Tipperary ETB adult learners share their stories and journeys in latest annual

Stories of life, learning and literacy programmes across Tipperary were shared during the launch of Tipperary Education and Training Board’s (ETB) Adult Literacy Service Annual 2022.

Over 300 adult literacy learners, tutors and Tipperary ETB staff attended the online launch of the 72-page magazine, which chronicles the broad array of literacy events organised throughout the Premier County in 2022, as well as publishing a wide range of written works produced by literacy learners in Tipperary.

Six of those adult learners read out their stories to the attendees during the launch, with the themes including everything from memories of the Clonmel Races and Prince Charles’ visit to Cahir, to a Field of Memories and the history of rabbits in Ireland.

The launch also captured the broad range of learner backgrounds with which Tipperary ETB works, including people from countries such as Ukraine and Syria, as well as Irish adults seeking help with their reading and writing.

The 72-page annual, which is available in the ETBI Digital Library, includes works by learners based across Tipperary, including Cahir, Carrick-on-Suir, Cashel, Clonmel, Nenagh, Roscrea, Thurles and Tipperary Town.

Adult Literacy Organiser for Tipperary ETB, Mary Roche Cleary, thanked all the learners involved for their courage in sharing their stories in what’s the 16th Annual edition of this magazine.
The Chief Executive of Tipperary ETB, Bernadette Cullen, praised all the learners and staff involved in the development of this annual.
“This is one of the great days in the calendar of Tipperary ETB. I’d like to compliment the six people who read their stories today. It takes a lot of bravery to read in public.

“It's great to see people having the opportunity to be back in groups and learning from each other. It's powerful to read these stories. Well done to Mary Roche Cleary and her team, as well as the tutors for helping to remove the fear associated with literacy learning.”

The Adult Literacy Service Annual 2022 is available in the ‘ETBI Digital Library’ at library.etbi.ie, while a limited number of hard copies will also be available from Tipperary ETB’s Adult Literacy Organisers – Mary Roche Cleary, Mary Jo Kennedy Deegan and Lavinia English.

Any general enquiries about enrolling on an adult literacy course can also be made to Mary Roche Cleary (south Tipperary – adult literacy, numeracy and basic digital skills) at 052-6127543; Mary Jo Kennedy Deegan (north Tipperary - adult literacy, numeracy and basic digital skills) at 067- 31845, and Lavinia English (county Tipperary - English language) at 0504-20384.