at Mary Immaculate College please see list below.
Free copies of the 2019 Festival Programme have been distributed across limerick and all details are also included on www.limerick.ie/lovelearning, with daily updates also on Facebook; Twitter and Instagram, @limerickllfestival.
Main picture above (L-R): Prof. Eugene Wall, President of MIC; Mayor of Limerick, Cllr James Collins and Dr Maeve Liston, Director of Enterprise & Community Engagement at MIC, launching the Limerick Lifelong Learning Festival 2019.
Festival Events at MIC, 8-14 April
Monday 8-Sunday 14 April: School-Based Interventions through a Psychological Lens
This ‘Psychology of Education’ event at MIC seeks to show-case the work of final year undergraduate psychology students. An exhibition of 40 posters will be displayed within the College, with each poster focusing on a different school-based intervention, aimed at supporting learners across the continuum of support in a primary school setting. The psychological underpinnings and research-base for each intervention will be critiqued, with the aim of supporting evidence-based best practice within our classrooms. Sample domains include literacy development, numeracy development, behaviour support, social skills, emotional supports and support for pupils with special educational needs.
Venue: An t-Slí, TARA Building
Time: All Day
Main Target Audience: Teachers, educators, psychologists, parents and those interested in school-based interventions to support pupils across the continuum of support in a primary school setting
Contact: Dr Claire Griffin-O’Brien - Claire.Griffin@mic.ul.ie
Monday 8 April: Maths Circles Workshop (Primary School)
In association with the Irish Mathematical Trust
Want to start a Maths Circle in your school? At this workshop, we will provide ideas, methodologies and practical advice based on our freely available Maths Circles Handbook with fully-detailed and classroom-tested lesson plans. Don't miss this opportunity to meet like-minded teachers and share your experience in teaching creative problem solving. Please register here.
Venue: T205, TARA Building
Time: 4-6pm
Main Target Audience: Primary school teachers interested in maths
Contact: Dr Bernd Kreussler - 061-204578 & Bernd.Kreussler@mic.ul.ie
Monday 8 April: Maths Circles Workshop (Secondary School)
In association with the Irish Mathematical Trust
Want to start a Maths Circle in your school? At this workshop, we will provide ideas, methodologies and practical advice based on our freely available Maths Circles Handbook with fully-detailed and classroom-tested lesson plans. Don't miss this opportunity to meet like-minded teachers and share your experience in teaching creative problem solving. Please register here.
Venue: T214, TARA Building
Time: 6.30-8pm
Main Target Audience: Secondary school teachers interested in maths
Contact: Dr Bernd Kreussler - 061-204578 & Bernd.Kreussler@mic.ul.ie
Tuesday 9 April: Tae, plé agus craic!
A joint collaboration with International Office and Oifigeach na Gaeilge at MIC
Connecting Irish and American students through music, dance and food. Students will perform both Irish and American song and dance as a way to ‘bridge the gap’ between Irish and American youth culture.
Venue: MISU Lounge, TARA Building
Time: 6-7.30pm
Main Target Audience: All MIC students, both international and Irish
Contact: Breeda Cahill (International Office) - 061-204920 & Dr Caitriona Breathnach (Oifigeach na Gaeilge) - 061-204548
Wednesday 10 April: Drama Workshop
Come along to our exciting drama workshop where you will get a chance to engage your imagination through a variety of fun drama activities.
Venue: Halla, Foundation Building
Time: 6-7pm
Main Target Audience: Children, aged 7-12
Contact: Margaret O’Keeffe - 061-204997
Thursday 11 April: The Entrepreneurial Self in Higher Education
This engaging and interactive afternoon workshop will explore what it means for both higher educators and higher education institutions to become entrepreneurial and foster a culture of entrepreneurship. While the workshop focuses on developing entrepreneurial thinking in the context of higher education, the ideas and strategies discussed during the afternoon have wider application across all sectors and life situations. To book your place at this free event, please register on Eventbrite here.
Venue: G10, Foundation Building
Time: 1-4pm
Main Target Audience: Teachers, educators, general public and students
Contact: Dr Maeve Liston - 061-774726
Friday 12 April: Exploring STEAM: The link between artistic concepts and processes and science, mathematics and engineering
Interactive and innovative STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) activities for children exploring Light, Movement and Sound. These fun interactive workshops for schools and teachers will involve children carrying out investigations exploring the link between artistic concepts and processes and science, mathematics and engineering.
Venue: G10, Foundation Building
Main Target Audience: Children aged 8-12 years old and teachers (by invite only)
Contact: Dr Maeve Liston - 061-774726 / Anne Marie Morrin
