Denis Barrett

Cork City Council, Ireland

Cork Learning City Co-ordinator

Description

Denis Barrett is Cork UNESCO Learning City Co-ordinator working with Cork City Council, in a partnership including University College Cork, Munster Technological University, Cork Education and Training Board, and other partners, promoting learning of all kinds, for people of all ages, interests and abilities. Denis has presented at global UNESCO conferences on Learning Cities and was a lead member of the team that partnered with UNESCO in hosting the 3rd International Conference on Learning Cities in Cork in 2017. He was a founder member of Cork Lifelong Learning Festival in 2003, the Irish Community Education Facilitators Association in 2005, of EcCoWeLL Cork in 2012, Growing Lifelong Learning in Cork (GlliC) in 2014, the SDG Cork Leadership Series in 2020, and of Cork Access Network in 2021. During 2020 he co-ordinated the Covid-19 Community Response Forum in Cork city, bringing a partnership of over 30 organisations together to reach out to the most vulnerable people and communities. He has previously held many roles across Formal, Non-formal and Informal Education including in Third Level, Further Education, Community Education, Second Level, Primary Level and Youthwork Services. He has been a Director and Chair of Community Organisations including Meitheal Mara, a community boatyard and training centre, and Waterford Youth Arts.