News Archive

Record numbers of over 2,000 students are expected to attend the NUI Galway Volunteering Fair on Monday, 22 September. The annual event, now in its seventh year, will have 60 charities and community organisations showcase the wide range of volunteer opportunities available for students. The Fair will signal the start of a week-long celebration of volunteering at NUI Galway, the culmination of which will coincide with the national volunteering 'Give it a Swirl' day on Friday, 26 September. Exhibitors at the Volunteer Fair will include: Rehab Care; Habitat for Humanity; Down Syndrome Ireland; Childline; Galway Refugee Support Group; Simon Community; Enable Ireland; and Positive Mental Health. The Fair will be officially opened by Mayor of Galway City, Councillor Pádraig Conneely and members of the general public are also welcome to attend. The event is part of the University's ALIVE Volunteering Programme which aims to support and promote volunteering on campus. Last year, over 1,300 students registered with ALIVE. Lorraine Tansey is Volunteer Coordinator of the ALIVE Programme at NUI Galway: "Volunteering comes in many forms, whether it its running homework clubs in local schools, fundraising for national charities, befriending people with a disability, or volunteering abroad. Students can volunteer as much or as little time as they can spare and they benefit enormously from getting involved. Our Community Partners really value the enthusiasm and flexibility they bring. The Fair is just one way to harness and encourage this ongoing civic commitment." Through the ALIVE programme, students at NUI Galway can access an online database of volunteer opportunities. The programme also includes a series of workshops to help students make the most of their volunteering experience. At the end of the academic year students can apply for an ALIVE Certificate which is awarded at a special ceremony in recognition of their commitment to volunteering. The Volunteering Fair takes place on campus in Áras na Mac Léinn, from 1-5pm. For further information, please contact the ALIVE office on 091 493823 or email cki@nuigalway.ie. -ends-

Táthar ag súil le líon níos mó ná riamh – breis is 2,000 mac léinn – ag Aonach Obair Dheonach OÉ Gaillimh a bheidh ar siúl Dé Luain, an 22 Meán Fómhair. Is é seo an seachtú bliain as a chéile an t-imeacht bliantúil seo á eagrú, agus beidh os cionn 60 cumann carthanachta agus pobail i láthair ar an lá le léargas a thabhairt ar na deiseanna éagsúla atá ar fáil do mhic léinn tabhairt faoi obair dheonach. Beidh an tAonach ar siúl ag tús na seachtaine chun ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar na deiseanna atá ar fáil in OÉ Gaillimh obair dheonach a dhéanamh, agus cuirfear críoch le himeachtaí na seachtaine le lá náisiúnta obair dheonach ar a dtugtar 'Give it a Swirl' a bheidh ar siúl Dé hAoine, an 26 Meán Fómhair. I measc na gcumann a bheidh i láthair ag an Aonach beidh: Rehab Care; Habitat for Humanity; Down Syndrome Ireland; Childline; Galway Refugee Support Group; Simon Community; Enable Ireland; agus Positive Mental Health. Is é Méara Chathair na Gaillimhe, an Comhairleoir Pádraig Conneely a osclóidh an tAonach go hoifigiúil, agus beidh fáilte roimh chách teacht chuig an imeacht. Tá an t-imeacht seo á eagrú mar chuid de Chlár Obair Dheonach ALIVE – clár a bhfuil sé mar aidhm leis tacú le hobair dheonach ar an gcampas agus a leithéid a chur chun cinn. Anuraidh, chláraigh de bhreis ar 1,300 mac léinn le ALIVE. Is í Lorraine Tansey Comhordaitheoir an Chláir ALIVE in OÉ Gaillimh: "Is iomaí cineál obair dheonach is féidir a dhéanamh – clubanna obair bhaile a eagrú i scoileanna áitiúla, airgead a bhailiú do charthanachtaí náisiúnta, cabhrú le daoine atá faoi mhíchumas, nó obair dheonach a dhéanamh thar lear. Féadfaidh mic léinn an méid ama a thograíonn siad féin a chaitheamh i mbun obair dheonach agus is iondúil go mbaineann siad fíorthairbhe as obair dheonach a dhéanamh. Is mór an meas atá ag ár gComhpháirtithe Pobail ar an bhfonn oibre agus spéis a léiríonn na hoibrithe deonacha. Níl san Aonach seo ach bealach amháin chun an tiomantas leanúnach seo do chomhpháirteachas poiblí a chothú agus a spreagadh." Trí chlár ALIVE, féadfaidh mic léinn OÉ Gaillimh rochtain a fháil ar bhunachar sonraí ar líne ina bhfuil neart deiseanna chun obair dheonach a dhéanamh liostaithe. Gné eile den chlár é sraith ceardlann a eagraítear le cabhrú le mic léinn an leas is fearr agus is féidir a bhaint as an obair dheonach a dhéanann siad. Ag deireadh na bliana acadúla féadfaidh mic léinn iarratas a dhéanamh Teastas ALIVE a fháil. Bronntar an teastas seo ag searmanas speisialta a eagraítear mar aitheantas ar a dtiomantas don obair dheonach. Beidh an tAonach Obair Dheonach ar siúl ar champas OÉ Gaillimh in Áras na Mac Léinn ó 1-5pm. Má theastaíonn tuilleadh eolais uait ba cheart duit teagmháil a dhéanamh leis an Oifig ALIVE ag 091 493823 nó ríomhphost a sheoladh chuig cki@nuigalway.ie. - críoch -

An NUI Galway climate researcher has made a major breakthrough in understanding the effect of air pollution and climate change on precipitation. Dr Colin O'Dowd and a team of leading international experts propose a new theory explaining why atmospheric aerosol pollution plays a dichotomous role in increasing and suppressing rainfall under different levels of pollution. Their results are essential to providing an improved understanding of how air pollution and climate change will influence flood and drought patterns in the future. The high-profile article 'Flood or Drought: How do Aerosols Affect Precipitation?' was published in the latest edition of the international journal, Science. The article explains how, in order for clouds to form, there must be sufficient water vapour in the atmosphere to produce supersaturated vapour fields, and there must be nuclei for the vapour to condense on in order to form cloud droplets. Water vapour primarily comes from water evaporation at the Earth's surface, while the nuclei come from atmospheric aerosol particles. In clean clouds with low nuclei availability, the cloud droplets formed are large and coalesce into raindrops that readily rain out. However, this study points out that in polluted convective clouds, where cloud droplets are smaller, they do not precipitate out until they reach altitudes above the atmosphere's freezing level. At that stage the droplets freeze into ice precipitation that then falls and melts, releasing latent heat upward and reabsorbsing heat at lower levels. The result is a greater upward transport of heat for the same amount of surface precipitation. This causes invigoration of the convective clouds, leading to additional rainfall despite the slower conversion rate of cloud droplets into rain drops. According to Dr O'Dowd, Director of the Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies at NUI Galway's Environmental Change Institute and Senior Lecturer with the School of Physics, "What this research shows, in very simple terms, is that air pollution not only dramatically effects the type of rain that falls but ultimately how much and where. The smaller type of raindrop being formed when pollution is a factor effectively 'heats up' the cloud system leading to changing weather patterns. This research will lead to a better understanding of and predictions regarding climate change". The scientific article 'Flood or Drought: How do Aerosols Affect Precipitation?' looks at how, as the level of aerosol pollution increases above a critical threshold, aerosol components absorb sufficient incoming solar radiation to warm and stabilize the troposphere. This inhibits convection of cloud parcels, and reduces the amount of energy absorbed at the Earth's surface, thus reducing the release of water vapour. O'Dowd adds, "The net result is that in the most polluted areas, precipitation, and even convective clouds, may not form at all. Given that about 37% of the energy put into the atmosphere by the Earth is as water vapour, this must be balanced by the amount of precipitation returning to the surface. Therefore, disturbance of this balance in one region must be compensated for in another, leading to changes in precipitation patterns." In their study, O'Dowd and colleagues introduce the above phenomena as an aerosol thermodynamic forcing which does not necessarily change the net energy budget, but redistributes it internally. The study highlights the importance of taking account of the aerosol thermodynamic forcing in climate models in order to better predict changes to the hydrological cycle associated with air quality and climate change. O'Dowd and his co-authors comprise the Steering Group developing the international project on Aerosols-Clouds-Precipitation and Climate (ACPC). ACPC is a joint International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme - World Climate Research Programme (IGBP-WCRP) project. O'Dowd represents two IGBP sub programmes on ACPC, namely the International Global Atmospheric Chemistry (IGAC) programme, and Surface Ocean Lower Atmospheres Studies (SOLAS) programme. -ends-

The economic cost of schizophrenia in Ireland has been estimated at over €460 million for 2006 in an article published today in the Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine. This is the first attempt to estimate the economic cost of schizophrenia which affects over 10,000 people in Ireland in any year. The relatively high cost of schizophrenia stands in stark contrast to the relatively low level of resources devoted to mental health care in Ireland. The authors of the article, Dr. Caragh Behan, DETECT, Mr. Brendan Kennelly, NUI Galway and Professor Eadbhard O'Callaghan, UCD, included both direct and indirect costs in their analysis. Direct costs, which refer to the cost of resources used in the treatment of schizophrenia such as inpatient and outpatient care, medication, and community services, were estimated at over €118 million. Indirect costs, which refer to the loss of productivity due to unemployment, absence from work and premature mortality were estimated at over €343 million in 2006. Informal care provided by family members accounted for almost €44 million. Commenting on the results Brendan Kennelly, of the Department of Economics at NUI Galway, said: "While schizophrenia is not a very common condition, it is a very expensive one. This is attributable to a number of factors – the relatively young age when schizophrenia typically affects a person, the high mortality rate associated with the condition, and the very low employment rates for people with schizophrenia." Cost-of-illness studies, which have been widely used for over thirty years, provide very useful information on the burden of an illness and are a useful analytical tool in determining where resources should be employed. Professor Eadbhard O'Callaghan of the School of Medicine, University College Dublin, said that the results highlight the important role that family members play in providing informal care to people with schizophrenia. He added that more effort should be made to improve employment opportunities for people with schizophrenia such as supported employment schemes. Professor O'Callaghan said that in other countries more resources are being devoted to the early detection of schizophrenia because, with the appropriate help, people can and do recover. -ends-

Cúis áthais d'Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, institiúid náisiúnta cheannródaíoch na hOllscolaíochta trí Ghaeilge in OÉ Gaillimh, a fhógairt go bhfuil Susan Folan ceaptha ina Comhordaitheoir ar an gcúrsa nua M.A. (Ateangaireacht Chomhdhála) – cúrsa a mbeidh tús á chur leis ag deireadh na míosa seo (Meán Fómhair 2008). Is as Cnoc na Cathrach i nGaillimh í Susan Folan ó dhúchas agus tá sí ar dhuine den bheagán daoine atá cáilithe mar ateangaire gairmiúil le Gaeilge; oibríonn sí go rialta i bParlaimint na hEorpa agus in institiúidí eile den chuid an Aontais Eorpaigh mar ateangaire comhdhála. Tá bunchéim B.A. agus M.A. sa Nua-Ghaeilge in Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh bainte amach ag Susan chomh maith le Céim Mháistreachta Eorpach san Ateangaireacht Chomhdhála ó Ollscoil Westminster i Londain. Roimhe seo, d'oibrigh Susan mar Oifigeach Forbartha ag eagraíocht na gcoláistí samhraidh Gaeilge, CONCOS. Seo a leanas a bhí le rá ag Susan Folan agus í ag labhairt faoina ceapachán nua: "Tá ríméad orm a bheith ag obair le hAcadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge anseo in OÉ Gaillimh; táim ag tnúth go mór leis an dúshlán a bhaineann le cúrsaí léinn den chéad scoth a sholáthar i réimse na hAteangaireachta agus go mór mór leis an M.A. (Ateangaireacht Chomhdhála) a fhorbairt." Tá éileamh ar a leithéid de chúrsa, go háirithe de bharr an ghéarghá atá ag an Aontas Eorpach le hateangairí oilte, cáilithe le Gaeilge. Is é seo an t-aon chúrsa M.A. (Ateangaireacht Chomhdhála) dá leithéid sa tír agus ullmhóidh sé mic léinn le slí bheatha a bhaint amach mar ateangairí comhdhála gairmiúla. Díreofar i rith an chúrsa ar úsáid na Gaeilge agus an Bhéarla mar theangacha gníomhacha agus éighníomhacha ateangaireachta, agus ar úsáid na Fraincise mar theanga éighníomhach; fágfaidh an cleachtadh a gheobhaidh siad anseo go mbeidh an-seans ag mic léinn ar phoist ghradamúla a fháil mar ateangairí gairmiúla ach a gcríochnóidh siad an cúrsa. Tá an M.A. (Ateangaireacht Chomhdhála) á chur ar fáil ag Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge – institiúid lán-Ghaeilge na hOllscoile le haghaidh cúrsaí tríú leibhéal trí Ghaeilge – agus beidh sé ar siúl san Ionad atá ag an Acadamh ar an gCeathrú Rua i nGaeltacht na Gaillimhe. Tá an cúrsa féin á mhaoiniú ag Údarás na Gaeltachta agus dá bharr seo ní bheidh táille ar bith le híoc ag mic léinn a gheobhaidh áit ar an gcúrsa. Feidhmeoidh Susan mar phríomhtheagascóir ar an gcúrsa, agus beidh sí freagrach freisin as riaradh agus eagrú an chúrsa ó lá go lá. Tá iarratais á nglacadh le haghaidh áiteanna ar an M.A. (Ateangaireacht Chomhdhála) faoi láthair agus is féidir teagmháil a dhéanamh le Siobhán Ní Chualáin ag + 353 91 495428 nó ar an ríomhphost ag siobhan.nichualain@oegaillimh.ie má theastaíonn tuilleadh eolas breise ina thaobh. -Críoch-

Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, the national institution for third-level education through Irish at NUI Galway, is pleased to announce the appointment of Susan Folan as Co-ordinator of the new M.A. Ateangaireacht Chomhdhála/Conference Interpreting programme, commencing at the end of September. Originally from Knocknacarra in Galway City, Susan Folan is one of an elite number of conference interpreters, qualified to interpret to and from Irish, working regularly in the European Parliament and other EU institutions. An NUI Galway graduate with B.A. and M.A. degrees in Modern Irish, Susan also holds a European Masters in Conference Interpreting from Westminster University, London. Prior to her appointment, Susan worked as a Development Officer with CONCOS – the Irish language summer colleges' organisation. Speaking about her appointment, Susan Folan said: "I'm thrilled to be working with Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge here at NUI Galway. I look forward to the challenge of providing first-class academic programmes in interpreting, and especially the development of the M.A. (Ateangaireacht Chomhdhála)." There is a great demand for programmes of this type, given the EU's pressing need for qualified conference interpreters with Irish. This is the only such course in Conference Interpreting in the country and it will prepare students for a career as professional conference interpreters. The one-year course will focus on the use of Irish and English as active and passive languages of interpretation, and on the use of French as a passive language. The M.A. (Ateangaireacht Chomhdhála) programme is being delivered by Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge – the University's dedicated institute for the delivery of third-level programmes through Irish – and will be held at An tAcadamh's centre in An Cheathrú Rua, Co. Galway. The programme is sponsored by Údarás na Gaeltachta, which means that no tuition fees are payable by students of the course. Susan will act as the principal teacher on the programme, as well as coordinating the day to day running of the course. Applications are currently being accepted for places on the new course; for further information contact Siobhán Ní Chualáin on + 353 91 495428 or siobhan.nichualain@oegaillimh.ie -ends-

Medieval Irish humour and fantasy is the subject of an international event being held at NUI Galway on Friday, 12 September. The one-day colloquium will focus on one of the classics of medieval Irish literature: Aislinge Meic Conglinne or, as it is known in English, The Vision of Mac Conglinne. The event is being hosted by the University's Moore Institute for Research in the Humanities and Social Sciences and will welcome expert speakers from Ireland, Germany, Scotland, the Netherlands, Italy, Norway and North America. Aislinge Meic Conglinne, composed around 1100 AD, tells how the king of Munster came to be afflicted by a monstrous parasite because of his gluttony. The tale describes how a poor student's fantasies of food eventually rid the king of this parasite. The work is a satire on the clerical and learned orders of medieval Ireland, on their pieties and sense of privilege. It also parodies the major literary forms of the time, making a play on saints' lives, visions, voyage-tales, prophecies and the New Testament. Professor Máirín Ní Dhonnchadha, School of Humanities, NUI Galway, is organising the colloquium. According to her, "Aislinge Meic Conglinne is a brilliant comic masterpiece and one of the great treasures of our Irish-language literary heritage". The original medieval work had various twentieth-century retellings in English, by authors including W.B. Yeats, Austin Clarke, Pádraic Fallon and Peter O'Shaughnessy. There was also a notable Irish-language version by An tAthair Peadar Ó Laoghaire, An Craos-Deamhan (1905), which was well-known to earlier generations of students. -ends-

Nobel Peace Prize winner and Holocaust survivor Professor Elie Wiesel, will deliver an address via video link at NUI Galway on Wednesday, 17 September at 7pm. The public event, which will be broadcast live from New York, will be hosted by NUI Galway's Law Society in the O'Flaherty Theatre, Arts and Science Building on campus. Professor Wiesel is an advocate for awareness of past and potential acts of genocide, and has worked on behalf of oppressed people for most of his adult life. Born in 1928 in Transylvania, Wiesel and his family were deported by the Nazis to Auschwitz when he was 15 years old. His personal experience of the Holocaust led him to use his talents as an author, teacher and storyteller to defend human rights and peace throughout the world. "Elie Wiesel is one of the moral compasses of our time. He reminds us, constantly, of the horrors of the Holocaust, but his message is always hopeful and positive and pointed towards the future of humanity rather than its ugly past", said Professor William Schabas, Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights, NUI Galway. Wiesel's efforts to defend human rights and peace throughout the world have earned him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States Congressional Gold Medal and the Medal of Liberty award, the rank of Grand-Choix in the French Legion of Honour and in 1986, the Nobel Peace Prize. He has received more than 100 honourary degrees from institutions of higher learning. Commenting on the upcoming lecture, Auditor of the Law Society Peter Mannion said: "We are truly honoured to have Professor Wiesel address our society. We know that our members will benefit greatly from his experience and compelling story. It s an inspirational way to start the year and we hope that it will provide a challenge for the students of NUI Galway." In 1978, President Jimmy Carter appointed Wiesel Chairman of the President's Commission on the Holocaust. He was also a guiding force in the establishment of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. In his best known work, Night, Elie Wiesel describes his experiences and emotions at the hands of the Nazis during the Holocaust. Professor Gerard Quinn, Director of the Centre for Disability Law and Policy at NUI Galway, has written about Nazi legality and some of the parallels with the Irish Free State. He highlighted the importance of Wiesel's work from a legal point of view: "The Nazis cloaked their naked power in the language of law and used a 'tactic of legality' to take power. It was not for nothing that the Nazis created their own 'League of Nazi Lawyers'. Elie Wiesel's life work reminds us that law, even with order, is nothing if not connected to justice. It is sad but true that this elemental lesson needs to be re-learned from generation to generation. Mr Weisel's work has played an indispensable role in transmitting this warning form history to the present generation. Since law students are the future conduits of power in society they especially need to learn this lesson. By his presence in NUI Galway Elie Wiesel reminds us of the moral depravity of totalitarian regimes and opens hearts and minds to a higher notion of law." For further information about the event contact Louise Hamilton, PRO of the NUI Galway Law Society, on 0860734033. -ends-

An greann agus an fhantaisíocht ba dhual don phobal Éireannach a chleachtadh sa ré mheánaoiseach an téama atá roghnaithe d'imeacht idirnáisiúnta a bheidh ar siúl in OÉ Gaillimh, Dé hAoine, 12 Meán Fómhair. Is ar cheann de mhórshaothair litríocht mheánaoiseach na hÉireann a bheidh an collóiciam lae seo bunaithe: Aislinge Meic Conglinne nó The Vision of Mac Conglinne mar a thugtar air i mBéarla. Is é Institiúid de Móra um Thaighde sna Daonnachtaí agus sa Léann Sóisialta in OÉ Gaillimh atá ag eagrú an imeachta seo agus beidh saineolaithe as Éirinn, an Ghearmáin, an Ísiltír, an Iodáil, an Iorua, Meiriceá Thuaidh agus as an Albain i measc na gcainteoirí. Tugann Aislinge Meic Conglinne, a cumadh thart ar 1100 AD, léargas dúinn ar conas a chrá deamhan ar Rí na Mumhan mar gur craosaire gan náire a bhí ann. Déantar cur síos sa scéal seo ar an tionchar a bhí ag brionglóidí mac léinn bocht faoi bhia cabhrú leis an rí an deamhan seo a ruaigeadh ar deireadh thiar. Aoir bunaithe ar an gcráifeacht agus ar an bpribhléid a bhain leis na hoird chléiriúla agus léannta le linn na ré meánaoisí in Éirinn atá sa saothar seo. Tá scigaithris ann freisin ar na príomhfhoirmeacha liteartha a bhí i réim ag an am; aithris ar shaol na naomh, aislingí, iomramh, tairngreachtaí agus an Tiomna Nua. Is í an tOllamh Máirín Ní Dhonnchadha, Scoil na nDaonnachtaí, OÉ Gaillimh, atá i mbun an collóciam seo a eagrú. Deir sí gur "sárshaothar greann é Aislinge Meic Conglinne agus tá sé ar cheann de na saothair is iontaí d'oidhreacht liteartha na Gaeilge". Is iomaí athinsint Bhéarla a rinne leithéidí W.B. Yeats, Austin Clarke, Pádraic Fallon agus Peter O'Shaughnessy ar an mbunsaothar meánaoiseach seo san fhichiú céad. Scríobh an tAthair Peadar Ó Laoghaire leagan cáiliúil Gaeilge – An Craos-Deamhan (1905), leagan a mbeadh cur amach ag mic léinn a d'fhreastail ar ollscoil san aois seo caite air. - críoch -

NUI Galway has launched a calendar to celebrate the successes of its NUI Galway First Year Schools Competition. The art competition is part of the University Trail Access Programme designed to encourage an interest in third-level education among students in selected Secondary Schools in Galway City, County and Gaeltacht regions. A record number of over 400 first-year students from 13 Galway secondary schools participated in this years' NUI Galway First Year Schools Competition. Students were asked to express through the media of Art, Music, Drama and Writing why they would like to study at NUI Galway, what it would mean for them and how it would change their future. The academic-year calendar features highlights of the artwork submitted and will be distributed to students of the participating secondary schools. NUI Galway Access School Co-Ordinator, Ashla Ward, says the competition entries were of a very high calibre: "We were very impressed by the aspirations, ideas and effort that the students put into the competition. The creation of a calendar by the University demonstrates the value NUI Galway puts on this marvellous work." The University Trail activities help to build a relationship between the pupils and the university over time by a series of structured fun, interactive and informative activities. Now in its seventh year, the University Trail programme has delivered its activities to over 9,000 students. The University Trail Access Programme is supported by the HEA targeted funding for special initiatives. -ends-

A complex and inspiring new art installation is being brought to Galway City by the Arts and Theatre Office at NUI Galway. From 10 September, the University will present an installation called 'it is the wave that cracks the wax...an organization of the memory, 2008'. The performance installation fuses choreography, visual art, the spoken word, dance, music, sounds and symbols. The work is an ongoing collaborative process between the choreographic installation artist, writer, director, dancer and performer Ursula Mawson-Raffalt, and the painting, light, sound, video and media artist Anthony J. Faulder-Mawson. Both are co-founders and artistic directors of the International Platform for Innovation in the Arts. Fionnuala Gallagher, Arts Officer at NUI Galway, welcomes the opportunity to host two pioneering artists: "Ursula and Anthony are breaking boundaries through individual viewpoints and high-level technique, involving the natural and complex processes of life with startling results. The aim of NUI Galway mirrors that of the International Platform for Innovation in the Arts: simply to inspire each individual rather than to entertain the masses. Come see for yourself." The work is accompanied by an installation of paintings by Anthony J. Faulder-Mawson entitled 'dia duit a Gaillimh_b.o.n.j.o.u.r.Galway'. The painting exhibition runs Monday to Saturday, 12-5pm, from 10 September to 8 October, in the University Art Gallery, Quadrangle, NUI Galway. The performance installation runs from 10-13 September in the Bank of Ireland Theatre at NUI Galway at 8.15pm, with admission €10. A lecture on the art work will be given at the public launch at 6pm on Wednesday, 10 September, 2008, in the University Art Gallery, Quadrangle, NUI Galway. For information and bookings call the NUI Galway Arts Office on 091 495098. -ends-

NUI Galway is pleased to announce that Dr Caroline McIntosh has been appointed as Head of Podiatry. Dr McIntosh will manage the School of Podiatry at the University, which offers the first undergraduate programme available in the State leading to a BSc (Hons) in Podiatry. Over 20 students have been accepted onto the popular new course and will qualify in four years as healthcare professionals specialising in the management of disease and disorders of the lower limb and foot. Dr McIntosh joins NUI Galway from the Division of Podiatry at the University of Huddersfield, UK, where she taught a range of subjects since 2003, including research methods, medicine, vascular assessment, diabetes and wound care. Prior to her tenure at the University of Huddersfield, Dr McIntosh worked with the NHS as a Senior Podiatrist with Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Primary Care Trust in North Yorkshire. Speaking about her appointment, Dr McIntosh said, "With an ageing population, increasing diabetes and obesity, there is a growing demand for podiatrists in Ireland. Podiatry plays a critical role in managing patient health and quality of life. This is an extremely exciting position for me personally and for this area of the healthcare profession in Ireland." Throughout her career, Dr McIntosh has been involved in a number of research studies including two clinical trials investigating the effect of honey dressings on wound healing following toe-nail surgery. She has also contributed to a large multi-centre study investigating different treatments for verrucae. Her PhD, which she completed in 2007, focused on the need to build and disseminate evidence-based wound care. Dr McIntosh has published a number of papers in the field of tissue viability, particularly on the diabetic foot, and has presented at national and international conferences. She recently co-edited the text book 'Lower Extremity Wounds; A Problem-Based Approach'. Dr McIntosh is also a member of the Editorial advisory board for Wounds UK Journal. Plans are currently underway for a Podiatry Clinic which will be developed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) located in the Merlin Park campus of Galway Regional Hospitals but will primarily provide services to community based patients. The Clinic will work in partnership with the University's School of Podiatry to provide for the clinical education and training components of the programme. Dr McIntosh is originally from Cramlington in Northumberland, UK. For more information about NUI Galway's BSc (Hons) in Podiatry visit www.nuigalway.ie/podiatry -ends-

Matters of particular interest to Irish and Irish-American constituencies were discussed at last night's US Presidential Debate at NUI Galway. At the event, Democrat Bruce Morrison, former Congressman and author of the Morrison Visa legislation, went head-to-head with Republican Grant Lally, Head of Irish-Americans for McCain and former President of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform. The debate was organised in the 'Town Hall Meeting' style and pre-submitted questions were posed by members of the audience estimated to number over 700. Deemed to be the largest of its kind ever held in Ireland, the meeting provided attendees with a unique, unfiltered opportunity to deepen their understanding of the complex blend of substance and style that shapes electoral politics in the United States. Under discussion were the plight of the undocumented Irish in the United States and the future of foreign direct investment in Ireland under either a Barack Obama or John McCain administration. Both Bruce Morrison and Grant Lally argued that their candidate cherished the historical ties between the two countries and would endeavour to further strengthen the relationship between Ireland and the United States. Morrison and Lally also traded barbs on all of the key issues that have defined the 2008 campaign, including: the state of the global economy, the Iraq war, the American health care system, the issue of experience, and the enigmatic Vice-Presidential candidacy of Sarah Palin. According to NUI Galway Law Lecturer Larry Donnelly, the Boston native and political analyst who moderated the debate: "The United States is facing an unprecedented economic crisis, is waging wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with no clearly defined exit strategy and has seen its status in the world fall precipitously in recent years. Polls show that most Americans blame the Bush administration and John McCain, as a Republican, is finding it very difficult to escape President Bush's shadow. When that is coupled with the excitement that Barack Obama's candidacy has generated, it seems like 2008 will be the Democrats' year, but as history proves, nothing is certain until all the votes are counted". The debate was co-sponsored by NUI Galway's Law Society and the Literary & Debating Society, with addresses by their respective heads Peter Mannion and Dan Colley. -ends-

The Director of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health in Northern Ireland, Gary McFarlane, will visit NUI Galway on Monday, 3 November to deliver a lecture entitled 'Life on earth: connections; co-dependencies and consequences – the case for a new mindset in policy and practice'. The event will take place at 5pm in the Seminar Room on the first floor of the Martin Ryan Institute Annex, NUI Galway. For many policy makers and indeed members of the general public there is, as yet, a poor grasp of the basic links between the impacts of climate change on our society, our economy and our personal health and wellbeing. There is also a misconception that the consequences of climate change will have little impact on the communities that inhabit these islands. Ireland is not just an island within the context of this clear and present challenge. Mr. McFarlane's presentation will provide some global perspectives on these issues. Dr Martina Prendergast, of the Environmental Change Institute at NUI Galway, comments: "We are delighted to welcome Gary McFarlane to NUI Galway to discuss the global trends and philosophies of climate change. There is a real urgency at his stage to develop and implement relevant policies that address climate change while achieving a high quality environment with effective environmental protection". According to Gary McFarlane: "Climate change is probably the greatest threat to human health, wellbeing, quality of life and perhaps even survival that the human race as a species has ever faced. My talk will outline and explore some of the fundamental linkages between our health and our environment and will outline urgent and critical areas for intervention in order to attempt to secure a future for all who inhabit this planet". As Director of Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, McFarlane is involved in contributing to the development of healthy public policy, working with government ministers and departments, local authorities, universities, non-governmental organisations (NGO) and the private sector. Currently, much of this work seeks to assist in re-establishing the critical links between environment and health within the context of sustainable development and public health. This includes advocacy work with policy makers and politicians as well as working with practitioners, academics and researchers to build awareness, understanding and capacity in this area. Gary McFarlane is currently the co-chair of the Public Health Alliance, he is a board member of Sustainable Northern Ireland, and he also chairs the Advisory Board to the environmental health undergraduate programme at the University of Ulster. The lecture is one of a series of public outreach talks organised by the Environmental Change Institute at NUI Galway. Members of the public are welcome and a reception will be held before the lecture at 4.45pm. For further information, please contact martina.prendergast@nuigalway.ie -ends-

The Optical Society of America (OSA) has announced that Professor Christopher Dainty of NUI Galway has been elected as its 2009 vice president. As vice president, Professor Dainty will automatically become president-elect in 2010 and then the society s president in 2011, followed by a one-year term as past president. Christopher Dainty holds the chair of applied physics in the School of Physics at the NUI Galway and has been active in the global optics community for several decades. He was recently elected to membership of the Royal Irish Academy. President of NUI Galway, Dr James J. Browne, said: "I would like to congratulate Professor Dainty on his election to the post of Vice-President and President elect of the OSA. This is a fitting recognition of his contribution to the science of optics and adds lustre to his own reputation, that of his research group and indeed of the University. NUI Galway is proud to count Professor Dainty as one of its academic staff.' A Fellow of OSA, Dainty has been an OSA member since 1971. With widespread participation in OSA activities, he has been involved with topical meetings, awards and has been a two-time past member of the Board of Directors. In addition, Dainty has provided technical expertise to the organization's initiatives as a member of the Computational Optical Sensing and Imaging Program Committee, Adaptive Optics: Analysis and Methods Program Committee, and the Signal Recovery and Synthesis Program Committee. Dainty also served as the secretary-general and president of the International Commission for Optics, as well as the president of the European Optical Society. He currently is a member of the board of the European Technology Platform "Photonics 21" and is also on the external/scientific advisory boards of The Center for Adaptive Optics (Santa Cruz) and The Institute of Photonic Sciences (Barcelona). His research interests include optical imaging, scattering and propagation. In these areas, he has co-authored or edited six books, approximately 140 peer-reviewed papers and 220 conference presentations. The Applied Optics Group at NUI Galway was established in 2002, under the direction of Chris Dainty, and funded by a major grant from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI). The SFI funding was renewed for a further five years in 2007. The Applied Optics Group has significant interaction with industry in Ireland, Europe, United States, and in Japan. Frank Gannon, Director General of SFI commented on the significance of the appointment: "I congratulate Professor Chris Dainty on his election as Vice President of the Optical Society of America for 2009 and President-Elect for 2010, and President in 2011. Since his move to NUI Galway in 2002, Professor Dainty through his dedication and expertise has established a cutting edge world-class Applied Optics research group, which now numbers approximately 25 researchers. The Group s research focuses in four areas: adaptive optics, vision science, imaging and scattering. Professor Dainty has contributed significantly to the development of Optical Engineering in Ireland, in addition he has developed strong collaboration with industry". ENDS

A conference entitled 'New Directions for Press History in Ireland ' takes place from Friday, 31 October, to Saturday, 1 November, at NUI Galway. Academics, students and media practitioners will debate and consider research being undertaken into newspaper and periodical history in Ireland and abroad. The event is organised by the Newspaper and Periodical History Forum of Ireland, which was established this year by a number of scholars and academics. Central to the study of media history is the idea that newspapers are more than just a source on information for historians - they were important players in their own right. Among the contributors to the conference are Mark O'Brien, the author of an important new history of the Irish Times, as well as a history of the Irish Press; Maurice Walsh, former Irish Times and BBC journalist and the author of The News From Ireland: Foreign Correspondents and the Irish Revolution; and Professor John Horgan, Emeritus Professor of Journalism at DCU and former Irish Times journalist. According to Dr Simon Potter, Lecturer in History at the School of Humanities, NUI Galway: "From the Skibbereen Eagle keeping its eye on the Czar of Russia, to the Irish Times which is about to enter its 150th year, to the Belfast News Letter which was founded in 1737 and can claim to be the oldest continually published English language newspaper in the world - newspapers and periodicals have played a central role in our history over the past 200 years. Until recently the study of our newspaper culture and the journalists who worked within it was, with some honourable exceptions, more or less ignored". James Curran of Goldsmith College, University of London, one of the pioneer interpreters of media history, will also speak at the event, with a presentation called 'New Directions in Media History'. Michael de Nie of the University of West Georgia, USA, will discuss aspects of British reporting of the empire, especially with regard to Ireland and India. Dr Niamh O'Sullivan, the Professor of Visual Culture at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin, will look at the illustrators of nineteenth century periodicals. The conference will also feature sessions set aside for young scholars to present short papers on their research. To register, or for further details, contact Simon Potter on 091 493 625 or by email at simon.potter@nuigalway.ie -ends-

A UNESCO Chair in Children, Youth and Civic Engagement has been established at NUI Galway. The first UNESCO Chair awarded in the Republic of Ireland, the Chair will be hosted at the Child and Family Research Centre in the University's School of Political Science and Sociology. Professor Pat Dolan, Director of the Child and Family Research Centre at NUI Galway, with over 20 years experience in family support frontline work, policy and research, has been appointed as the Chairholder. Professor Dolan commented: "It is an honour and a challenge to take a lead role in exploring civic engagement in young people as a method for mobilising children's rights and addressing needs in Ireland and across the world". The UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme was launched in 1992 to advance research, training and programme development in higher education by building university networks and encouraging inter-university cooperation through transfer of knowledge across borders. Today 617 UNESCO Chairs and 60 UNITWIN Networks have been established within the Programme, involving over 740 institutions in 125 countries. Funded under the UNESCO University Education Twinning and Networking Scheme, the programme of work associated with the Chair, will focus on an exchange of learning among international University partners and affiliated centres for children, which work on civic engagement programmes in countries including Bulgaria, Lithuania and Zambia. For NUI Galway, the establishment of a formal mechanism for the exchange of knowledge in the area of children, youth and civic engagement across, and between, institutions of higher education and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), will bring a new dimension to its work in this area. President of NUI Galway, Dr James J. Browne commented: "We, at NUI Galway, are particularly honoured to be awarded the first UNESCO Chair in the Republic of Ireland. We look forward to fruitful cooperation with UNESCO and are delighted with this opportunity to enhance the University's commitment to community and civic engagement". The establishment of the UNESCO Chair builds on the Child and Family Research Centre's (CRFC) range of applied practice and high-quality research in relation to working with young people experiencing adversity. The Centre, officially launched in 2007 with significant support from The Atlantic Philanthropies, is affiliated with a range of other University centres of excellence, NGOs and civil society organisations dedicated to enhancing the welfare of, and improving opportunities for, disadvantaged children and youth. The Centre is internationally recognised for its expertise in the development and testing of educational models, such as youth mentoring that bring about improved outcomes for children. The CFRC will work with two key partners in Ireland: the Community Knowledge Initiative at NUI Galway, a forum through which the University plays a leading role in the development of civic leadership skills in students; and Foróige, Ireland's leading voluntary youth organisation providing informal education and social skills building to enable young people involve themselves in their own development and the development of society. According to Seán Campbell, CEO of Foróige: "The collaboration will add significantly to the body of knowledge on what works for helping young people develop as active citizens, particularly those dealing with difficulties in their lives". -ends-

Researchers at the Irish Centre for Gerontology, NUI Galway have co-published the results from the first Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). The objective of the study is to identify the key issues for people aged 50 and over in Ireland which will help inform policy makers, particularly regarding the financial, health and social inclusion aspects for an ageing economy. According to Dr Brenda Gannon, Deputy Director of the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology at NUI Galway: "By 2021 the proportion of the total population aged 65 and over in Ireland will have grown significantly from the current level of 11 per cent to an estimated 15 per cent. The force of this demographic change will impact on all facets of society, particularly public pensions and the health service. This survey has provided up-to-date knowledge on the health care needs and financial position of older people in Ireland. For the first time, we now have data for Ireland on people aged 50 years and over to compare with other European countries". Key findings regarding healthcare use were that 80 per cent of people aged 50-59 had seen their GP at least once in the last 12 months, compared to 93 per cent of those aged 70 and over. One in five people aged 70-79 had one inpatient stay in hospital in the previous 12 months, with many more aged 80 and over have overnight hospital inpatient visits. Other key findings include: Physical Health: one third of individuals aged 50-59 have a long term illness, this increases to over 40 per cent for older age groups. Mental Health: one in three females aged 50-59 have felt sad or depressed in the last month, this proportion is higher among the older age groups. Financial worries: 11 per cent of women have great difficulty in making ends meet compared to 7 per cent of males. Care needs: over one third of people aged 70-79 felt that the care they received for daily activities did not meet their needs adequately. Children: 85 per cent of people aged 50 and over had children and of those, at least one in five children lived in the same household, one in ten lived nearby and 15 per cent lived abroad. The second part of the survey will begin in 2009, and will include interviews with the same individuals on similar aspects of their lifestyle. For further in formation on the research, which was carried out in conjunction with UCD, visit www.icsg.ie -ends-

Two first-year engineering students at NUI Galway have been presented with scholarships by Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Coughlan T.D.. Emma Tarpey from Monaleen, Limerick and Máire Kane from Dangan, Galway, both received a Science Foundation Ireland/DELL Scholarship – Young Women in Engineering 2008. Emma Tarpey is studying Civil Engineering and Máire Kane is studying Undenominated Engineering. Both will benefit from an annual award of €2,000 for three years and a DELL notebook computer. In addition, to help develop their careers, they will have the assistance and support of an active researcher as a mentor, and one summer's research-internship in an academic research laboratory or an industry R&D laboratory. The Scholarship aims to attract and encourage more high-achieving young women into third-level education in engineering disciplines. Now in its third year, the scheme focuses on young women entering designated engineering degree programmes. NUI Galway has a long tradition of encouraging female engineers; Alice Perry graduated from the University in 1906, becoming the first woman with a degree in engineering in Ireland or Great Britain, if not the world. Professor Padraic O'Donoghue, Dean of the College of Engineering and Informatics at NUI Galway, said: "We are very proud of Máire and Emma and delighted that their success is recognised through the prestigious SFI/Dell awards. The engineering courses on offer at NUI Galway attract a very high caliber of student. The ethos of the College of Engineering and Informatics is to encourage students to develop their innovative and creative skills and also provides an environment which is internationally recognised as student centered with emphasis on the student as a partner in the learning process". Applications for this SFI scholarship were received from eligible candidates nationwide and were extremely competitive, with a total of ten awarded. Specific criteria for applications include the achievement of an A1 or A2 grade at Higher Level in the Leaving Certificate Examination in Mathematics or Applied Mathematics and Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Technical Drawing, Engineering or Construction Studies. -ends-

A public lecture by Muslim women's rights scholar and activist, Dr Norani Othman, will mark the formal launch of the Global Women's Studies Programme at NUI Galway on Wednesday, 29 October. Guided by the ethics of international human rights, the Global Women's Studies Programme undertakes teaching and research to deepen understanding of the gender dimensions of global issues such as conflict and peace, global economic crisis, religious fundamentalism, human trafficking and disease pandemics. Dr Othman is Associate Professor and Senior Fellow at the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies, and her lecture will be entitled 'Muslim women's human rights: national and international dimensions'. A founding member of a highly regarded Muslim women's non-governmental organisation Sisters in Islam Forum Malaysia, Dr Othman is no stranger to controversy. Her book Muslim Women and the Challenge of Islamic Extremism was recently banned by the Malaysian authorities. According to Dr Nata Duvvury, who co-ordinates the Global Women's Studies Programme with Dr Niamh Reilly at NUI Galway: "We look forward to having such an internationally respected and renowned expert as Dr Othman officially launch the Global Women's Studies Programme at NUI Galway. The Programme is unique in Ireland because it focuses on exploring women's experiences of globalisation from a human rights perspective". Dr Niamh Reilly added: "For example, when states cut social spending women often bear the brunt by increasing their unpaid caring work; the vast majority of trafficked people are women and girls; worldwide, women are becoming HIV positive at a faster rate than men; in situations where fundamentalist politics take hold, the behaviour of women and girls is the first target of repressive action; women rarely initiate conflicts but bear the greatest cost of its catastrophic disruption to daily life, and are generally excluded from post-conflict decision making". Part of the School of Political Science and Sociology, The Global Women s Studies Programme builds on a long-established tradition of Women's Studies at NUI Galway. It currently has over 40 students, which include the first intake of new B.A. Connect with Women's Studies and the M.A. in Gender, Globalisation and Rights. There are also more than ten Ph.D. students researchers in its Gender Research Group. Dr Othman's visit is co-sponsored by the Development Education and Research Network at NUI Galway. For further information about the Launch of the Global Women's Studies Programme and the Public Lecture which takes place at 6pm on Wednesday, 29 October, in Áras Moyola at NUI Galway, contact Gillian Browne on 091 493450 or email gillian.browne@nuigalway.ie -ends-

Over 4,000 students will graduate from NUI Galway during the Autumn Conferring Ceremonies which take place from 17-24 October. NUI Galway will also confer four Honorary Masters Degrees during the ceremonies on: Galway hurling legends, brothers Seán and Jimmy Duggan; University soccer supporter, Tony Corcoran; and Chemistry technician, John Muldoon. Seán and Jimmy Duggan will be recognised for their lifetime contribution to Galway hurling. Tony Corcoran will be honoured for his marvellous service over several decades to the University's Soccer Club. John Muldoon will be honoured for his contribution to Chemistry at NUI Galway and to community life. A further honourary degree will be given to Sarah Wairimu for her work with children in Kenya, many of whose parents died of AIDS. Speaking ahead of the ceremonies, NUI Galway President Dr James J. Browne, said: "On behalf of NUI Galway, I congratulate all our graduands and extend a warm welcome to their parents, families and friends. We are delighted to acknowledge their outstanding achievements and wish them continued success in the future. The University is also very pleased to be associated with the exceptional individuals on whom honorary Masters degrees will be conferred at these week-long ceremonies". The annual Autumn Conferring Ceremonies began at NUI Galway with the Adult and Continuing Education ceremonies, where awards were conferred on 892 students who completed their certificate, diploma and degree courses at many locations across the country. -ends-

The Community Education Centre, NUI Galway warmly congratulates all students awarded the Diploma in Arts: Community and Family Studies, following the successful completion of the first two years of a four year (part-time) degree programme in Community and Family Studies. This new BA programme is one of the first such programmes in Ireland to provide adult learners with the opportunity to study community and family work policy and practice through the medium of distance learning. The attainment of the Diploma in Arts: Community and Family Studies marks the mid point of this Degree cycle and is testament to the effort and commitment of the students who graduated on Friday, 17 October, 2008. Speaking at the conferring ceremony, President of NUI Galway, Dr James J. Browne, said: "This flexible blended-learning degree programme builds on the University's track record in Community Development and now provides a significant opportunity for all of you graduating tonight to progress into degree level studies in the Social Sciences." The Community Education Centre is a core component of Adult and Continuing Education at NUI Galway. Seamus O'Grady, Director of Adult and Continuing Education highlights the ever increasing significance of education in light of the fundamental challenges now facing both our economy and society, and more particularly the role of educational institutions in assisting communities to respond to these challenges. "Over the past 30 years Adult and Continuing Education has actively supported community development, this BA programme is designed to meet identified needs, and build on the University's track record of community engagement and the promotion of life-long learning. Global trends have a local effect and the research strengths of the University, particularly in the field of Political Science and Sociology, can assist families and communities to tackle new and existing challenges" he said. Focussing on key areas such as community development, family support, youth work, childcare, health and general political and socio-economic studies, the BA in Community and Family Studies seeks to respond to the requirements of our ever changing society, and also to the requirements of a broad spectrum of adult learners seeking recognised qualifications in formal education. -Ends-

NUI Galway alumni from the classes of 1978 and 1979 have been asked to upload their photos and memories to a new website ahead of a reunion on Saturday, 22 November. The reunion is being billed as an opportunity to meet up with old friends, listen to talks from favourite lecturers and alumni, and view a photo exhibition. In addition, the event will feature a buffet in the Student's Union Bar followed by a night of music from musicians popular in Galway in the late 1970s. The reunion is being led by former Student's Union President, Brendan Smith, who now works with the Digital Enterprise Research Institute at NUI Galway. According to Brendan: "We were part of the generation that finally benefited from third-level state grants and free post-primary education. With the arrival of the multi-national corporations, the introduction of new technologies, and fierce public debates on family planning other once taboo social issues, the country was experiencing unprecedented change. The students of this era were true pioneers being both recipients and initiators of this new Ireland". For more information on the reunion and submitting photos to the website http://www.ucggrads7879ers.blogspot.com/ contact Brendan (Speedie) Smith at bspeedie@eircom.net or the NUI Galway Alumni Office on 091 493750. -ends-

Cúig Mháistreacht Oinigh le Bronnadh, agus Céim á Bronnadh ar 4,000 Mac Léinn Bainfidh os cionn 4,000 mac léinn céim amach in OÉ Gaillimh sna Searmanais Bronnta Céime a bheidh ar bun idir 17-24 Deireadh Fómhair. Bronnfaidh OÉ Gaillimh Céim Mháistreachta Oinigh ar na daoine seo a leanas: Laochra iomána na Gaillimhe, na deartháireacha Seán agus Jimmy Duggan; Tacadóir de chuid fhoireann sacair na hOllscoile, Tony Corcoran; bunaitheoir árais leanaí sa Chéinia, Sarah Wairimu; agus an teicneoir Ceimice, John Muldoon. Tabharfar aitheantas do Sheán agus do Jimmy Duggan as a bhfuil déanta acu i rith a saoil ar son na hiomána i nGaillimh. Tabharfar onóir do Tony Corcoran as an tseirbhís iontach atá tugtha aige le blianta fada anuas do Chumann Sacair na hOllscoile. Táthar ag tabhairt aitheantais do Sarah Wairimu as a cuid oibre le leanaí sa Chéinia, leanaí ar bhásaigh go leor dá gcuid tuismitheoirí den ghalar SEIF. Tabharfar onóir do John Muldoon as a shaothar ar son na Ceimice in OÉ Gaillimh agus ar son an phobail. Ag labhairt dó sular thosaigh na searmanais, dúirt Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, an Dr James J. Browne: "Thar ceann OÉ Gaillimh, déanaim comhghairdeas lenár gcéimithe ar fad agus tá fearadh na fáilte roimh a dtuismitheoirí, a dteaghlaigh agus a gcairde. Tá ríméad orainn aitheantas a thabhairt dá gcuid éachtaí agus guímid gach rath orthu san am atá le teacht. Tá an Ollscoil thar a bheith sásta chomh maith go mbeidh sí luaite le cúigear eisceachtúil a mbronnfar céim Mháistreachta oinigh orthu ag na searmanais seo a mhairfidh go ceann seachtaine." Cuirfear tús le Searmanais bhliantúla Bronnta Céimeanna an Fhómhair in OÉ Gaillimh leis na searmanais Oideachais Aosaigh agus Leantaigh, áit a mbronnfar dámhachtainí ar 892 mac léinn a chríochnaigh a gcúrsaí céime, dioplóma agus teastais in ionaid éagsúla ar fud na tíre. - críoch -

Beidh Aonach Earcaíochta Céimithe OÉ Gaillimh ar siúl i gceann coicíse ar an 29 Deireadh Fómhair, agus is léir ó shuirbhé a rinneadh go bhfuil éileamh leanúnach ar chéimithe na hOllscoile. Léiríonn figiúirí ó Shuirbhé na gCéimithe 2007 go bhfuil an céatadán de chéimithe a bhfuil bunchéimeanna faighte acu agus atá fós ag cuardach oibre cothrom le 2.1% - céatadán íseal go maith i gcomparáid le hollscoileanna eile sa tír. Beidh breis agus 60 cuideachta ón saol gnó agus ón tionscal i láthair ag Aonach Earcaíochta Céimithe OÉ Gaillimh a bheidh ar siúl in Áras na Mac Léinn, Dé Céadaoin, 29 Deireadh Fómhair, ó 12.30 - 4.30pm. Beidh deiseanna ag an imeacht seo do mhic léinn ó gach disciplín, lena n-áirítear innealtóireacht, seirbhísí airgeadais, cuntasaíocht, comhairleoireacht agus gairmeacha eile. Beidh ionadaithe ó na cuideachtaí is mó ó thionscal na bhfeistí leighis, Boston Scientific agus Medtronic, i láthair ar an lá freisin. Chomh maith leis sin, beidh ionadaithe ó na príomhbhainc in Éirinn i láthair – Banc Uladh, Bank of Scotland agus IIB Bank ina measc. Dóibh siúd ar spéis leo gairm sa réimse comhairliúcháin – beidh ionadaithe i láthair freisin ó cheann de na gnólachtaí comhairleoireachta is mó in Éirinn – Accenture. Beidh ionadaithe i láthair freisin ón earnáil TF agus innealtóireachta trí chuideachtaí áitiúla agus náisiúnta lena n-áirítear SIAC, SAP agus IBM. Dúirt John Hannon, Ceann Ionad Forbartha Gairmeacha OÉ Gaillimh go bhfuil "an-éileamh ar chéimithe OÉ Gaillimh go fóill, rud a léiríonn go bhfuil siad breá ábalta dul i mbun fostaíochta. Cé gur cinnte go gcruthaíonn an timpeallacht reatha gheilleagrach dúshláin dúinn, is eol dúinn go n-earcóidh os cionn 50% d'fhostóirí céimithe as disciplíní éagsúla mar gheall ar an taithí iomlánaíoch agus na scileanna inaistrithe atá acu. Tá scileanna inaistrithe éagsúla ann – modúil a ndearnadh staidéar orthu, socrúcháin oibre, obair dheonach, clubanna nó cumainn". Bunaithe ar an mbéim ar fad atá ar scileanna inaistrithe cheap OÉ Gaillimh Oifigeach Scileanna Inaistrithe san Ionad Forbartha Gairmeacha. Cabhróidh an tOifigeach seo le mic léinn cur lena gcumas fostaíocht a aimsiú dóibh féin trí chabhrú leo machnamh a dhéanamh ar na róil agus ar na hearnálacha fostaíochta a bhféadfadh spéis a bheith acu iontu. Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag Louise Ryan, Oifigeach Fostaíochta in Ionad Forbartha Gairmeacha OÉ Gaillimh leo siúd a bheidh ag freastal ar an Aonach, "Beidh na céadta céimithe eile i láthair ag an Aonach agus is é an aidhm chéanna a bheidh acu ar fad – fostaíocht fheiliúnach a aimsiú – dá bhrí sin, ba cheart go mbeadh gach duine in ann dul i bhfeidhm orthu. Bí cinnte go mbeidh tú ann luath sa lá ionas go mbainfidh tú an méid tairbhe agus is féidir as na seirbhísí atá ar fáil agus ionas go bhfaighidh tú deis labhairt le hionadaithe ón oiread cuideachtaí agus is féidir". Tá liosta iomlán de na cuideachtaí a bheidh i láthair le fáil ag www.nuigalway.ie/careers - críoch -

With just two weeks to go to the NUI Galway Graduate Recruitment Fair on 29 October, a survey has shown continued demand for graduates of the University. Figures from the NUI Galway 2007 Graduate Destinations Survey indicate that the proportion of primary degree graduates seeking employment, at only 2.1%, remained one of the best in Ireland. Over 60 major companies from business and industry will feature at the NUI Galway Graduate Recruitment Fair in Áras na Mac Léinn/Student Centre on Wednesday, 29 October, from 12.30 - 4.30pm. The event will showcase opportunities for students from all disciplines, with a diverse number of fields such as engineering, financial services, accountancy, consultancy and many other professions. Major players in the medical device industry will attend such as Boston Scientific and Medtronic. Ireland's main banks will also be present including Ulster Bank, Bank of Scotland and IIB. For those interested in a career in consultancy - one of Ireland's largest consultancy firms, Accenture will also be represented. The IT and engineering sectors will also have representation through local and national companies including SIAC, SAP and IBM. According to John Hannon, Head of NUI Galway's Career Development Centre: "Demand for NUI Galway graduates remains extremely high, reflecting their excellence in terms of employability. While the current economic climate does of course present challenges, we are finding that over 50% of employers will recruit graduates from across the disciplines because of the all round experience and transferable skills they have gained. Transferable skills can include modules studied and also time spent in work placement, volunteering roles and clubs or societies". This focus on transferable skills has seen NUI Galway appoint a Transferable Skills Officer at its Career Development Centre. The Officer will further enable students to enhance their employability by helping them envisage the many roles and sectors of employment which they might be suitable. Louise Ryan, Employment Officer at NUI Galway's Career Development Centre has some advice for those attending the Fair: "There will be hundreds of other graduates there with the same aim as you - to find meaningful employment - so be prepared to make a good impression. Make sure you are there early so you can make the most of all the services available and get to talk to as many companies as possible". A full list of exhibitors is available from www.nuigalway.ie/careers -ends-

An award-winning bilingual book celebrating the first ten years of the Irish language television station TG4 will be launched today (Friday, 17 October) at NUI Galway. TG4@10: Deich mBliana de TG4 - Ten Years of TG4 is the title of the book to be launched in Aras na Gaeilge, NUI Galway by Michael D. Higgins T.D. who, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, gave the go-ahead for TG4. The station first came on air as Teilifís na Gaeilge (TnaG) in 1996. The book is published by Cló Iar-Chonnachta and edited by Dr Eithne O'Connell of Dublin City University and Dr John Walsh and Professor Gearóid Denvir of NUI Galway. It is a collection of essays, complete with summaries in Irish, written by both academics and those working in the television industry. Topics under discussion include the historical and political background to the founding of the station, TG4's language policy, the social and economic impact of the station and the specific challenges of broadcasting in Irish as well as the use of immigrant languages and English. The authors are drawn for all parts of the island, from the Waterford Gaeltacht to Portstewart, and from Dublin to Connemara and the main dialects of Irish are all represented. "We felt sure that this book will make an impact", said one of the editors, NUI Galway lecturer, Dr John Walsh. Indeed just last week, the book was awarded an Oireachtas na Gaeilge literary prize of €1,000 for a substantial pioneering work in Irish. "The essays are based on a seminar at NUI Galway organised with DCU in 2006 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of TG4, and the book is likely to be appeal to anyone interested in the media or in language and broadcasting issues. We made a point of having full Irish/English interpreting services on offer at the seminar and have translated sections of the book into English as well so as to make it accessible to those who are interested but don't have great Irish language skills." The book launch will take place at 6pm today, Friday 17 October, in Aras na Gaeilge, NUI Galway. An award-winning bilingual book celebrating the first ten years of the Irish language television station TG4 will be launched today (Friday, 17 October) at NUI Galway. TG4@10: Deich mBliana de TG4 - Ten Years of TG4 is the title of the book to be launched in Aras na Gaeilge, NUI Galway by Michael D. Higgins T.D. who, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, gave the go-ahead for TG4. The station first came on air as Teilifís na Gaeilge (TnaG) in 1996. The book is published by Cló Iar-Chonnachta and edited by Dr Eithne O'Connell of Dublin City University and Dr John Walsh and Professor Gearóid Denvir of NUI Galway. It is a collection of essays, complete with summaries in Irish, written by both academics and those working in the television industry. Topics under discussion include the historical and political background to the founding of the station, TG4's language policy, the social and economic impact of the station and the specific challenges of broadcasting in Irish as well as the use of immigrant languages and English. The authors are drawn for all parts of the island, from the Waterford Gaeltacht to Portstewart, and from Dublin to Connemara and the main dialects of Irish are all represented. "We felt sure that this book will make an impact", said one of the editors, NUI Galway lecturer, Dr John Walsh. Indeed just last week, the book was awarded an Oireachtas na Gaeilge literary prize of €1,000 for a substantial pioneering work in Irish. "The essays are based on a seminar at NUI Galway organised with DCU in 2006 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of TG4, and the book is likely to be appeal to anyone interested in the media or in language and broadcasting issues. We made a point of having full Irish/English interpreting services on offer at the seminar and have translated sections of the book into English as well so as to make it accessible to those who are interested but don't have great Irish language skills." The book launch will take place at 6pm today, Friday 17 October, in Aras na Gaeilge, NUI Galway. -Ends-

- Deich mBliana de TG4 - Seolfar leabhar dátheangach inniú (Dé hAoine, 17ú Deireadh Fómhair) in Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh i gcomóradh ar na chéad deich mbliana de TG4, an stáisiún teilifíse Gaeilge. TG4@10: Deich mBliana de TG4/Ten Years of TG4 is teideal don leabhar, atá á fhoilsiú ag Cló Iar-Chonnachta. Is iad an Dr Eithne O'Connell, Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath, an Dr John Walsh, OÉ Gaillimh agus an tOllamh Gearóid Denvir, OÉ Gaillimh, eagarthóirí an leabhair. An Teachta Dála de chuid Pháirtí an Lucht Oibre i nGaillimh, Micheál D. Ó hUiginn, a sheolfaidh an leabhar ag ócáid in Áras na Gaeilge, OÉ Gaillimh. Ba é an Teachta Ó hUiginn, agus é ina Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gaeltachta agus Oileán, a cheadaigh go mbunófaí Teilifís na Gaeilge i 1996. Bailiúchán aistí le daoine aitheanta, idir lucht léinn agus lucht thionscal na teilifíse, atá sa leabhar. Pléitear gnéithe de stair na teilifíse, polasaí teanga TG4, tionchar sóisialta agus eacnamaíoch an stáisiúin, na dúshláin a bhaineann le craoladh trí mheán na Gaeilge agus úsáid teangacha inimirceach. Baineann na húdair le gach cearn den tír, ó Ghaeltacht na Rinne i bPort Láirge go Port Stíobhairt agus ó Chonamara go Baile Átha Cliath. Foilsítear achoimrí dátheangacha de na haistí ar fad agus eolas eile i mBéarla. "Creidimid go mbeidh tábhacht ag baint leis an saothar seo", a dúirt an Dr John Walsh, duine d'eagarthóirí an leabhair, a ghnóthaigh ceann de dhuaiseanna liteartha Oireachtas na Gaeilge an mhí seo. "Bunaíodh é ar sheimineár a reáchtáil in Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh i 2006 le Ollscoil Bhaile Átha Cliath chun 10 mbliana de TG4 a chéiliúradh agus bhí sé i gceist againn riamh go bhfoilseofaí na himeachtaí. Táimid cinnte go rachaidh an leabhar seo go mór chun tairbhe na ndaoine sin atá ag déanamh staidéir ar na meáin chumarsáide Ghaeilge, agus go mbainfidh lucht déanta polasaí craolacháin agus teanga tairbhe as chomh maith. Bhí cur chuige dátheangach againn le linn an tseimineáir féin trí chóras ateangaireachta a úsáid, agus is cúis áthais dúinn cuid den chur chuige céanna a úsáid sa leabhar", a dúirt an Dr Walsh. Seolfaidh Micheál D. Ó hUiginn an leabhar um thráthnóna (Dé hAoine, 17ú Deireadh Fómhair) in Áras na Gaeilge, Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh ag a 6.00i.n. Breis eolais: www.cic.ie -Críoch-

Bronnfar scoláireachtaí ar fiú €119,000 ar an iomlán iad ar mhic léinn chéad bhliana in OÉ Gaillimh mar aitheantas ar na pointí arda a ghnóthaigh siad i Scrúdú na hArdteistiméireachta. Mar chuid de shearmanas bliantúil na hOllscoile Scoláireachtaí Iontrála a bhronnadh, bronnfar scoláireachtaí ar fiú €1,700 iad mar aon le scrolla speisialta ar 70 mac léinn. Bronnfar na scoláireachtaí seo ag searmanas speisialta Déardaoin, an 16 Deireadh Fómhair 2008. Beidh idir mhúinteoirí agus thuismitheoirí i láthair ag an searmanas. Is é atá mar aidhm leis na Scoláireachtaí Iontrála mic léinn ar ardchaighdeán a mhealladh chuig OÉ Gaillimh agus aitheantas a thabhairt don éacht acadúil atá déanta acu. D'fhéadfaí go mbeadh scoláireachtaí nó deontais eile á mbronnadh ag an searmanas céanna, Scéim Scoláireachtaí Spóirt na hOllscoile san áireamh. I mbliana, bronnfar Scoláireachtaí Iontrála ar mhic léinn as 38 scoil ar fud na tíre. Tá scoláireachtaí le bronnadh ar mhic léinn as na contaetha seo a leanas – An Clár, Corcaigh, Dún na nGall, Gaillimh, Ciarraí, Laois, Luimneach, An Longfort, Maigh Eo, Uíbh Fhailí, Ros Comáin, Sligeach, Tiobraid Árann agus An Iarmhí. Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, an Dr James J. Browne, a bhronnfaidh na seiceanna agus na scrollaí ag an imeacht: "Cúis áthais dúinn a bheith in ann aitheantas a thabhairt d'éachtaí acadúla an 70 mac léinn seo as gach cearn den tír. Déanann OÉ Gaillimh iarracht i gcónaí tacú le feabhas acadúil i ngach uile dhisciplín agus é a spreagadh. Deis é Searmanas Bronnta na Scoláireachtaí Iontrála le haitheantas a thabhairt dár mic léinn chéad bhliana a bhfuil a gcumas acadúil cruthaithe acu cheana féin bunaithe ar na torthaí a fuair siad i Scrúdú na hArdteistiméireachta. Deis atá ann freisin le haitheantas a thabhairt don obair atá déanta ag a dtuimsitheoirí agus ag a múinteoirí. Cuirimid fáilte chroíúil rompu chuig OÉ Gaillimh agus táimid ag tnúth lena gcumas acadúil a fhorbairt amach anseo agus tacú lena n-iarrachtaí sna blianta amach romhainn". Bronntar Scoláireachtaí Iontrála gach bliain ar mhic léinn atá díreach tosaithe ag freastal ar OÉ Gaillimh agus a fuair 560 pointe, ar a laghad, i Scrúdú na hArdteistimérieachta (590 pointe do mhic léinn leighis). I mbliana d'éirigh le 18 mac léinn an t-uasmhéid 600 pointe a fháil. Chomh maith leis sin, bronnann OÉ Gaillimh 25 Sparánacht gach bliain. Is fiú €1,600 an ceann na sparánachtaí seo a bhfuil sé mar aidhm leo tacú le mic léinn a thugann faoi chéatadán suntasach dá gcúrsa staidéir trí mheán na Gaeilge. - críoch -

The politics of peace and conflict will be the theme of a Political Studies Association of Ireland conference at NUI Galway from 17-19 October. The event will feature discussions on the Irish peace process, peacekeeping, Latin American politics and Iraq. Other topical subjects at the conference, which is being organised by the University's School of Political Science and Sociology, will include the Lisbon Treaty and the Irish political party system. Speakers at the conference include Brendan Duddy who acted as an intermediary between the IRA leadership and the British government between 1973 and 1993. The existence of this channel of communication was a closely-guarded secret, causing major public controversy when it was finally revealed. The Secret Peacemaker, a documentary about Brendan's significant role through those turbulent times, will be screened and followed by a questions and answers session . The event will also feature Nuala O'Loan, who played a prominent and important role in the Northern peace process in recent years as Northern Ireland's first police ombudsman. She was at the centre of intense public debate and controversy, carrying out investigations into the Omagh bomb inquiry, and police collusion with paramilitaries. A UK House of Commons Committee report in 2005 praised her role and recommended that she be given wider powers, and she was appointed by the Irish government in February 2008 to serve as their special envoy in Timor-Leste (east Timor). Conference organiser and lecturer in Politics at NUI Galway, Dr Niall Ó Dochartaigh, said: "The persistence of war and political violence is one of the most important global political issues. Understanding the dynamics of violent conflict, and the approaches that can contribute to building and maintaining peace, is one of the most urgent tasks for academic research on politics. Violent conflicts are often much more embedded and complex than they appear to outside observers, but the experience of the peace process in Ireland demonstrates that negotiation and dialogue can contribute to narrowing the gap between parties that seem to be irreconcilable". Dr Ó Dochartaigh added: "Given Ireland's long history of contributing to United Nation's peacekeeping missions, and the Irish experience of the Troubles in recent decades, there are many people in Ireland with direct experience of these issues. One of the highlights of the conference for me will be the roundtable discussion on peacekeeping and the protection of civilians in peace support operations". An expert on Iraq who has also written extensively about conflict in Northern Ireland, Professor Brendan O Leary of the University of Pennsylvania, USA, will also speak at the event. His academic work played a significant role in shaping the new government and policing arrangements in Northern Ireland. Professor O'Leary is currently an international advisor to the Kurdistan National Assembly, responsible for advising on the constitutional reconstruction of Iraq and Kurdistan. Michael D. Higgins T.D., and Adjunct Professor with the Irish Centre for Human Rights at NUI Galway, will deliver an after-dinner speech at the conference dinner, entitled 'From Political Studies to Political Practice'. Further information on the conference and a full programme is available at www.psai.ie. -ends-