Monday, 22 October 2007

NUI Galway will confer three Honorary MA Degrees this week on Eric Elwood, for his contribution to Connacht Rugby; Tom Tuohy, for his voluntary contribution as coach to NUI Galway Boat Club; Tomás Ó Tuathail, for his contribution to Irish language promotion and community work in Tourmakeady, Co. Mayo; and an Honorary MSc Degree on Alasdar Mac Cana, for his contribution of over 20 years in the practical training of scientists in the Department of Physics and in the Education Department of NUI Galway. The honorary ceremonies will take place Monday 22, Tuesday 23 and Thursday 25 October, 2007, in conjunction with the Autumn Conferring Ceremonies which will see the graduation of over 4,000 students. Eric Elwood will be recognised for his contribution to rugby in Connacht. A dedicated servant to the Galwegians club in Galway, he first represented his province Connacht in 1989 against Ulster. He went on to represent Connacht a record 177 times and played his last match for Connacht in April 2005. He entered the international scene in 1993 and went on to win 35 caps for Ireland scoring 296 points and he played his last test against Romania in October 1999. Tom Tuohy, a native of Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo, will be honoured in recognition of his contribution to the sport of rowing in NUI Galway over a period of more than 30 years. "Tom Tuohy has for more than 20 years been the driving force behind the story of Rowing at NUI Galway. His enormous contribution to the club has been based on a love of the sport and a deeply-felt connection to and pride in his alma mater. All of these efforts have been on an entirely voluntary basis. Tom has been and remains an unpaid coach and mentor at a time when selfless volunteerism in Irish society is a very rare thing indeed", commented fellow rowing clubman Ruadhán Cooke. Alasdar Mac Cana will be honoured for his contribution of over 20 years in the practical training of scientists in the Department of Physics and in the Education Department of NUI Galway. Originally from Armagh, his work in NUI Galway came after a lifetime of teaching in the UK, when he "retired" with his wife, Magdalen Conlon from Spiddal, to live in Connemara. Professor Tom Glynn, Department of Physics, NUI Galway, said: "we are honouring a man (now in his hundredth year) who has done truly wonderful patient work, over an extended lifetime, in educating generations of young scientists on both sides of the Irish Sea. At the same time, he has filled his life with extensive travel, experience, and adventure and left a lasting impression on all who meet him as a remarkable human being and a dedicated teacher". Tomás Ó Tuathail will be honoured for his contribution to community life and to the promotion of the Irish language in his native Tourmakeady, Co. Mayo. Professor Nollaig Mac Congáil, Scoil na Gaeilge, NUI Galway says: "Tomás Ó Tuathail, a native of Tourmakeady and one who farmed and kept a business there all his life, realised that the area was in serious decline economically and socially. He spent his life actively trying to regenerate the community in every way possible in tandem with others locally whom he inspired and energised. Societies were formed to address all aspects of sheep farming and rural development as well as social, cultural and educational matters in what once was a heartland of Irish language and heritage. Until his recent retirement Tomás was central to all these activities and, it is hoped, his leadership and example over the years will be replicated by others in the future". The annual autumn conferring ceremonies began at NUI Galway last Friday and Saturday, 19 and 20 October, when the Adult Education ceremony was held and where awards were conferred on 703 students who completed their certificate, diploma and degree courses at many locations across the country. ENDS

Monday, 22 October 2007

NUI Galway Head of the River will take place on Saturday, 27 October, the first major event of the 2007 / 2008 rowing season. While NUI Galway Boat Club expects that the season will culminate at the Beijing Olympics next August for some of its members, it will commence on home waters next weekend. The NUI Galway Head of the River course extends from Lough Corrib to just downstream of the Quincentennial Bridge, and is best viewed from the University campus, upstream and downstream of the bridge. The NUI Galway Head of the River is run on a time-trial basis, with the fastest crew over the course in each category winning the pennant, and the title "Head of the River". The main event will be the Men's Senior Eights, for the Gerry Colgan Memorial Trophy. The top category will be hotly contested, with the home club (winners in 2006) likely to be severely tested by a visiting crew from Molesey Boat Club in the UK. The Molesey crew contains two Olympic Gold Medallists (the legendary Searle brothers) as well as other Olympic and World Championship medallists from Britain, USA and Australia. This all-star line-up is by some way the most decorated crew to have ever competed in Ireland. Also visiting from the UK will be Latymer Upper School, from Hammersmith, London, who will compete in the Junior Men's categories, where they will face stiff opposition from the local junior strongholds, St Josephs and Coláiste Iognáid, as well as Tribesmen and Galway Rowing Club. In addition to the overseas entries, crews from all over Ireland will be taking part, in what should be a great day's racing, and a fantastic spectacle. This year the organisers have introduced a new format for the event, with dedicated lanes on the river for crews making their way to the Start, and for crews racing downstream. This will lead to a better spectacle for spectators, with all the different boat classes being run at 5 minute intervals over two sessions, from 10:00 to 12:00 & from 14:00 to 16:00. Live commentary will be provided, and the results of each event will be announced within minutes of the crews completing the course. Photo © Ian McDonald 2007 ENDS

Monday, 22 October 2007

- 1000's of graduate jobs under one roof - 65 major companies from business and industry will feature at the NUI Galway Graduate Recruitment Fair in Áras na Mac Léinn/Student Centre on Tuesday, 30 October from 1-5pm. The event will showcase opportunities for students in all Faculties, with a diverse number of fields such as civil engineering, financial services, accountancy, law, consultancy and many other professions. Major players in the medical device industry will attend such as Boston Scientific and Medtronic. Ireland's largest banks will also be present including Bank of Ireland and AIB. For those interested in a career in consultancy - two of Ireland's largest consultancy firms, Tata Consultancy Services and Accenture will also be represented. The IT and engineering sectors will also have representation through local and national companies including Coffey Construction, Sisk, SAP, IBM and Dell. This is an excellent opportunity for current students, graduates and postgraduates to meet with prospective employers to find out what the current job market has to offer and make invaluable contacts. Company representatives will include past graduates of the University who will be available to speak with students. The Career Development Centre team will also be providing a CV clinic on the day to review and provide advice on preparing a CV. Deirdre Sheridan, Career Development Adviser at the Career Development Centre advises those thinking of attending the event: "A well-crafted CV is your sales brochure so come prepared. You never get a second chance at a first impression." The event is a fantastic opportunity for both employers and students. Students should come prepared and identify the companies they want to approach and are interested in working for. A full list of exhibitors is available from www.nuigalway.ie/careers ENDS

Monday, 22 October 2007

A Public lecture on Breaking through the Pain Barrier; Physiology and Pharmacology in Sports Medicine will be given by Dr David Finn, Department of Pharmacology and Director of the newly launched Centre for Pain Research at NUI Galway in the Clinical Science Institute on Friday, 26 October at 8pm. Dr Aideen Henry, Sports Medicine Physician from the Galway Clinic and Programme Director of the 'Masters Programme in Sports and Exercise Medicine' and 'Masters in Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy' at NUI Galway, will open proceedings which will be followed by presentations from her students on the medications commonly used in sports medicine. The lecture will be of interest to sportspeople, coaches and anyone generally who is trying to maintain an active healthy lifestyle and finds themselves hampered by sports injuries. Dr. Henry said, "When a person is injured in sport they commonly use rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE regimen) and take anti-inflammatory tablets and have some physiotherapy treatment. We have invited Dr David Finn, an expert in the research on Pain, to give us some background information on how pain is perceived and how it can be modified in the body. Then our students, qualified medical doctors and chartered physiotherapists will give us an update on how medications in common use in sports medicine actually work." The meeting is free and open to the public. ENDS

Sunday, 21 October 2007

Bronnfaidh OÉ Gaillimh Céimeanna Oinigh Máistreachta ar Eric Elwood, Rugbaí Chonnacht; Tom Tuohy, Club Rámhaíochta na Gaillimhe; Tomás Ó Tuathail, gníomhaí pobail agus teanga ó Thuar Mhic Éadaigh, Co. Mhaigh Eo; agus Alasdar Mac Cana, iarchomhalta foirne i Roinn na Fisice agus Roinn an Oideachais san Ollscoil. Bronnfar na céimeanna oinigh Dé Luain, an 22 Deireadh Fómhair, Dé Máirt, an 23 Deireadh Fómhair agus Déardaoin, an 25 Deireadh Fómhair, tráth a bheidh Searmanais Bhronnta an Fhómhair ar siúl. Bronnfar céimeanna ar os cionn 4,000 mac léinn ar fad. Tá clú agus cáil ar Eric Elwood as an méid oibre atá déanta aige don chluiche rugbaí i gConnachta. Tá an-luí aige le Club na nGaillimheach. D'imir sé a chéad chluiche do Chúige Chonnacht sa bhliain 1989 - cluiche i gcoinne na nUltach. Cúpla seachtain ina dhiaidh sin, nuair a bhí Eric 19 mbliana d'aois, thug sé aghaidh ar na All-Blacks. D'imir sé do Chonnachta 177 uair agus d'imir sé a chluiche deiridh do Chonnachta i mí Aibreáin 2005. Thosaigh sé ag imirt go hidirnáisiúnta sa bhliain 1993 agus d'imir sé d'Éirinn 35 uair. Scóráil sé 296 pointe agus d'imir sé a chluiche deiridh idirnáisiúnta in aghaidh na Rómáine i mí Dheireadh Fómhair 1999. Fear de bhunadh Bhaile an Róba, Co. Mhaigh Eo é Tom Tuohy. Bronnfar céim oinigh air mar aitheantas ar an méid oibre atá déanta aige ar mhaithe leis an rámhaíocht in OÉ Gaillimh le níos mó 30 bliain anuas. "Tá an-obair déanta ag Tom Tuohy chun an Rámhaíocht a chur chun cinn in OÉ Gaillimh le breis agus 20 bliain anuas. Is léir don uile dhuine go bhfuil an-suim ag Tom sa rámhaíocht agus go bhfuil luí ar leith aige lena alma mater. Rinne sé an obair seo ar fad ar bhonn deonach. Cóitseálaí agus meantóir deonach é Tom – rud atá neamhghnách go leor i sochaí an lae inniu nuair is deacair teacht ar oibrithe deonacha", a dúirt Ruadhán Cooke, comhghleacaí le Tom sa chlub rámhaíochta. Bronnfar céim oinigh ar Alasdar Mac Cana as an obair atá déanta aige le 20 bliain anuas ag cur oiliúint phraiticiúil ar eolaithe i Roinn na Fisice agus Roinn an Oideachais in OÉ Gaillimh. Rugadh Alasdar in Ard Mhacha, agus thosaigh sé ag obair in OÉ Gaillimh i ndiaidh a shaol a chaitheamh ag teasgasc sa Ríocht Aontaithe, tráth ar shocraigh sé féin agus a bhean chéile, Magdalen Conlon ón Spidéal, teacht chun cónaithe i gConamara nuair a chuaigh sé "ar scor". Seo a leanas a bhí le rá ag an Ollamh Tom Glynn, Roinn na Fisice, OÉ Gaillimh: "táimid ag tabhairt aitheantais d'fhear (atá anois 100 bliain d'aois) a rinne obair iontach agus a léirigh foighne ina chuid oibre i gcónaí, i rith a shaoil ar fad, chun eolaithe óga a oiliúint in Éirinn agus sa Ríocht Aontaithe. San am céanna, thaistil sé i mbaile is i gcéin, chonaic sé go leor agus d'éirigh leis an t-uafás a chur i gcrích, agus ba léir do gach duine ar casadh leis gur duine ar leith mar aon le múinteoir den scoth a bhí ann". Bronnfar céim ar Thomás Ó Tuathail mar aitheantas ar an méid oibre atá déanta aige ar mhaithe leis an bpobal agus cur chun cinn na Gaeilge i dTuar Mhic Éadaigh, Co. Mhaigh Eo. Seo a leanas a bhí le rá ag an Ollamh Nollaig Mac Congáil, Scoil na Gaeilge, OÉ Gaillimh: "Thuig Tomás Ó Tuathail, fear de bhunadh Thuar Mhic Éadaigh, a chaith a shaol i mbun feirme agus gnó sa cheantar, go raibh meath geilleagrach agus sóisialta i ndán don cheantar. Tá a shaol caite aige ag iarraidh an pobal a choinneáil beo le cabhair ó dhaoine áitiúla eile ar chothaigh sé spriorad pobail iontu. Bhunaigh sé coistí le déileáil le gach uile ghné den fheirmeoireacht caorach agus den fhorbairt tuaithe mar aon le ceisteanna sóisialta, cultúir agus oideachais sa cheantar seo ina raibh traidisiún láidir Gaeilge agus oidhreacht na hÉireann le brath ann tráth. Go dtí go ndeachaigh Tomás ar scor tamall ó shin, bhí ról lárnach aige sna gníomhaíochtaí seo ar fad, agus táthar ag súil go leanfaidh daoine eile an dea-shampla agus an cheannaireacht a léirigh sé i rith a shaoil". Cuireadh tús le searmanais bhronnta an fhómhair in OÉ Gaillimh Dé hAoine agus Dé Sathairn seo caite, an 19 agus an 20 Deireadh Fómhair, tráth ar reáchtáladh searmanas do Mhic Léinn Lánfhásta agus tráth ar bronnadh gradaim ar 703 mac léinn a rinne teastais, dioplómaí agus céimeanna in a lán ionad ar fud na tíre. CRÍOCH

Sunday, 21 October 2007

- na mílte post do chéimithe faoi aon díon amháin - Beidh 65 cuideachta ón saol gnó agus ón tionscal i láthair ag Aonach Earcaíochta OÉ Gaillimh in Áras na Mac Léinn Dé Máirt, an 30 Deireadh Fómhair ó 1-5in. Beidh deiseanna ag an aonach seo do mhic léinn ó gach réimse cosúil le hinnealtóireacht shibhialta, seirbhísí airgeadais, cuntasaíocht, dlí, comhairleacht agus gairmeacha eile. Beidh na cuideachtaí is mó ó thionscal na bhfeistí leighis, Boston Scientific agus Medtronic mar shampla, i láthair freisin. Beidh na bainc is mó sa tír i láthair, Banc na hÉireann agus Bainc-Aontas Éireann san áireamh. Dóibh siúd ar spéis leo gairm sa réimse comhairleachta – beidh dhá phríomhghnólacht na hÉireann i láthair freisin – Tata Consultancy Services agus Accenture. Beidh ionadaithe ó na hearnálacha Teicneolaíocht Faisnéise agus innealtóireachta i bhfoirm cuideachtaí áitiúla agus náisiúnta lena n-áirítear Coffey Construction, Sisk, SAP, IBM agus Dell i láthair freisin. Deis iontach atá anseo do mhic léinn reatha, céimithe agus iarchéimithe bualadh le fostóirí ionchasacha, eolas a fháil faoi na poist atá ar fáil faoi láthair agus teagmhálacha a chruthú le daoine. I measc na n-ionadaithe ó na cuideachtaí éagsúla a bheidh i láthair beidh iarchéimithe ón Ollscoil seo ar fáil le labhairt le mic léinn. Beidh foireann an Ionaid Forbartha Gairme i mbun clinic CV ar an lá freisin chun eolas a thabhairt maidir le CV a ullmhú. Seo a leanas an méid a bhí le rá ag Deirdre Sheridan, Comhairleoir Forbairt Gairme san Ionad Forbartha Gairme: "Is ann do CV maith chun tú féin a chur chun cinn agus ba cheart go mbeadh CV maith agat. Ní bhíonn ach deis amháin agat dul i bhfeidhm ar dhuine." Deis iontach é an t-imeacht seo d'fhostóirí agus do mhic léinn. Ba cheart do mhic léinn beagán taighde a dhéanamh sula dtagann siad chuig an imeacht agus na cuideachtaí ar mian leo labhairt leo nó obair dóibh a aithint roimh ré. Tá liosta iomlán de na cuideachtaí a mbeidh ionadaithe acu ag an imeacht le fáil ag www.nuigalway.ie/careers CRÍOCH

Thursday, 18 October 2007

New Report Calls on Government to Act Fast to Curb Sex Trafficking of Women At least 76 women were trafficked into Ireland for the purposes of sexual exploitation between 2000 – 2006, according to figures from a research report launched by former senator Mary Henry today, (October 18th) at NUI Galway. The majority of these women were trafficked from Eastern Europe but women were also trafficked into the sex trade in Ireland from Africa, Asia and South America. It is believed that most of these women ended up in private brothels throughout the country. The research authors, Dr. Eilis Ward of NUI Galway and Dr. Gillian Wylie of the Irish School of Ecumenics, TCD, have called for prioritisation of the needs of trafficked women in the recently published bill by the government in relation to sex-trafficking. "There should be no question any longer as to whether Ireland has a problem with sex trafficking of women," commented one of the research authors, Dr. Gillian Wylie of the Irish School of Ecumenics, TCD. "The problem has been clearly sign posted through this research and by findings from organisations working in the field". "We established through our survey and questionnaire a probable minimum number of 76," commented co-author, Dr. Eilis Ward of NUI Galway, "But in fact we will never know the exact number being trafficked into Ireland because of the nature of the sex trade and the nature of the criminality involved in trafficking. We suggest that the research for statistics can now be sidelined in favour of the development of a coherent, human rights approach to this distressing problem. The government needs to act fast to ensure that the problem does not grow". The research by the two academics was carried on over a two year period and involved a survey of agencies and organisations working in areas of prostitution, violence against women and migration in Ireland. It is the first such research of its kind for Ireland. The research identifies some patterns and trends for the sex-trafficking into Ireland and also identifies serious gaps in service provision and supports for those women who have been sex-trafficked. In particular the lack of a legislative framework has created an ad hoc situation with no clear policy or guidelines as to what happens women who have been identified as sex-trafficked. The research identifies, however, that good cooperation has developed among the state and non-state sectors but suggests that this may be confined to the Dublin area. Given that many of the women identified in the research ended up outside Dublin, this is a cause for concern. For instance, a women who was found by Gardaí in a private brothel in Sligo and who was believed to have been trafficked was brought to Mountjoy jail. "This effectively criminalised her for an act in which she was an extremely vulnerable victim of a serious crime" commented Dr. Ward. ENDS Notes The research also found an additional 75 cases which are possible sex-trafficking cases but the absence of substantive information meant that they could not be included in the probable category The single biggest national grouping of women identified as probably sex-trafficked was women from Nigeria (19 women) and the second was Russian women (8) Where contact was made, the research revealed the use of force, coercion and deception as part of the transit journey to ireland and evidence of extreme force and coercion was also found once the women came to Ireland. Of the 76 probable cases, 36 of those women disappeared from contact with agencies or individuals, 14 were repatriated to their home country and 12 remain in the Irish asylum system. Ten of them were granted either leave to remain in ireland or refugee status. The research revealed a consensus among those interviewed that service provision to victims of sex-trafficking is very underresourced and under funded. The research also places the context of sex-trafficking as a new phenomona in Ireland at a time when the sex-trade is expanding and becoming more difficult to control and poses great difficulties for Garda surveillance. Full report is available on www.nuigalway.ie/ssrc

Thursday, 18 October 2007

Éilíonn Tuarascáil Nua ar an Rialtas Gníomhú Anois chun Gáinneáil Ghnéis ar Mhná a Chosc Tugadh ar a laghad 76 bean isteach go hÉirinn chun mí-úsáid ghnéasach a bhaint astu idir 2000 – 2006, de réir na bhfigiúirí ó thuarascáil taighde a sheol an t-iarsheanadóir Mary Henry inniu, (18 Deireadh Fómhair) in OÉ Gaillimh. Tháinig formhór na mban seo ó Oirthear na hEorpa ach tugadh mná isteach freisin go hÉirinn ón Afraic, an Áise agus Meiriceá Theas. Ceaptar gur i ndrúthlanna príobháideacha ar fud na tíre a cuireadh formhór na mban seo. Tá sé iarrtha ag údair an taighde, an Dr Eilis Ward ó OÉ Gaillimh agus an Dr Gillian Wylie as Scoil Éacúiméinice na hÉireann i gColáiste na Tríonóide, go dtabharfaí tús áite do riachtanais na mban a ndéantar gáinneáil orthu i mbille a d'fhoilsigh an Rialtas le gairid i ndáil le gáinneáil gnéis. "Níor chóir go mbeadh aon dabht ann níos mó maidir leis an bhfadhb atá sa tír seo maidir le gáinneáil ghnéis ar mhná," a dúirt an Dr Gillian Wylie as Scoil Éacúiméinice na hÉireann i gColáiste na Tríonóide. "Tá an fhadhb léirithe ag an taighde seo agus ag an obair atá ar bun ag eagraíochtaí sa réimse seo". "Leis an suirbhé agus an ceistneoir ceapaimid gur 76 bean a bhí i gceist," a dúirt an t-údar, an Dr Eilis Ward as OÉ Gaillimh, "Ach ní fios go cinnte cé mhéad a tugadh go hÉirinn mar gheall go bhfuil an gháinneáil mídhleathach. Molaimid go gcuirfí an taighde ar leataobh anois agus go ngcuirfear cur chuige comhtháite, cearta daonna ar fáil don fhadhb seo a réiteach. Caithfidh an Rialtas gníomhú anois chun nach rachaidh an fhadhb seo in olcas". Ghlac an taighde dhá bhliain ar an mbeirt acadúil seo agus, mar chuid de, rinneadh suirbhé ar ghníomhaireachtaí agus ar eagraíochtaí a bhfuil a gcuid oibre dírithe ar an striapachas, foréigean i gcoinne na mban agus imirce in Éirinn. Is é seo an chéad taighde den chineál seo ar Éirinn. Léiríonn an taighde patrúin agus treochtaí áirithe don gháinneáil ghnéis in Éirinn agus, chomh maith leis sin, go bhfuil bearnaí móra sa tseirbhís agus sa tacaíocht a fhaigheann na mná seo. Mar gheall nach bhfuil creat reachtaíochta ann tá cás ad hoc cruthaithe agus gan aon bheartas ná treoirlínte soiléire ar fáil maidir le mná a aithnítear mar mhná a ndearnadh gáinneáil orthu. Léirigh an taighde, áfach, go bhfuil comhoibriú ar bun idir na hearnálacha stáit agus neamhstáit ach ceaptar gur i mBaile Átha Cliath amháin a tharlaíonn sé sin. Is ábhar imní gur taobh amuigh de Bhaile Átha Cliath sa deireadh a bhí go leor de na mná a aithníodh sa taighde. Mar shampla, tugadh bean a fuair na Gardaí i ndrúthlann phríobháideach i Sligeach agus a measadh go ndearnadh gáinneáil uirthi, go príosún Mhuinseo. "Rinneadh coirpeach aisti nuair is íobartach a bhí inti i ndáiríre" a dúirt an Dr Ward. CRÍOCH Nótaí Thángthas trasna ar 75 cás eile ina raibh gáinneáil i gceist ach de bharr easpa eolais ní fhéadfaí iad a áireamh sa taighde. An grúpa náisiúnach is mó a aithníodh ná mná as an Nigéir (19) agus an dara grúpa is mó ná mná as an Rúis (8). Sa chás go ndearnadh teagmháil leis na mná, léirigh an taighde gur úsáideadh lámh láidir, comhéigean agus dallamullóg chun na mná a thabhairt go hÉirinn agus bhí fianaise ann gur úsáideadh lámh láidir agus comhéigean nuair a bhí na mná in Éirinn chomh maith. As an 76 cás, níor fhan 36 de na mná i dteagmháil leis na gníomhaireachtaí ná le duine ar bith, cuireadh 14 ar ais chuig a dtír dhúchais agus tá 12 fanta i gcóras tearmann na hÉireann. Ceadaíodh do dheichniúr acu sin fanacht in Éirinn nó tugadh stádas dídeanaithe dóibh. Bhí gach duine sa taighde ar aon fhocal maidir leis an tseirbhís d'íobartaigh sa chás seo a bheith gann ar acmhainní agus ar mhaoiniú. De réir an taighde chomh maith, meastar gur feiniméan nua in Éirinn í an gháinneáil ghnéis agus go bhfuil sí ag méadú agus ag fáil níos deacra a smachtú agus níos deacra ag na Gardaí súil a choinneáil orthu. Tá an tuarascáil iomlán le fáil ar www.nuigalway.ie/ssrc

Thursday, 11 October 2007

D'fhógair an tAire Fiontar, Trádála agus Fostaíochta, Micheál Martin T.D. (Dé Céadaoin, an 10 Deireadh Fómhair 2007) go mbunóidh Smith & Nephew, an chuideachta teicneolaíocht leighis, i gcomhar le REMEDI, Institiúid an Leighis Athghiniúnaigh in OÉ Gaillimh, clár ceithre bliana Taighde agus Forbartha chun leigheas nua a fháil do ghalair chnámh agus alt, cosúil le hoisté-airtríteas. Tá IDA Ireland ag tacú leis an infheistíocht – infheistíocht a chosnóidh sa bhreis ar €6 mhilliún. Soláthraíonn Smith & Nephew teicneolaíocht leighis ar fud an domhain, lena n-áirítear cóireálacha ortaipéideacha agus ionchlannáin do ghlúine, corróga agus guaillí. Bhunaigh Fondúireacht Eolaíochta Éireann REMEDI mar ionad Eolaíochta, Innealtóireachta agus Teicneolaíochta in 2004 agus aithnítear REMEDI anois mar phríomhionad na hÉireann do thaighde ar theiripe gascheall agus géinteiripe. Tá saineolas ar leith ag an ionad i dtaighde airtítis agus cuirtear béim ar leith ar thorthaí a chuid taighde a úsáid chun teiripe nua a úsáid i ngalair ortaipéideacha, chardashoithíocha agus néaracha. Dúirt an tAire Martin agus fáilte á chur roimh an gclár aige "Taighde agus Forbairt nuálaíoch atá i gceist leis seo agus beidh sé fíorthábhachtach chun leigheas nua a fháil ar oisté-airtríteas, riocht coitianta a ídíonn na hailt agus nach bhfuil aon leigheas air faoi láthair. Cuireann oisté-airtríteas costas mór ar an gcóras sláinte i ngach tír agus, mar gheall go mbaineann sé le haois, méadóidh na costais seo de réir mar a rachaidh daonra an domhain in aois. Tagann an clár nua seo le straitéis an Rialtais Éire a chur chun cinn i dteicneolaíocht nua Taighde & Forbartha agus biteiripic nua." Oibreoidh Ionad Taighde Smith & Nephew in York (sa Ríocht Aontaithe) i gcomhpháirtíocht le REMEDI chun teiripe nua a fhorbairt trí ghaschealla ó smior dhuine fásta a úsáid chun loingeán sláintiúil a fhás arís agus ailt a bhfuil damáiste déanta dóibh a dheisiú. Tá airíonna sna gaschealla a d'fhéadfadh fíocháin nua shláintiúla a chruthú chun an damáiste ón ngortú nó ón ngalar a leigheas. Dúirt Peter Arnold, Stiúrthóir Ghrúpa na Teicneolaíochta in Smith & Nephew: "Tá an-áthas orainn a bheith ag oibriú i gcomhpháirtíocht le REMEDI mar go bhfuil aithne agus meas orthu mar cheannairí sa réimse seo. Níl aon rogha athghiniúnach ar fáil faoi láthair do dhaoine a bhfuil oisté-airtríteas agus riochtaí eile matánchnámharlaigh orthu. Bhainfeadh othair óga go háirithe an-tairbhe as seo mar go gcaitheann go leor acu blianta ar phianmhúcháin láidre sula bhfaigheann siad alt nua." "Is é an aidhm atá le comhpháirtíocht Smith & Nephew agus REMEDI teiripe nua ortaipéideacha a fhorbairt a chabhróidh le daoine a bheith gníomhach agus saor ó phian níos faide ina saol trí leas a bhaint as gaschealla ó dhuine fásta chun loingeáin nó cnámha nua a fhás." Dúirt an tOllamh Frank Barry, Stiúrthóir Eolaíoch REMEDI: "Is iontach an éacht í seo. Tá áthas orainn oibriú le Smith & Nephew chun teiripe nua, chillbhunaithe a fhorbairt d'oisté-airtríteas. Chomh maith leis an tacaíocht ó Smith & Nephew ba mhaith linn aitheantas a thabhairt don tacaíocht ó Fhondúireacht Eolaíocht Éireann – murach í ní bhunófaí REMEDI – agus an tacaíocht ón IDA a chabhróidh linn teiripe nua airtrítis a fhorbairt. Tá teicneolaíocht forbartha ag Ionad Taighde Smith & Nephew cheana féin, atá in ann loingeán daonna a fhás ó ghaschealla ó dhuine fásta. Tríd an gcomhpháirtíocht le REMEDI – a bhfuil saineolas acu i loingeáin oisté-airtrítis a dheisiú – forbrófar teiripí nua ortaipéideacha níos sciobtha. Leis na teiripí seo ní bheidh gá nó ní bheidh an oiread deifre le hailt nua agus ansin ní bheidh an oiread gá le pian a bhainistiú go fadtréimhseach. Tá oisté-airtríteas ar bhreis agus 100 milliún duine ar fud an domhain, agus tá sé ar cheann de na cúiseanna is coitianta le míchumas. Díríonn aon chóireáil atá ann faoi láthair ar an riocht gan leigheas ar an bpian a bhainistiú agus ar ghlúin nó ar chorróg nua a thabhairt don duine sa deireadh. Beidh James Huckle, Bainisteoir Cláir i dTeicneolaíochtaí Cumasúcháin in Ionad Taighde Smith & Nephew, agus an tOllamh Frank Barry, Stiúrthóir Eolaíoch REMEDI agus saineolaí in innealtóireacht gascheall ó dhuine fásta, i gceannas ar an tionscadal. Beidh deichniúr taigdheoirí ag obair i REMEDI ar an tionscadal in York. Chomh maith leis sin, tabharfaidh Ionad Taighde Smith & Nephew tacaíocht don tionscadal. Tá ardscileanna bainistíochta agus saineolas acu ar thaighde i gcomhpháirtíocht le lucht acadúil agus leis an tionscal. D'fháiltigh Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, an Dr Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh roimh an bhfógra, ag rá, "Is iontach an sampla an chomhpháirtíocht seo idir REMEDI agus Smith & Nephew de chomhpháirtíocht idir an lucht acadúil agus an tionscal. Thar ceann OÉ Gaillimh, fáiltím go mór roimh an infheistíocht seo mar go mbeidh tairbhe le baint acu siúd a bhíonn ag fulaingt ó ghalair chnámh agus alt ón dtaighde eolaíoch agus nuálaíoch seo". Úsáidfear saotharlanna REMEDI in OÉ Gaillimh agus a saotharlann déantúsaíochta chun gaschealla ó dhuine fásta a dhéanamh do na trialacha cliniciúla. CRÍOCH

Wednesday, 10 October 2007

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin TD today (Wednesday 10th October 2007) announced that Smith & Nephew, the global medical technology company, and REMEDI, the Regenerative Medicine Institute at NUI Galway, are to establish a four year R&D collaborative programme for the development of groundbreaking new treatments for bone and joint diseases, such as osteoarthritis. The investment, in excess of €6 million, is supported by IDA Ireland. Smith & Nephew is a global provider of medical technologies, including orthopaedic treatments and implants for knees, hips and shoulders. REMEDI, recognised as the Ireland's primary centre for stem cell and gene therapy research, was established as a CSET (Centre for Science, Engineering and Technology) in 2004 by Science Foundation Ireland. It has a core expertise in arthritis research and a particular emphasis on the translation of its research findings in the delivery of new therapies in orthopaedics, cardiovascular and neural diseases. Minister Martin, welcoming the collaboration, said "This is truly cutting-edge R&D and will be extremely important in the discovery of treatments for osteoarthritis, a common degenerative joint condition for which there is currently no cure. The management of osteoarthritis involves substantial cost to the healthcare system in every country and, because it is associated with ageing, these costs are expected to rise as the global population ages. This collaboration is in line with the Government's strategy of positioning Ireland at the forefront of R&D in emerging technologies and novel biotherapeutics." The Smith & Nephew Research Centre in York (UK) will work in partnership with REMEDI to develop new therapies using adult bone marrow stem cells to promote the re-growth of healthy cartilage and repair damaged joints. Stem cells are known to possess properties which allow them to be programmed to create healthy new tissue to repair the damage caused by injury or disease. Peter Arnold, Group Director of Technology for Smith & Nephew, said: "We are delighted to be working with the team at REMEDI, who are widely recognised and respected as world leaders in this field. There are currently no regenerative options available for people suffering from osteoarthritis and other similar musculoskeletal conditions. This would be particularly beneficial for younger patients, who often spend many years on high doses of pain killers before receiving a joint replacement." He added: "The aim of the Smith & Nephew collaboration with REMEDI is to develop a new generation of orthopaedic therapies that will help people to remain active and pain free for much longer by harnessing the healing power of adult stem cells to promote the growth of new cartilage or bone." Professor Frank Barry, Scientific Director of REMEDI said: "This is a very significant milestone for us in our research programmes. We are delighted to be working with Smith & Nephew in the development of novel, cell-based therapies for osteoarthritis. In addition to this support from Smith & Nephew we acknowledge the critical support that Science Foundation Ireland has provided in the establishment of REMEDI and the funding provided now by IDA which will allow us to expand our efforts in developing a new generation of arthritis therapies. The Smith & Nephew Research Centre has already developed early prototype cell technologies, including the ability to grow human cartilage from adult stem cells. The collaboration with REMEDI, who have extensive expertise in osteoarthritis cartilage repair, will speed up the process of producing viable new orthopaedic therapies. These therapies will have the potential to alleviate or delay the need for joint replacement and lower the need for long-term pain management. Over 100 million people worldwide suffer from painful osteoarthritis, which is one of the most common causes of disability. Current treatments for the incurable condition largely focus on pain management and the eventual replacement of the affected knee or hip joint. The project will be led by James Huckle, Programme Manager for Enabling Technologies at the Smith & Nephew Research Centre, and Professor Frank Barry, Scientific Director of REMEDI and a leading expert in adult stem cell engineering. It will involve 10 researchers working at REMEDI. In addition, the project will receive support from the Smith & Nephew Research Centre in York which has strong management skills and expertise in running collaborative research involving academia and industry. President of NUI Galway Dr Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh welcomed this announcement, saying, "This partnership between REMEDI with Smith & Nephew is a wonderful example of academic - industry collaboration. On behalf of NUI Galway I warmly welcome this investment, from which scientific research and innovation will ultimately yield real benefits to those suffering from bone and joint disease". The required facilities will involve the use of the REMEDI laboratories in NUI Galway and its manufacturing laboratory for the production of clinical batches of adult stem cells to be used in clinical trials. ENDS

Tuesday, 9 October 2007

Tom Creedon, HR Manager Medtronic awarded two students for academic excellence at the end of first year of the part-time Bachelor of Commerce at NUI Galway. This award was given to the Part-time Bachelor of Commerce students who received the highest average upon completion of the first year of studies following the summer 2007 exams. All non-degree holders were eligible. The award was divided between two students; Brian Guiry, from Concorde Travel in Ennis, Co. Clare and Michael Noone, from Bank of Ireland, Galway who both received the same overall mark. The Faculty of Commerce greatly values the support that Medtronic have given this particular programme. The Part-Time Batchelor of Commerce is a four year degree programme in business education. A Diploma in Management is awarded upon successful completion of the first two years. The programme is delivered via e-learning/blended learning which usually involves two introductory training and six weekend workshops per year. There is a high level of flexibility in the design of the programme and it is particularly well suited to real work situations. A strategic goal of the Cairnes Business School is to strengthen our links with companies like Medtronic and with the wider community. In our new strategy we will seek to work in partnership to develop new and flexible educational programmes and opportunities for collaborative research projects Medtronic is the world's leading medical technology company, providing lifelong solutions for people with chronic disease. Every 5 seconds, Medtronic products are helping to improve somebody's life all around the world. Medtronic's establishment in Galway came via its 1999 acquisition of Arterial Vascular Engineering (AVE). AVE had previously acquired the cardiovascular business of CR Bard Inc, including the Galway facility, which was set up by Bard in 1982. Medtronic employs over 2,300 people in Galway. These people are involved in the research, development and manufacture of a range of leading-edge, minimally invasive product technologies for the Vascular Division, including stents, stent delivery systems and angioplasty balloons. These products are used to treat arterial vessel disease in the heart and other regions of the body. The Galway site is also a centre of excellence for the Cardiac Rhythm Management Division, developing and manufacturing products to support heart failure therapy applications. ENDS

Monday, 8 October 2007

Seoladh an tIonad um Thaighde ar Phian go foirmiúil in OÉ Gaillimh Dé Céadaoin, an 3 Deireadh Fómhair 2007. Is é atá mar aidhm ag an Ionad um Thaighde ar Phian ionad barr feabhais do thaighde idirdhisciplíneach a chruthú idir an Ollscoil agus comhghleacaithe sa tseirbhís sláinte agus é mar chuspóir cur leis an tuiscint eolaíoch atá ar phian. Is ar na heolaíochtaí bunúsacha agus an pobal a bheidh an obair seo bunaithe. Cuireann pian ainsealach, sheasmhach isteach ar na milliúin daoine ar fud na cruinne, pian a chuireann bac ar shláinte agus dea-bhraistint daoine agus téann níos mó daoine chun comhairle dochtúra a lorg de dheasca pianta ná airí ar bith eile. In Éirinn, cuireann pian ainsealach isteach ar bheagnach leathmhilliún duine go laethúil. Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag an Uachtarán Ó Muircheartaigh ag seoladh oifigiúil an Ionaid, "Cinnteoidh an tIonad um Thaighde ar Phian go mbeidh próifíl náisiúnta ag pian mar ábhar taighde agus deis eile atá ann freisin do OÉ Gaillimh ról ceannaireachta a ghlacadh i dtaighde ar chúrsaí sláinte agus forbairtí beartais in Éirinn." Is é an tIonad um Thaighde ar Phian an chéad ionad atá dírithe ar thaighde ar phian in Éirinn agus beidh taighdeoirí ó réimsí éagsúla léinn ag obair ann agus iad roinnte i gcúig ghrúpa faoi leith: Taighde réamhchliniciúil Gnéithe síceolaíocha agus néarshíceolaíocha den phian Pian a chóireáil agus a bhainistiú An daonra agus gnéithe beartais den phian Taighde réamhchliniciúil ar phian agus cleachtas cliniciúil a chomhtháthú Seo a leanas a bhí le rá ag an Dr David Finn agus an Dr Brian McGuire, Comhstiúrthóirí an Ionaid, "Forbairt iontach tábhachtach é seo a chinntíonn go mbeidh ról ag Gaillimh sa taighde ar phian go náisiúnta agus go hidirnáisiúnta" I measc cuid de na himeachtaí a bheidh ar siúl le linn sheoladh an ionaid beidh beirt aoichainteoirí - saineolaithe idirnáisiúnta sa taighde ar phian - i mbun cainte ag an Ionad. Tabharfaidh an tOllamh Chris Main, síceolaí cliniciúil agus údar téacsleabhar ildisciplíneach maidir le pian a bhainistiú ó Ollscoil Keele, spreagaitheasc faoi Psychosocial barriers to effective pain management agus labhróidh an tOllamh Irene Tracey, saineolaí aitheanta ar néar-íomháú sa taighde ar phian, atá i gceannas ar an aonad fMRI in Ollscoil Oxford, faoi Advances in Pain Neuroimaging. I measc an lucht oibre, cruthaíonn pian in íochtar an droma níos mó míchumais ná ailse, galar croí, stróc agus SEIF in éindí. Tá post caillte ag duine amháin as gach seisear in Éirinn atá i bpian de dheasca na riochta atá orthu. Cosnaíonn íocaíochtaí sochair i ndáil le pian den chineál sin os cionn €1.2 milliún in aghaidh na seachtaine (Pain in Europe Study, 2003). CRÍOCH

Monday, 8 October 2007

Scoil na Gaeilge's annual conference will take place 12-13 October to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the foundation of St. Anthony's Franciscan College, Louvain. The conference will be opened on Friday afternoon (Oct 12) by Senator Ronan Mullen and will discuss the contribution the Louvain friars made to Irish literature, history and hagiography. There will be eleven lectures in all. The keynote speakers include Fearghus Ó Fearghail (Mater Dei) who will discuss the importance of the Irish translation of the New Testament (1602); Angharad Price (University of Bangor) whose topic is the literary productions of Welsh Catholic exiles on the continent; and Martin Stone (Leuven) who will assess the Louvain friars' contribution to the study of Scotistc philosophy on the continent. The other speakers include Pádraig A. Breatnach, Marie-Louise Coolahan, Charlie Dillon, Mícheál Mac Craith, Nollaig Ó Muraíle, Tadhg Ó Dúshlaine, Marie Ó Tuathaigh and Salvador Ryan. Marie Ó Tuathaigh's talk on the adventures of Mary Stuart O' Donnell, the daughter the Earl of Tyrconnell never saw, should be particularly interesting, involving as it does a potent cocktail of religion, politics and cross-dressing. The conference will close with a showing of Antaine Ó Donnaíle's highly acclaimed documentary, Na hIarlaí san Eoraip. To coincide with the conference The James Hardiman Library is mounting an exhibition of books and manuscripts associated with Louvain. Pride of place will go to Duanaire Finn and the Book of the O' Conor Don, two manuscripts which were commissioned for Sorley McDonnell, a captain in the Tyrone Regiment of the Spanish army under the command of his second cousin John O' Neill, a son of the great Hugh O' Neill. Scoil na Gaeilge's Professor Micheál Mac Craith said, "Duanaire Finn is the most important anthology of Ossianic ballads that we have, while the the Book of the O'Conor Don contains over three hundred and fifty poems, most of them relating to contemporary events. Captain Sorley was buried in the cloister of St. Anthony's College and the Duanaire came into the possession of the Franciscans. The fate of the other manuscript was unknown until it came into the possession of the great antiquarian, Charles O' Conor of Belanagare in the 18th century. This is the first time that Captain's Sorley's most treasured possessions will have been together in nearly 400 years, a major coup that Scoil na Gaeilge and NUI Galway are delighted to have brought about." ENDS

Monday, 8 October 2007

NUI Galway has formally launched the recently approved Centre for Pain Research (CPR). CPR aims to provide a centre of excellence for interdisciplinary research between the University and colleagues in the health service with the aim of advancing the scientific understanding of pain from the basic sciences to the population level. Chronic, persistent pain affects millions of people worldwide, significantly impairing health and well-being and is the most common symptom for which patients seek medical help. In Ireland, over half a million people suffer from chronic pain on a daily basis. President Ó Muircheartaigh in opening the Centre said, "The CPR will help ensure that the topic of pain has a national profile and will also provide another route by which NUI Galway plays a leadership role in health-related research and policy developments in Ireland." As Ireland's first dedicated centre for research into pain, the CPR incorporates researchers from a range of disciplines and is organised into the following five clusters: Pre-clinical research Psychological and neuropsychological aspects of pain Pain treatment and pain management Population and policy aspects of pain Integration of pre-clinical pain research and clinical practice Dr. David Finn and Dr Brian McGuire, Joint Directors of the Centre said, "This is a very exciting and important development which puts Galway very firmly on the national and international pain research map" To mark the launch, guest speakers included two internationally renowned experts in pain research. Professor Chris Main, a clinical psychologist and author of several authoritative multidisciplinary pain management textbooks from University of Keele, who gave a keynote address on Psychosocial barriers to effective pain management and Professor Irene Tracey, a recognised leader in the neuroimaging of pain who leads the fMRI unit at University of Oxford, who spoke on Advances in Pain Neuroimaging. In the working population, lower back pain is responsible for more disability than cancer, heart disease, stroke and AIDS combined. One in six people in Ireland suffering from pain has lost a job because of their condition and pain costs the Irish economy over € 1.2 million per week in disability benefit payments alone (Pain in Europe Study, 2003). ENDS

Monday, 8 October 2007

A commemorative publication, entitled John McGahern at NUI Galway, celebrating the John McGahern Archive at NUI Galway and the long-standing relationship between the writer and the University, will be officially launched by Chairman of The American Ireland Fund, Dr Loretta Brennan Glucksman later today (Monday, 8 October). The 48-page hardback volume, compiled and edited by Liz McConnell, Dr John Kenny and Dr Riana O'Dwyer, with an Introduction by Dr Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, President of NUI Galway, contains contributions from a range of University staff including Séamus O'Grady, Director of Adult & Continuing Education; Marie Reddan, Librarian; Fergus Fahey, Archivist; Keith Warnock, Vice-President For Physical Resources; Dr Riana O'Dwyer, Senior Lecturer, English Department; Dr John Kenny, English Department; Professor Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh, History Department. The volume is illustrated, with eight colour portraits of John McGahern by Brian Bourke RHA which were commissioned by NUI Galway Arts Office following the deposition of his literary archive in the James Hardiman Library in 2003. Speaking about this volume, Dr Ó Muircheartaigh said; "John McGahern enjoyed a close association with our University, over a period of almost 50 years. ,iJohn McGahern at NUI Galway provides a picture of that relationship, which culminated in the University s library becoming the repository for McGahern s literary papers. Through the Archive and through this book, we maintain an enduring link with the writer and the man. " John McGahern's association with the University began with a brief period of undergraduate studies; he later taught on Creative Writing and Irish Studies programmes, became an honorary doctor of the University in 1994 and Adjunct Professor of Irish Studies in 2001. Prior to his passing in 2006 the University's James Hardiman Library acquired John McGahern's archive, a complete collection of his papers and writings, providing an unparalleled view into a unique literary life. The editors, Dr. John Kenny, Liz McConnell and Dr Riana O'Dwyer, described the book as "a testament to the vibrant relationship between McGahern and NUI Galway, with contributions providing a personal insight into the nature of that relationship and the general nature of the literary life and work of this major Irish artist of language." John McGahern and his life's work was also commemorated by NUI Galway in partnership with Leitrim County at the inaugural International Seminar in County Leitrim in July of this year, which was a launch pad for a major International Summer School which will commence in summer 2008. Dr Brennan Glucksman is Chairman of the American Ireland Fund which in 1985 awarded John McGahern the American Ireland Fund Literary Award. She is also founder of Glucksman Ireland House, a centre for Irish Studies at New York University. Glucksman Ireland House hosted A Celebration of John McGahern to commemorate the first anniversary of McGahern s death in March 2007. ENDS

Monday, 8 October 2007

Tionólfar comhdháil bhliantúil Scoil na Gaeilge, Comhdháil Litríocht 7 Cultur na Gaeilge 12-13 Deireadh Fómhair chun comóradh a dhéanamh ar Choláiste Proinsiasach San Antaine, Lobháin a bunaíodh 400 bliain ó shin. Osclóidh an Seanadóir Rónán Ó Maoláin an chomhdháil tráthnóna Dé hAoine agus déanfar plé i gcaitheamh an deireadh seachtaine ar an gcomaoin a chuir bráithre bochta Lobháin ar litríocht, stair agus naomhsheanchas na nGael. Beidh aon léacht déag ar fad ann. Ar na príomhchainteoirí beidh Fearghus Ó Fearghail (Mater Dei) ag trácht ar an tábhacht a bhaineann leis an leagan Gaeilge den Tiomna Nua (1602); labhróidh Angharad Price (Ollscoil Bangor) ar na saothair reiligiúnda i mBreatnais a d'fhoilsigh deoraithe Caitliceacha ar an Mór-Roinn; agus déanfaidh Martin Stone (Leuven) trácht ar an mbealach ar chuir Proinsiasaigh Lobháin fealsúnacht Scotus chun cinn san Eoraip. Ar na cainteoirí eile tá Pádraig A. Breatnach, Marie-Louise-Coolahan, Charlie Dillon, Mícheál Mac Craith, Nollaig Ó Muraíle, Tadhg Ó Dúshláine, Marie Ó Tuathaigh agus Salvador Ryan. Cuirfear spéis ar leith i léacht Marie O' Tuathaigh ar eachtraí Mary Stuart O' Donnell, iníon Iarla Thír Chonaill nach bhfaca a hathair riamh. Manglam pléascach den pholaitíocht, den chreideamh agus den trasghléasadh ab ea gníomhréim na mná neamhghnáiche seo. Chun clabhsúr a chur leis an gcomhdháil, léireoidh Antaine Ó Donnaíle Na hIarlaí san Eoraip, an tríú mír den tsraith iomráiteach fáisnéise a rinne sé do BBC, Thuaisceart Éireann. Mar chuid den chomhdháil beidh taispeántas leabhar agus lámhscríbhinní a bhaineann le Lobháin le feiceáil i Leabharlann Shéamuis Uí Argadáin. Tabharfar tús áite sa taispeántas do Duanaire Finn agus Leabhar Uí Chonchobhair Dhoinn, dhá lámhscríbhinn a choimisinigh Somhairle Mac Domhnaill, captaen i Reisimint Thír Eoin in arm na Spáinne, reisimint nuabhunaithe faoi cheannas a choil seisear, Seán Ó Néill, mac le hAodh Mór Ó Néill. Mar a dúirt an tOllamh Mícheál Mac Craith: "Is é Duanaire Finn an cnuasach is tábhachtaí ar fad de na laoithe Fiannaíochta a tháinig anuas chugainn, agus tá breis agus trí chéad go leith dán le fáil i Leabhar Uí Chonchobhair Dhoinn, a mbaineann an chuid is mó acu le himeachtaí comhaimseartha. Adhlacadh Somhairle Mac Domhnaill i gclabhstra na bProinsiasach i Lobháin agus tháinig Duanaire Finn i seilbh na mbráithre. Ní fios cad d'imigh ar an lámhscríbhinn eile nó gur éirigh leis an ársaitheoir cáiliúíl, Cathal Ó Chonchobhair Bhéal Átha na gCarr, teacht uirthi san 18ú haois. Tabharfar dhá sheoid seo an Chaptaein Somhairle le chéile sa taispeántas don chéad uair le beagnach 400 bliain, éacht a bhfuil Scoil na Gaeilge agus Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh thar a bheith mórálach as." CRÍOCH

Thursday, 4 October 2007

Tá ómós tugtha ag Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, an Dr Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, don fhiontraí, an Dr Tony Ryan, a cailleadh inné. Bhí sé 71 bliain d'aois. Bhí an Dr Ryan, ar bhronn OÉ Gaillimh Céim Dhochtúireachta Oinigh sa Dlí air sa bhliain 1987, ar dhuine de na fiontraithe ba mhó cáil in Éirinn. Ba é a bhunaigh Guinness Peat Aviation agus Ryanair. Bhunaigh an Ollscoil Institiúid Mháirtín Uí Riain sa bhliain 1992, an t-ionad um thaighde muireolaíochta in OÉ Gaillimh. Bunaíodh an Institiúid seo le cabhair ón Dr Tony Ryan a thug bronntanas don Ollscoil in onóir a athar, Martin Ryan (1902-1955). Fear fadbhreathnaitheach ba ea an Dr Ryan, agus is mór an tionchar a d'imir sé trí Institiúid Mháirtín Uí Riain a bhunú mar cheann de na mór-institiúidí um thaighde muireolaíochta ar domhan. Dúirt Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh: "Tá cáil ar fud an domhain mhóir ar Tony Ryan mar fhear gnó cumasach agus mar fhiontraí nuálach. Chomh maith leis sin, mairfidh sé inár gcuimhne mar dhaonchara eolach agus mar fhear a léirigh suim sna healaíona. Ábhar mórtais dó freisin ba ea gur Éireannach é. Tá gach duine anseo in OÉ Gaillimh a bhain leas as an bhfís a bhí aige agus an tacaíocht a thug sé d'Institiúid Mháirtín Uí Riain go mór faoi chomaoin aige. Is mian liom ar an ócáid bhrónach seo, comhbhrón a dhéanamh lena theaghlach agus lena chairde thar ceann gach duine anseo in OÉ Gaillimh." CRÍOCH

Thursday, 4 October 2007

NUI Galway President, Dr Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh has paid tribute to the entrepreneur Dr Tony Ryan who died yesterday at the age of 71. Dr Ryan, who was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by the University in 1987, was one of Ireland's foremost entrepreneurs as founder of Guinness Peat Aviation and Ryan Air. The Martin Ryan Institute, which is the home of marine science research at NUI Galway, was established by the University in 1992 and made possible by the support of Dr Tony Ryan who made a generous gift to the University in honour of his father, Martin Ryan (1902-1955). Dr Ryan's foresight has had far-reaching effects, particularly in establishing the MRI as one of the foremost marine research institutions in the world. The NUI Galway President said: "Tony Ryan s achievements as an astute businessman and innovative entrepreneur are world-renowned. He will also be remembered as an insightful philanthropist and an enlightened man of the arts, with a strong sense of pride in his Irishness. We in NUI Galway, who benefitted from his vision and his support of the Martin Ryan Marine Science Institute, are deeply indebted to him. On the sad occasion of his passing, I extend my deepest sympathies to his family and close friends on behalf of NUI Galway. ENDS

Wednesday, 3 October 2007

Collaboration with world-leading pharmaceutical company will raise Ireland's international profile in new medical discoveries Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin TD today (Wednesday 3rd October 2007) announced that GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), with the support of IDA Ireland, is investing up to €14.6m in a collaboration with the Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience (TCIN) and NUI Galway, on a major Research & Development programme for the discovery of new therapies to treat Alzheimer's Disease. At present, drugs available on the market can only treat the symptoms rather than the causes of Alzheimer's Disease. Alzheimer's is a neurodegenerative disorder characterised by the gradual death of cells in the brain leading to brain malfunction, and is set to become one of the developed world's largest socioeconomic healthcare burdens over the coming decades. An estimated five million Europeans of 65 years or more are currently suffering from Alzheimer's and related dementias, costing European Governments an estimated €55 billion annually.1 It is estimated that at present 1 in 3 eighty year olds suffer from Alzheimer's Disease2; and it is expected that about 11 million Europeans will suffer from Alzheimer's and related dementias in the next 50 years.3, 4 The prevalence of the disease is greater among women than men, because women, on average, live longer than men. The research programme announced today seeks to understand the causes of these diseases, and to develop therapies to assist in ameliorating these serious medical and social conditions. Minister Martin said, "This high-level collaboration is yet another example of how Ireland is rapidly becoming a leading global location for drug discovery and translational medicine. The status, reputation and capabilities of the parties involved are well matched to the strategic objectives of this ambitious, indeed ground-breaking project. This programme represents unrivalled proof of confidence in the future of the biotechnology sector in Ireland." The Minister also commended the availability and level of technical expertise internationally and here in Ireland to undertake this project. "The work to be carried out through this collaborative programme is very sophisticated and complex in nature. The GSK scientists, academic researchers and clinical partners in this consortium in Ireland are all established and respected researchers, representing the finest minds available on an international platform. The resources and expertise of the local clinical management at GSK's existing R&D bases in Ireland will also be at the disposal of this programme, helping to cement the very highest levels of scientific confidence and competence in the project," the Minister continued. Dr Neil Upton, Head of Translational and Pharmacological Sciences said "GSK is strongly committed to developing new medicines for neurological diseases. We currently have numerous research programmes across all phases of Research and Development for Alzheimer s Disease, some of which aim to alleviate symptoms and others to slow or halt disease progression. To turn these early projects into effective medicines for AD, we have increasingly invested in translational research and state-of-the-art technologies in order to support dose-prediction, identify novel pharmacodynamic end-points and aid selection of appropriate patient populations for clinical studies. This collaboration represents a meeting of minds, where all three institutions strongly believe that hypothesis driven research and translating preclinical discovery research into clinical assessment and investigation at the earliest possible time point is in the best interests of patients who are waiting for much-needed treatments." GSK has a very strong heritage in Ireland, employing over 1,600 people in sites across Cork, Dublin and Waterford. GSK's manufacturing operation in Currabinny, Co. Cork, which employs more than 600 people, has invested significantly in R&D activity in recent years and will be closely involved in the project. This partnership is the second GSK/academic collaboration in Ireland, GSK having collaborated with the IDA and Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) in a joint investment worth up to €13.7 million last year with the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre (APC) into R&D in gastrointestinal diseases. GSK has eleven Centres of Excellence for Drug Discovery (CEDD) worldwide. For this collaboration, TCD and NUIG will work jointly with GSK's UK based Neurology CEDD on the development of tools designed to make future clinical trials in Alzheimer's Disease more efficient, employing 22 highly qualified medical professionals, PhD students and Post-Doctoral Scientists. Prof. Nicholas Canny, Vice-President for Research at National University of Ireland, Galway said the university is delighted with the collaborative research programme with Trinity College and GlaxoSmithKline. "We hope that our studies into novel cognitive, electrophysiological and behavioural endpoints in patients with Alzheimer s disease together with the complementary investigations at our partner university Trinity College will lead to a better understanding of this devastating disease, ultimately leading to new approaches in disease treatment." Neuroscience is one of the major research strengths of Trinity College Dublin. The Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience is the only dedicated research centre in neuroscience on the island of Ireland. Trinity has strategically built its core competence in neuroscience over the past years through a funding base involving the Higher Education Authority, Science Foundation Ireland, the Health Research Board and international agencies via their support for outstanding quality science. TCD Provost, Dr John Hegarty said "With the support of IDA, this new venture with GSK cements Trinity College Dublin's position as a leading international reference site for neuroscience research. This model of strategic growth and partnership in areas of international research quality is at the heart of Trinity s research agenda". "As a university we are committed to world class excellence in research. This new collaborative research programme will enable leading academics and experts in neuroscience develop pioneering new therapies in the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. As the only dedicated research institute in neuroscience in Ireland, it is fitting that TCIN should play such a central role in this project," concluded Dr John Hegarty.

Tuesday, 2 October 2007

Rocks, Rails and Ríomhaire: A Geo-Multimedia Tour of the Connemara Landscape on the Galway-Clifden Railway A Public lecture on Rocks, Rails and Ríomhaire: A Geo-Multimedia Tour of the Connemara Landscape on the Galway-Clifden Railway will be given by Ronán Hennessy, a PhD Student in the Department of Earth & Ocean Sciences & Environmental Change Institute at NUI Galway on Tuesday, 2 October at 8 pm. The seemingly untamed natural landscape of Connemara, and its potential as a tourism attraction, was a major factor in the routing of a railroad through the region in the closing years of nineteenth century. To celebrate the geological and railway heritage of Connemara, Mr. Hennessy has worked closely with the Galway Heritage Forum and with Galway County Council Heritage Officer Marie Mannion, to design a virtual field trip of the Connemara landscape. Using Google Earth as the virtual tour 'landscape', users can embark on a field trip following the now disused 49 mile long railway line, discovering the region's rich geological and geomorphologic heritage. 'Disembarking' at any of the eight stations along the route, users can investigate the local geology, visit the nearby mines and quarries, explore the famous glaciated Inagh and Maam valleys, and even take off from Alcock and Brown's landing site near Clifden – bound for Newfoundland, which coincidently shares a similar geological history with Connemara. Dr. Martin Feely, Senior Lecturer, Geofluids Research Group, Dept. of Earth and Ocean Sciences and Environmental Change Institute said, "Ronán s presentation will give a flavour of the revolution that is taking place in science with the transfer of real landscapes to the virtual space of pan, zoom, tilt and play. The lecture will appeal to people of all ages and interests as it combines archaeology, heritage, geology, local history and environmental technology." The lecture will take place in the Orbsen Building Seminar Room, Environmental Change Institute, NUI Galway. Tea, Coffee & Beverages will be available from 7:30p.m. Attendance is free and all are welcome. ENDS

Monday, 1 October 2007

NUI Galway is pleased to welcome Aer Arann as sponsor of its newly launched Alumni Award for Sports Achievement and Leadership. The award will acknowledge alumni who have made an outstanding contribution in the area of local and national sports achievement, sports coaching, sports health, sports promotion and/or development. Since 2000 NUI Galway has been annually awarding graduates who as a result of their outstanding contribution to Irish and international life have, in a very special way, honoured their former alma mater. The Aer Arann Sports Award will join the University's seven other Alumni Awards which award excellence in commerce, healthcare, science, engineering, IT, the arts, law and public service. Announcing the new Award, Professor Gerard Hurley, Vice-President for Strategic Initiatives and External Affairs, NUI Galway, said: "This Sports Award reflects a very strong legacy of past and ongoing NUI Galway sporting accomplishment. We will have a very strong pool of candidates from which to choose our winners. The Award brings to a perfect complement our Awards programme - each reflects a discipline, faculty or walk of life in which NUI Galway students have gone on to excel at national and international level". Aer Arann Chairman, Mr Pádraig Ó Ceidigh was awarded the Alumni Award for Business and Commerce in 2002. Commenting on the sponsorship of the new Sports Award, he said, "Aer Arann is committed to strengthening the communities in which we do business, and we re proud to be part of this programme. The candidates for the NUI Galway Sports Alumni Award represent a passion for achievement, which is an inspiration to my colleagues in Aer Arann and to me personally." The Awards will be presented to the distinguished alumni at the University's annual Gala Banquet, which will take place in Galway's Radisson SAS Hotel on Saturday, 1 March, 2008. Previous NUI Galway Alumni Awards recipients include: Seán O'Rourke, RTÉ journalist; Irial Finan, President, Coca-Cola; and Michael D. Higgins T.D. -ends-

Monday, 1 October 2007

Tá áthas ar OÉ Gaillimh fáiltiú roimh Aer Arann mar urraitheoir ar an nGradam nua Alumni don Spórt. Tabharfaidh an gradam nua aitheantas do chéimithe a bhfuil sárobair déanta acu i spórt áitiúil agus náisiúnta, oiliúint spóirt, sláinte spóirt, cur chun cinn agus/nó forbairt spóirt. Ón mbliain 2000, tá gradaim bhliantúla bronnta ag OÉ Gaillimh ar chéimithe a bhfuil sárobair déanta acu i saol na hÉireann agus go hidirnáisiúnta, agus a bhfuil onóir tugtha acu dá bharr don Ollscoil. Gradam amháin é Gradam Spóirt Aer Arann as seacht ngradam eile Alumni san Ollscoil nach mbronntar ach ar fheabhas i dtráchtáil, cúram sláinte, eolaíocht, innealtóireacht, TF, ealaín, dlí agus seirbhís phoiblí. Agus an Gradam nua á fhógairt aige dúirt an tOllamh Gerard Hurley, An Leas-Uachtarán um Thionscnaimh Straitéiseacha agus Gnóthaí Seachtracha, OÉ Gaillimh: "Léiríonn an Gradam Spóirt seo an traidisiún láidir atá in OÉ Gaillimh ó thaobh éachtaí i gcúrsaí spóirt. Is iomaí iomaitheoir a mbeadh an gradam seo tuillte acu. Mar gheall go bhfuil Gradam Spóirt anois againn tá gradam againn do gach disciplín, dámh nó dálaí saoil ina bhfuil éacht déanta ag mac léinn as OÉ Gaillimh sa tír seo agus thar lear". Bronnadh Gradam Alumni ar Chathaoirleach Aer Arann, an tUasal Pádraig Ó Céidigh don Ghnó agus an Tráchtáil in 2002. Ag labhairt dó faoi urraíocht an Ghradaim Spóirt, dúirt sé, "Tá Aer Arann tugtha do phobail a láidriú, pobail ina ndéanaimid gnó, agus tá áthas orainn a bheith páirteach sa chlár seo. Léiríonn iarrthóirí Ghradam Spóirt Alumni OÉ Gaillimh go bhfuil fonn orthu éachtaí a dhéanamh; rud ionspioráideach é sin do mo chomhghleacaithe in Aer Arann agus dom féin go háirithe." Bronnfar na Gradaim ar an alumni ag Mórfhéasta Bliantúil na hOllscoile, a bheas ar siúl in Óstlann Radisson SAS na Gaillimhe Dé Sathairn, an 1 Márta 2008. Bhuaigh Seán O'Rourke, iriseoir RTÉ; Irial Finan, Uachtarán, Coca-Cola; agus Michael D. Higgins T.D. Gradaim Alumni OÉ Gaillimh roimhe seo. - críoch -

Friday, 30 November 2007

The year's winner of the Connacht Tribune Gold Medal for Journalism is Ms Rachael Finucane, from Limerick. Ms Finucane achieved first class honours on the MA in Journalism at NUI Galway. The Medal was presented by Mr David Hickey, MD of Connacht Tribune Newspapers yesterday, 28th November, at NUI Galway. Ms Finucane who is currently working as a Staff Reporter with the Limerick Independent, is a graduate of UL where she also achieved First Class honours in her BA. During her postgraduate studies in journalism at NUI Galway Rachel was a regional winner (Third Level) in this year s Hotpress All Write Now competition. Ends

Monday, 26 November 2007

Amárach in Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh bronnfar Céim Dhochtúireachta sna Dána (honoris causa) ar dhuine de na haisteoirí is mó cáil agus meas in Éirinn (Dé Máirt, 27 Samhain). Is é Gabriel Byrne duine de na haisteoirí is mó cáil ar domhan agus bronnfar céim air mar chuid de shearmanas bronnta an gheimhridh in OÉ Gaillimh, tráth a mbronnfar céimeanna ar thart ar 800 mac léinn as coláistí agus scoileanna éagsúla san Ollscoil freisin. Thosaigh Gabriel Byrne amach mar aisteoir leis an Focus Theatre anseo in Éirinn sular thosaigh sé ag aisteoireacht sa Royal Court Theatre i Londain sa bhliain 1979. Ghlac sé páirt ina chéad scannán dar teideal Excalibur sa bhliain 1981. Ba é John Boorman a stiúir an scannán eipice Artúrach seo. D'oibrigh Gabriel Byrne le cuid de mhórstiúrthóirí na pictiúrlainne – Deartháireacha Coen, Wim Wenders, Jim Jarmusch, Ken Loach, John Boorman, David Cronenberg agus Bryan Singer ina measc. Ghlac Gabriel páirt i scannáin neamhspleácha agus stiúideo, mar aon le trí scannán a stiúradh agus dhá scannán a scríobh. Lena chois seo ar fad, ghlac sé príomhról i 35 príomhscannán lena n-áirítear Miller's Crossing, The Usual Suspects, Into the West, The End of Violence, Dead Man, Vanity Fair agus Spider. Seo a leanas a bhí le rá ag Rod Stoneman, Stiúrthóir Scoil Scannán & Meán Digiteach Huston, "Is aisteoir é Gabriel Byrne a thugann a shamhlaíocht agus na carachtair a chruthaíonn sé smaointe agus íomhánna den scoth dúinn agus cúis áthais dúinn an onóir seo a bhronnadh air. Tugann sé dea-shampla dúinn ar fad trí pháirt a ghlacadh i ngníomhaíochtaí cultúrtha agus carthanachta in Éirinn – gníomhaíochtaí a léiríonn spiorad na flaithiúlachta agus tiomantas dá thír dhúchais." Bronnfar cáilíochtaí ar mhic léinn i gcaitheamh an lae, mic léinn ó Choláiste an Leighis, an Altranais agus na nEolaíochtaí Sláinte; Coláiste na hInnealtóireachta agus na Faisnéisíochta; Coláiste an Dlí; Coláiste na Tráchtála; Coláiste na hEolaíochta agus Coláiste na nDán, na nEolaíochtaí Sóisialta agus an Léinn Cheiltigh Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag an Dr Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh roimh an searmanas, "Cúis áthais dúinn anseo in OÉ Gaillimh céim oinigh a bhronnadh ar Gabriel Byrne – aisteoir Éireannach den scoth agus aisteoir a bhfuil cáil idirnáisiúnta bainte amach aige mar aisteoir cumasach. Cúis áthais ar leith is ea go bhfuil Gabriel Byrne inár measc inniu mar gurb é seo an chéad bhliain cáilíochtaí a bhronnadh ar mhic léinn a d'fhreastail ar na cúrsaí nua agus nuálacha scannán agus meán digiteach. Céim Dhochtúireachta sna Dána atá á bhronnadh ar Gabriel Byrne mar aitheantas ar an méid atá déanta aige ar mhaithe leis an tionscal scannán in Éirinn agus go hidirnáisiúnta." Ag an searmanas bronnta seo freisin, bronnfar cáilíochtaí ar mhic léinn ó chúrsaí nua den chéad uair – M.A. in Ardscileanna Foghlama, M.A. i bhFealsúnacht: Eitic, Cultúr agus Athrú Domhanda, M.A. sna Meáin Dhigiteacha, M.A. i Léiriú agus Stiúradh, agus M.A. in Abhcóideacht agus Gníomhaíochas Poiblí. CRÍOCH

Monday, 26 November 2007

Increased demand for Electronic Engineering Graduates Expected Researchers from NUI Galway are part of a national group awarded just under €4m by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) for the development of mobile healthcare technology. The group will develop technology to assist clinicians with more effective remote monitoring of out-patients in their own homes. Drivers for the technology include an ageing population, increasing pressure on centralised healthcare facilities and the need to reduce the number of in-patients. Many such applications involve the generation and analysis of large quantities of biological signals for each patient, driving the need for sophisticated electronic signal processing techniques. A key focus of the research will be efficient operation for longer life in mobile devices. The research group, entitled "Efficient Embedded Digital Signal Processing for Mobile Digital Health" (EEDSP), is led by University College Cork, and in addition to NUI Galway, includes academic researchers from University of Limerick and University College Dublin, as well as a number of industry partners. According to Dr. Edward Jones, Lecturer in Electronic Engineering and leader of the NUI Galway team, "This grant from SFI will help the EEDSP group to advance the state of the art in this area of increasing importance to society. At the same time, a steady supply of graduates will be required to meet the needs of the rapidly growing digital healthcare industry. Dr. Jones added, "Electronic Engineering offers a tremendous range of possible careers over a wide range of sectors that are critical to society. Some of these might not immediately spring to mind to leaving cert students, including this relatively new and rapidly growing area of digital and mobile healthcare". NUI Galway is holding its annual Open Day on Thursday, 29 November, and those interested in electronics as a career should drop by the Electronic Engineering stand at this event to find out more. -ends-

Monday, 26 November 2007

One of Ireland's best known actors and most appreciated sons will be conferred tomorrow (Tuesday, 27 November) with a Degree of Doctor of Arts (honoris causa) at National University of Ireland, Galway. Gabriel Byrne is one of the best known actors in the world and he will be conferred as part of the winter conferring at NUI Galway along with over 800 students from across the faculties and schools. Gabriel Byrne started his acting career with Ireland's Focus Theatre before joining London's Royal Court Theatre in 1979. His film debut came soon after, in John Boorman's 1981 Arthurian epic, Excalibur. He has worked with some of cinema's leading directors, including the Coen Brothers, Wim Wenders, Jim Jarmusch, Ken Loach, John Boorman, David Cronenberg and Bryan Singer. Moving between independent and studio films, in addition to producing three pictures and writing two, he has starred in 35 feature films, including Miller's Crossing, The Usual Suspects, Into the West, The End of Violence, Dead Man, Vanity Fair and Spider. Rod Stoneman, Director of the Huston School of Film & Digital Media, said, "Gabriel Byrne is an artist whose imagination and performances have offered us irreplaceable ideas and images and we are pleased to honour him for this. His involvement with Irish cultural activities and charitable works is exemplary, reflecting a generosity of spirit and commitment to his homeland." Students will graduate throughout the day from the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences; College of Engineering and Informatics; Faculty of Law; Faculty of Commerce; College of Science; and College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies. Speaking ahead of the conferring, President of NUI Galway, Dr Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, said, "We in NUI Galway are delighted to honour Gabriel Byrne as an outstanding Irish actor, who is respected internationally as a master of his craft. We re especially pleased that on the day we graduate the first students from new and innovative programmes in film and digital media, that we are honoured by the presence of Gabriel Byrne, who receives a Doctor of Arts for his outstanding contribution to Irish and international film." Some students at the conferring ceremony will be the first to graduate from certain new courses, such as the MA in Advanced Learning Skills, MA in Philosophy: Ethics, Culture and Global Change, MA in Digital Media, MA Production and Direction, and MA Public Advocacy and Activism. ENDS

Wednesday, 21 November 2007

'Minerals, metals, molecules and microbes' The Mineralogical Society Distinguished Lecturers programme comes to the Environmental Change Institute, NUI Galway, on Thursday 29 November, with a lecture by Professor David Vaughan of the University of Manchester. Professor Vaughan will deliver a lecture on "Minerals, metals, molecules and microbes: environmental mineralogy and sustainability", at 8pm, with refreshments from 7.30pm, in the Orbsen Building Seminar Room. Environmental mineralogy is the study of minerals with the purpose of understanding and assessing their influence in the movement and fixing of organic and inorganic contaminants at and near the earth's surface. According to Professor David Vaughan, of the University of Manchester, "Metals are critically important both as resources and potential pollutants. Understanding how they can be concentrated or dispersed at the Earth's surface depends on new knowledge, at the molecular scale, of processes involving mineral surfaces, ultrafine particles and mineral-microbe interactions." The lecture will address the following questions: How do we use minerals to contain waste? Can minerals offer green solutions to the problems of waste management? How do minerals assist in the remediation of contaminated soils and waters? How do flora and fauna interact with minerals in rocks and how do they work to break down stone buildings and walls? What are some of the state-of-the-art techniques used to study metal cycling in the environment? Dr. Martin Feely, of the Geofluids Research Group in the Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences at NUI Galway, says that, "On a local level, one of the most visual examples of the importance of mineral-microbe interactions is the manner in which lichen work to degrade Ireland's old stone walls. Understanding how this process occurs is relevant for geologists, archaeologists, environmental consultants, botanists and microbiologists." This lecture is free and open to the public and is hosted by NUI Galway's Environmental Change Institute (ECI) and Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences. For more information please contact sarah.knight@nuigalway.ie or phone 091 495061. ENDS

Monday, 19 November 2007

Dr Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, President of National University of Ireland, Galway will today lead a high level delegation to China of academic representatives from various university faculties and research centres. Over the course of the 5-day visit the delegation will be expanding and strengthening links by meeting with, and in many instances signing memoranda of understanding and partnership agreements between NUI Galway and 17 Chinese institutions. * Developing stronger educational links with China is not only a key feature of NUI Galway's international strategy but features prominently in the Irish government's Asia strategy (1999-2009). Some of the benefits of these links are graduate placement, recruitment and co-operation in the field of research and development. Ms Anna Cunningham, Director of International Affairs at NUI Galway, said, "Attracting high calibre international research Masters and PhD students is a strategic priority for NUI Galway. We are fortunate to have solid links in place already with a range of prestigious Chinese universities. The objective of this visit is to formalise these links and create further opportunities for reciprocal exchange of postgraduate students and collaborative research." During the visit Professor William Schabas of the Irish Centre for Human Rights will deliver a paper at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) with which NUI Galway will sign a formal agreement. Among the other institutions formalising agreements with NUI Galway will be Hong Kong University of Science & Technology and the Institute of Oceanology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, who will forge a formal linkage with the Martin Ryan Marine Research Institute, NUI Galway. In addition, the Beijing Alumni Chapter launch will be hosted by Ambassador Declan Kelleher at the Irish Embassy. Speaking ahead of the visit, President Ó Muircheartaigh said, "This historic visit to China represents a wonderful opportunity for NUI Galway to build upon the strong existing relationships between our university and China. With over 70 alumni in China, Galway is the Irish university with the most China-based graduates. The visit by this delegation will be a platform for our existing and developing connections with China - so that these can be strengthened and built on, thus paving the way for increased cooperation in educational exchange, in research & development and in greater cultural understanding." Dr Louis de Paor, Director of the Centre for Irish Studies and Professor Kevin Barry, Dean of the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies, will visit Nanjing and Fudan Universities with a view to attracting Master and PhD students for a period of study at the Centre. The Centre currently has a student from Nanjing, sponsored by the China Scholarship Council conducting her doctoral research on the work of Roddy Doyle. Professor Barry says, "In order to establish these exchanges NUI Galway are providing Chinese language classes where 30 students are currently enrolled with two lecturers from Beijing. During the next academic year at NUI Galway, it is planned to offer undergraduate students the option of studying Chinese as part of Arts and Commerce programmes." In his remarks at the launch of the Alumni Chapter, the President reminded alumni and guests that the links between NUI Galway and Beijing would be further enhanced by the participation of three current students and 1 alumni in next year s Olympics in Beijing who will compete in sprinting (Paul Hession, 110 & 200m) rowing (Alan Martin, Cormac Folan) and the 20km walk (Olive Loughnane). ENDS

Monday, 19 November 2007

The NUI Galway Open Day will take place from 9am - 3pm on Thursday, 29 November. Thousands of secondary school students from all over Ireland are expected to attend, along with their parents and teachers. The day will showcase 17 new degree courses which will be on CAO forms for the first time in 2008. With a radical departure from traditional Arts degrees, the new CONNECT Programme from the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies is offering seven new four-year degrees. The CONNECT programmes are designed to increase the employability of graduates by developing distinctive skills and creating connections with life beyond the campus. During third-year, students will be immersed in their specialised field, this opportunity might include: project-based work, educational placement in the community, portfolio preparation, creative practice, study abroad, service learning, or placements within Non-Governmental Organisations. The seven new CONNECT degrees are: BA with Children's Studies (GY110); BA with Creative Writing (GY111); BA with Film Studies (GY112); BA with Human Rights (GY113); BA with Irish Studies (GY114); BA with Theatre and Performance (GY115); and BA with Women's Studies (GY116). Other new programmes from the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies are a BA in Mathematics and Education (GY109) and two degrees offered entirely through Irish BA Gaeilge agus Léann an Aistriúcháin (GY107), and BA Riarachán Gnó (GY108). The Faculty of Commerce is offering a new three-year BA Commerce Degree with Accounting (GY207), while the College of Engineering has a new Bachelor of Science in Project and Construction Management (GY410). For those interested in the sciences there are four new degrees: Physics with Applied Physics (GY315); Physics with Medical Physics (GY316); Physics with Astrophysics (GY317); and Biopharmaceutical Chemistry (GY318). Finally, the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences will offer the first undergraduate podiatry programme available in the country, leading to a Bachelor of Science in Podiatry (GY504)*. "According to Dr. Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, President, NUI Galway, "The initial CAO deadline is a little over 10 weeks away so the Open Day is important in helping students find out more about the huge range of courses here at NUI Galway. It's also a wonderful opportunity for future students to learn more about student life in the University, especially the improvements in sporting and cultural facilities, including our new Sports Centre and Swimming Pool as well as the Cultural Centre". Lecturers and current students will be available throughout the day to answer questions about student life at NUI Galway. Giving a taste of academic study, there will be introductory lectures throughout the day in Arts, Law, Engineering, IT, Commerce, Science and Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. Information stands will provide practical input on topics including student services, admissions, accommodation, volunteering and career development. For further information contact Mary Coyle on 091 492814, email mary.coyle@nuigalway.ie or visit http://www.nuigalway.ie/openday/ ENDS

Monday, 19 November 2007

Beidh Lá Oscailte OÉ Gaillimh ar siúl ó 9am – 3pm Déardaoin, an 29 Samhain. Táthar ag súil go dtabharfaidh na mílte mac léinn dara leibhéal as ar fud na hÉireann – i dteannta a dtuismitheoirí agus múinteoirí – cuairt ar OÉ Gaillimh don Lá Oscailte. Beidh eolas le fáil faoi 17 gcúrsa céime nua a bheidh san áireamh ar an bhfoirm CAO don chéad uair in 2008. Tá athrú ag teacht ar na céimeanna traidisiúnta sna Dána agus tá seacht gcéim nua ceithre bliana á dtairiscint faoin gClár CONNECT – clár atá á reáchtáil ag Coláiste na nDán, na nEolaíochtaí Sláinte agus an Léinn Cheiltigh. Tá na cláir CONNECT deartha le cinntiú go n-éiríonn le céimithe poist a fháil trí scileanna ar leith a fhorbairt agus naisc a chruthú leis an saol lasmuigh den champas. I rith an tríú bliain, is féidir a rá gur tumoideachas a bheidh i gceist. D'fhéadfaí na nithe seo a leanas a áireamh sa tréimhse seo: obair tionscadail-bhunaithe, socrúcháin oibre sa phobal, conas portfóilió a ullmhú, cleachtadh cruthaitheach, tréimhse staidéir thar lear, foghlaim seirbhíse nó socrúcháin oibre laistigh d'Eagraíochtaí Neamhrialtasacha. Seo a leanas na seacht gcéim nua atá á dtairiscint trí chlár CONNECT: B.A. le Staidéar Leanaí (GY110); B.A. le Scríbhneoireacht Chruthaitheach (GY111); B.A. le Staidéar Scannán (GY112); B.A. le Staidéar ar Chearta Daonna (GY113); B.A. leis an Léann Éireannach (GY114); B.A. le Staidéar Amharclannaíochta agus Taibhithe (GY115); agus B.A. le Léann na mBan (GY116). I measc na gclár eile a bheidh á dtairiscint ag Coláiste na nDán, na nEolaíochtaí Sláinte agus an Léinn Cheiltigh tá B.A. sa Mhatamaitic agus san Oideachas (GY109) agus beidh dhá chúrsa céime á dtairiscint go hiomlán trí mheán na Gaeilge – B.A. (Gaeilge agus Léann an Aistriúcháin) (GY107) agus B.A. (Riarachán Gnó) (GY108). Tá cúrsa nua trí bliana – Céim B.A. sa Tráchtáil le Cuntasaíocht (GY207) – á thairiscint ag Coláiste na Tráchtála, agus tá Baitsiléir Nua Eolaíochta i mBainistíocht Tionscadal agus Foirgníochta (GY410) á thairiscint ag Coláiste na hInnealtóireachta. Más spéis leat cúrsaí eolaíochta tá ceithre chéim nua á dtairiscint: Fisic le Fisic Fheidhmeach (GY315); Fisic le Fisic Mhíochaine (GY316); Fisic le Réaltfhisic (GY317); agus Ceimic Bhithchógaisíochta (GY318). Cúrsa eile nach mór a lua freisin is ea go mbeidh an chéad chlár fochéime cosliachta sa tír á thairiscint ag Coláiste an Leighis, an Altranais agus na nEolaíochtaí Sláinte – Baitsiléir Eolaíochta sa Chosliacht (GY504). Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag an Dr Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, "Tá beagán le cois 10 seachtaine fágtha ag mic léinn leis an bhfoirm CAO a chomhlánú agus tugann an Lá Oscailte a bhíonn againne anseo san Ollscoil deis do mhic léinn níos mó a fhoghlaim faoin raon cúrsaí atá ar fáil anseo in OÉ Gaillimh. Deis atá ann freisin níos mó a fhoghlaim faoin gcineál saoil a bhíonn ag mic léinn anseo san Ollscoil, go háirithe faoin bhfeabhas atá tagtha ar áiseanna spóirt agus cultúir, ár nIonad Spóirt agus Linn Snámha nua, mar aon leis an Ionad Cultúrtha". Beidh léachtóirí agus mic léinn ar fáil i rith an lae le ceisteanna a fhreagairt faoi na himeachtaí a bhíonn ar siúl ag mic léinn in OÉ Gaillimh. Beidh réamhléachtaí ar siúl i rith an lae ó na coláistí seo a leanas - Dána, Dlí, Innealtóireacht, TF, Tráchtáil, Eolaíocht agus Leigheas, Altranas agus Eolaíochtaí Sláinte. Beidh seastáin freisin le heolas faoi sheirbhísí do mhic léinn, cúrsaí iontrála, cóiríocht, obair dheonach agus forbairt gairme. Is féidir tuilleadh eolais a fháil ó Mary Coyle ag 091 492814 nó mary.coyle@nuigalway.ie nó féach ar láithreán gréasáin na hOllscoile ag http://www.nuigalway.ie/openday/. - críoch -