NUI Galway Alumni, NUI Galway

A capacity gathering of 70 graduates and friends gathered for the launch of the Galway Alumni Club. The launch, which sold out within a day, was hosted by Lieutenant Commander Roberta O’Brien, a science graduate from 2000, and took place aboard her ship, the L.É. Aisling, in Galway Harbour Docks - a fitting venue as the vessel is twinned with Galway. Lieutenant Commander O’Brien made Irish maritime history by being the first ever female commander of an Irish naval ship. She told of her experience of life at sea and guests were invited to take in a tour of the ship.

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Pictured above are Jo Curley BComm 1957, Lieutenant Commander Roberta O'Brien BSc 2000 and Joe Curley BE 1956.

NY Alumni Meet the president

On May 6th, the US Alumni Association of NUI Galway and the Galway University Foundation hosted a cocktail reception at the Metropolitan Club in New York City to introduce Galway graduates to President James Browne. The event attracted 60 graduates and friends of NUI Galway and included a brief talk by President Browne about developments and activities at NUI Galway.

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Pictured left are Michael Higgins, BComm 1982 and President James J Browne, BE 1974, MEngSc 1978.

Boston Bon Voyage

On May 16th, a group of NUI Galway graduates boarded a spectator boat in Boston Harbor to bid Bon Voyage to the Green Dragon, Ireland's entry in the Volvo Ocean Race. The Boston-area graduates were joined on the spectator boat by the Mayors of Galway City and County Galway, NUI Galway graduate Enda O'Coineen, Chairman of Let's Do it Galway and members of the Galway Chamber of Commerce.

Pictured left are Lorcan O'Connor, Colm McGarry, Padraig Bradley, Enda O'Coineen, Sarah E. Kelly, Ann Marie Joyce, Haluk Akbudak, Helen Gibbons, Frank Gibbons

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Dublin Alumni Group – A Taste of Dublin

50 alumni and friends attended A Taste of Dublin organized by the Dublin Alumni group. Graduates were offered greatly discounted VIP tickets which provided access to the Brown Thomas VIP Suite. The occasion marked the end of the season for the Dublin Alumni Club which has gone from strength to strength providing Dublin-based alumni with a wide ranging programme of activities as described below. Visit www.nuigalway.ie/alumni for information on future Dublin Alumni Club events.

Click here to view photos of the event.

Ó Tuathaigh a tour de force

A “tour de force” is how Dublin Alumni Chair Sean O’Rourke summed up the lecture given by NUI Galway’s Professor Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh in Dublin last May. Ó Tuathaigh, the celebrated academic and GAA enthusiast, was giving the lecture, 'The GAA at 125 … The Challenges of Change’, as part of a popular series of events held by the Dublin Alumni group.

His talk made the case that the secret of the GAA's success as a social force in Ireland for 125 years lay in “Its adaptability - and its ability to manage change - rather than any deep conservatism inherent in the organization…”

Alumni, including former GAA president Joe McDonagh, travelled from Athlone and Galway to attend and to hear the Director General of the GAA, Paraic Duffy, respond to Ó Tuathaigh’s commentary. Duffy said he was privileged to have witnessed Ó Tuathaigh’s extraordinarily astute insights into the GAA, its history and challenges.

Attendees were also impressed by the candour of Duffy’s response. Alumnus Patsy McGarry reported the highlights of the discussion in The Irish Times May 13th: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0513/1224246388742.html

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Pictured above is former GAA President Joe McDonagh BA 1974, HDip in Ed 1978 and Prof Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh BA 1965, MA 1968

Lisbon Debate Makes Headlines

The Dublin Alumni Group’s April event made the next day’s papers when debate participant Declan Ganley announced he would not lead an anti-Lisbon Treaty campaign if he did not win a seat in the European election. For the story see:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0409/1224244287394.html

200 alumni and guests attended the controversial debate entitled “Lisbon 2: Rabbitte vs. Ganley” to see NUI Galway alumnus Pat Rabittee of Labour debate with Declan Ganley of Libertas. For pictures of the event see FLICKR.

Pictured left are Declan Ganley and Pat Rabbitte BA 1970, HDip in Ed 1972, LLB 1977.

the perfect storm up close - a Bird’s Eye View from Wall Street

In March Alumni Award winner and Chair of the Galway University Foundation U.S. Board, Declan Kelly presented a bird’s eye view from Wall Street of the global financial crisis of the last two years to a group of nearly a hundred prominent alumni business leaders. Declan is Executive Vice President of FTI, the world’s leading strategy consultant company which counts many governments, including several in Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, amongst its impressive client list. The presentation ’The Perfect Storm Up Close’ was held in the Davenport Hotel, Dublin and was led by RTÉ’s Séan O’Rourke, chair of the NUI Galway Dublin Alumni Group.

Classes of 1999 and 2004 Reunion

Over 150 alumni from the classes of 1999 and 2004 returned to campus to celebrate their 5 and 10 year reunion in June. Festivities took place in the Students' Union Bar overlooking the River Corrib, with entertainment provided by DJ Brick Flanders.

To view photos from the night visit FLICKR.

Pictured left are Donna Keane BA 1999, Mary Lynch BSc 1999, Paul Dervan BSc 2000, Liz McFadden and Kate Dervan BSc 1999.

Record Numbers attend Cumann Caoga Bliain

Over 120 graduates and friends attended the annual Cumann Caoga Bliain event in NUI Galway on Saturday 18th April. The Cumann Caoga Bliain was initiated in 2000 by the University’s Alumni Office and was established to encourage and help maintain the relationship that our senior alumni have with their alma mater. The programme of events includes a reception, a bus tour of campus and a photographic exhibition.

This year’s event was attended by alumni whose graduation years ranged from 1936 to 1962. The most senior attendee was Ms Anne Byrne, a commerce graduate from 1936 and an arts graduate from 1937 who travelled from Co Longford to celebrate the 73rd year of her graduation.

Pictured above are Mrs Anne Byrne BComm 1936, BA 1937 who attended the Cumann Caoga Bliain celebrations with her daughter Una Byrne, BA 1979, HDip in Education 1980.

Click here to view photos from the event.

More photos are available here.

Class of 1969 Reunion

Save-the-Date: Saturday 3rd October

All NUI Galway alumni who attended University in 1969 are invited to return to their alma mater to celebrate their reunion on Saturday 3rd October.

Plans are underway for a bus tour of campus, a photo exhibition, a Reunion Dinner in the Galway Bay Hotel, and other activities to encourage a very enjoyable trip down memory lane.

Graduates who are interested in attending please contact the Alumni Office for further details.

Classes of 1979, 1984 & 1989

Save-the-Date: Saturday 7th November

All NUI Galway alumni who attended University in 1979, 1984 & 1989 are invited to return to their alma mater to celebrate their reunion on Saturday 7th November.

Building on the success of last year's Classes of 1978 & 1979 Reunion, organised by Brendan 'Speedie' Smith, this year's reunion, for all who attended UCG from 1979 through to 1989, plans to be be even more spectacular. A reunion committee is being formed to assist with the planning of this year's event. If you would like to participate in the planning of your reunion please contact the Alumni Office on +353 (0)91 493750. The committee plans to compile a book containing graduates' memories of their time at UCG. If you would like your memories of University life to be included please contact Brendan Smith on bspeedieeircom.net. This book will be for sale at your reunion with proceeds going to charity.

Plans are underway for a bus tour of campus, a photo exhibition, a Reunion Buffet in the Warwick, and other activities to encourage a very enjoyable trip down memory lane.

Alumni Association Board AGM

The Alumni Association Board invites all graduates to its AGM to be held Saturday 27th June from 3:30pm - 4:30pm in the Warwick Hotel, Salthill. The agenda will include:

-Year in Review
-Financial Report
-Any Other Business

RSVP attendance to Emma Goode emma.goodenuigalway.ie, 091 492721.

Cois Coiribe 2009 - Opt in for hard copy

This year's edition of Cois Coiribe, the magazine for alumni, staff, students and friends of NUI Galway, will be circulated in September. The Alumni Office is again issuing an interactive version of the magazine which will be sent to all alumni for whom we have an email address. If you would like to opt in to receive a hard copy of the magazine, please email the Alumni Office on alumninuigalway.ie by June 30th.

Galway Arts Festival - David Gray Competition

The Galway Arts Festival in conjunction with the Alumni Office is holding a competition for a pair of David Gray tickets for alumni who can answer the following question: Which date will David Gray perform during this year's Galway Arts Festival? Please email your answer to emma.goodenuigalway.ie with the subject line as "David Gray Competition". The winner will be drawn from correct answers received and will be contacted via email by Friday 3rd July.

The Galway Arts Festival is also offering a special 10% discount on all group bookings of 10 tickets or more for all shows (subject to availability).

The Festival Box Office does not open until Monday 22nd June, however NUI Galway alumni can order online at http://www.galwayartsfestival.com/ or phone the main office at (091) 509700. From June 22nd bookings can be made online, in person by calling into the Festival Box Office and Gallery at 1 Merchants Road or by phoning at (091) 566577.

Please mention that you are a NUI Galway alumni to avail of this offer.

The full Festival programme is available here.

Honorary Conferring

NUI Galway has announced the five graduands to be conferred with Honorary Degrees on Friday, 26 June 2009. They are:
Liam Connellan, Pádraic MacKernan BA 1962, MA 1963, Anna Ó Coinne, Professor Philip O'Leary and Brian Joyce BA 1962, BComm 1962, HDip in Education 1963. Read on.

NUI Galway's New Engineering Building

Construction will begin this month on the New Engineering Building on the banks of the river Corrib, at the core of the University’s North campus. The 14,000 square metre building will house together all five disciplines of Civil, Electronic, Industrial, Engineering Hydrology, and Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering under one roof.

At a cost of €40 million the building project will offer students a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in a centre for learning which will behave as a living laboratory showcasing all of the latest in green technologies and construction methods.

For further information on the New Engineering Building, or on ways to support its development, please contact; Susan Treacy, Development Executive at susan.treacynuigalway.ie or 091 495497.

Irish Social Science Platform Annual Conference

Alumni are invited to attend the Irish Social Science Platform annual conference which is this year being hosted by NUI Galway from 27- 28 August.

Irish Social Science Platform is an all-island platform of integrated social science research and graduate training focusing on the social, cultural and economic transformations shaping Ireland in the 21st century.

The Irish Social Sciences Platform (ISSP) brings together academics from 19 disciplines in 8 institutions across the island into a common programme of research centered on knowledge, innovation, society and space. ISSP will focus its efforts on investigating three broad themes of national importance – creating balanced development, sustaining communities and building the knowledge economy. For further details please visit http://www.issplatform.ie/

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Please forward this email to friends and classmates who we may have lost touch with.

Alumni Association
The Gate Lodge, National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland.
Phone: +353 (0) 91 493750, Fax: +353 (0) 91 494579, E-mail: Alumni Association
This page was last updated Friday, October 07, 2011