Chun 20 bliain den bpáirtnéireacht atá ar bun acu le hEalaín na Gaeltachta a cheiliúradh, tá ceochoirm mhór shean-nóis á reachtáil ag Ionad Léann na hÉireann in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. In Amharclann Mick Lally, Dé Máirt 4 Meitheamh, 8-10pm a bheidh an ócáid ar siúl agus scoth na n-ealaíontóirí as Gaeltacht Chonamara ar stáitse.  Ina measc san a bheidh páirteach sa léiriú diamhair seo, beidh Bríd Ní Mhaoilchiaráin, Máire Ní Mhaoilchiaráin, Sarah Ghriallais, Máire Pheter Uí Dhroighneáin, Áine Ní Dhroighneáin, Róisín Ní Mhainín, Pádraic Ó hOibicín, Máirín Mhic Lochlainn, Mairéad Ní Fhlatharta, Treasa Ní Mhiolláin, Seosamh Ó Neachtain, Saileog Ní Cheannabháin, Gearóid Ó Dubháin, agus Micheál Ó Cuaig. Deir an Dr Méabh Ní Fhuartháin, Ceann an Ionaid: “Tá breis agus 20 bliain ann ó cuireadh an pháirtnéireacht idir Ionad Léann na hÉireann agus Ealaín na Gaeltachta ar bun chun ealaíon an tsean-nóis agus na healaíona dúchais béil i nGaeltacht Chonamara a chur chun cinn. Dar linn gur fiú an méid sin a cheiliúradh agus a chraobhscaoileadh le ceolchoirm mhór a thabharfaidh deis dúinn a bhfuil bainte amach againn ó cuireadh an pháirtnéireacht eadrainn ar bun a thaispeáint don bpobal. Beidh cuid de na healaíontóirí comhaimseartha is cumasaí dá bhfuil ag obair i nGaeltacht Chonamara ar an ardán in Amharclann Mick Lally, rud a fhágann gur showcase iontach don nGaeilge, don nGaeltacht, agus d’ealaíona an tsean-nóis a bheidh sa cheolchoirm neamhchoitianta seo.” Cosnaíonn na ticéid €10 agus tá an t-airgead uilig ag dul chuig Clann Shíomóin na Gaillimhe, agus tá siad ar fáil ag https://buytickets.at/theblackgateculturalcentre/1253133. Tuilleadh eolais ó irishstudies@universityofgalway.ie Críoch

University of Galway’s Centre for Irish Studies is marking the 20th anniversary of its partnership with Ealaín na Gaeltachta by hosting a gala concert featuring some of the finest exponents of sean-nós singing, dancing, and storytelling.   The concert takes place at the Mick Lally Theatre, Druid Lane, Galway City, on Tuesday June 4th, from 8-10pm.   Performers at this one-off event will include most of those who spent time as artists-in-residence at the Centre for Irish Studies, with the support of Ealaín na Gaeltachta.   The line-up includes Bríd Ní Mhaoilchiaráin, Máire Ní Mhaoilchiaráin, Sarah Ghriallais, Máire Pheter Uí Dhroighneáin, Áine Ní Dhroighneáin, Róisín Ní Mhainín, Pádraic Ó hOibicín, Máirín Mhic Lochlainn, Mairéad Ní Fhlatharta, Treasa Ní Mhiolláin, Seosamh Ó Neachtain, Saileog Ní Cheannabháin, Gearóid Ó Dubháin, and Micheál Ó Cuaig.   Dr Méabh Ní Fhuartháin, Head of Irish Studies at University of Galway, said: “The living link with the vernacular arts traditions of the Connemara Gaeltacht is central to the work we do at University of Galway’s Centre for Irish Studies. This unique concert is an opportunity to celebrate the vitality of those traditions and to acknowledge the generosity of the remarkable artists who have contributed so much to their own communities and to our understanding of the Gaeltacht arts. This event is a salute from us to a remarkable group of artists and colleagues who have had a significant impact on all those who have benefited from their work at the Centre for Irish Studies over the past two decades.”   Tickets are €10 with all proceeds going to the Galway Simon Community and are available at https://buytickets.at/theblackgateculturalcentre/1253133.   For more information contact irishstudies@universityofgalway.ie   Ends

Three primary schools have been awarded a 2024 START Competition Trophy by University of Galway for using randomised trial methodology to answer a question related to their environment or lifestyle.  The Schools Teaching Awareness of Randomised Trials (START) is an annual competition encouraging children throughout Ireland to learn about healthcare decisions and how health and well-being can be improved by learning about randomised trials. Sometimes called clinical trials, randomised trials are a type of research study often used to find out if a new medicine or treatment works. The three schools awarded for their research projects are: Holy Family Senior National School, Swords, Co Dublin came in the third place with the randomised trial: “Does being on a device affect your sleep?” The young trialists randomly divided participants into groups, some on devices before bed, and others who were not. Their trial involved the support of parents who had to check how quickly their child fell asleep. Their results indicate that having a device before bed negatively affects children’s sleep. Coolmeen National School, Kilrush, Co Clare claimed second place for their trial: “Do children learn more when working in groups or doing independent work?” The students randomised their fellow schoolmates into two groups with a spinner wheel. Using a standard test for both groups, one group completed the test independently and the other group in teams of two. The children concluded that working as a team or independently resulted in similar test scores, showcasing the importance of varied learning approaches. Duleek Girls National School in Co Meath went home with the award for first place after the girls investigated the question: “Does 10 minutes of daily ambulatory activity have an effect on the speed and mood of 10-year-olds?” Activities like jogging, walking, and sprinting were tested, and the children’s emotions were recorded. This school concluded that among all tested activities, walking was the most efficient way to improve speed and mood. The school children were commended for their activities, including for writing letters to President Michael D. Higgins, Minister for Education Norma Foley T.D. and former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar T.D. about the importance of ambulatory activity. Professor Declan Devane, Scientific Director of the HRB-Trials Methodology Research Network at University of Galway, said: “We started this competition for two reasons. Firstly, we wanted to raise awareness of the importance of randomised trials with children. Secondly, we wanted to harness the creativity and imagination of children in the design, conduct, analysis, and reporting of trials. The high standard and variety of applications we receive each year demonstrate that the START Competition has indeed raised the awareness of randomised trials and capitalised on children’s innate ability to explain difficult concepts clearly and in a fun way.” Dr Sandra Galvin National Programme Manager of the HRB – Trials Methodology Research Network, said: “Since the competition’s inception in 2016, the questions that the children come up with every year amaze the team. Typically, they focus on an aspect of their own lives in the classroom, working together to create the trial, while also having a lot of fun. The curiosity and creativity of their bright young minds means they usually challenge our concepts and get us to think more creatively.” The START Competition website provides tools needed to allow children and teachers to create their own randomised clinical trial in the classroom. It also addresses key aspects of the current school curriculum in several subjects including Mathematics, Science, SPHE and ICT. The three shortlisted schools were selected by four judges: Iseult Mangan, former primary school principal Cloghans Hill National School, Ballina, Co Mayo, (2017 START winner) and teacher; Aisling Murray, St Joseph’s National School, Kinvara, Co Galway and teacher of the 2018 START Competition winning class; Professor Shaun Treweek, Professor of Health Services Research, University of Aberdeen, UK; and Sarah Chapman, former Knowledge Broker at Cochrane UK. Iseult Mangan said: ”Participating in the START competition sees classes adopt a fun project-based approach which aligns to key aspects of the curriculum. It allows a class to collaborate and work as team encompassing so many different individual talents from design thinking and organisation to maths and creative display. The three shortlisted schools showcased their understanding and execution of clinical trials in really creative ways with teamwork and fun was evident in each of them.” Professor Shaun Treweek said: “The START competition challenges children to design, do and describe a randomised trial. Every year children from across Ireland smash that challenge in spades, and do so with enthusiasm, breathtaking creativity, and laughter.  The competition is a glorious inspiration to everyone– children, teachers, and researchers alike.” The competition is supported by the Health Research Board, through the HRB-Trials Methodology Research Network (HRB-TMRN), Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), and is part of the celebration of International Clinical Trials Day across five collaborating university partners: University of Galway, University College Cork, Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, and the University of Limerick. For more information about the START competition and how it transforms classrooms across Ireland into hubs of scientific exploration, please visit STARTcompetition.com. Stay updated with us on X @STARTSchools and Facebook at STARTCompetition. Ends