This article describes the experience of the Downtown Centre in establishing an accessible and recognisable centre in Limerick city, which represents regional higher education partners, and which provides services and programmes to support adult learners in progressing to higher education. The article reflects on the achievements of the Centre during its first year of operation and on the challenges and opportunities which have been highlighted for the future. It raises questions about how a diverse and dispersed adult learner population can, and should, best be supported and how far higher education should go in reaching out to this growing cohort of learners.