A man who learned to read at the age of 57 says it "opened up a whole new life" for him.
Michael, who is now 66, told Lunchtime Live he "never dreamt" he'd be able to read a book - but now regularly picks up books from his local library.
He was speaking as the world today marks International Literacy Day.
Research has shown half of adults don't have digital skills, one in four struggle with maths and one in six struggle with reading and understanding text.
The Government today announced plans to develop a new 10-year strategy aimed at ensuring everyone has the literacy, numeracy and digital skills to meet their needs and participate fully in society.
Speaking to Andrea Gilligan, Michael explained his life has changed 'dramatically' since learning to read a decade ago.
He said: "Up until the age of 57, I was unable to read. I was fit to read my name and address, but I wasn't fit to read a piece of text.
"When I started working, back in the 60s-70s, things were fairly simple.
"I got a job in a meat processing plant: if you could count up to ten, you were grand - in fact, you were maybe smarter than a lot of them."
He said he had "developed a skill" which would allow him to get by with everyday tasks such as filling out forms.
He gave the example of going to fill out a motor tax form - where he'd ask the man or woman at the desk to help him out, something "90% of the ladies or gents" would happily do.
However, his inability to read was not something he ever mentioned directly.
He says "nobody ever said anything" to him about it, but people likely knew - with Michael suggesting "it was one of those things that people wouldn't say to you".
Learning to read
It was a friend giving him a laptop that spurred Michael on to start learning - albeit after the computer sat in a 'pile of junk' for nearly a year.
He recalled: "I used to look at this thing, and I was sort of scared of it.
"In our local town, there was a [computer] class starting in a local centre. I decided I was going to dig this thing out, and go in and try it out.
"In doing the course... you had to prepare a portfolio. It required reading and writing - that was where I was stuck."
Michael initially started learning with a one-to-one tutor for nine months, doing tasks such as breaking up words into syllables.
He then moved into a classroom setting, which he described as a "big change".
Michael initially thought he was the only person there that couldn't read, but it turned out there were lots of other people in the same boat as him.
'It gives you more confidence'
Having learned to read in his 50s, Michael says his life has has changed dramatically.
He observed: "It gives you more confidence in a conversation - say you read something in the paper about COVID or whatever it is, you can hold an intelligent conversation with someone... you can make a more detailed conversation.
"I never dreamt I'd be able to read a book or go into a library... it wasn't something I ever even thought about. Now I'm a member of a library, and I'll go in and pick out books fairly regularly and read them."
In terms of advice to others, he said there were "ups and downs" in the process - but that the rewards outweighed any problems along the way.
He said: "I'd say to other people... look at life as it stands at the moment.
"There's help out there, no matter what. Age is no barrier - it will open up a whole new life for you."
Michael urged anyone who wants to learn, regardless of age, to contact the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) on 1800-20-20-65 or to contact their local Education and Training Board.
