March 2007

Monday, 26 March, 2007: Ninety-seven primary school children who have taken introductory Italian language classes taught by NUI Galway students will receive certificates at a special 'Italian Day' at the University on Thursday, 29 March, 2007. The eight-week Italian course was delivered in schools throughout Galway city and county by a group of 20 students as part of a pilot 'service-learning' programme under the umbrella of the University's Community Knowledge Initiative (CKI). A range of service-learning modules are available across faculties at the University and aim to enhance partnership with the wider community by allowing students practical learning opportunities of benefit to the community. The primary schools involved in the programme were Scoil Bhríde Shantalla, Belmont NS Tuam, Scoil Chroí Íosa Newcastle, St. Nicholas NS Claddagh and Galway Educate Together NS Newcastle. None of the children had any previous knowledge of Italian and for most it was their first experience learning a continental European language, so the aim was on language teaching through fun and games. 'Italian Day' will feature Italian food and culture across the campus and the event aims to further enhance the link between the University and the community while at the same time valuing the achievements of the children. Dr. Anne O'Connor of the Italian Department at NUI Galway, who coordinated the project, commented on the success of the new service-learning programme, "This is an innovative way of providing exposure to language in primary schools at no extra cost to the school involved with benefits for all parties. The University students benefit by getting involved in community and gaining practical teaching experience. Primary school children benefit from increased exposure to modern languages so that when they progress to second level, they will not be daunted by the prospect of learning a new language. The primary schools also benefit from the University's support in developing and maintaining a foreign language curriculum." The service-learning programme will become an accredited course option for those students pursuing Italian Studies as part of their degree for the academic year 2007-2008. In the future, it is hoped to introduce this project to other language departments in NUI Galway which would involve recruiting more schools and expanding the languages available. ENDS

Nurses from across the globe are to share their experiences of clinical care and research at an international conference, organised by the Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Áras Moyola, NUI Galway on Monday, 2nd April 2007. The Building and Promoting Excellence in Practice conference will focus on three main themes; practice innovation, educational innovation and care of older people and will feature over 70 presentations from international speakers including Professor Anne Marie Rafferty, Dr Kim Manley and Mr Christy Kennelly, who will all deliver key note addresses. Professor Kathy Murphy, Head of the Department of Nursing and Midwifery Studies at NUI Galway says: "This is the first international nursing conference at NUI Galway and we're delighted to have so many internationally renowned speakers. This conference provides an exciting and excellent forum for practitioners and researchers to meet and debate best practice issues." Professor Rafferty, Dean of the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery, King's College London will open the conference. A qualified nurse with a background in social science, clinical research and history, Prof. Rafferty has had a longstanding fascination with nursing knowledge, its origins, status and leadership within the profession. She is the author of the internationally acclaimed book, The Politics of Nursing Knowledge, published in 1996. "I'm really pleased to be speaking at this international conference because it focuses on really important practice issues including care of older people. I am passionate about good care and the foundations on which it's built. This conference will challenge us all to think about responsibility for improving care," says Prof. Rafferty. Dr Kim Manley, Head of RCN Practice Development, has an international reputation for the development of effective workplace cultures in healthcare. Such cultures put the patient at the centre, are clinically effective, continually modernizing and operate on shared governance principles. Core components of her work include helping healthcare organizations and clinical teams to develop, implement and evaluate practice development strategies. In 2000, Dr Manley was awarded the CBE for quality patient services arising from her work on operationalising the consultant nurse role over a decade. The conference, which will provide a forum for debate around issues concerning the promotion of excellence in practice, will be closed by renowned author and broadcaster Mr Christy Kennelly who has a particular interest in palliative care and will focus on ways of building and promoting excellence in practice. ENDS

Mr. Dermot O Connell, Ulster Bank, Eyre Square, Galway; Professor Ger Hurley, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and External Affairs, NUI Galway; Imelda Byrne, Access Officer, NUI Galway and Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, All-Ireland winning hurler with Cork Senior Hurling Team Monday, 26 March, 2007: Over 100 pupils from primary schools across Galway will be honoured by All-Ireland winning hurler Seán Óg Ó hAilpín at a special ceremony on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 for their participation in NUI Galway's 'Uni For You 2007' programme. The children will receive medals and certificates from the Cork star in recognition of their involvement in the three-year programme which promotes education, school attendance and personal development through sporting, cultural and academic activities on the University campus. 'Uni for You' is developed and delivered by NUI Galway's Access Office in partnership with Scoil Bhríde, Shantalla; Holy Trinity Girls School and St Michael's Boys School Mervue. Now in its seventh year, the programme is a homework and sport club which is run on campus in conjunction with Áras na Mac Léinn. The children are helped by undergraduate volunteers two hours a week in completing their homework and playing sports. Capoeria, the Brazilian dance craze was a big hit with the children along with the old reliables, rounders, uni-hockey, soccer and basketball. Professor Ger Hurley, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and External Affairs will host the ceremony in the O'Flaherty Theatre at 7.00pm, where the winners of the 'Write a Book Review' Competition will be announced. The contest was organised as part of 'Uni For You 2007' to actively encourage reading and reflection among the school children. "NUI Galway sees the involvement of the ten, eleven and twelve year old participants in this project, together with their parents and teachers, as a positive action which, we hope, will focus their attention on future educational achievements and progression into higher education,' said Prof. Hurley. Explaining the significance of the programme for those involved, Imelda Byrne, NUI Galway's Access Officer said; "This collaborative programme between NUI Galway and three city primary schools aims to help students develop personally, encourage them in their studies and help them and their families and the wider community overcome any perceived barriers to University as an unwelcoming place." Easter and Summer camps facilitated by university staff volunteers have introduced the children to topics in science, engineering, languages and humanities subjects, which enable the children to get a feel for their subject choices in secondary school and encourage them to participate more actively in their own learning. New initiatives in 'Uni for You 2007' included a story telling course and performance where the children told stories they had created themselves in seanchaí style. The programmes' success includes the participation of parents with their children in the study skill and homework support workshops run by the Access Office. ENDS

HSE West and NUI Galway are this week bringing together a host of experts in environmental health for the country's first ever international conference on reducing environmental risks and protecting public health. The collaborative HSE West/NUI Galway three-day conference aims to highlight new thinking, new science and new horizons in protecting our shared environment and the health of current and future generations. There will be a particular emphasis on the role of research in informing health policy and in evaluating health intervention programmes. Speakers at the 'New Horizons in Environmental Health' conference include RTE ECO Eye presenter Duncan Stewart; Professor of Environmental Health Sciences, Katharine Hammond, University of California, Berkeley; Dr. Diarmuid O'Donovan, Director of Public Health, HSE West and Dr. Martina Prendergast, Development Manager, Environmental Change Institute (ECI), NUI Galway. Over 100 Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) from Ireland and the UK have already registered for the conference, which opens on Wednesday, 28 March, in the Environmental Change Institute, NUI Galway and continues in the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill on Thursday and Friday 29 & 30 March. Maurice Mulcahy, Principal Environmental Health Officer, HSE West, and the driving force behind the conference, says the potential benefits to public health of empowering EHOs to participate in research initiatives that assess exposures and risks associated with environmental factors, cannot be ignored. "This conference will give us a rich insight into the issues concerning international experts in the environmental health field and will provide a stepping point for new initiatives that will have a real impact on reducing the varied risks that we encounter in our daily lives," says Mr Mulcahy. A prominent theme of the conference will be the role of environmental research in informing health policy and in evaluating health intervention strategies. Dr Martina Prendergast, Development Manager of the ECI, and one of the principal organisers of the conference, says she hopes the conference will emphasise the importance of developing a research culture within the environmental health field. "The role of our environment and the way people's health is influenced by the quality of that environment is something on which we should all place great significance. We can only tackle global threats such as climate change, new and emerging diseases, loss of biodiversity and security of energy supply by developing a fundamental understanding of key processes which are causing our environment to change," she says. It is hoped that the conference will help towards bridging the gap between academic research and the development of relevant research policy in the area of environmental health, through the successful collaboration and cooperation between the academic community, environmental health practitioners and policy makers. Ends Further Information: Mary Garvin, Communications Department, HSE West; Tel: 091 – 775750; Mob: 087 – 9310000 Email: mary.garvin@mailn.hse.ie

Issues raised by the collection and storage of umbilical cord stem cells for future use, will be discussed at a free public talk organised by the Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI), NUI Galway, Wednesday, 28 March at the Menlo Park Hotel at 7.30pm. Stem cell research is one of the most promising areas in medical research and there is early scientific evidence that stem cell therapy could provide treatments for a range of currently incurable diseases. One of the sources of adult stem cells is umbilical cord blood, and the current clinical use of cord blood stem cells is restricted to diseases of the blood and immune system, which are relatively rare. The likelihood that a child will require his or her own stem cells is extremely small (one in several thousand) and this has led some clinicians to advise that mothers should be discouraged from banking the cord blood. However others argue that it is likely that cord blood will become a valuable resource as further clinical use of stem cells develops. "Stem cell technology offers many opportunities for future therapy, but there are obstacles yet to be overcome" according to Prof. Frank Barry, REMEDI Scientific Director, and leading stem cell scientist. "This makes the area of cord blood banking somewhat complex as it is difficult to predict whether these cord blood stem cells will be of significant clinical importance in the future. However it is likely that cord blood stem cells will be an invaluable resource, as they are plentiful and more easily obtained than any other source of adult stem cells, and do not raise any ethical issues associated with embryonic stem cells." Professor Barry will outline the scientific evidence both for and against cord blood collection, as one of the speakers at the public talk. Other speakers will include: Catherina McCauley, a parent who had to overcome resistance in Ireland to be allowed to collect and store her child's cord blood in an Irish hospital; Dr. Deirdre Madden, a Senior Lecturer in Law at UCC who will discuss the legal issues in relation to cord blood banking; and, Prof. John Morrison, Head of Dept of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at NUI Galway and Clinical Director of the Women's and Children's Directorate at UCHG, will focus on the obstetric and labour ward aspects of umbilical cord stem cell collection. Ends

Tuesday 20th March 2007: A unique agreement that will enable the physical performance of young footballers to be analysed to improve training methods has been signed by the Faculty of Medicine at NUI Galway and Salthill Devon Football Club. Medical and Informatics students at the University are involved in the Clinical Science Institute (CSI) Galway Human Performance Registry project which is being supported by the Community Knowledge Initiative (CKI) at NUI Galway. The medical students will retrieve, store and analyse the information and the informatics students, in conjunction with students at Hanze University, Groningen, in the Netherlands, will construct a website that can give insight into the current physical fitness of the footballers. The students will also research how to improve physical performance based on the data collected on the younger footballers. Qualified supervisors who have a sports science background will use tools such as the Interval Shuttle Run Test, the Shuttle Sprint and Dribble Test and the Vertical Jump and muscle force test to assess sports specific human performance/physical fitness. These tests have been used in Dutch premier league soccer and hockey and a spin off is expected to be developed for Gaelic football, hurling and rugby. Dr Thomas Kropmans, Department of Medical Informatics and Medical Education at NUI Galway said the Registry could be developed further to analyse secondary school children for obesity and would link up with other medical research such as that being conducted into diabetes and cardio-pulmonary rehabilitation. "The outcome of these tests will be used to improve current training methods for teams and/or individuals. The assessment will take place 2 -3 times per season over a two year period," he said. Lorraine McIlrath, Academic Staff Developer, Service Learning, at CKI praised the project for its mutual benefit to the students and sportspeople involved. "The CSI Galway Human Performance Registry is a win-win project for both the University and the community. First year medical students win by retrieving, storing and analyzing biological variation of human data, while the contributing sports clubs win by improving current training methods," she said. ENDS

A special Certificate Awards Ceremony will mark the achievements of 500 volunteer students at NUI Galway on Monday 26th March, 2006. NUI Galway Dean of Arts, Professor Kevin Barry will present the students with certificates congratulating each of them for their time spent volunteering within NUI Galway, the Galway community, and with national and international non-governmental organisations through the ALIVE programme at the University. ALIVE - A Learning Initiative and the Volunteering Experience – was established by the Community Knowledge Initiative at NUI Galway to harness, acknowledge and support the contribution that NUI Galway students make to Galway by volunteering. To date over 1000 students have been recognised for their volunteering commitment within a variety of pathways, enabling NUI Galway to become a role model in promoting skills related to democratic participation and civic engagement amongst the student body. The ALIVE programme has facilitated students who have volunteered on campus within societies, clubs and student mentoring, and off campus with the Gaf Youth Café, the Galway Rape Crisis Centre, and the Alzheimer Society of Ireland to name a few. Des Mulligan of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland paid tribute to those students who had volunteered their time and energy to the benefit of the charity. "Our participation in the ALIVE Programme has been inspirational for us as an organisation because of the innovative and creative way in which students approached the whole concept of volunteering. It has been a real learning experience for us and also encouraging seeing the genuine enthusiasm and community spirit alive in young people," he said. Katie Stack, ALIVE Student Volunteer with the Galway Association, "Volunteering puts all the college work in perspective, it is important to know there is more to life. I hope to continue volunteering next year as we are building friendships, not just 'a volunteer and service user' relationship. There is an impact for the service user but also for the volunteers, we love it." Students have volunteered in a variety of organisations and organised events throughout the year. Last month students pushed a bed from Ennis to Galway to raise funds and awareness for the Alzheimer Society of Ireland. Previously students organised a 'teddy bear hospital' which brought in over 360 primary school children with their teddies in an effort to reduce children's anxieties about going to the doctor. "The ALIVE Certificate Awards Ceremony is an important opportunity to recognise students for their volunteering, instilling in them a sense civic responsibility," said Lorraine Tansey, Student Volunteer Coordinator for the ALIVE programme at NUI Galway. ENDS For further information please contact Lorraine Tansey, 091 495346, or email lorraine.tansey@nuigalway.ie

One of the foremost scholars in the area of European constitutionalism, Professor Neil Walker of the European University Institute, (EUI) in Florence is to deliver the Annual Distinguished Lecture at the Faculty of Law, NUI Galway on Friday, 23rd March 2007. The event, which is in its third year, will be held in Lecture Theatre MY001, Aras Moyola Building at 7.00pm. The theme of the lecture, Europe at Fifty: A Mid-Life Crisis, was chosen to mark the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. The EUI is Europe's leading postgraduate centre for studies in law and the social sciences. Prof. Walker was the first holder of the position of Dean of the EUI between 2003 and 2005 and this year, alongside his EUI Chair, he holds the position of Honorary Tercentenary Professor of Law at the University of Edinburgh as a prelude to his full-time return to Edinburgh next year where he will take up the position of Regius Professor of Public Law. Announcing the event the Dean of Law, Donncha O'Connell, said: "The current status of the EU Constitutional Treaty is a matter of acute political concern in all of the European Member States. We are privileged to have someone of the stature of Professor Walker to speak on this topic and we in the Faculty of Law hope that his lecture will contribute significantly to the Irish debate on this topic". Dr Niamh Nic Shuibhne, Reader in EC Law at the School of Law, University of Edinburgh will deliver a response to the lecture. Dr Nic Shuibhne is an alumna of NUI Galway and also taught in the Faculty of Law for a period of time. The event will be chaired by Mrs. Justice Catherine McGuinness, President of the Law Reform Commission and Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Law, NUI Galway. The lecture will be followed by a wine reception in the foyer of the Moyola Building at which it will be possible to meet with the speakers. For further information on the event please contact: (091) 492389 or 492752. -ENDS-

Beidh OÉ Gaillimh agus na Duaiseanna Alumni faoi chaibidil ar an gclár Ardán, clár teilifíse Gaeilge de chuid TG4 á chur i láthair ag Páidí Ó Lionáird. Beidh Ardán á chraoladh an 18 Márta 2007 ag 8.30 i.n. Bhí foireann léiriúcháin de chuid RTÉ i láthair ag taifeadadh an ochtú Mórfhéasta bliantúil de chuid OÉ Gaillimh in Óstán an Radisson SAS ar an 3 Márta 2007, áit ar bronnadh na Duaiseanna Bliantúla Alumni. Seo a leanas na daoine ar bronnadh duaiseanna orthu ar an oíche agus a bheidh ag caint ar Ardán; An Dr Pat Gullane, Duais Medtronic don Chúram Sláinte agus an Eolaíocht Mhíochaine; An Dr Reg Shaw, Duais Seavite don Eolaíocht Dúlra; Irial Finan, Duais Bhanc na hÉireann don Ghnó agus an Tráchtáil; Seán O'Rourke, Duais AIB don Litríocht, don Chumarsáid agus do na hEalaíona; Paddy agus Tom Coffey, Duais TBD don Innealtóireacht, an Teicneolaíocht Faisnéise agus an Mhatamaitic; Mairéad Ní Nuadháin, Duais Hewlett-Packard don Ghaeilge; agus Brian O'Donnell, Duais OÉ Gaillimh don Dlí, an tSeirbhís Phoiblí agus an Rialtas. Beidh aíonna ón gColáiste, iarscoláirí agus iarbhuaiteoirí duaiseanna Alumni ag glacadh páirte san imeacht speisialta seo. Ba í an láithreoir ó RTÉ Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh a bhí i mbun an ócáid a stiúradh ar an oíche agus a bheidh ina haoi ar an gclár freisin. I measc na n-aíonna mór le rá a d fhreastail ar an Mórfhéasta bliantúil bhí an tUasal Éamon Ó Cuív T.D., An tUasal Enda Kenny T.D., An tUasal Frank Fahy T.D., an tUasal Michael D. Higgins T.D. agus Ollamh Cúnta le Cearta Daonna in OÉ Gaillimh, craoltóir RTÉ Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh, Alan Kerins, Iománaí ar Fhoireann Shinsearach na Gaillimhe, Pádraig Ó Céidigh, Aer Arann, An Seanadóir Feargal Quinn ó Superquinn agus Ollamh Cúnta le Margaíocht in OÉ Gaillimh agus Gary Cullen, iar-Phríomhoifigeach Feidhmiúcháin Aer Lingus agus Príomhoifigeach Feidhmiúcháin reatha Aer Arann. -CRÍOCH- Tuilleadh Eolais; Michelle Ní Chróinín, An Oifig Preasa, 091-493542 nó R-phost: michelle.nichroinin@nuigalway.ie

The television programme Ardán, presented by Páidí Ó Lionáird, and broadcast weekly on TG4, will focus on NUI Galway and the Alumni Awards Ceremony. The show will broadcast on Sunday, 18 March, 2007 at 8.30pm. NUI Galway's eighth annual Gala Banquet, took place at the Radisson SAS Hotel on 3rd March and featured the presentation of the Annual Alumni Awards; the event was filmed by the RTÉ crew and directed by John Keogh. The alumni award winners who will feature on the special Ardán broadcast include: Dr Pat Gullane, Medtronic Vascular Award for Health Care and Medical Science; Dr Reg Shaw, Seavite Award for Natural Science; Irial Finan, Bank of Ireland Award for Business and Commerce; Seán O Rourke, AIB Award for Literature, Communications and the Arts; Paddy and Tom Coffey, TBD Award for Engineering, IT and Mathematics; Máiréad Ní Nuadháin, Duais Hewlett-Packard don Ghaeilge; and Brian O Donnell, NUI Galway Award for Law, Public Service and Government. NUI Galway staff as well as graduates and former Alumni Award recipients will also feature in this special event. Also featuring on the show will be RTÉ presenter Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh, MC for the Alumni Award ceremony. Distinguished guests also in attendance at the Award ceremony included Éamon Ó Cuiv T.D., Mr Enda Kenny T.D., Mr Frank Fahy T.D., Michael D. Higgins T.D. and Adjunct Professor of Human Rights at NUI Galway, RTÉ broadcaster Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh, Alan Kerins, Galway Senior Hurler, Pádraig Ó Céidigh, Aer Arann, Senator Feargal Quinn of Superquinn and also Adjunct Professor of Marketing at NUI Galway and Gary Cullen, former CEO of Aer Lingus and current CEO of Aer Arann. -ENDS- Contact: Michelle Ní Chróinín, Press & Information Officer, NUI Galway 091-493361 or michelle.nichroinin@nuigalway.ie

Graduates of the Diploma in Local Development Practice and the Foundation Diploma in Training and Education, have formally completed courses delivered by NUI Galway in the University of Prishtina, Kosovo. This is the first occasion on which academic awards of National University of Ireland, Galway were presented in the Balkans region. When speaking to the graduates in Kosovo, Dr Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, President, NUI Galway, said: "The Diploma in Local Development Practice has unique and important objectives of meeting social and economic needs of individuals and communities, in Ireland and abroad. Community and Local Development has been a significant component of our Adult and Continuing Education programme at NUI Galway since its foundation in 1950. Over recent years, as our programmes evolved and developed, we have been able to integrate our Local and Community Development training with a range of related courses such as Youth Work, Enterprise Development, Peace-building and, in your course in Kosovo, with Microfinance". The University has collaborated with the International Centre for Community and Enterprise Development (ICCED) and Kosovo Enterprise Programme (KEP) in the delivery of these educational initiatives. The courses were delivered with the support of the Irish Government's Overseas Aid programme which provided financial aid to support this project through its Civil Society programme funding. Dr Ó Muircheartaigh added: "We believe that the enhancement of local development, which can improve the economic status and quality of life of individuals and local communities, must remain a central goal of our adult education programmes. Through education and training, we must strive to enhance local responsiveness in order to address issues such as poverty, social exclusion and economic competitiveness which currently challenge all of us across Europe". The Adult and Continuing Education Office at NUI Galway has nurtured a series of interventions, in the form of both specialist academic programmes and innovative social strategies, designed to bring the benefits of University education to rural communities and individuals who might otherwise have not an opportunity to develop their potential. In recent years, courses have been made available in locations in the Baltic countries including Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and in South Africa, Sri Lanka and most recently in Kosovo. The European Union's TEMPUS Programme will fund the work between NUI Galway and the University of Prishtina, Kosovo in the development and delivery of a new Masters degree in Civil Society and Local Development in autumn 2007. - Ends -

National University of Ireland Galway have announced the recipients of the 2007 Sports Awards. The awards will be presented by guest of honour, Mr. Seán Ó Ceallaigh, newly appointed Executive Director of the Irish Institute of Sport. The award ceremony will take place tonight, Thursday, 8 March in the Ardilaun House Hotel, Galway at 8pm. Among the award winners announced is Paul Hession, who will receive the Special Achievement Award 2007. Paul, from Athenry, is a current medical student and holds both silver and bronze medals in the 200m at the World Student Games in Turkey and Turkey in 2003 & 2005, respectively. He was also a semi-finalist in the World Athletic Championships in Helsinki in 2005. This season he has taken the athletics world by storm with world class performances in the 60m dash. Paul also made history recently when he became the first Irishman ever to qualify for a flat sprint final in a major championship, setting a new Irish record at the European Indoor Championships in Birmingham. This year's Sports Awards recipients are: Archery: Niamh Breathnach, Corr na Mona, Co. Galway. Athletics: Ann Loughnane, Loughrea, Co. Galway. Boxing: Daniel Ayiotis, Dublin. Camogie: Claire McMahon, Co. Clare. Hurling: Darragh Egan, Kildangan, Co. Tipperary. Ladies Gaelic Football: Una Carroll, Galway. Ladies Soccer: Meabh de Burca, Galway. Ladies Rugby: Aoife Maher, Loughrea, Co. Galway. Men's Gaelic Football: David Conway, Laois. Men's Rugby: John Mackey, Tipperary. Men's Soccer: Robert Gaynor, Roscommon. Rowing: James Wall and Paul Murray, Galway. Surfing: Eoin McCarthy Deering, Dublin. Team Award: Sailing – Cathal Clarke, Paul Sexton, Paul Ruigrok, Rob McFeely, Cillian Devlin, Maguerite Leech, Lauren Fisher and Nick Quigley. Team Award: Senior Men's Rowing squad – Seán Carolan, Seán Heaney, Dave Mannion, Danny O'Dowd, Phillip O'Connell, Breffney Morgan, Evin Donnelly, John Forde, Johnny Naughton, Paul Giblin, Ruadhán Cooke (cox). Team Award: Ladies Rowing – Women's Novice Squad – Marika Upton, Mary Clare Sheridan, Anne Marie Giblin, Mary Guiney, Niamh Rogan, Dee Nally, Muireann Egan, Julia Bulla, Peig Costello. Announcing the awardees, Tony Regan, Sports and Recreation Officer, NUI Galway said: "Each year, NUI Galway recognises outstanding contribution of student athletes across many diverse sporting disciplines for their achievements and their potential for future development in sport. These outstanding athletes serve as an inspiration and we are both proud and honoured to have them as current students of NUI Galway. We are particularly proud at the moment with the World Class performances of our Rowers and Athletes in the International Arena and it is possible that James Wall, Paul Murray, Cormac Folan & Alan Martin with Athletes Paul Hession & Olive Loughnane and Aideen N Challaráin (Kayak) will be representing Ireland at the Beijing Olympics in 2008". Mr. Regan went on to say: "the development and nurturing of potential talent of our elite athletes is crucial and these awards are in recognition of the student's sporting achievements to date". The NUI Galway Sports Awards are given out each year in recognition of the NUI Galway students who excelled in the world of sport during the previous academic year and are supported by Bank of Ireland University Branch. -ends- For further information please contact: Tony Regan, Sports and Recreation Officer, NUI Galway 086-2909762 or Michelle Ní Chróinín, Press Office, NUI Galway, Tel: 091 493361, michelle.nichroinin@nuigalway.ie

Bhí an t-ochtú Mórfhéasta bliantúil de chuid OÉ Gaillimh ar siúl in Óstán an Radisson SAS Dé Sathairn, 3 Márta 2007, agus bronnadh na Duaiseanna Bliantúla Alumni mar aon le ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar an obair dheonach a dhéanann mic léinn, obair a bhí mar théama don mhórfhéasta i mbliana. Cheiliúir Mórfhéasta 2007 ALIVE (Tionscnamh Foghlama & Taithí ar Obair Dheonach), a chuireann ar chumas mac léinn clárú agus deiseanna obair dheonach a dhéanamh a thapú. Bunaíodh ALIVE in 2003 chun an obair dheonach a dhéanann mic léinn OÉ Gaillimh sa phobal a ghlacadh, a aithint agus a thacú. Cabhróidh ioncam a bailíodh ón Mórfhéasta seo le tionscnamh ALIVE freisin. Seo a leanas na daoine ar bronnadh duaiseanna orthu ar an oíche; An Dr Pat Gullane, Duais Medtronic don Chúram Sláinte agus an Eolaíocht Mhíochaine; An Dr Reg Shaw, Duais Seavite don Eolaíocht Dúlra; Irial Finan, Duais Bhanc na hÉireann don Ghnó agus an Tráchtáil; Seán O'Rourke, Duais AIB don Litríocht, don Chumarsáid agus do na hEalaíona; Paddy agus Tom Coffey, Duais TBD don Innealtóireacht, an Teicneolaíocht Faisnéise agus an Mhatamaitic; Máiréad Ní Nuadháin, Duais Hewlett-Packard don Ghaeilge agus Brian O'Donnell, Duais OÉ Gaillimh don Dlí, an tSeirbhís Phoiblí agus an Rialtas. Seo a leanas a bhí le rá ag an Ollamh Ger Hurley, An Leas-Uachtarán um Thionscnaimh Straitéiseacha agus Gnóthaí Seachtracha agus Cathaoirleach ar Choiste Mórfhéasta OÉ Gaillimh; "Tugann na Duaiseanna Alumni aitheantas do Alumni OÉ Gaillimh atá ina gceannródaithe ina ngairmeacha féin agus a n-éiríonn go hiontach leo sna gníomhaíochtaí náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta a mbíonn siad páirteach iontu. Céiliúrann na duaiseanna seo an tábhacht a bhaineann le hoideachas OÉ Gaillimh ar feadh an tsaoil agus tugann sé aitheantas d'fheabhas agus éachtaí daoine aonair i measc 60,000 céimí na hOllscoile atá scaipthe ar fud an domhain." San áireamh in imeacht na bliana seo freisin bhí clár gníomhaíochtaí ar siúl ar an gcampas. D'eagraigh na Dámha ar leithligh na gníomhaíochtaí seo do na buaiteoirí. Lena chois sin, d'fhreastail buaiteoirí na nduaiseanna ar lón bliantúil na mbuaiteoirí san Aula Maxima, OÉ Gaillimh. Ba í an láithreoir ó RTÉ Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh a bhí i mbun an ócáid a stiúradh ar an oíche agus i measc na n-aíonna mór le rá a d fhreastail ar an ócáid bhí an tUasal Éamon Ó Cuív T.D., An tUasal Enda Kenny T.D., An tUasal Frank Fahy T.D., an tUasal Michael D. Higgins T.D. agus Ollamh Cúnta le Cearta Daonna in OÉ Gaillimh, craoltóir RTÉ Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh, Alan Kerins, Iománaí ar Fhoireann Shinsearach na Gaillimhe, Pádraig Ó Céidigh, Aer Arann, An Seanadóir Feargal Quinn ó Superquinn agus Ollamh Cúnta le Margaíocht in OÉ Gaillimh agus Gary Cullen, iar-Phríomhoifigeach Feidhmiúcháin Aer Lingus agus Príomhoifigeach Feidhmiúcháin reatha Aer Arann. -CRÍOCH-

NUI Galway's eighth annual Gala Banquet, took place at the Radisson SAS Hotel on Saturday, 3rd March 2007, and featured the presentation of the Annual Alumni Awards as well as celebrating student volunteerism as the banquet theme. The 2007 Gala Banquet celebrated the ALIVE (A Learning Initiative & Volunteering Experience) programme which enables students to register for volunteering opportunities. ALIVE was established in 2003 to harness, acknowledge and support the contribution that NUI Galway students make by volunteering in the community. Income from the Gala Banquet itself will also contribute to this initiative. The award winners on the night were; Dr Pat Gullane, Medtronic Vascular Award for Health Care and Medical Science; Dr Reg Shaw, Seavite Award for Natural Science; Irial Finan, Bank of Ireland Award for Business and Commerce; Seán O Rourke, AIB Award for Literature, Communications and the Arts; Paddy and Tom Coffey, TBD Award for Engineering, IT and Mathematics; Máiréad Ní Nuadháin, Duais Hewlett-Packard don Ghaeilge and Brian O Donnell, NUI Galway Award for Law, Public Service and Government. Professor Ger Hurley, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and External Affairs, and Chair of the Gala Banquet Committee, NUI Galway said; "The Alumni Awards recognise the many Galway alumni who are leaders in their professions and excel in their pursuits at national and international levels. These awards celebrate the life-long value of an NUI Galway education and recognise individual excellence and achievements among the University's more than 60,000 graduates worldwide." This year's event also included a programme of activities on campus when each of the award winners was hosted by their respective faculties. The award winners also attended the annual award winner's lunch in the Aula Maxima, NUI Galway. MC for the night was RTÉ presenter Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh and distinguished guests in attendance included Éamon Ó Cuiv T.D., Mr Enda Kenny T.D., Mr Frank Fahy T.D., Michael D. Higgins T.D. and Adjunct Professor of Human Rights at NUI Galway, RTÉ broadcaster Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh, Alan Kerins, Galway Senior Hurler, Pádraig Ó Céidigh, Aer Arann, Senator Feargal Quinn of Superquinn and also Adjunct Professor of Marketing at NUI Galway and Gary Cullen, former CEO of Aer Lingus and current CEO of Aer Arann. -ENDS- Contact: Michelle Ní Chróinín, Press & Information Officer, NUI Galway 091-493361 or michelle.nichroinin@nuigalway.ie

A new play by well-known writer Biddy Jenkinson will be performed by students of NUI Galway's Ard Dioplóma sa Drámaíocht, the country's first University course in Drama Studies through the medium of Irish, as their end of year production on 10 and 11 March 2007 in Amharclann Chois Fharraige, Indreabhán. Crosántacht is a retelling of the well-known legend, Diarmuid and Gráinne, and tells the story of the latter's return to Tara after 15 years. Leaving a war in her wake, Gráinne arrives home to find preparations under way for her younger sister's wedding to the heroic but aging Fionn Mac Cumhail. Sheer mayhem ensues with the court jesters providing much of the comic action. Former artistic director of the Taibhdhearc Darach Mac Con Iomaire is director of the play, which is a physical and boisterous production. Course director Nora Nic Con Ultaigh says she is excited about the performance. "This is the first year of the course and everyone, between cast and crew, is working very hard on the production. "The play gives students the opportunity of utilising the skills they have learnt during the course and it gives them the experience of working with a professional director." Crosántacht will be staged in Amharclann Chois Fharraige, Seanscoil Shailearna, Indreabhán on 10th and 11th March at 8.00pm. -ENDS- For bookings or for more information please call 091 593017.