16 October 2006: An international conference at NUI Galway is to examine the meanings people attach to their lives as they grow older, including religious and spiritual values, and the ways in which society values – or fails to value - people as they age. The conference 'Values and Norms in Ageing', 20-22 October, has been organised by Dr. Ricca Edmondson, of the Department of Political Science and Sociology at NUI Galway, and Hans-Joachim von Kondratowitz at the German Centre for Gerontology in Berlin. The conference will also address the question of wisdom, which was traditionally expected of older people in times gone by. Reviving and appreciating the idea of wisdom, which provides the individual with a set of critical and constructive skills based on experience, could help transform the role of older people in society – encouraging society to take seriously what people learn from life and to put it to good use. Speakers will also discuss the differing welfare-state provisions across Europe and how they might reflect prejudices about the contributions older people make to society. Director of the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology at NUI Galway, Professor Eamon O'Shea, commented, "A crucial aspect of our lives which is often neglected is the part played by values. Huge demographic changes are ahead, in Ireland we can expect one in four people will be over the age of 65 by 2050, compared to the current figure of around one in ten. With such a growing proportion of older people, we urgently need to know more about the values they have and how we can use the wisdom of older people to transform economic, social and cultural life". Main speakers and topics of 'Values and Norms in Ageing' include: Prof. Peter Coleman, University of Southampton, UK Faithful unto death? Late-life questions about religious belief Prof. Michele Dillon from the University of New Hampshire; US Religion, spirituality and positive ageing Prof. Haim Hazan, University of Tel Aviv, Israel Beyond Dialogue - Entering the Fourth Space in Old Age Prof. Monika Wohlrab-Sahr, University of Leipzig, Germany Atheist convictions or keeping things open ? The event is the 36th international symposium of the European Behavioural and Social Science Research Section of the IAG (International Association of Gerontology), which is being held in co-operation with the Research Network on Ageing in Europe of the ESA (European Sociological Association) and the Galway Wisdom Project. -ends-

NUI Galway will be this year's venue for the bi-annual Alumni Officers Network of Ireland (AONI) Conference. Alumni professionals from Ireland and Northern Ireland's universities and third-level colleges will attend this two-day event on October 19-20. The conference will focus on a wide range of issues facing Ireland's alumni functions in the context of an increasing focus on alumni support and partnership in educational institutions. The event is being hosted by the Alumni Office at NUI Galway, where Director, JB Terrins, commented, "The strategic importance of fostering relationships and contact between alumni and their alma mater, is well practiced in North America, and is being increasingly recognised in Ireland, and indeed across Europe. This growth in awareness is welcomed by the sector here and brings with it challenges in terms of benchmarking, measuring performance and further professionalising of operations. This conference has been a feature of the sector's annual calendar for some years and continues to provide knowledge-sharing and networking opportunities for alumni practitioners". The NUI Galway Alumni Office creates and maintains a vital connection with the University's 60,000 graduates worldwide. Working in conjunction with the Alumni Association, the office keeps graduates informed of University developments, helping to sustain that vital link with their alma mater. The Alumni Office maintains alumni records, manages alumni events and produces the alumni publications Cois Coiribe, the Alumni Newsletter, the Cumann Caoga Bliain Souvenir Journal and a monthly e-Newsletter, Alumni Links. The Alumni Office is always interested in hearing from graduates and welcomes their ideas and comments. For further information visit http://www.nuigalway.ie/alumni. - ends -

………..supporting sustainable knowledge-based Gaeltacht economies……………. 13 October 2006: Éamon Ó Cuív, T.D., Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs today (Friday), at the official opening of the newly refurbished NUI Galway's centre in An Cheathrú Rua, commended NUI Galway's commitment to addressing the demand for highly-skilled, Irish speaking professionals through its educational programmes. The University has developed a network of Gaeltacht-based centres which are run by Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUI Galway's national institute pioneering third-level education through the Irish language. NUI Galway's commitment and focus on the development and provision of third level courses in Gaeltacht areas will contribute in a positive manner to the social, economic, cultural and linguistic life of these regions. The University's centres provide programmes from undergraduate to postgraduate levels in areas such as; applied language skills, translation studies, information technology, communication studies, teaching methodology, drama studies and language planning. In addition, NUI Galway now offers Ireland's first B.A. in Communications, as Gaeilge, at its centre in An Cheathrú Rua, Co. Galway. These innovative and flexible programmes help nurture enterprise initiatives as well as promoting businesses which are related to the Gaeltacht regions' uniqueness in knowledge intensive fields such as eco- and cultural tourism, music, arts, education and multimedia. Increased demand for highly qualified professionals working through Irish has been triggered by official status being granted by the EU to the Irish language. The implementation of the Irish Language Act has also increased the use of Irish in government institutions which in turn creates a demand for professional translators and interpreters. NUI Galway is demonstrating leadership in ensuring that there is a constant supply of highly skilled graduates in translation, interpretation and applied language skills to meet this demand. Minister Ó Cuív stated, "There is a requirement for highly-skilled graduates who are competent to work through Irish in a range of disciplines. I congratulate NUI Galway for implementing innovative Irish-medium programmes and research activities in Gaeltacht centres, in partnership with the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and Údarás na Gaeltachta, which boasts the latest educational technology and facilities. This is working towards the Government's strategic aim of developing a sustainable knowledge-based economy". Over 170 undergraduate and post-graduate students throughout the country have come to study in An Cheathrú Rua this academic year. An Cheathrú Rua is one of Ireland's strongest Gaeltacht areas with over 85% of its population speaking Irish daily, which in addition attracts hundreds of students to the centre annually to attend short term and specialised Irish courses and classes. The 2,500 square metre centre combines facilities at Áras Mháirtín Uí Chadhain and the former Coláiste Columba. This centre generates more than €5 million annually to the local economy and supports the University's strategic community outreach initiatives. Dr. Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, President of NUI Galway, said, "Our outreach centres around the country are part of the University's policy of bringing education to the community. Essential to this vision is the development of a third level education model that can be emulated by other minority language communities as a vehicle for their sustainable development". The President thanked Minister Ó Cuív and his Department for the support in the form of current and capital finance given to An tAcadamh for the development of an Irish language University in Gaeltacht centres. He also thanked Údarás na Gaeltachta for the help they have given An tAcadamh and its students in the Gaeltacht over the years. It is obvious that the education being delivered in the Gaeltacht centres is an integral part of the Gaeltacht's infrastructure. An Cheathrú Rua outreach campus is part of a network of Gaeltacht centres, including Gaoth Dobhair, Co. Donegal and Carna, Co. Galway. Plans are underway for the establishment of a fourth centre in Baile an Fheirtéaraigh, Co. Kerry. -ends-

………..ag tacú le geilleagar eolasbhunaithe inmharthana na Gaeltachta……………. 13 Deireadh Fómhair 2006: Rinne Éamon Ó Cuív, T.D., An tAire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, OÉ Gaillimh a mholadh go hard as tabhairt faoin éileamh ar Ghaeilgeoirí gairmiúla oilte a sholáthar trína cláir oideachais, ag oscailt oifigiúil ionad nua OÉ Gaillimh ar an gCeathrú Rua. Tá líonra d'ionaid Ghaeltachta curtha le chéile ag an Ollscoil agus iad rite ag Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, institiúid náisiúnta cheannródaíoch OÉ Gaillimh atá tiomanta d'oideachas tríú leibhéal a chur ar fáil trí Ghaeilge. Cuirfidh tiomantas agus béim OÉ Gaillimh ar chúrsaí tríú leibhéal a fhorbairt agus a chur ar fáil sa Ghaeltacht go mór leis an saol sóisialta, eacnamaíoch, cultúrtha agus teanga sna réigiúin seo. Cuireann ionaid na hOllscoile cláir fochéime agus iarchéime ar fáil i réimsí cosúil leo seo a leanas; scileanna teanga feidhmí, léann an aistriúcháin, an teicneolaíocht faisnéise, staidéar na cumarsáide, modheolaíocht teagaisc, staidéar na drámaíochta agus pleanáil teanga. Chomh maith leis sin, tá OÉ Gaillimh ag cur an chéad B.A. sa Chumarsáid, as Gaeilge, ar fáil san ionad ar an gCeathrú Rua, Co. na Gaillimhe. Cuireann na cláir nuálacha sholúbtha seo tionscnaimh fiontraíochta chun cinn chomh maith le gnónna a bhaineann le huathúlacht na Gaeltachta i réimsí dianeolais cosúil le héiceathurasóireacht agus turasóireacht chultúir, ceol, ealaíon, oideachas agus na hilmheáin. Tá éileamh anois ar dhaoine gairmiúla ag oibriú trí Ghaeilge mar gheall ar an stádas oifigiúil a thug an tAontas Eorpach don Ghaeilge. Le cur i bhfeidhm Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla tá méadú tagtha ar úsáid na Gaeilge in institiúidí rialtais agus ciallaíonn sé sin go bhfuil éileamh ar aistritheoirí agus ar theangairí gairmiúla. Tá OÉ Gaillimh ag léiriú ceannaireachta trína chinntiú go bhfuil soláthar seasta céimithe oilte san aistriúchán, sa teangaireacht agus sna scileanna teanga feidhmí chun an t-éileamh seo a shásamh. Dúirt an tAire Ó Cuív, "Tá gá le céimithe oilte atá in ann oibriú trí Ghaeilge i réimsí éagsúla. Comhghairdeas le hOllscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh as cláir nuálacha agus gníomhaíochtaí taighde trí mheán na Gaeilge a chur chun cinn in ionaid Ghaeltachta, i gcomhar leis an Roinn Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta agus Údarás na Gaeltachta, ina bhfuil na háiseanna agus an teicneolaíocht oideachais is fearr amuigh. Tá sé seo ag teacht le haidhm straitéiseach an Rialtais maidir le geilleagar eolasbhunaithe inmharthana a fhorbairt". I mbliana, tá breis agus 170 fochéimí agus iarchéimí ó cheann ceann na tíre tagtha le staidéar ar an gCeathrú Rua. Tá an Cheathrú Rua ar cheann de na ceantair Ghaeltachta is láidre ó thaobh na Gaeilge de. Labhraíonn os cionn 85% de mhuintir na háite an Ghaeilge ar bhonn laethúil, rud a mheallann na céadta scoláire chuig an ionad le dianchúrsaí gearra agus ranganna Gaeilge a dhéanamh gach bliain. Tá 2,500 méadar cearnach san ionad ina iomláine agus teacht ar áiseanna in Áras Mháirtín Uí Chadhain agus san áit ina mbíodh Coláiste Cholumba. Cuireann an tIonad seo breis agus €5 mhilliún gach bliain isteach sa gheilleagar áitiúil agus tacaíonn sé le tionscnaimh for-rochtana straitéiseacha na hOllscoile. Dúirt an Dr Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, "Tá na hionaid for-rochtana ar fud na tíre ina gcuid lárnach de pholasaí na hOllscoile oideachas a thabhairt chomh fada leis an bpobal. Tá forbairt ar mhúnla oideachais tríú leibhéal ríthábhachtach don fhís seo, múnla ar féidir le pobail eile a labhraíonn mionteanga aithris a dhéanamh air mar uirlis dá bhforbairt inmharthana féin. Ghlac an tUachtarán buíochas ó chroí leis an Aire Ó Cuív agus lena Roinn as an tacaíocht in airgead caipitil agus reatha atá tugtha don Acadamh ar mhaithe le forbairt na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge in Ionaid Ghaeltachta. Ghlac sé buíochas chomh maith le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta as an gcúnamh atá faighte ag an Acadamh agus ag mic léinn an Acadaimh sa Ghaeltacht ón Údarás in imeacht na mblianta. Is léir go dtuigtear go soiléir anois gur cuid lárnach de bhonneagar na Gaeltachta an t-oideachas atáthar a sholáthar sna hIonaid Ghaeltachta. Is cuid de líonra ionad Gaeltachta an campas for-rochtana ar an gCeathrú Rua, lena n-áirítear Gaoth Dobhair, Co. Dhún na nGall agus Carna, Co. na Gaillimhe. Tá pleananna á gcur i dtoll a chéile don cheathrú ionad i mBaile an Fheirtéaraigh, Co. Chiarraí. - críoch -

(English version below) Reachtálfar Comhdháil: Litríocht agus Cultúr na Gaeilge in Áras na Gaeilge, OÉ, Gaillimh, Dé hAoine agus Dé Sathairn seo chugainn, 13-14 Deireadh Fómhair. Tá comhdháil na bliana seo tiomanta do Mháirtín Ó Cadhain agus beidh na haoichainteorí ag díriú ar ghnéithe éagsúla dá shaol agus dá shaothar: Alan Titley (iriseoireacht an Chadhnaigh), Brian Ó Conchubhair (úrscéalta an Chadhnaigh) agus Joe Steve Ó Neachtain (rútaí an Chadhnaigh). Ina theannta sin beidh cúigear den 19 cainteoir eile ag plé leis an gCadhnach, ms, Nollaig Ó Gadhra ag trácht ar an gCadhnach agus Óglaigh na hÉireann, agus Pádraigín Ní Cheallaigh ag caint ar an gCadhnach mar ollamh ollscoile. Seolfaidh Seán Ó Cadhain Cré na Cille, dlúthdhioscaí an leagain dhrámatúil le Johnny Chóil Mhaidhc Ó Coisdealbha (RTÉ, Raidió na Gaeltachta agus Cló Iar-Chonnachta) ar a sé a chlog Dé hAoine, agus léireoidh Aisteoirí Bulfin An Eochair, leagan drámatúil de ghearrscéal cáiliúil an Chadhnaigh, i dTéatar Chearbhalláin ar a hocht oíche Dé Sathairn. Ina theannta sin bronnfaidh Joe Steve Ó Neachtain cóip de bhunscríbhinn Baile an Droichid ar Mharie Reddan, Leabharlannai na hOllscoile, tar éis a léachta féin tráthnóna Dé Sathairn. Osclóidh an Dr Caitriona Clear, Leas-Déan Dhámh na nDán, an chomhdháil tráthnóna Dé hAoine ag 3.15. Tuilleadh faisnéise ó Rúnaí Scoil na Gaeilge: fiona.depaor@oegaillimh.ie ----------------------------------------------------------- A conference entitled Litríocht agus Cultúr na Gaeilge (Irish Language Literature and Culture) will be held in Áras na Gaeilge, NUI Galway on Friday and Saturday, 13-14th of October. This year's conference is dedicated to Máirtín Ó Cadhain and the guest speakers will focus on different aspects of his life and work: Alan Titley (Ó Cadhain's journalism), Brian Ó Conchubhair (Ó Cadhain's novels) and Joe Steve Ó Neachtain (Ó Cadhain's background). Five of the other nineteen speakers will also discuss Ó Cadhain, e.g., Nollaig Ó Gadhra will speak of Ó Cadhain and the IRA, and Pádraigín Ní Cheallaigh will talk about Ó Cadhain as a university professor. Seán Ó Cadhain will launch Cré na Cille, CD recordings of Johnny Chóil Mhaidhc Ó Coisdealbha's dramatisation of the novel (RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta and Cló Iar-Chonnachta) at six o'clock on Friday, and Aisteoirí Bulfin will be on stage with their version of An Eochair, a dramatised version of Ó Cadhain's well-known short story, in Téatar Chearbhalláin, Áras na Gaeilge, at eight o'clock on Saturday night. Joe Steve Ó Neachtain will present Marie Reddan, the University Librarian, with a copy of Baile an Droichid's original manuscript, after his own lecture on Saturday afternoon. Dr Caitríona Clear, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Arts, will launch the conference on Friday afternoon at 3.15pm. Further information from the Scoil na Gaeilge secretary: fiona.depaor@oegaillimh.ie - ends -