#corklifelonglearningfestival

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Cork Lifelong Learning Festival | Mayfield Library

The Cork Lifelong Learning Festival was back with a bang this year with over 300 amazing events with approximately one third of these being hosted by your local library service!

Today we take a brief look at a number of the events organised by Mayfield library for this years festival.

“Rebels, Writers & Merchants” was a heritage walk conducted from Mayfield Library by Brendan Goggin for the Lifelong Learning Festival on Saturday, April 1st. Brendan led 50 local history aficionados along a trail encompassing Ashburton, Gardiner’s Hill, Ardnalaoi and finishing up at the Montenotte Hotel. Along the way listeners were enthralled by the exploits of local Republicans a hundred years ago, the life and times of Daniel Corkery and the pioneering ideas of John Holland on submarine engineering.

In the modern Ardnalaoi housing estate they saw the incorporated high walls of what was once the estate of the Quaker merchant family, the Carrolls. The walk finished up at the Montenotte Hotel which very generously provided tea and pastries to assist in continuing historical discussion and aid the recovery of tired legs. It was here Thomas Francis Meagher, Waterford, would visit the residence of his young Murphy friends (the distilling family) and, replete with revolutionary ideas from Paris 1848, outline his design for the tricolour that eventually became our national flag.

The Mayfield Lifelong Learning Expo returned this year and was held at the Mayfield Sports Complex on Wednesday, March 29th. The event was officially opened by Lord Mayor Deirdre Forde, who wished all the day’s participants continued success. EXPO 2023 showcased the activities run by the Mayfield Learning Neighbourhood and a whole host of social, community, educational and service providers in the area. All came together on the day to organise and promote learning and lifelong participation in learning. Mayfield Library’s stand was tended in rotation by branch staff and experienced a high level of engagement with local schools, local organisations and the general public.

Staff were kept busy throughout the day explaining library services and how they can be accessed. Combining on-the-spot tutoring and support literature, the public learned about downloadable book borrowing (BorrowBox), digital magazine access (Libby), languages and hobbies (Universal Class) as well as the more traditional library materials and activities available within the branch. Particularly fascinating to some was learning that Ireland’s public libraries are now linked up and taking membership with one allows use of all.