10 things to see, hear and do for Cork Lifelong Learning Fest 2025
Actually, it's more like 18. But since you’re here, we’ve combed through all 420 events to pick a few highlights.
To say there’s a lot on for the 20th edition of the Cork Lifelong Learning Festival is like saying the Cork hurlers have some talent. I mean, it wildly understates it. The annual festival of ideas, music, film, cooking, nature, dance, books, technology, bees, guided tours, Traveller culture, Polish cooking, flamenco dancing and much, much else runs next week from 2 April until 9 April in locations across the city and county, as well as online.
What makes the City Council’s Lifelong Learning Fest different and fun is that the festival is built on public participation, both from the programming side and the attendees. In that spirit, Tripe+Drisheen organised a tree talk during last year’s Festival in Callanan’s. Two speakers held court behind the bar to a packed house, and afterwards we had some saplings for the audience, and I fulfilled a lifelong ambition to pour a pint in Callanan’s. (Thanks Rob, and I still haven’t been paid!).
With 420 free events in this year’s Festival, the tyranny of choice is at play. To that end, we’ve put together a few highlights, which we’ve distilled into three categories. It’s a list that only scratches the surface, but nonetheless, it’s a start. For the full programme, have a look here, and here’s a hot tip: start with the index on page 84 and work backwards.
Enjoy, and we hope to see you at some of the events!
Music, film + photography
What floats your boat: especially when they come in twos and threes, and sometimes sideways along the north channel. Much of this is down to the good work of the community boatyard Meitheal Mara, based at Crosse’s Green, which will be screening its beautiful documentary, ‘Meitheal Mara - The Voyage’, directed by Emma Bowell of Frameworks Films.
The doc tells the story of the community boatyard in Cork and the huge impact it has had over the years, not just in teaching traditional boatbuilding skills, but also in the personal growth of its participants. And if you’d like to see one of Meitheal Mara’s currachs launched on the Lee, pop down to Penrose Wharf on Wednesday, 9 April, at 10:30am to watch a boat take to the water.
Time, date, place: 4pm-6:30pm, Wednesday April 2, Nano Nagle Centre, Douglas St.
Traveller lives: Archivists James Furey and Patricia Quilligan, along with community health worker Biddy McDonagh, have curated a mini photographic exhibition at the City Library showcasing 30 years of Traveller culture in Cork. The exhibition will be complemented by a Q&A about a newly digitised collection of photographs documenting Traveller life in Cork spanning over a century. No booking required.
Time, date, place: 11:30am, Friday April 4, Cork City Library, Grand Parade
Tambourine man: This year's Learning Fest is showing plenty of love for Bob Dylan, which isn't something you could always say about his concerts over the past 15-20 years. Michael Booth and Eamonn Walsh will celebrate the folk legend's songwriting genius through performances and presentations across two separate days at the Schtepps in UCC. Suitable for all ages. Booking required: mbooth2010@gmail.com
Time, date, place: 11 am - 12 midday, Wednesday April 2, and the same time on Thursday, April 3, The Schtepps, UCC.
Bird song: Musician Ruti Lachs will perform with participants from her intergenerational project combining ornithology, music and songwriting. After months of workshops with schoolchildren and older adults, they present this special Learning Fest concert (minus the avian collaborators) Booking required: rutilachs@gmail.com
Time, date, place: 1:30pm - 2:30pm, Tuesday April 8, Crosshaven Community Hall, Crosshaven.
Operatic: The identity of the soprano (or tenor) remains a mystery, but this we know: over one captivating hour, they'll take listeners through opera's thrilling highs and low lows. Whether you're a seasoned enthusiast or a first-time listener, this is your chance to experience opera intimately, up close and personal. No booking required.
Time, date, place: 11am -12pm, Wednesday April 9, Knocknaheeny Community Building, Foyle Avenue, Knocknaheeny
A holy trinity: Douglas Library will reverberate with ukulele magic when three local groups - The Holly Ukues, The Holly Wednesdays, and The Ukulyptus - unite for a foot-tapping lunchtime performance. Prepare for a celebration of this beloved four-stringed wonder.
Time, date, place: 12pm-1pm, Saturday April 5, Douglas Library, Douglas Shopping Centre.
Environment
Grow and eat: Can you grow food on a (very) small patch of land? Indubitably so, and a workshop on this very subject will be held at Ardfoyle Convent in Ballintemple, focusing on growing herbs and vegetables from seeds and cuttings. It's the perfect workshop to get harvesting for summer. Booking required: larlynch@gmail.com
Time, date, place: 11am -12:30pm, Thursday April 3, The Student Centre, Ardfoyle Convent, Ballintemple
Bird song two: One of Tripe+Drisheen's favourite ornithologists (and people), Noel Linehan, will be holding court on the birds of Ballincollig Regional Park. Not so long ago we wrote about the woodpecker that turned up there - so come along and find out more about the wonderful winged wildlife in one of Cork's best parks from an absolute gentleman. Booking required: corkbiodiversityhub@gmail.com
Time, date, place: 9am -10:30am, Tuesday April 8, Cork Biodiversity Hub, the Gunpowder Mills, Ballincollig Regional Park
Goddamn! What's over 70 years old and, if destroyed, could turn Cork city into Atlantis? The Inniscarra Dam! Not that we're wishing (or suggesting) this would ever happen, but the dam constructed in 1953 and operated by ESB is a critical piece of civil infrastructure. If you'd like an up-close inspection of it tag along on Wednesday April 9. Booking required: info@corklearningcity.ie
Time, date, place: 10am- 12pm and 2pm- 3:30pm, Wednesday April 9, Inniscarra Dam, Inniscarra, P31 RC93
Hive thinking: Much has been written about colony collapse and the fate of bees - these humble yet mighty creatures so central to biodiversity. For a chance to learn more about a bee’s life, the Irish Bee Conservation Project is offering a tour and talk about honey bees: how they live, work, and why nature needs them. The event takes place in the beautiful surroundings of Fota House. Booking required.
Time, date, place: 12pm-1:30om, Saturday April 5, Foot House and Gardens
Trees, please: Trees hold a special place at UCC. There are the weeping willows by the main gates, the nearby Monterey pine, and the Lucombe oaks. An afternoon stroll through campus, hosted by the Irish Tree Explorer Network, will showcase these specimens along with others in the university's arboretum. Booking required.
Time, date, place: 1pm-2pm, Tuesday April 8, UCC Arboretum
Greening gardens: Want to make your garden more bee-friendly and reduce pesticide use? These are just some of the tips that'll be shared in a talk about greening your back garden and creating better habitats for birds, bees, and other wildlife. No booking required.
Time, date, place: 2:30pm - 3:30pm, Saturday April 5, Cork City Library, Grand Parade
Lifelong learning
Podcast 101: If you don't host at least one podcast these days and appear on multiple others, do you even exist? (We jest... not). But if you are curious about the podcasting world, UCC is hosting a workshop where you can learn the basics, from recording techniques to studio setups and essential equipment. Perfect for beginners. No experience needed! Booking required.
Time, date, place: 11am-1pm, Wednesday April 9, UCC Library (1st Floor)
Ars lange: Art and cultural production form the lifeblood of any city, but it doesn't happen in isolation. 'Every Action Matters' offers a friendly gathering where arts workers share practical steps they're taking to make Cork's creative sector more sustainable. Hosted in the beautifully restored Civic Trust House, you'll hear from peers about eco-conscious changes in materials, production, administration and programming. Come for the practical ideas and inspiration, stay for the good company and a cuppa.
Time, date, place: 11am-12.30pm, Friday April 4, Civic Trust House, Pope’s Quay
Flamenco! Whether learning flamenco is on your bucket list or you've never considered it before, FET Douglas Street Campus is hosting a beginner's masterclass in Andalucía's most iconic dance style. You'll experience the passion of flamenco while getting a taste of its rich history. No experience required, just bring your enthusiasm.
Time, date, place: 11am-12pm, Friday April 4, Cork College of FET Douglas Street Campus, Douglas Street
Walk this way: Former Lord Mayor and Cllr Kieran McCarthy is back for Learning fest to lead his troops on the Friar Walk’s Tour. The tour of South Parish will take in Red Abbey, Elizabeth Fort, Barrack Street and Callanan’s Tower. Meet at Red Abbey church just of Douglas Street. No booking required.
Time, date, place: 1pm-3pm, Saturday April 5, Red Abbey, Douglas Street
Folding time: Origami artist Sachiko Kobayashi will guide participants in transforming recycled materials - magazines, old printouts, newspapers and more - into cranes, planes, and maybe even trains. This creative workshop combines sustainability with the ancient art of paper folding. Fun for all ages and skill levels.. Booking required here.
Time, date, place: 7:30pm-9pm, Wednesday April 9, Iris Ashley Cummins Building, UCC
Haiku: Continuing our Japanese thread, Fionn Rogan guides a haiku workshop in UCC where nature meets brevity. These three-line wonders, snapshots as concise as Limericks, can prove less is often better. Try your hand at wrestling beauty into 17 syllables. Booking required.
Haiku? Well, maybe…
Shurlookit, what can go wrong?
The last line, says I.
Time, date, place: 6pm-7pm, Wednesday April 9, Iris Ashley Cummins Building, UCC
Lifelong Learning Festival runs from April 2-April 9. You can pick up a physical program at libraries and civic offices accords the city. Enjoy.
From the T+D archive:
Swift action needed
The 10 small holes stacked in a triangular pattern high up on the gable end of the wall of the new parochial hall at Scoil Abán Naofa, Ballyvourney, are so unobtrusive that to most people, they might as well not exist.