I am on a mission to acquire new hobbies. In a world where people’s hobbies include doomscrolling on Instagram or Tiktok, I am making a concerted effort to get out more. For anybody who was tempted to get on board with the ‘Analog Summer’ trend, I encourage you to join me in ‘Adult Education Autumn’.
Here in Cork there are myriad options to explore when it comes to learning new skills. Whether it be personal or professional, there are so many opportunities at our fingertips. In my final year of college, I realised I was bracing myself unnecessarily for a long and boring life with no new adventures. I was concerned that my life would come to a screeching halt once I left college and entered into the real world. I didn’t want to become stagnant as an adult, I still wanted that packed schedule that I had as a kid. Basically, I had to treat myself like I treat my dog, and make sure I get some fulfillment every day. In an effort to fill out my world, I went in search of hobbies.
I decided I wanted to try golf. The abundance of golf clubs in Cork left me with the impression that the sport could have a nice social element to it. On the hunt for lessons I stumbled across the wealth of opportunities available to me, in Ashton School. Who knew when the brochures come in our postboxes every year, that they contained so much potential? Straight away I booked myself and my mum in for some beginner golf lessons for the Autumn 2025 term.
Every Wednesday we attended beginners golf at Frankfield Driving Range. Starting from the very basics we learned how to hold a club, how to hit the ball, and so much more. Our teacher David showed us the best spots for practicing, advised us on the right clubs to buy, and made us refresher videos for when we were practicing by ourselves. You do not need any equipment to start, making the financial burden very small, just the cost of the classes.
After the initial lessons had finished, we ended up booking in four more weeks of lessons to keep the momentum going. After taking lessons in Frankfield, I managed to rope my brother and sister into coming with me to the driving range. Golfing has become a family affair, and a great family day out when celebrating birthdays or exams.
After Christmas I was ready to tackle my next hobby, I landed on podcast making classes. Led by veteran podcaster Daniel Heaphy I learned everything I needed to know to launch my own podcast. Situated inside Ashton School, the class convened every week and shared our progress. Daniel’s classes included time to edit, and troubleshoot with him, making sure we had a finished product at the end of the course. Daniel advised us on how to make a podcast without purchasing lots of expensive equipment. Taking note of what everybody had available to them, he created plans to produce the best sounding episodes for little to no additional costs. Alongside helping us build our podcasts, Daniel was great at recommending websites for logo design, how to make viral clips, and photographers for the artwork.
The atmosphere in Ashton was incredible every week. There are teas and coffees available, making it a lovely social destination before or after class. I saw lots of people start off alone and forge friendships while they learned. The aroma from the cookery classes makes the school feel homely and soft. Everybody arrives with a positive attitude. It was so nice to be surrounded by like-minded people, who enjoy learning continuously.
This September I’ll be continuing with my foray into adult education. My priorities this year are tennis and dressmaking. I hope dressmaking will save me a fortune if I can become proficient at hemming my own trousers, and it will help me make use of a sewing machine I already have that’s collecting dust.
Most of the lessons don’t require any specialist equipment, keeping costs low. They also help you to make use of what you already have. Don’t be afraid to ask your friends or neighbours if they have what you need. Before I started any lessons, friends had given me a full set of golf clubs they weren’t using anymore.
Courses begin on the 21st of September, with a few exceptions. And most of the courses cost between €80-120 for 8-10 weeks of learning. There is a 10% discount available for seniors. With 100 courses to try, there’s something for everybody. Online enrolments are already open for this September. When you arrive in Ashton, you can expect a warm welcome and a positive learning experience. Many courses have social elements too, Public Speaking & Presentation lessons include a trip to Toastmasters, and Ready, Set, Run has a 5km Park Run on the final day
Attending classes in Ashton is a great way to disconnect from screens and meet people face to face again. I liked how meeting new people, in person, encouraged me to make conversations. As somebody who missed a lot of school because of Covid, I know that making these connections can be challenging. My generation often struggles to converse in person and use their ‘People Skills’. Adult education can help with this. Not only will you learn new skills, you will dust off your conversational skills. You can introduce yourself to strangers and get to know your classmates without giving them a quick stalk on Instagram. As we see a return to analog clocks and paper books, I hope we also see a return to good old in person learning.
There are so many options for both personal and professional development, if I were trying adult education for the first time, here are some courses I would try:
- Guitar: Beginners, Mondays 7.15-8.15pm €80 for 10 weeks
- Stock Market: Introduction, Mondays 7.30-9.30pm €95 for 8 weeks
- Drawing from Observation, Wednesdays 7-9pm €125 for 10 weeks
- Lacemaking and Embroidery, Wednesdays 2-4pm €95 for 8 weeks
- Badminton: Beginners, Tuesdays 7-8pm €75 for 8 weeks
For the full list of classes available in Ashton School, see here.
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