Tuesday, 1 November 2016

First TechInnovate Fellows announced by NUI Galway Teams will develop innovative technology solutions for pressing needs “Through the immersion phase, the Fellows get direct experience of the needs of a farmer or soldier in the field” Dr John Breslin Innovations in technology for the agricultural and defence sectors are being explored by the newly announced TechInnovate fellows at NUI Galway. The names of the entrepreneurial individuals who have been accepted onto the fellowship programme have been released. Taking cues from the successful BioInnovate programme for the medtech sector, TechInnovate’s aim is to enable technology innovators and innovations in new sectors, initially agriculture and defence. The first cohort of six fellows have been split into two teams, who will immerse themselves within the sectors. Over the course of the 10-month programme, the Fellowship teams will carry out a thorough needs analysis with end users, identify a pressing technological need, and then develop a solution.  The programme is being led by NUI Galway academic Dr John Breslin, who is himself an entrepreneur as co-founder of boards.ie, adverts.ie, and more recently the start-up hub PorterShed. Dr Breslin says: “Understand your users, that’s the key’ is a saying from serial entrepreneur and investor, Paul Graham. It captures the essence of what this programme is about, because through the immersion phase, the Fellows get direct experience of the needs of a farmer or soldier in the field. They then go on to filter and prioritise these needs and develop a solution wherein the key market opportunity lies.” Each team consists of an interdisciplinary grouping of engineer, businessperson and designer. All members are industry professionals with extensive expertise from different sectors. The defence team is made up of Ronan Boyle, an electronic engineer with significant industry experience in the medical devices industry, Greg Payne, with expertise in financial services, compliance and sales with a background in sports science, and Leon Butler, an accomplished visual narrative designer who recently completed a residency in LA. On the agriculture team are Niamh Lynch, an expert in quality and risk management for the medtech and pharma industries, Ciara Shields, a results-focused marketing and international business development executive with a passion for startups, and Paul Flynn, design thinking and learning environments specialist with an education and engineering background. Dr John Breslin explains the origins of TechInnovate: “The impetus for the development of this Fellowship Programme emerged from the Government’s Innovation Taskforce Report. It made recommendations on how to embed product design teaching and research in Ireland’s engineering schools and how to shift design education in Ireland to a model where creativity and innovation in product design are encouraged. The BioInnovate Ireland Fellowship Programme was created as a result of these recommendations, which in turn inspired the development of TechInnovate.” TechInnovate also has an experienced team of advisors with entrepreneurial and investment backgrounds, including: Gerard Barry, Galway-based investor and entrepreneur, founder of Privity Pay and formerly Fintrax; Patrick Dawson, investor and adtech entrepreneur (ex-MediaMath, Adobe) who has built businesses in Asia, Europe and the US; Dr Helen McBreen, Investment Director with Atlantic Bridge Ventures and formerly of NDRC and Celtrak; Barry O’Sullivan, Silicon Valley-based investor, entrepreneur, CEO of Altocloud, former SVP at Cisco, and dragon on RTÉ’s Dragons’ Den; and Dr Gareth Keane, Senior Investment Manager at Qualcomm Ventures in California. The programme is supported by NUI Galway and the Galway University Foundation, and is sponsored by Bank of Ireland and the Western Development Commission. A Continuing Professional Development series of workshops in the TechInnovate process is also being offered to supporting companies, and new sectors and immersion opportunities for teams are also being sought for future years. -ends-

Tuesday, 1 November 2016

NUI Galway will host its Autumn Postgraduate Open Day on Tuesday, 8 November from 12-4pm in the Bailey Allen Hall, Áras na Mac Léinn. The Open Day is a key event for anyone wishing to broaden their skills-set, define their areas of expertise, increase their specialist knowledge and ultimately improve their job prospects. The Open Day will showcase over 400 of NUI Galway’s full-time and part-time postgraduate programmes, including taught and research masters, and doctoral research options. With over 3,500 postgraduate students currently attending NUI Galway, over 70 information stands will provide details on postgraduate opportunities at the University, with academic staff and current students on hand to answer questions about specific courses. A key part of the decision to pursue a postgraduate qualification is finding out as much as possible about the programmes, the application process and the funding options available. The upcoming Open Day brings together all the key people and organisations that provide support to postgraduate students. The practicalities of postgraduate studies are demystified with a series of talks including a speaker from SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland), the national awarding authority for all higher and further education student grants. Sarah Geraghty, Student Recruitment and Outreach Manager at NUI Galway, said: “Time and again, research shows that professionals with a postgraduate qualification are more likely to be employed, are more likely to be working a field relevant to their qualification and have a greater earning power. Over 91% of NUI Galway graduates are employed or are in further study within six months of graduating from a postgraduate programme and we are encouraging anyone with an interest in improving their employment prospects to come to our Open Day and see for yourself the award-winning, employability-focused programmes offered by NUI Galway.”   Irish graduates are ranked first in Europe in terms of how employers rank graduates, and how postgraduate study boosts employability. The number of postgraduates in employment has grown consistently in recent years and NUI Galway’s well-established links with industry allows them to take the first step in building their career. NUI Galway offers a wide range of fourth level courses, developing programmes based on its traditional academic strengths of Arts, Social Sciences, Celtic Studies, Commerce, Medicine, Nursing, Health Science, Law, Engineering, Informatics and Science. These areas have been augmented with innovative research centres in areas as diverse as Biomedical Science and Engineering, International Human Rights, Digital Media and Film Studies, and Regenerative Medicine. To view NUI Galway’s suite of new and unique postgraduate programmes and to book a place at the Open Day visit www.nuigalway.ie/postgraduate-open-day  or call in on the day. To apply for an NUI Galway postgraduate course visit www.pac.ie/nuigalway. -Ends-

Monday, 28 November 2016

Four NUI Galway experts have featured on the list of the world’s most Highly Cited Researchers. The list is a citation analysis identifying scientists – as determined by their fellow researchers – whose research has had significant global impact within their respective fields of study. NUI Galway’s Professor Henry Curran, Professor Colin O’Dowd, Professor Donal O’Regan, and Dr Ronan Sulpice, have featured on the list. They rank among the world’s top 3,000 scientific minds by Clarivate Analytics, formerly the Intellectual Property & Science business of Thomson Reuters. Professor Henry Curran is Director of the Combustion Chemistry Centre at NUI Galway’s School of Chemistry and of the Energy Research Centre in the Ryan Institute. His research interest lies in the study of the chemistry of how fuels burn in combustors in order to increase efficiency and reduce emissions for a cleaner world. Professor Colin O’Dowd is Director of the Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies at the Ryan Institute, NUI Galway, and a Professor in the School of Physics, NUI Galway. Through his pioneering work in the field of atmospheric physics, Colin has become internationally renowned as one of the leading scientists in the field of climate change. Professor Donal O’Regan is a Personal Professor of Mathematics at NUI Galway’s School of Mathematics, Statistics and Applied Mathematics and an internationally recognised expert in the field of Nonlinear Analysis, Differential Equations, and Fixed Point Theory. He has written over 1,000 peer-reviewed mathematical articles, making him one of the most prolific authors in the history of mathematics in the world. Dr Ronan Sulpice is Lecturer in the School of Natural Sciences and Visiting Professor at the University of Vicosa in Brazil. His research explores the relationship between plant metabolism and growth, and how they vary in response to environment changes. More than 3,000 researchers, in 21 fields of the sciences and social sciences, were selected based on the number of highly cited papers they produced over an 11-year period from January 2004 to December 2014. “We are proud that our colleagues have earned global respect among the academic and scientific community for their excellent and transformative research. NUI Galway’s strong international reputation for research and innovation is reinforced with the inclusion of four of our faculty among the world’s most Highly Cited Researchers,” said Dr Jim Browne, President of NUI Galway. The Highly Cited Researchers data from Clarivate Analytics form a key component of the Academic Ranking of World Universities, one of the longest established and most influential annual surveys of top universities globally (http://www.shanghairanking.com/index.html). NUI Galway’s teaching and research has already been significantly recognised this year through its consistent rise in international rankings. The University is placed in the Top 250 of both the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2016/2017 and the QS World University Rankings 2016/17. -ends-

Thursday, 27 October 2016

NUI Galway is delighted to be the host venue for the official celebrations for TG4 as it marks the official opening of the Irish language national television station 20 years ago on 31 October 1996. The celebration will see a transformation of the iconic Quadrangle to a major broadcast pavilion for a live TV show TG4XX Beo which will be aired at 9.30pm on Oíche Shamhna. NUI Galway is proud to have played its part in the development of TG4 and creative industries across the region though the work of the University’s centres in the Gaeltacht. Through its wide-ranging academic activities over many years in centres from Donegal to Connemara, the University has facilitated broad civic participation in an inclusive Irish language identity. Graduates and staff of NUI Galway have played significant roles on- and off-screen in the development and identity of Teilifís na Gaeilge (TnaG) since 1996 and TG4 since 1999. There at the beginning were Sinéad Ní Ghuidhir (now an NUI Galway lecturer); and graduate and NUI Galway Alumni Award winner, Gráinne Seoige, whose journey to the screen began in her student UCG days. Among the station’s news anchors, Siún Nic Gearailt, Eimear Ní Chonaola and Áine Lally all graduated from the University along with journalists Ailbhe Ó Monacháin, Caoimhe Ní Choncoille, and Joe Mag Raollaigh to name but a few well-known TG4 names. Academic programmes such as An tArd-Dioplóma sa Chumarsáid Fheidhmeach provided an important talent stream in the initial years of the channel and production programmes such as An Dioplóma i Scileanna Físe (offered first in Gaoth Dobhair and subsequently in locations across the country) were key contributors to sectoral capacity building for TG4 and the audio-visual sector nationally. Academic projects such as NUI Galway’s conference TG4@10 in October 2006 have examined the impact of TG4 on the language and media community. Speaking ahead of the live events planned for Halloween on the NUI Galway campus, President of the University, Dr Jim Browne said: “We are delighted to welcome TG4 to the very heart of the University this weekend. The Quadrangle at NUI Galway is a very fitting location for the celebrations to mark 20 years of Ireland’s national language television station. In many ways, the Quad is a living metaphor of the nation’s journey and an atmospheric and symbolic location. It is the foundation site of a pioneering intellectual endeavour and for over 170 years our University has demonstrated a history of engagement with the region, nation and wider world. This celebration allows us to join with TG4 in celebrating the cultural diversity and richness of our heritage, in a dynamic and modern context.  We look forward to an evening of celebrating the very best of our national identity.” Tune in to TG4 when the event will broadcast live on Monday, 31 October at 9.30pm. -Ends- TG4 ag Ceiliúradh 20 Bliain ar an bhfód in OÉ Gaillimh Cúis áthais do OÉ Gaillimh go mbeidh TG4 ag ceiliúradh scór bliain ó láinseáladh an stáisiún teilifíse Gaeilge go hoifigiúil scór bliain ó shin, an 31 Deireadh Fómhair 1996. Beidh an Chearnóg ina hardán mór craoltóireachta don seó beo teilifíse TG4XX Beo a chraolfar ag 9.30pm Oíche Shamhna. Cúis bróid do OÉ Gaillimh an pháirt a bhí aici ag forbairt TG4 agus na dtionscal cruthaitheach sa réigiún trí obair na n-ionad Ollscoile sa Ghaeltacht. Tá comhpháirteachas poiblí den scoth éascaithe ag an Ollscoil i bhféiniúlacht Ghaeilge trí ghníomhaíochtaí acadúla éagsúla le blianta fada anuas in ionaid Ghaeltachta ó Dhún na nGall go Conamara. Is iomaí ról tábhachtach a bhí ag céimithe agus ag comhaltaí foirne OÉ Gaillimh ar an scáileán agus ar chúl an cheamara ó thaobh forbairt agus féiniúlacht Theilifís na Gaeilge (TnaG) ó 1996 agus TG4 ó 1999. Ar an gcéad chraoladh bhí Sinéad Ní Ghuidhir (atá anois ina léachtóir in OÉ Gaillimh); agus céimí agus buaiteoir Ghradam Alumni OÉ Gaillimh, Gráinne Seoige, a fuair taithí ar an scáileán agus í ina mac léinn i gColáiste na hOllscoile, Gaillimh. Is céimithe de chuid na hOllscoile iad na láithreoirí nuachta, Siún Nic Gearailt, Eimear Ní Chonaola agus Áine Lally mar aon leis na hiriseoirí Ailbhe Ó Monacháin, Caoimhe Ní Choncoille, agus Joe Mag Raollaigh i measc cuid de na pearsa is mó le rá i TG4. Chuir cláir acadúla cosúil leis an Ard-Dioplóma sa Chumarsáid Fheidhmeach daoine ar fáil sna chéad bhlianta den stáisiún agus chuidigh cláir léiriúcháin cosúil leis an Dioplóma i Scileanna Físe (a cuireadh ar fáil i nGaoth Dobhair ar dtús agus in ionaid eile ar fud na tíre ina dhiaidh sin) le daoine a chur ar fáil do TG4 agus don earnáil chlosamhairc ar fud na tíre. Scrúdaigh tograí acadúla cosúil le comhdháil OÉ Gaillimh TG4@10 i nDeireadh Fómhair 2006 tionchar TG4 ar an bpobal Gaeilge agus ar na meáin. Ag labhairt dó roimh na hócáidí beo atá beartaithe d'Oíche Shamhna ar champas OÉ Gaillimh, dúirt an Dr Jim Browne, Uachtarán na hOllscoile: “Tá ríméad orainn fáilte a chur roimh TG4 chuig croí an champais an deireadh seachtaine seo. Is maith a fheileann Cearnóg OÉ Gaillimh don cheiliúradh ar scór bliain ó bunaíodh an stáisiún teilifíse Gaeilge. Siombail í an Chearnóg d'aistear na tíre agus is ionad uathúil í a bhfuil an-atmaisféar inti. Is ar an láthair seo a cuireadh bonn faoi iarracht mheabhrach cheannródaíoch agus le 170 bliain anuas tá ceangal dlúth ag an Ollscoil seo leis an réigiún, leis an tír agus leis an saol mór. Táimid ag ceiliúradh i gcomhar le TG4 an éagsúlacht agus an saibhreas cultúrtha a bhaineann lenár n-oidhreacht i gcomhthéacs dinimiciúil agus nua-aimseartha. Táimid ag súil go mór le ceiliúradh ar ár bhféiniúlacht náisiúnta.” Bígí ag faire ar TG4 nuair a chraolfar an ócáid beo Dé Luain, an 31 Deireadh Fómhair ag 9.30pm. -Críoch-

Wednesday, 26 October 2016

As part of NUI Galway’s 1916 commemoration programme, ‘A Nation Rising’, the University will host a public conference entitled ‘Before 1916: Robert Lynd and Visions of Ireland to Come’. Organised by NUI Galway’s Gender ARC Research Network and the Moore Institute, the event will take place on Friday, 4 November in the Hardiman Research Building. Through a programme of lively guest lectures, music and dramatic performances, the conference will explore alternative visions of Ireland before the 1916 Rising, as expressed by five “Voices of the New Ireland” selected by the writer and critic Robert Lynd in his 1919 book Ireland a Nation. The five very well-known voices at the time chosen by Lynd were: Easter Rising leader Patrick Pearse; historian Alice Stopford Green; writer and artist George Russell (AE); essayist, constitutionalist nationalist, and women's rights advocate Tom Kettle; and sculptor and poet Dora Sigerson. Conference organiser, Professor Niamh Reilly of NUI Galway’s School of Political Science and Sociology explains the idea behind the conference: “Many are familiar with the role of Patrick Pearse and the vision of Ireland he strove to achieve, but most are less aware that in the years before 1916, Pearse’s vision was one among many nationalist visions that competed for Ireland’s hearts and minds at the time. This conference uses Robert Lynd's writings to recall and learn from some of the lively debates and passionate champions of Ireland's independence before the Rising.”     Keynote speakers includes: historian and political analyst Dr Margaret O’Callaghan of Queens University Belfast, who will talk about ‘Alice Green, Roger Casement and the politics of Irish history before the Rising’; and Professor Bryan Fanning from UCD whose talk is titled, ‘Patrick Pearse’s Ghost Frequencies’. Professor Fanning’s new book, Irish Adventures in Nation-Building, will also be launched at the conference along with the Lynd Exhibit: Writings In The Library, organised by Mary Clancy, researcher and curator and Marie Boran, Special Collections Librarian. Music from the time period will also feature and will be performed by musicians Garry O’Briain, Jack Talty, Caitleen Courtney and singer Alice Hegarty, coordinated by Mary McPartlan, Director of NUI Galway’s Arts in Action Programme. There will be dramatic readings of the writings of Robert Lynd and his “five voices” by students of the Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance, coordinated by Dr Miriam Haughton. The afternoon will conclude with a lively roundtable discussion chaired by Margaret O’Callaghan on the legacy and significance of Lynd and his “five voices” with contributions from NUI Galway’s: Dr Anne Byrne on George Russell (AE); Mary Clancy on Alice Stopford Green; Dr Miriam Haughton on Patrick Pearse; Dr Muireann O’Cinneide on Dora Sigerson; and Professor Niamh Reilly on Tom Kettle. The conference is free and open to the public but places are limited. To reserve a place at the conference contact Gillian Browne gillian.browne@nuigalway.ie or 091 492297. Registration will begin at 9am with the programme commencing at 9.30am. For more information see: www.nuigalway.ie/globalwomensstudies/gender-arc/. -Ends-

Tuesday, 25 October 2016

NUI Galway’s oldest living alumna, Anne Byrne, née Gannon, is being honoured by her alma mater on Thursday, 3 November at 6pm with a public interview about her time spent at the University, her life in America and her music. Not only is Anne celebrating 80 years since her graduation in 1936, but she has also been recognised as the first private individual to make tape recordings of Irish traditional music in Ireland. Her collection, which she first began in 1954, is now a unique archival treasure and one which she has donated to the Irish State where it is being digitised and preserved by the Irish Traditional Music Archive in Dublin. During the celebrations pieces from the archive will be played in a fully restored format and one of Ireland’s most respected and loved musicians, Máirtín O’Connor, will also perform some of Anne’s favourite tracks live on the night. Aisling Nolan, Alumni Relations Officer at NUI Galway, said: “Anne is not only remarkable for her position as our oldest alumna; but her wonderful life story and achievements are such that warrants celebration. Anne’s many vivid memories of her time at NUI Galway in the 1930’s will be fascinating for the wider alumni community. It has been a pleasure getting to know Anne over the past few years and we are delighted she is able to join us back in her alma mater for such a special occasion.” Dr Méabh Ní Fhuartháin, Acting Co-Director of NUI Galway’s Centre for Irish Studies, will conduct the interview. Dr Ní Fhuartháin said: “Anne’s importance to Irish traditional music collection in the mid-twentieth century is only now being given due credit and it is a real honour to be part of the celebration of that cultural contribution. We will get to hear Anne tell her story, and also get to listen to some of the archive recordings of the music she collected. Her experience as the daughter of an emigrant to Ireland and as an emigrant herself, raises fascinating questions about received notions of the Irish emigrant experience.” The event will take place with a pre-interview reception in Áras na Mac Léinn, NUI Galway, followed by the public interview and music in The Cube. The event, which will be co-hosted by the University’s Alumni Relations and the Centre for Irish Studies, is free and open to all alumni and friends of NUI Galway as well as the wider Galway community. RSVP to Aisling on 091 494310 or by email at aisling.nolan@nuigalway.ie. -Ends-

Friday, 21 October 2016

Three NUI Galway researchers have been awarded significant funding in an announcement made by Science Foundation Ireland this week.  Working in the fields of colon cancer, intervertebral disc repair and tissue engineering, the individuals were selected as “the next leaders of research in Ireland, shaping the research community both here in Ireland and internationally”. Minister of State for Training, Skills and Innovation, John Halligan TD, announced a total of €22.3 million in research funding for 40 major research projects in Ireland.  The funding is distributed through Science Foundation Ireland’s Starting Investigator Research Grant (SIRG) and Career Development Award (CDA) Programmes. Dr Aideen Ryan, a Senior Research Fellow in Immunology at NUI Galway’s Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI), was awarded a SIRG of €518,821 for her work on colon cancer. Her project, RESTRAIN, involves investigating tumour stromal interactions in metastatic colon cancer for the identification of novel immuno-therapeutic targets. Dr Laura Russo, a member of the CÚRAM Centre for Research in Medical Devices at NUI Galway, was awarded a SIRG of €518,749 for her research on tissue engineering for degenerative intervertebral disc disease. Her project will look at glyco-functionalised hydrogel to stimulate the repair of the damaged disc. Dr Dimitrios Zeugolis, Director of the Regenerative, Modular and Developmental Engineering Laboratory (REMODEL) and Principal Investigator of the CÚRAM Centre for Research in Medical Devices at NUI Galway, was awarded a CDA of €493,759 for his work on tissue engineering. His project, Tissue Engineered Nanoassemblies of Advanced Biomimicry of Living Equivalents (TENABLE), will develop living tissue substitutes using iPSCs based on the principles of in vitro organogenesis. NUI Galway’s Vice-President for Research, Professor Lokesh Joshi, welcomed the awards: “These awards recognise the excellent young research talent at NUI Galway and how our researchers are advancing scientific frontiers which will ultimately benefit patients. We are focused on developing the next generation of researchers which is critical to the long-term sustainability of delivering research impact.” Announcing the awards, Minister of State for Training, Skills and Innovation, John Halligan TD said; “This investment in the SFI SIRG and CDA Programmes allows researchers to advance their research investigations and continue developing their careers. These researchers will be the next leaders of research in Ireland, shaping the research community both here in Ireland and internationally. The nine industrial collaborations linked with these awards provides industry with access to the emerging research expertise found throughout Ireland. Collaborations at these early career stages will help establish relationships which will advance Ireland’s economy, society and reputation for research excellence now and in the future.”   Professor Mark Ferguson, Director General of Science Foundation Ireland and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government of Ireland welcomed the announcement saying: “Science Foundation Ireland places a heavy emphasis on supporting researchers at every stage of their careers. The SIRG and CDA awards help early and mid-career researchers develop essential skills and track records necessary to become the next generation of research leaders in Ireland.  I have high expectations for these projects and look forward to these teams contributing to the advancement of Ireland’s international reputation in areas such as energy, materials, technology, and health.” -ends-

Friday, 21 October 2016

Professor Jean Christophe (JC) Desplat receives the title of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques (Knight of the Order of Academic Palms). One of France’s highest honours has been bestowed on an Irish-based technology expert. Professor Jean Christophe (JC) Desplat, Director of the Irish Centre for High End Computing (ICHEC), which is hosted by NUI Galway, has received the title of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques (Knight of the Order of Academic Palms). The Ordre des Palmes Académiques is a prize given by the French government to honour distinguished figures in culture and education. Originally started by Napoleon, the award assumed its current form in 1955, and at a ceremony this week at Résidence de France in Dublin, ICHEC’s Professor Desplat joined the distinguished list of recipients. ICHEC is Ireland’s national centre for high-performance computing, with world-class expertise in the exploitation of next generation compute platforms. The Center operates the national High-Performance Computing service for academia and through industrial R&D collaboration helps bring the benefits of high-performance computing to business and industry. ICHEC is partly funded by the Irish State through the Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation and the Department of Education & Skills. It is hosted by NUI Galway, with offices in Dublin and Galway. Professor Desplat has been an integral part of ICHEC since 2005, becoming Director in 2012. His expertise has proven crucial in establishing ICHEC as one of the leading technology centres in Europe. Speaking on receipt of this honour, Professor Desplat said: “I am honoured to be awarded this prestigious distinction by the French government. This award means a lot to me personally but it also rightly recognises the outstanding team of people I work with at the Irish Centre for High-End Computing (ICHEC) where our goal is to make Ireland a world leader in high-performance computing. I look forward to growing ICHEC nationally and internationally and developing further collaborations and partnerships in Europe.” Professor Desplat is joining a high calibre of individuals through receipt of this award, joining the same ranks as esteemed politicians, scientists, historians, artists, musicians, and even royalty. -ends-

Thursday, 20 October 2016

 Were James Macpherson’s famous translations of the ancient Scottish bard Ossian less Homer from the Greek Classics and more like Oisín from Irish mythology? Multi-disciplinary research from the National University of Ireland Galway, Coventry University and University of Oxford explored the mathematical properties of contested poems. The social networks behind one of the most famous literary controversies of all time have been uncovered using modern complexity science. Since James Macpherson published what he claimed were translations of ancient Scottish Gaelic poetry by a third-century bard named Ossian, scholars have questioned the authenticity of the works and whether they were misappropriated from Irish mythology or, as heralded at the time, authored by a Scottish equivalent to Homer. Now, in a joint study by British and Irish universities and published today (Thursday, 20 October) in the journal Advances in Complex Systems, researchers have revealed the structures of the social networks underlying the Ossianic corpus and their remarkable similarities to Irish mythology. The researchers mapped the characters at the heart of the works and the relationships between them to compare the social networks found in the Scottish epics with classical Greek literature and Irish mythology. The study revealed that the networks in the Scottish poems bore little resemblance to epics by Homer, but strongly resembled those in mythological stories from Ireland. The Ossianic poems are considered to be some of the most important literary works ever to have emerged from Britain or Ireland, given their influence over the Romantic period in literature and the arts. Figures from Brahms to Wordsworth reacted enthusiastically; Napoleon took a copy on his military campaigns and US President Thomas Jefferson believed that Ossian was the greatest poet that had ever existed. The poems launched the romantic portrayal of the Scottish Highlands which persists, in many forms, to the present day and inspired Romantic nationalism all across Europe. Macpherson and collaborators compared Ossian to Greek Classics in order to add authority to the Scottish epic. Although its characters had resonances in Irish mythology, they tried to distance the work from Irish sources. Macpherson also sought to invert the ancient relationship between Ireland and Scotland, reversing the direction of migration of populations and folklore. This provoked outrage by Irish scholars and triggered one of the most famous literary controversies of all time. Revisionist scholarship and a recent 250th anniversary sparked revival of interest in Ossian and launched rehabilitation for Macpherson. The new research found that the mathematical properties of the Ossianic networks are very different to those of Homer, but very similar to ancient Irish tales, specifically Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology, which features Fionn mac Cumhaill and his son Oisín. The interdisciplinary research connects opposite ends of the academic spectrum. “By working together, it shows how science can open up new avenues of research in the humanities,” claims Professor Ralph Kenna, a statistical physicist based at Coventry University. “The opposite also applies,” he says, “as social structures discovered in Ossian inspire new questions in mathematics.” Dr Justin Tonra, a digital humanities expert from the National University of Ireland, Galway adds: “From a humanities point of view, while it cannot fully resolve the debate about Ossian, this scientific analysis does reveal an insightful statistical picture: close similarity to the Irish texts which Macpherson explicitly rejected, and distance from the Greek sources which he sought to emulate.” The paper will be published online this week at the journal website. It is also available for free from https://arxiv.org/abs/1610.00142 . -ends-

Tuesday, 18 October 2016

A new Digital Archive collection is to be launched by NUI Galway James Hardiman Library on Tuesday, 25 October at 5pm in the Hardiman Research Building. This new online resource contains digitised items from the archive of Brendan Duddy, the Derry businessman who maintained a secret channel of communication between the British government and the IRA Army Council for twenty years. Brendan Duddy was a key figure in the 1975 ceasefire negotiations, the 1981 Republican Hunger Strikes - the 35th anniversary of whose conclusion occurred earlier this month, and ceasefire talks between 1990 and 1994 and was the subject of Peter Taylor’s BBC documentary ‘The Secret Peacemaker’. The archive was deposited in NUI Galway in 2009, and contains over 700 documents that cover these three critical periods during the Troubles. It includes coded diaries documenting contact, as well as messages exchanged, between the British government and the Provisional Republican leadership. The archive gives a rare insight into the dynamics and the role of secret negotiation in conflict resolution. Also included are several hours of filmed interviews between Brendan Duddy and Dr Niall Ó Dochartaigh of NUI Galway’s School of Political Science and Sociology, in which these key historical events are discussed. In the context of the recent Brexit vote, there are interesting references to the status of the border and the implications for Northern Ireland of any change in political arrangements. Professor Lionel Pilkington of NUI Galway’s School of Humanities, said: “Brendan Duddy’s fascinating papers draw attention to that largely unacknowledged war that, from the late 1960s, dominated Irish political conscience for three decades. For the researcher, this is an invaluable archive of materials, and it testifies also to Duddy’s own extraordinary courage and integrity.”    NUI Galway Librarian John Cox said: “Making a significant proportion of this important archive available online will enable new insights into some of the major episodes in the Troubles.” The archive has been used by local and international scholars of conflict studies, alongside some of NUI Galway’s other archival collections such as the papers of Ruairí Ó Brádaigh and Professor Kevin Boyle. This new Digital Archive makes a substantial amount of that material available online to researchers throughout the world and can be viewed on the NUI Galway Digital Collections platform at https://digital.library.nuigalway.ie/, along with some of the University’s other digital archives such as The Abbey Theatre Early Minute Books, the Michael Cusack Collection and the Balfour Album of 19th century photographs of Galway. A public interview titled “Can you keep a secret? Family life with a secret peacemaker” between Dr Niall Ó Dochartaigh and some of Brendan Duddy’s family members will precede the launch. Professor Lionel Pilkington will launch the Digital Archive, followed by a demonstration of the resource by Digital Archivist, Aisling Keane. The event is free, but registration is essential. Please visit http://tinyurl.com/zwj2pfc  to register. -Ends-

Monday, 17 October 2016

Students interested in studying at NUI Galway are invited to an information evening in Tralee on Thursday, 20 October. Students interested in undergraduate or postgraduate courses are welcome to attend. Parents, guardians and guidance counsellors are also particularly welcome to the event which runs from 7 to 9pm in the Brandon Hotel, Tralee, Co. Kerry. The evening will begin with short talks about NUI Galway and the undergraduate courses it offers. Afterwards, current students and NUI Galway staff will be on hand to answer any individual questions in relation to courses and practical issues like accommodation, fees and scholarships, and the wide range of support services available to our students. The ever-increasing popularity of NUI Galway is in-part due to a suite of innovative programmes, developed in response to the changing needs of the employment market. Unique programmes include a suite of Arts degree programmes including Drama, Creative Writing and Human Rights, an Energy Systems Engineering degree, a Maths and Education degree aimed at training Maths teachers, a Marine Science degree and Podiatric Medicine, a programme unique in Ireland. Visitors to the information evening will also get information on NUI Galway’s newest degree programmes, a Bachelor of Commerce (Global Experience), Bachelor in Children’s Studies and the BSc (Applied Social Sciences). Sarah Geraghty, Student Recruitment and Outreach Manager at NUI Galway, said: “NUI Galway has a great deal to offer. Our own students tell us our lecturers are inspirational and challenge them to achieve their full potential. The student experience in Galway is second to none, and we want to bring a taste of that to County Kerry, while also providing all the practical information on accommodation, fees, scholarships and courses. With so many courses on offer, this event in Tralee is a perfect opportunity for prospective students to meet current students and lecturers to see what degree might be the right fit for them.” To find out more about the information evening in Tralee, contact NUI Galway's Schools Liaison Officer, Caroline Duggan on 086 997 1570 or caroline.duggan@niuigalway.ie -Ends-

Friday, 14 October 2016

Major national conference at NUI Galway with leading Irish and international speakers is centrepiece of The Centenary Conversations – a three day programme of talks, debates, exhibitions and performances Leading speakers from Ireland and around the globe will gather in Galway from the 10th to the 12th of November to participate in The Centenary Conversations, a major initiative of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme. Details of the three-day Conference and Fringe programme were announced today (Friday 14th October) by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, TD., Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Heather Humphreys TD and Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton TD. The centrepiece of the event is a major national conference, which is free to the public, titled ‘1916-2016 The Promise and Challenge of National Sovereignty’.  Hosted by NUI Galway and featuring a host of internationally-renowned academics, historians and special guests, the conference will explore and debate some of the most important issues and challenges facing us today.  The conference will be opened by An Taoiseach  and participants will include Minister Humphreys, Professor Roy Foster (University of Oxford), Professor Philip Pettit (Princeton University), Professor Louise Richardson (University of Oxford), Professor Clair Wills (Princeton University) and Professor Brendan O'Leary (University of Pennsylvania), as well as academics from across the entire third level sector in Ireland. Speaking at the announcement of The Centenary Conversations, Galway An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD said: “One of our greatest national talents is storytelling, which we do through literature, drama, poetry and other art forms.  Most of all we do it through conversations, in large groups and small.  This year we are re-living the experience of 1916 through historical analysis but also through the power of the arts in storytelling.  The National Conference in Galway will facilitate the exchange of views and opinions about the past, and how our understanding of the past can help us shape the future.  The wide-ranging events around the conference will extend and enlarge the conversation, bring in new audiences and perspectives – and will make this a great event not just for Galway but for the entire country.” Minister Heather Humphreys said: “2016 has been an extraordinary year for Ireland and for Irish people. As we come to the end of our year of reflection and remembrance, it is time for us to look to the future and explore ways in which we can build on the positive experience of our centenary year. Public participation and engagement, not just in the events of the Centenary Programme, but also in the discussions around our complex history, have been a hallmark of our approach to this year. Therefore, I am particularly pleased that admission to the National Conference is free and I would encourage everyone to attend, participate and enjoy this unique and exciting event.” Minster for Education and Skills Richard Bruton TD said: “The participation and engagement by thousands of students, teachers and academics, in every education institution in the country, played a huge part in the success of this year's Centenary Programme.  Creating opportunities and access for everyone to discover, learn and debate our shared history and what it means to be Irish today speaks to the value and importance of education in all our lives." In addition to the National Conference, a specially curated Fringe programme of talks, exhibitions, performances and special events will take place in NUI Galway and in venues across the city.  Highlights of the fringe programme include: Ceann Comhairle, Hector Ó hEochagáin will convene a special sitting of the 2116 Parliament, where ten guest speakers will deliver a five minute motion to the Assembly, after which questions may be taken from the floor. Look beyond the headlines and seek out the complicated and sometimes inconvenient truth in The Experts Bite Back, where experts fact-checks claims by politicians and the media on recent controversial issues and in a mission to get to the truth of the matter. Award-winning 16 x 16 Next Generation artist Sian Ní Mhuirí presents 16 and Rising, the story of a secret revolutionary organisation of women and men who gather in a basement to plan an insurrection that will transform the city, and challenge the survival of the 32nd Dáil. Host of the popular Hedge School series, Tommy Graham comes to Galway with the History Ireland Hedge School: All Changed, Changed Utterly … from 1916 to Brexit. A discussion with a difference, and considerable good humour! Details of The Centenary Conversations, Galway and the full 1916 – 2016 The Promise and Challenge of National Sovereignty Conference Programme as well as registration details are available now at www.ireland.ie Admission to the National Conference is free but registration is essential. ENDS Gach bóthar ag déanamh ar Ghaillimh do mhórócáid Chomórtha Céad Bliain   Comhdháil náisiúnta ollmhór in OÉ Gaillimh le cainteoirí Éireannacha agus idirnáisiúnta mór le rá mar phríomhimeacht Chomhráití an Chéid - clár trí lá de chainteanna, díospóireachtaí, taispeántais agus taibhithe   Beidh cainteoirí mór le rá as Éirinn agus áiteanna ar fud an domhain ag teacht le chéile i nGaillimh idir an 10 agus an 12 Samhain chun páirt a ghlacadh i gComhráití an Chéid, mórthionscnamh de chuid Éire 2016: Clár Comórtha Céad Bliain. Rinne an Taoiseach, Enda Kenny T.D, an tAire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, Heather Humphreys TD, agus an tAire Oideachais agus Scileanna, Richard Bruton TD sonraí chlár na Comhdhála trí lá agus na Féile imeallaí a fhógairt inniu (Dé hAoine, an 14 Deireadh Fómhair).  Is é príomhócáid na himeachta mórchomhdháil náisiúnta, atá saor in aisce don phobal, dar teideal ‘1916-2016: Dóchas agus Dúshlán na Ceannasachta Náisiúnta’.  Mar chuid den chomhdháil, a bheidh á hóstáil ag OÉ Gaillimh agus ina mbeidh slua d’acadóirí, staraithe agus aíonna speisialta a bhfuil cáil idirnáisiúnta orthu ag glacadh páirte, déanfar cuid de na ceisteanna agus na dúshláin is tábhachtaí atá romhainn inniu a chíoradh agus a phlé.  Osclóidh an Taoiseach an chomhdháil agus i measc na rannpháirtithe beidh an tAire Humphreys, an tOllamh Roy Foster (Ollscoil Oxford), an tOllamh Philip Pettit (Ollscoil Princeton), an tOllamh Louise Richardson (Ollscoil Oxford), an tOllamh Clair Wills (Ollscoil Princeton) agus an tOllamh Brendan O’Leary (Ollsoil Pennsylvania), chomh maith le hacadóirí as ar fud na hearnála tríú leibhéal in Éirinn. Ag labhairt dó ag fógairt Chomhráití an Chéid, Gaillimh dúirt an Taoiseach Enda Kenny an méid seo: “ Is í an scéalaíocht ceann dár mbuanna náisiúnta is mó, agus baineann muid úsáid as litríocht, dráma, filíocht agus foirmeacha ealaíne eile leis na scéalta a insint.  Den chuid is mó, áfach, is trí chomhráití a dhéanann muid é sin, i ngrúpaí beaga nó sluaite móra.  I mbliana táimid ag déanamh iarracht taithí a fháil ar an saol i 1916 trí anailís stairiúil ach freisin trí chumhacht na scéalaíochta.  Leis an gComhdháil Náisiúnta i nGaillimh éascófar malairt tuairimí agus dearcthaí maidir leis an am a chuaigh thart agus conas is féidir lenár dtuisint ar an am sin cuidiú linn an todhchaí a mhúnlú.  Déanfaidh na himeachtaí fairsinge thart ar an gcomhdháil an comhrá a leathnú, agus meallfar lucht éisteachta agus meonta nua - agus cruthófar imeacht den scoth ní hamháin do Ghaillimh ach don tír iomlán.” Dúirt an tAire Heather Humphreys: “Ba bhliain iontach í 2016 d’Éirinn agus do mhuintir na hÉireann. Agus muid ag druidim le deireadh na bliana seo de mhachnamh agus de chuimhneamh, tá sé in am dúinn súil a chaitheamh chun cinn agus bealaí a fhiosrú ina bhféadfaidh muid tógáil ar an eispéireas dearfach a bhí againn i mbliain chomórtha an chéid. Ba shaintréith dár gcur chuige i leith na bliana seo rannpháirtíocht an phobail, ní hamháin in imeachtaí an Chláir Chomórtha ach freisin sa phlé a bhí againn faoinár stair chasta. Mar sin de, tá áthas orm ach go háirithe go bhfuil cead isteach chuig an gComhdháil Náisiúnta saor in aisce agus mholfainn do gach duine freastal air, páirt a ghlacadh ann agus sult a bhaint as an imeacht uathúil spreagúil seo. Bhi an méid seo le rá ag an Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna, Richard Bruton TD: “Bhí páirt mhór ag rannpháirtíocht na mílte mac léinn, múinteoirí agus acadóirí, i ngach institiúid sa tír, sa rath a bhí ar an gClár Comórtha céad bliain i mbliana.  Trí dheiseanna agus rochtain a chur ar fáil do chách lenár stair chomhroinnte agus an chiall atá le hÉireannachas sa lá atá inniu ann a fhiosrú, a fhoghlaim agus a phlé, léirítear luach agus tábhacht an oideachais inár saol.” Chomh maith leis an gComhdháil Náisiúnta, beidh clár Imeallach, a coimeádadh go speisialta, de chainteanna, taispeántais, taibhithe agus imeachtaí speisialta ar siúl in OÉ Gaillimh agus in ionaid eile ar fud na cathrach. Ar bhuaicphointí an chláir imeallaigh: Déanfaidh an Ceann Comhairle, Hector Ó hEochagáin, suí speisialta de Pharlaimint 2116 a thionól, ina gcuirfidh deichniúr aoichainteoirí tairiscint chúig nóiméad i láthair an Tionóil agus ina dhiaidh sin glacfar le ceisteanna ón lucht éisteachta. Féach ar an méid atá taobh thiar de na ceannlínte agus téigh ar thóir na fírinne casta, a bhíonn searbh go minic, le The Experts Bite Back, ina ndéanfaidh saineolaithe an méid atá maíte ag polaiteoirí agus na meáin i dtaca le ceisteanna conspóideacha le déanaí a sheiceáil ó thaobh fíricí de d’fhonn teacht ar fhírinne an scéil. Cuireann Sian Ní Mhuirí, ealaíontóir ar ar bronnadh an gradam 16 x 16 Next Generation, 16 and Rising i láthair, scéal faoi eagraíocht réabhlóideach rúnda de mhná agus fir a thagann le chéile in íoslach chun éirí amach a phleanáil a athróidh an chathair go hiomlán agus a chuirfidh dúshlán faoi shaol an 32ú Dáil. Tagann Tommy Graham, óstach na sraithe Hedge School, a bhfuil an-tóir uirthi, go Gaillimh le Scoil Scairte History Ireland: All Changed, Changed Utterly … from 1916 to Brexit. Plé as an ngnáth le go leor grinn! Tá sonraí Chomhráití an Chéid, Gaillimh agus Clár iomlán na Comhdhála 1916 – 2016 Dóchas agus Dúshlán na Ceannasachta Náisiúnta, chomh maith le sonraí clárúcháin, ar fáil anois ag www.ireland.ie Tá cead isteach chuig an gComhdháil Náisiúnta saor in aisce ach ní mór clárú lena haghaidh.   CRÍOCH  

Monday, 17 October 2016

Neograft, a Boston based medical technology company has teamed up with CÚRAM, the Science Foundation Ireland Centre for Research in Medical Devices, to develop a novel manufacturing method for coronary bypass devices. Based at NUI Galway, CÚRAM has over 250 researchers engaged in current projects, both in collaboration with industry and on blue-sky research. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a type of surgery that improves blood flow to the heart and is used to treat people who have severe coronary heart disease (CHD). This type of surgery, which typically uses veins to create bypass grafts for the heart, is currently the best option for most patients with CHD. Outcomes can however be compromised by the mechanical and biological limitations of veins typically used to create the bypass grafts. Dr Eoin O’Cearbhaill, CÚRAM Investigator based at the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at University College Dublin, whose Medical Devices Design Group will work with the company, explains that despite their widespread use, vein grafts continue to fail at high rates. “Many of these grafts can become obstructed in the first year and the failure rate can be up to 50% within five to ten years,” he says. Neograft Technologies, Inc. has developed a product called Angioshield™, which offers a new option for treatment of coronary artery disease and promises to improve vein performance and longevity in CABG outcomes. “Our Angioshield technology creates a support layer around the vein using a proprietary polymer network to improve both the strength and uniformity of the vein graft,” explains Jon McGrath, from Neograft’s CEO. “The device supports the vein without deforming its natural shape and allows nutrients and new cells to migrate into and through the support layer. Over time, new, stronger tissue develops around and within the scaffold, while the polymer that it’s made from weakens, allowing the new tissue to be exposed to its normal environment, which favours the development of stronger, more functional tissues.” Dr O’Cearbhaill’s research team will work with Neograft Technologies, Inc. and seek to use advanced manufacturing methods to develop a next-generation product. CÚRAM’s goal is to develop affordable solutions for patients suffering from chronic illnesses like CHD,” says NUI Galway’s Professor Abhay Pandit, Scientific Director of CÚRAM. “This project is another example of how we are partnering with industry to do this, using world class research expertise to allow our industry partners to expand and develop their product ranges to provide the ultimate benefit to the patient” he says. CÚRAM brings together strands of biomedical science which have come of age over the last decade including glycoscience, biomaterials science, regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, drug delivery and medical device design. CÚRAM has six academic partners including UCD, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick, University College Cork, The Royal College of Surgeons Ireland and NUI Galway. ENDS

Thursday, 13 October 2016

Edel Browne, a third year biotechnology student at NUI Galway and founder of Free Feet Medical, has been selected to pitch at the Blackstone LaunchPad Showcase at the Forbes 30 Under 30 Conference. The conference will run from 16-19 October in Boston. Chosen after a competitive process across the Blackstone LaunchPad global network, 19-year-old Edel secured her place in the top six. Edel’s company Free Feet Medical is developing a device which helps people with Parkinson’s disease overcome gait freezing, a symptom affecting over 70% of those diagnosed with the disease. As student entrepreneur-in-residence with Blackstone LaunchPad at NUI Galway, Edel from Athenry, Co. Galway, is excited at the opportunities this international exposure will bring. Winning teams will be announced by Jon Gray, Blackstone’s Global Head of Real Estate, and Randall Lane, Editor of Forbes. This achievement has come on the back of a very productive few months for Free Feet Medical with the launch of a crowdfunding campaign on FundIt that has already raised €9,000 and the announcement that Free Feet was selected as a finalist for Women Mean Business Awards, Best Newcomer. To donate to Free Feet Medical please visit http://fundit.ie/project/freefeetmedical. Blackstone LaunchPad at NUI Galway is well represented at Forbes 30 Under 30 with a second team, Crono Labs, also attending the conference. Crono Labs has developed a revolutionary case to conveniently carry your computer monitor and reduce cable clutter. The venture is run by NUI Galway students Ruairi McNicholas and Oliver Burke, both from Headford, Co. Galway, and is still in the prototype phase. Executive Director of Blackstone LaunchPad NUI Galway, Mary Carty said: “I am thrilled for Edel. Her hard work and passion is inspiring. It’s a fantastic opportunity to drive her business forward. The exposure and opportunities this event will bring to Free Feet Medical is incredible. Having two teams, Free Feet Medical and Crono Labs attend Forbes 30 Under 30 is a fantastic achievement for NUI Galway. It’s testament to the creativity and ambition of our students and the supports available to them on campus. Seeing our start-ups recognised on a global stage, bodes very well for the future of the next generation of entrepreneurs in Ireland.” Since February, Blackstone LaunchPad at NUI Galway has supported over 2,000 students. The ethos is to support and empower each student by creating supports specific to individual needs and personal development; to help them to shape their pathway and celebrate their own unique talents and strengths. -Ends-

Thursday, 13 October 2016

NUI Galway last night celebrated the success of a select group of first-year students with a special ceremony, in recognition of the high points they achieved in the recent Leaving Certificate Examination. As part of the University's annual Excellence Scholarships, 60 students received €1,500 each. Each year the Excellence Scholarships are given to new entrants at NUI Galway who reached a minimum of 560 points in their Leaving Certificate examination, except in Medicine. For Medical students, 10 Scholarships were awarded certificates, based on the combined results in the Leaving Certificate and the new Admissions Test (H-PAT Ireland). The Excellence Scholarships are designed to recognise and reward Leaving Cert success for the highest-achieving students, and encourage their ongoing commitment to academic excellence during their time at NUI Galway. The awards may be held with any other scholarships or grants, including the University's Postgraduate Scholarships, Mature Student Scholarships, Sports Scholarship Scheme and schemes specific to individual colleges for those who excel in their University exams. Speaking at the Awards presentation, NUI Galway President Dr Jim Browne, said: “I am delighted to present the scholarships to these outstanding individuals in recognition of their academic talent. NUI Galway constantly strives to support and promote academic excellence across all disciplines. The purpose of these Awards is to encourage each student to develop his/her academic potential to the fullest, by setting a realistic threshold of excellence and rewarding every student who attains that level. It is also a chance to give due credit to their parents and teachers for their important contribution to such success.” This year Excellence Scholarships were awarded to students from 43 individual schools throughout Ireland. The winners represented 13 counties including Clare, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Limerick, Mayo, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, and Westmeath. -Ends- Ceiliúradh in OÉ Gaillimh ar Scothmhic Léinn a rinne Éacht san Ardteistiméireacht  Rinneadh ceiliúradh in OÉ Gaillimh le gairid ar ghrúpa ar leith mac léinn chéad bhliana ag searmanas speisialta, mar aitheantas ar na pointí arda a ghnóthaigh siad i Scrúdú na hArdteistiméireachta. Mar chuid de shearmanas bliantúil na hOllscoile le Scoláireachtaí Sármhaitheasa a bhronnadh, bronnadh scoláireachtaí ar fiú €1,500 iad ar 60 mac léinn. Bronntar na Scoláireachtaí Sármhaitheasa gach bliain ar mhic léinn atá díreach tosaithe ag freastal ar OÉ Gaillimh agus a fuair 560 pointe, ar a laghad, i Scrúdú na hArdteistiméireachta, seachas mic léinn Leighis. Sa Leigheas, bronnadh deich Scoláireacht bunaithe ar thorthaí na hArdteistiméireachta agus na Tástála Iontrála nua (H-PAT Ireland) araon. Tá na Scoláireachtaí Sármhaitheasa ann chun luach saothair a thabhairt do na daltaí is fearr a n-éiríonn leo san Ardteistiméireacht, agus chun a dtiomantas leanúnach i sárchaighdeán acadúil a spreagadh le linn a dtréimhse in OÉ Gaillimh. D’fhéadfaí go mbeadh scoláireachtaí nó deontais eile ag an té a fhaigheann na scoláireachtaí seo, Scoláireachtaí Iarchéime na hOllscoile, Scoláireachtaí do Mhic Léinn Lánfhásta, Scéim Scoláireachtaí Spóirt na hOllscoile agus scéimeanna a bhaineann go sonrach le coláistí agus iad siúd a n-éiríonn thar barr leo sna scrúduithe Ollscoile san áireamh. Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, an Dr Jim Browne, agus é ag labhairt ag an searmanas: “Is cúis áthais dom na scoláireachtaí seo a bhronnadh ar na daoine den scoth seo mar aitheantas ar a gcumas acadúil. Déanann OÉ Gaillimh iarracht i gcónaí tacú le sárchaighdeán acadúil i ngach uile dhisciplín agus é a spreagadh. Tá na Gradaim seo ann le gach mac léinn a spreagadh le lántairbhe a bhaint as a gcumas mar mhic léinn, trí thairseach réalaíoch sárchaighdeáin a leagan amach agus luach saothair a thabhairt do gach mac léinn a bhaineann an leibhéal sin amach. Deis atá ann freisin le haitheantas a thabhairt don tsárobair atá déanta ag a dtuismitheoirí agus ag a múinteoirí.” I mbliana bronnadh na Scoláireachtaí Sármhaitheasa ar scoláirí ó 43 scoil ar fud na hÉireann. Tá scoláireachtaí le bronnadh ar mhic léinn as na contaetha seo a leanas – an Clár, Corcaigh, Baile Átha Cliath, Gaillimh, Ciarraí, Cill Dara, Luimneach, Maigh Eo, Uíbh Fhailí, Ros Comáin, Sligeach, Tiobraid Árann agus an Iarmhí. -Críoch-

Wednesday, 12 October 2016

Pat Lam to be conferred with honorary doctorate during conferring week Pat Lam, head coach of Connacht Rugby, and former rugby international is to be recognised at NUI Galway with an honorary degree for his achievements which have significantly enriched both Connacht and the wider community. The ceremony on 17 October, will form part of NUI Galway’s Autumn Conferring Ceremonies at which over 2,500 students will graduate between 13-19 October. Pat Lam joins sporting luminaries including the late Christy O’Connor Snr and Jr, and Mick Loftus, in being recognised with an honorary degree by the University. Pat Lam is a New Zealand born rugby union coach who in May 2016, led Connacht Rugby to their first championship win and first trophy in 131 years by winning the Guinness PRO12. Of Samoan descent, he was previously an international player representing New Zealand and Samoa as well as playing in the English Premiership. In advance of the conferring ceremonies, Dr Jim Browne, President of NUI Galway, 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.” President Browne added: “Earlier this year, NUI Galway offered its heartiest congratulations to Pat Lam, his heroic players and committed backroom team on their massive win in the Rugby PRO12 Final. We are delighted to now formally recognise the contribution of Pat Lam with an honorary doctorate as members and former members of his squad and from the Rugby Academy also graduate. Their performance over the past season made the University, the province - and indeed the nation - proud and has set hearts racing across Connacht. NUI Galway is fortunate to be associated with many outstanding honorary graduates throughout its history and we are very pleased to be in a position to recognise this major sporting achievement.” Five players from Connacht Rugby to graduate along with their coach on Monday, include, Jack Dinneen (BComm), Conor Finn (BA), Eoghan Masterson (BA), Saba Meunargia (BA), and Danny Qualter (BA). Degrees, Higher Diplomas and Masters will be awarded to students graduating over the five days from the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences; College of Engineering and Informatics; College of Business, Public Policy and Law; College of Science; and the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies. The annual Centre for Adult Learning and Professional Development ceremonies will take place on Saturday, 15 October, where awards will be conferred on over 800 students who completed their certificate, diploma and degree courses at many locations across the country. -Ends- Onóracha do Chóitseálaí Rugbaí Chonnacht in OÉ Gaillimh  Dochtúireacht Oinigh le bronnadh ar Pat Lam i rith bhronnadh na gcéimeanna Tá céim oinigh le bronnadh ag OÉ Gaillimh ar Pat Lam, príomhchóitseálaí Rugbaí Chonnacht, agus iarimreoir rugbaí idirnáisiúnta as an méid atá déanta aige do rugbaí Chonnacht agus don phobal i gcoitinne. Beidh an searmanas ar siúl an 17 Deireadh Fómhair mar chuid de Shearmanais Bhronnadh Céimeanna an Fhómhair in OÉ Gaillimh áit a bhfaighidh os cionn 2,500 mac léinn a gcuid cáilíochtaí ón 13-19 Deireadh Fómhair.  Ní hé Pat Lam an chéad laoch spóirt a fuair céim oinigh ón Ollscoil mar gur bronnadh céimeanna oinigh roimhe seo ar Christy O’Connor Sinsear agus Sóisear, agus ar Mick Loftus.  Rugadh Pat Lam sa Nua-Shéalainn agus is cóitseálaí rugbaí é a bhí i gceannas ar Rugbaí Chonnacht nuair a ghnóthaigh siad a gcéad chraobh i mí Bealtaine 2016 agus a gcéad chorn le 131 bliain nuair a ghnóthaigh siad an Guinness PRO12. Is de bhunadh Shamó é, agus bhí sé ina imreoir idirnáisiúnta don Nua-Shéalainn agus Samó agus d'imir sé i bPríomhroinn Shasana. Ag labhairt dó roimh na searmanais bhronnta, dúirt an Dr Jim Browne, Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh: “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.” Dúirt an tUachtarán Browne chomh maith: “Níos túisce i mbliana, bhí OÉ Gaillimh ag tréaslú le Pat Lam, agus a chuid imreoirí iontacha agus an fhoireann sa chúlra as a mbua i gCraobh Rugbaí an PRO12. Is cúis áthais dúinn aitheantas foirmiúil a thabhairt d'éachtaí Pat Lam anois le céim oinigh, go mór mór agus imreoirí dá fhoireann ag fáil a gcuid céimeanna chomh maith.  De bharr a gcuid buanna an séasúr seo caite tá an Ollscoil, an cúige - agus fiú an tír ar fad - bródúil as Connacht agus tá ardú misnigh tugtha dúinn ar fad i gConnachta. Tá an t-ádh le OÉ Gaillimh céimithe oinigh den scoth a bheith aici in imeacht na mblianta agus is mór an onóir dúinn a bheith in ann aitheantas a thabhairt don éacht spóirt seo.” Is iad an cúigear ó Rugbaí Chonnacht atá ag fáil a gcuid céimeanna in éineacht leis an gcóitseálaí Dé Luain, Jack Dinneen (BComm), Conor Finn (BA), Eoghan Masterson (BA), Saba Meunargia (BA), agus Danny Qualter (BA). Bronnfar Céimeanna, Ard-Dioplómaí, Máistreachtaí agus PhDanna le linn na gcúig lá ar mhic léinn ó Choláiste an Leighis, an Altranais agus na nEolaíochtaí Sláinte; ó Choláiste na hInnealtóireachta agus na hIonformaitice; ó Choláiste an Ghnó, an Bheartais Phoiblí agus an Dlí; ó Choláiste na hEolaíochta; agus ó Choláiste na nDán, na nEolaíochtaí Sóisialta agus an Léinn Cheiltigh. Beidh searmanais bhliantúla an Ionaid Foghlama agus Forbartha Gairmiúla d'Aosaigh ar siúl Dé Sathairn, an 15 Deireadh Fómhair, áit a mbronnfar dámhachtainí ar níos mó ná 800 mac léinn a chríochnaigh a gcúrsaí teastais, dioplóma agus céime in ionaid éagsúla ar fud na tíre. -Críoch-

Wednesday, 12 October 2016

Playwright Thomas Kilroy launched a new book on Maud Gonne, The Adulterous Muse, at the Moore Institute, NUI Galway on Monday, 10 October. Written by Adrian Frazier, Professor Emeritus at NUI Galway, the book focuses on Maud Gonne, and her relationships with Lucien Millevoye and WB Yeats. Professor Adrian Fraizer uses the vast resources of newly digitised French newspapers and journals to track the celebrated Gonne and her beloved Lucien Millevoye through the sensational turmoil of the Third Republic in France and into the violent push for a Republic in Ireland. This biography pursues the story of what attracted Maud Gonne to a man like Lucien Millevoye, and what imprint the attachment left upon her. Once jilted by Millevoye, Maud Gonne marched into a truly ill-starred marriage to Major John MacBride. The horrible truth of their mismatch is examined through the evidence entered by both parties in the divorce proceedings. Maud Gonne was the beautiful and charismatic inspiration of Yeats’s love poetry, a leading activist in the Irish republican movement and the founder of Inghinidhe na hÉireann (Daughters of Ireland). The shifting levels of awareness, desire, and mutual complicity in self-deception on the part of WB Yeats and his muse are traced with subtlety. Ultimately, the effect of the group biography as a whole is to make Yeats’s early love poems, so long in the public eye, more visible than they have ever been. -ends-

Tuesday, 11 October 2016

Experiencing anger/emotional upset or heavy physical exertion linked with a doubling of heart attack risk. Being angry or emotionally upset while engaging in heavy physical exertion linked with a tripling of heart attack risk. The findings do not negate the benefits of appropriate, regular physical activity in preventing heart attacks. Study, largest of its kind, analysed data from 12,461 patients with an average age 58. Being angry or emotionally upset or engaging in heavy physical exertion may trigger a heart attack, according to new research published in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation. In a large international study, researchers found an association (more than twice the risk) between anger or emotional upset and the onset of heart attack symptoms within one hour. The same was true for heavy physical exertion during the hour before their first heart attack. However, the association was stronger (more than triple the risk) in those patients who recalled being angry or emotionally upset while also engaging in heavy physical exertion. “Previous studies have explored these heart attack triggers; however, they had fewer participants or were completed in one country, and data was limited from many parts of the world,” said Dr Andrew Smyth, study lead author and a researcher at the HRB Clinical Research Facility at NUI Galway and the Population Health Research Institute at McMaster University, Canada. “This is the first study to represent so many regions of the world, including the majority of the world’s major ethnic groups.” Researchers analysed data from 12,461 patients (average age 58) participating in INTERHEART, a study consisting of patients with first-ever heart attacks across 52 countries. Participants completed a questionnaire about whether they experienced any of the triggers in the one hour before their heart attack. They were also asked if they had experienced any of the triggers in the same one hour period on the day before their heart attack. Authors said that these triggers appeared to independently increase a person’s heart attack risk beyond that posed by other risk factors, including age, smoking, obesity, high blood pressure and other health problems linked to heart attack.  “This large, nearly worldwide study provides more evidence of the crucial link between mind and body,” said Barry J. Jacobs, Psy.D., an American Heart Association volunteer and director of behavioral sciences at the Crozer-Keystone Family Medicine Residency Program in Springfield, Pennsylvania. “Excess anger, under the wrong conditions, can cause a life-threatening heart attack. All of us should practice mental wellness and avoid losing our temper to extremes.” Dr Andrew Smyth said that extreme emotional and physical triggers are thought to have similar effects on the body. “Both can raise blood pressure and heart rate, changing the flow of blood through blood vessels and reducing blood supply to the heart” he said. “This is particularly important in blood vessels already narrowed by plaque, which could block the flow of blood leading to a heart attack.” “Regular physical activity has many health benefits, including the prevention of heart disease, so we want that to continue,” he said. “However, we would recommend that a person who is angry or upset who wants to exercise to relieve some of this stress, not go well beyond their normal routine to extremes of activity.” One limitation of the study was that participants had to recall their triggers. After a heart attack, a person may be more inclined to say they experienced a trigger than they otherwise would be. In addition, participants were not given any descriptions of being angry or emotionally upset or of heavy physical exertion. Self-defined, these triggers appear to have the same effect across countries and ethnicities. “People who are at risk of a heart attack would do best to avoid extreme emotional situations,” Jacobs said. “One way many cope with the emotional ups and downs of a health condition is through peer support, talking with others who are facing similar challenges can be very helpful in better managing your own emotions.” -ends- 

Monday, 10 October 2016

The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) will hold an international conference on Quality Outcomes in Youth Mentoring on Thursday, 13 October, in NUI Galway. The event takes place in conjunction with the Global Youth Mentoring Network. Featuring international speakers as well as academics and practitioners from Ireland, the conference will highlight how using trained volunteer adult mentors to support young people can have positive outcomes for young people dealing with challenges and transitions in their lives. Mentoring is used by organisations such as the ISPCC and Foróige in Ireland, to support young people with a range of needs. While mentoring, as a means of providing social support for young people is well-established, the factors that contribute to high quality outcomes for young people are less clear. This conference will explore research and evidence based practice in relation to Youth Mentoring with a focus on real life examples of what works in practice.  The factors that contribute to high quality mentoring programmes and some of the challenges of measuring outcomes in everyday contexts will be examined along with guidelines for practice improvement. Speakers on the day will include Professor Pat Dolan, UNESCO Chair in Children, Civic and Youth Engagement from NUI Galway, Grainia Long from the ISPCC and Séan Campbell, CEO of Foróige. Tess Noonan, Assistant Director for Quality and Risk for the ISPCC, stated: “This conference will be particularly helpful for anyone who is interested in providing social support for young people. The topics which will be covered will vary from building resilience in young people to why youth mentoring matters, from some of the most influential people working with young people. It promises to be an informative day and since it is free to attend, we would encourage anyone with an interest to join us.” Dr Bernadine Brady, Lecturer and Senior Researcher at UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre, NUI Galway stated: “We are delighted to be hosting this conference, and contributing to the academic study of youth mentoring. Supporting youth organisations to measure and evaluate programmes such as mentoring and to understand why certain practices are effective is key to ensuring that young people get access to the best possible services. We look forward to a really interesting day, and encourage anyone working with young people or considering using a mentoring model to attend.” This event is free to attend, registration is via Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/quality-outcomes-in-youth-mentoring-tickets-26464909256.   ENDS

Monday, 10 October 2016

UNESCO Bioethics Ireland established at NUI Galway As part of a series of international events marking ‘World Bioethics Day’ on 19 October 2016 a one-day symposium is taking place at NUI Galway. The event is being organised by UNESCO Bioethics Ireland, which has been established with approval by the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics, the international network of academics engaged with the issue. Dr Oliver Feeney, of NUI Galway’s Centre of Bioethical Research and Analysis (COBRA), is heading up the newly formed UNESCO Bioethics Ireland. “In keeping with the objectives of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics, the core aims of the Irish unit will be to promote bioethics education and research on key bioethical issues in the Irish context. Bioethics is a field of multidisciplinary study concerned with the ethical, legal and social implications of biological and medical interventions, research in the human sciences, new biotechnologies, and healthcare practices.  Such bioethical issues can include new reproductive technologies (e.g. IVF, surrogacy), new directions in genetics and stem-cell research and end of life issues (e.g. assisted suicide) as well as issues related to fair resource allocation in healthcare.” The planned events worldwide on ‘World Bioethics Day’ are to mark the adoption of the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights by the 33rd Session of the General Conference of UNESCO on the 19 October 2005. The Irish symposium will look at themes including: The role of the National Advisory Committee on Bioethics: current challenges in the Irish context. Bioethics in Northern Ireland: possible implications of Brexit on research and regulation on the island of Ireland. Training needs for research ethics committees. Ethical governance in healthcare. The Cultural Context of Developing Science Policy; Embryonic Stem Cell Research in Ireland. The Assisted Dying debate and the Marie Fleming case. Genetics and society: ethics, justice and changing beliefs. On human enhancement. The event will be opened by Professor Pat Dolan (UNESCO Chair in Children, Youth and Civic Engagement, NUI Galway) and speakers will include: Professor David Smith (RCSI), Dr Tom Walker (Queens University Belfast), Dr Heike Felzmann (NUI Galway), Dr Louise Campbell (NUI Galway and Clinical Ethics Ireland), Dr Gemma Moore (HSE), Annie McKeown O’Donovan (NUI Galway), Dr John Danaher (NUI Galway) and Dr Oliver Feeney (NUI Galway). Through this and other events, UNESCO Bioethics Ireland seeks to foster a sustained, positive engagement between academia, medical and scientific research professions and the wider public and to raise awareness and knowledge throughout Irish society on key bioethical debates. The symposium will take place in Seminar Room 203 (the original Moore Institute seminar room located near the Geography department), NUI Galway from 10am to 4.15pm and will be open to all. The full programme is available here https://unescobioethicsireland.eu/one-day-symposium-on-irish-bioethics-world-bioethics-day/ Registration for the symposium is free, but numbers are limited, so those interested in attending should go to unescobioethicsireland.eu or contact Oliver.Feeney@nuigalway.ie The event is supported by NUI Galway’s Centre of Bioethical Research and Analysis, Department of Philosophy and Moore Institute. -ends- 

Tuesday, 4 October 2016

         First university in Europe to offer unique degree Minister for Children and Youth Affairs has launched the new BA in Children’s Studies at NUI Galway, the first university in Europe to offer such a unique undergraduate degree. The programme, which is innovative in the field of children research, builds on the research and expertise of the programme team, leading the development and growth of the area of children’s study. The new BA degree in Children's Studies is a unique programme, which puts the child at the centre of the investigation. Taking an inter-disciplinary approach, the programme investigates the life of children in Ireland and beyond, in the past and present, from the development of the child to the rights of the child in a changing Ireland. Speaking at the launch, Dr Katherine Zappone, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, TD, said: “For more than a decade, NUI Galway has established its position as leading in the field of child and adolescent’s research and education, with excellent international reputation, and this new programme adds another layer to the wonderful work that is already being undertaken here.” This four-year programme, will train a generation of experts in children that will contribute to the labour market knowledge and skills in working with, or on behalf of, children. These graduates will be well prepared to integrate in the labour market and to assist in implementing the strategies that are currently in place and that are being developed. Course Director, Dr Michal Molcho, said: “This programme was developed on the shared understanding that this area is important. We all believe in the importance of understanding children, listening to their voices, and bettering their lives. With this in the core of our teaching, our graduates will value the uniqueness of each child and acknowledge the significance of listening to each child’s voice, be culturally aware, and enhance the care of children from all walks of lives, ethnicity, and abilities.” Further course information will be available at the NUI Galway Open Days this Friday 7th and Saturday 8th October, see www.nuigalway.ie/opendays. ENDS

Tuesday, 4 October 2016

 Event juxtaposes the 100th anniversary of 1916 with the 20th anniversary of the closing of the last Magdalene Laundry. As part of the 1916: Home: 2016 project, NUI Galway’s Moore Institute will host the first of two national conferences from 7-8 October. 1916: Home: 2016 is a unique project that juxtaposes the centenary year of Easter Rising with the 20th anniversary of the closing of the Republic of Ireland’s last Magdalene Laundry, through two academic conferences and an international programme of artistic events. Taking the Proclamation’s claim to ‘cherish all children of the nation equally’ as its starting point, 1916: Home: 2016 draws attention to the collision of these two anniversaries in order to interrogate the homes we have made, the homes we hid and the homes that we are yet to imagine and build for 2016 and beyond. Keynotes speakers include Professor Mike Cronin, Boston College; Professor Marianne Hirsch, Columbia University; Professor Kathleen Gough, University of Vermont; and Professor Cahal McLaughlin, Queen’s University Belfast. Confirmed performers at the event in Galway include Irish playwright, poet, novelist and artist, Patricia Burke Brogan, and ‘Speaking of I.M.E.L.D.A.’, the direct action feminist performance group that challenges the ongoing problem of Ireland making England the legal destination for abortion. Catherine Connolly, TD for Galway West, will chair a question and answer session after the ‘Speaking of I.M.E.L.D.A.’ performance. These conferences will interrogate the tension between the ideals of citizenship and inclusion underpinning the Proclamation of the Irish Republic and the events of Easter Rising. The Magdalene Laundries, Mother and Baby Homes and orphanages, were part of a larger church and state-run network also including industrial and reformatory schools, which academic research and recent state inquiries have demonstrated intensified their operation post-independence. 1916: Home: 2016 draws attention to this intensification and asks participants and audience members to interrogate what ‘home’ means now and for the future of the Irish nation? Dr Miriam Haughton, Lecturer at NUI Galway’s Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance, and joint organiser of the event, said: “We will not only interrogate these ideas but consider the internationally located artistic projects that have been devised and staged in response to our initial call.” 1916: Home: 2016 is designed to give a platform to the unknown heroes and the everyday battles that reflect the social experience in Ireland from the early twentieth century. Dr Haughton explains: “We hope to facilitate space for reflection on key institutions within Irish society post-independence which contributed to the cultivation of Ireland’s highly institutionalised population, while considering the contexts of poverty, class, and gender politics that drove the formation of these histories. We hope to interrogate ‘Irishness’ in its many shades of grey, celebrating citizens that were sidelined to the shadows of national dialogue and consciousness.” The second conference in the project will take place in UCD 27-28 October. More information and the conference schedule is available at https://1916home2016.wordpress.com/ or follow on Twitter at @1916_Home_2016. -Ends-

Monday, 3 October 2016

Over fifty relatives of the three hundred or so Galway prisoners deported in the aftermath of the 1916 Rebellion travelled to Frongoch in North Wales recently to lay a memorial stone at the site of the internment.  The trip was organised by the Friends and Relatives of Galway 1916 and the delegation was accompanied by Cathaoirleach Contae na Gaillimhe, Michael Connelly, Councillor Gabe Cronnelly and Dr Conor McNamara, Moore Institute, NUI Galway. The group had a deeply personal connection with the Rebellion and included the children, grand children and other descendants of the Galway Volunteers who, led by Liam Mellows, rose in Galway in 1916. A reception for the group was hosted by Chris Ruane, Member of Parliament for the Vale of Clwyd from 1997 to 2015, and grandson of Thomas Ruane, Captain of the Claregalway Volunteers in 1916. Local Member of the Welsh assembly, Ann Jones, accompanied by the retired speaker of the Welsh assembly, Lord Elis-Thomas, welcomed the group and spoke of the importance of remembrance and community. Following a reception and dinner in the town of Balla, the group were hosted on the site of the internment camp. A number of speakers paid moving tribute to their relatives, with poems and ballads recited and family reminiscences recalled. Chairman of Galway County Council, Michael Connelly, gave an emotional tribute to those who made the long journey to the remote valley and thanked all who played such an important part in ensuring the prisoners were not forgotten. Dr Conor McNamara, 1916 Scholar in Residence at the Moore Institute, NUI Galway, delivered a lecture entitled, ‘Forgetting and Remembering 1916 in Galway’, focusing on the revival of interest in the period thanks to the endeavours of local communities, facilitated by Galway County Council. “Dr McNamara said: “The ceremonies concluded with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque, laid on behalf of the people of Galway, in memory of those interned. The plaque pays tribute to the Galway prisoners in both Welsh and Irish. As the rain swept through the valley, events ended, appropriately, with further songs of tribute echoing across the site.” Dr McNamara explained that NUI Galway is endeavouring to launch an innovative digital humanities project focused on bringing the personal archives and oral history of the revolution to an international audience.  -ends-

Monday, 3 October 2016

NUI Galway will host a symposium on contemporary Spanish society entitled ‘Spain Today: A Guide for the Perplexed’. The symposium will take place on Thursday, 6 October at 5.30pm in the Aula Maxima. Guest speakers include William Chislett, Associate Analyst at the Elcano Royal Institute, Madrid, who will deliver a talk entitled ‘Where is Spain Going?’; and Guy Hedgecoe, The Irish Times correspondent in Madrid, who will discuss ‘Remodelling Spain – The Spain of the last five years’. The two experts on modern Spain will discuss the politics, economics and current situation of Spain, in a context where the country has been without a government since December 2015. Like Ireland, Spain is currently bouncing back from a deep economic crisis, although there continues to be high unemployment and an uncertain political situation. Both speakers will also review recent history and current developments in Spain, and will offer fresh insights into situations on the ground in this fascinating country which is the world’s tenth largest economy and one of the key players in the European Union. Professor Bill Richardson, Head of Spanish at NUI Galway, said: “This symposium responds to the fascination many Irish people have with Spain, Spanish culture and the Spanish language, and offers an opportunity for people to get an excellent quick insight into what Spain is like as a modern, dynamic society and economy.” The symposium will be followed by the launch of the recently-published book Contemporary Spain, Fourth Edition written by Christopher Ross of Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration, and two lecturers from NUI Galway’s Discipline of Spanish at NUI Galway, Professor Bill Richardson and Begoña Sangrador-Vegas. The symposium is sponsored by the Spanish Embassy in Dublin and is open to the public. -ends-

Wednesday, 28 September 2016

It is with great pride that NUI Galway will this week celebrate the success of colleagues and Paralympic athletes Dr Eoghan Clifford and Dr Pat O’Leary at a special homecoming event on Wednesday, 28 September. The University will also celebrate former Students' Union Manager, Rena McCarron Rooney, who reached the quarter final in table tennis, alumna Deirdre Mongan (shot put) and Galway native, Eric O'Flaherty, (soccer). The Homecoming, to be attended by Chef de Mission, Paralympic Ireland, Denis Twomey, will take place at the plaza by NUI Galway Library at 4.30pm with Ollie Turner from Galway Bay FM. Dr Clifford took home one gold and one bronze medal in Cycling (in the Men’s C3 Time Trial and C3 3000m Individual Pursuit), while Dr O’Leary put in an immense performance to make the KL3 Canoe Final and finish sixth in the world.  ENDS

Wednesday, 28 September 2016

More than 90 recruiting companies from a wide range of sectors will bring a potential 4,500 graduate jobs to the NUI Galway Graduate Jobs Fair in the Bailey Allen Hall, on Tuesday, 4 October from 12.30-4pm.  This annual event showcases graduate employment opportunities for students and graduates from all disciplines, with a diverse number of fields such as accountancy, IT, law, science, retail, civil and public sectors, consultancy and many others represented. Visitors to the event are invited to spend the afternoon networking with leading graduate recruiters. Major local employers such as Medtronic, SAP, Enterprise Ireland and Smyths will attend, in addition to international companies including Abbott, SITA Inc., Workday and Accenture. Emma Goode, Employment Officer with NUI Galway’s Career Development Centre, said: “This year’s Graduate Jobs Fair is our biggest one yet with national and international employers looking to recruit the brightest and best NUI Galway graduates across all academic disciplines. This is an ideal opportunity to find out who the key NUI Galway employers are, what types of jobs are available, and what kind of skills employers are looking for.” Emma also has some advice for those attending the Fair: “Don’t forget your main objective on the day is to secure your first graduate job. Many graduate employers now recruit graduates from all academic disciplines so don’t be misled by an organisation’s name – they may have the perfect graduate opportunity for you. Prepare for the fair. Research the companies you are interested in and the type of opportunities they have available. Introduce yourself and be prepared to give your career pitch. Be confident, positive, enthusiastic and dress appropriately. Arrive with a ‘can do’ attitude and be prepared to network!” Details on participating exhibitors is available from www.nuigalway.ie/careers.  -ends-   

Wednesday, 28 September 2016

The Cell EXPLORERS science outreach programme is delighted to announce its “Fantastic DNA” national roadshow 2016. Started in the NUI Galway School of Natural Sciences four years ago, the roadshow will once again visit primary schools to bring hands on experiments to pupils in Ireland. The visits will take place this term, including during Science Week in November, allowing up to 2,000 children to experiment like real scientists in their own classrooms. Interested schools should visit www.cellexplorers.com to book a visit. This year’s visits will be delivered by five Cell EXPLORERS teams based in higher education institutions. The Cell EXPLORERS national network has recently expanded with the launch of two new partner teams in the Institute of Technology Tralee and Dundalk Institute of Technology, in addition to the existing teams in Athlone Institute of Technology, the University of Limerick and NUI Galway. Funded by a two year Science Foundation Ireland Discover award, the five teams will send students and staff to visit primary schools in their localities to share in the excitement of science. Last year, 64 scientists from the teams based in NUI Galway, University of Limerick and Athlone Institute of Technology visited 24 schools throughout the country and taught 1,285 children about cells and DNA using hands-on activities and experiments. Half of the children visited had never met a scientist before and the pupils’ feedback was unanimously positive. They enjoyed meeting and talking to the scientists, as well as getting to do fun science in their classrooms.  “You are the best at teaching science and thank you for taking time to teach us more” said one 5th class pupil in County Galway. “I learned that scientists don’t just study, they explore new things and can get many jobs” commented another sixth class pupil from County Clare. Teachers hosting the “Fantastic DNA” visit pointed out that it had a marked impact on the pupils and brought a lot of excitement about science to their classrooms. One teacher from County Roscommon said: “It was a really enjoyable and memorable day. The children talk about it nearly every day since.” Teachers also highlighted as major positives the hands-on nature of the session and the small demonstrator to pupil ratio, both core aspects of how Cell EXPLORERS operates. Dr Ruth Freeman, Director of Strategy and Communications, Science Foundation Ireland commented: “Cell EXPLORERS is piloting a unique way of directly involving Ireland’s colleges in engaging young people in science. The programme, which is being rolled out nationally, allows scientists to foster a love of science in the children of their local community. This directly supports Science Foundation Ireland’s goal to have the most scientifically engaged and informed public, will increase the pipeline of students opting to study STEM subjects, and at the same time contributes to training the next generation of Irish science communicators and educators.” This year, the new Dundalk IT and IT Tralee teams are eager to get started and to contribute to the national roadshow. Dr Geraldine Twamley Stein, lecturer in the school of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), and coordinator of the IT Tralee Cell EXPLORERS team with Dr Antoinette O’Grady, said: "It is important for IT Tralee to take part in Cell EXPLORERS as this is community outreach at its best. It mobilizes STEM by going ‘face to face’ with primary school children and bringing science education into the young-learner environment. It raises the profile of our college by IT Tralee engaging in meaningful involvement with the community.” Dr Suzanne Linnane, senior lecturer in the department of applied Science at Dundalk IT, is the new Dundalk IT team coordinator. "I am already very involved in community science outreach on the topic of my own research, in particular with the ‘All about Water’ programme. I am interested by the format of the Cell EXPLORERS visits and how they contribute to build the skills and confidence of our students at Dundalk IT, which could lead some to reconsider their career goals, as well as bringing them into the heart of our community." Schools can request a “Fantastic DNA” visit by contacting the team closest to their location via email using the following addresses: Athlone IT: cellexplorersait@gmail.com, Dundalk IT: cellexplorersdkit@gmail.com, IT Tralee: cellexplorersittralee@gmail.com , UL: cellexplorersul@gmail.com, NUI Galway: cellexplorers@nuigalway.ie. You can find out more about the Fantastic DNA Roadshow and Cell EXPLORERS team activities on the programme’s website www.cellexplorers.com, or by following Cell EXPLORERS on Facebook or Twitter (@cellexplorers). Cell EXPLORERS activities, and the expansion of the programme to other institutions, is funded by a two year award from Science Foundation Ireland, NUI Galway and by the NUI Galway Foundation. -ends-

Wednesday, 28 September 2016

4,000 students, parents and teachers expected from 7-8 October as rise in rankings peaks interest  Following on from NUI Galway’s sensational rise in international rankings, the University is gearing up for its annual autumn Undergraduate Open Day. Thousands of visitors are expected on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 October to see first-hand what NUI Galway has to offer. There is a packed programme of events lined up for the two days, including 50 sample subject talks designed to give students a real insight into their options. Among the new courses on offer are Bachelor of Commerce - Global Experience, BSc. in Applied Social Sciences, and the BA (Children’s Studies). Lecturers and current students will be available at over 80 subject-specific stands in the main exhibition area in the Bailey Allen Hall. They will answer questions on courses, CAO points, employability, career progression routes, and other information such as accommodation and fees. Hands-on science workshops and interactive sessions in Engineering and IT systems and robotics and tours of the campus, will run throughout the day. “At a time when secondary school students are looking to choose courses, the University’s success in rankings is hugely significant. We are now in the Top 250 in the world and this is attracting more interest than ever in what we have to offer,” explains Niamh Connolly, Marketing Officer at NUI Galway. Choosing a university is one of the most important decisions a student will ever make and our Open Day is the perfect opportunity to explore the campus and decide for yourself whether this university feels right for you. Niamh Connolly added: “Guidance Counsellors and Parents play a key role in supporting students as they take this important next step, so our Open Days are designed to ensure they can access all of the information they need to support the CAO decision making process.” There is a special information session for Guidance Counsellors on Friday, 7 October. There will also be a specific programme for parents on Saturday, 8 October, which will provide parents and students with information on important issues such as fees and funding, careers, accommodation and support services for students Talk highlights over the two days include: Sports at NUI Galway- meet a team of coaches and learn more about Sport at the University Career talks - “Where are the jobs? What are my employment prospects after University?” SUSI – Applying for a student grant Creative Arts Performance Points- bonus CAO performance points To get the most out of the Open Days, which run from 9am to 3pm, visitors are encouraged to view the timetable of talks and full programme in advance at http://www.nuigalway.ie/opendays/programme/. To find out more visit www.nuigalway.ie/opendays, phone +353 91 494398 or email visit@nuigalway.ie. -Ends- Céimeanna nua sna Dána agus sa Tráchtáil á gcur i láthair ag an Lá Oscailte Súil le 4,000 mac léinn, tuismitheoir agus múinteoir an 7-8 Deireadh Fómhair de bharr ardú na hOllscoile sna ranguithe Ó tharla gur éirigh chomh maith sin le OÉ Gaillimh sna ranguithe idirnáisiúnta, tá sodar faoin réiteach anois do Lá Oscailte Fochéime an Fhómhair. Tá súil leis na mílte cuairteoir Dé hAoine, an 7 agus Dé Sathairn, an 8 Deireadh Fómhair chun go bhfaighidh siad léargas dóibh féin ar an méid atá ar tairiscint in OÉ Gaillimh. Tá clár imeachtaí den scoth beartaithe don dá lá, 50 caint éagsúla ar ábhair chun léargas ceart a thabhairt do mhic léinn ar a gcuid roghanna. I measc na gcúrsaí nua atá ar fáil tá Baitsiléir sa Tráchtáil - Taithí Idirnáisiúnta, BSc. in Eolaíochtaí Sóisialta Feidhmeacha, agus an BA (Staidéar Leanaí). Beidh léachtóirí agus mic léinn reatha ar fáil ag breis is 80 seastán ábhair sa phríomhlimistéar taispeántais i Halla Bailey Allen. Beidh siad ar fáil chun ceisteanna a fhreagairt faoi chúrsaí, pointí CAO, deiseanna fostaíochta agus gairmeacha beatha, agus lóistín agus táillí. Beidh ceardlanna praiticiúla eolaíochta agus seisiúin idirghníomhacha in Innealtóireacht agus i gcórais IT agus róbataic chomh maith le turais den champas, ar siúl ar feadh an lae. “Is anois atá gasúir meánscoile ag roghnú cúrsaí mar sin tá rangú na hOllscoile thar a bheith tábhachtach. Tá seasamh againn anois sa 250 ollscoil is fearr ar domhan agus ní raibh an oiread suime riamh roimhe seo sa mhéid atá le tairiscint againn,” a deir Niamh Connolly, Oifigeach Margaíochta in OÉ Gaillimh. Ceann de na cinntí is tábhachtaí a dhéanfaidh mac léinn go brách an ollscoil a bhfreastalóidh sé/sí uirthi a roghnú agus is iontach an deis í seo dul ag spaisteoireacht mórthimpeall an champais agus ansin cinneadh a dhéanamh an mian leo freastal ar OÉ Gaillimh amach anseo. Dúirt Niamh Connolly chomh maith: “Tá ról tábhachtach ag Múinteoirí Gairmthreorach agus ag tuismitheoirí tacú le mic léinn agus iad i mbun an cinneadh sin a dhéanamh, agus bíonn na Laethanta Oscailte ann chun go mbeidh an t-eolas ar fáil atá uathu chun cinneadh a dhéanamh faoin bpróiseas CAO.” Tá seisiún eolais speisialta do Mhúinteoirí Gairmthreorach againn Dé hAoine, an 7 Deireadh Fómhair. Beidh clár speisialta do thuismitheoirí chomh maith Dé Sathairn, an 8 Deireadh Fómhair, a thabharfaidh eolas do thuismitheoirí agus do mhic léinn faoi cheisteann móra cosúil le táillí agus maoiniú, gairmeacha, lóistín agus seirbhísí tacaíochta do mhic léinn. I measc na bpríomhchainteanna tá siad seo a leanas: Spórt in OÉ Gaillimh - beidh foireann traenálaithe i láthair agus foghlaimeoidh tú níos mó faoi Spórt san Ollscoil Gairmeacha - “Cá bhfuil na poist? Cá mbeidh mo thriail i ndiaidh na hOllscoile?” SUSI – Iarratas a dhéanamh ar dheontas Pointí Breise do na hEalaíona Cruthaitheacha - pointí breise CAO Chun an tairbhe is fearr a bhaint as na Laethanta Oscailte, a bheas ar siúl ó 9am go dtí 3pm gach lá, moltar do chuairteoirí breathnú ar amchlár na gcainteanna agus ar an gclár iomlán roimh ré ag http://www.nuigalway.ie/opendays/programme/. Tá tuilleadh eolais le fáil ar www.nuigalway.ie/opendays, guthán +353 91 494398 nó ríomhphost visit@nuigalway.ie. -Críoch-

Wednesday, 28 September 2016

Blackstone LaunchPad NUI Galway Shortlisted for Women Mean Business Awards Three nominees from Blackstone LaunchPad at NUI Galway have been shortlisted as finalists for the Women Mean Business Awards 2016: Executive Director, Mary Carty; Program Manager, Natalie Walsh; and student entrepreneur-in-residence, Edel Browne. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the awards serve to promote Irish women entrepreneurs and help increase the visibility of inspiring female business leaders. Blackstone LaunchPad at NUI Galway has supported over 2000 students on campus since launching in February. The ethos is to support and empower the individual student by creating supports specific to their needs and personal development; to help them to shape their pathway and celebrate their own unique talents and strengths. Mary Carty and Natalie Walsh are both shortlisted for the Boots WMB Empowering Women Award which recognises the initiatives made by companies and individuals to facilitate and encourage the progression of women in their careers. 19-year-old Edel Browne, founder of Free Feet Medical, is shortlisted for the Sodexo WMB Female Newcomer Award. This award is for a new start-up where the recipient demonstrates outstanding innovation within her business. Edel is a third year Biotechnology student at NUI Galway. Free Feet Medical is a device which helps people with Parkinson’s disease overcome gait freezing, a symptom affecting over 70% of those diagnosed with the disease. NUI Galway President Dr Jim Browne said, “On behalf of NUI Galway I’d like to congratulate my colleagues, Mary Carty and Natalie Walsh and student entrepreneur-in-residence Edel Browne on being shortlisted for the Women Mean Business Awards 2016. Each of them represent a diverse aspect of innovation and in their work with Blackstone LaunchPad at NUI Galway they serve as wonderful role models, working in different ways to empower students to consider entrepreneurship as a viable and attractive career pathway.” Blackstone LaunchPad at NUI Galway is a campus based entrepreneurship programme. The programme is accessible by over six hundred thousand students globally. Blackstone LaunchPad is a campus based experiential entrepreneurship program open to students, alumni, staff and faculty offering coaching, ideation and venture creation support. It is modelled on a successful program originated at the University of Miami and was further developed by the Blackstone Charitable Foundation. For more information, visit www.blackstonelaunchpad.org  ENDS 

Monday, 26 September 2016

NUI Galway conferred six outstanding leaders of the Irish medical technology (medtech) sector with honorary degrees on Monday 26 September. The honorary graduates are: John Power, Founder and CEO of Aerogen; Helen Ryan, Former CEO of Creganna; Ian Quinn, Founder and Former CEO, Creganna; John O’Dea, Founder and CEO of Crospon; Paul Gilson, Co-Founder of MedNova and Veryan; John O’Shaughnessy, Founder of MedNova and Neuravi. The medical technology sector in Ireland is recognised as one of the five global emerging hubs. Galway is at the very heart of this development and NUI Galway is delighted to honour people in its own region who have been integral to growth of this sector in Ireland. The sector employs over 29,000 people in Ireland and is the second largest employer of medtech professionals in Europe. Ireland is one of the largest exporters of medical products in Europe with annual exports of €12.6 billion and companies here directly export to over 100 countries worldwide. Since the early 2000s, NUI Galway has focussed its research on biomedical engineering science as a priority area. It has developed a range of interdisciplinary research centres and initiatives, working closely with partners in industry, healthcare and government agencies, to build a world-class clinical, research and people infrastructure. Speaking at the conferring ceremony, NUI Galway President, Dr Jim Browne said: “NUI Galway is associated with many outstanding honorary graduates throughout its history and those being honoured form a particularly distinguished group. Each one has made an outstanding and distinctive contribution to the development of the medtech sector in Ireland, helping to make our region into the medtech hub of Europe. They have each contributed to an ecosystem which brings researchers, clinicians and industry innovators together and the result is a thriving medtech sector which makes a truly significant contribution to the Irish economy and society. NUI Galway is very pleased to be in a position to recognise these exceptional individuals” The Honorary Conferring Ceremony coincided with the official launch of CÚRAM Centre for Medical Device Research which is based at NUI Galway. CÚRAM is a Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre, which has a unique symbiotic relationship of academia and industry partners that pushes the scientific frontiers in medical devices. All honorees were conferred with a Degree of Doctor of Engineering (honoris causa).  HONORARY GRADUATES  John Power – CEO and Founder of Aerogen  In 1997 John created the company that later became Aerogen and that is today recognised as the International leader in aerosol drug delivery in the Intensive Care setting.  Aerogen’s products have been pivotal in treating more than four million critically ill patients from over 70 countries around the globe and are accredited with the world’s first effective ICU aerosol drug delivery for pre-term and early term neonates. This year Aerogen received the prestigious Zenith Award from the American Association of Respiratory Care, previously the company has been the recipient of both the Irish Exporter of The Year and the Irish Medical Device Technology Company of The Year.    It was in recognition of John’s career long achievements as both a product innovator and market pioneer that in June this year the European Business Awards named John the European Entrepreneur of The Year 2015/16. John is a Chartered Engineer, FIEI and holds an MBA from Oxford Brookes University. As an Adjunct Lecturer at NUI Galway he guest lectures on his core business interests of Innovation Strategies and Technology Entrepreneurship. He is a member of the Board of the Irish Medical Device Association and a faculty member of the NUI Galway BioInnovate program.  Helen Ryan– Former CEO, Creganna  Helen holds a number of Board positions including Enterprise Ireland, Capsos Medical and Galway University Foundation, and acts as a strategic advisor to Bord Gais, the BDO Capital Development Fund and a number of indigenous companies. Helen was the CEO of Creganna Medical, ranked among the world’s top 10 medical device outsource providers, from 2005 until September 2013. During Helen’s time as CEO the company grew five-fold to become the largest indigenous medical device company. The organization grew from 100 people at a single site in Galway to over 1250 people across a global network of four sites in Ireland, the USA and Singapore. Prior to joining Creganna Medical in 2003, Helen worked with Medtronic and Covidien in Product Development and R&D roles. Helen has a Bachelor of Engineering from NUI Galway, a Masters in Project Management from UL, and has completed a Senior Executive Programme at Stanford University. Helen is a fellow of the Institute of Engineers of Ireland Ian Quinn - Co-Founder and previous CEO, Creganna Medical Devices Ian co-founded Creganna in 1980 where he served as CEO for 25 years.  During his tenure Creganna grew from a staff of three in Galway to a staff of 2,250 on four continents. Creganna supplies all the major interventional device companies with delivery device technology from design and development to complete products.  Working with NUI Galway he was involved in the foundation of BioInnovate which is now generating a steady stream of very innovative new device companies.  He is a seed investor in some of those companies. Ian is on the board of BioInnovate, Tyndall National research Institute, IPIC (Irish Photonics Integration Centre), The Irish Academy of Engineering and a small number of device strart-ups.  He is Chairman of Amarenco (A developer of solar energy in France and Ireland). John O’Dea – Founder and CEO, Crospon John is CEO of Irish medical device company, Crospon, a company he founded in late 2006. Previously, in 1998, he co-founded Caradyne, an Irish respiratory medical device company, which was acquired by Respironics Inc. in 2004. In the past 30 years he has held R&D management positions in Nellcor Puritan Bennett and engineering positions in Digital Equipment Inc. and in Dataproducts Inc. He is Adjunct Professor at the School of Engineering and Informatics at NUI Galway where he is also Chairman of the External Advisory Board of BioInnovate Ireland and is Special Advisor to the SFI CÚRAM Centre for Research in Medical Devices. He is a past Chairman of the Board of the Irish Medical Devices Association, and a Past President of Engineers Ireland. He is a Fellow of the Irish Academy of Engineering. Paul Gilson – Co-Founder, MedNova Paul developed a passion for design and Engineering after graduation and worked with General Electric in the U.S., Canada and the Middle East in heavy Engineering roles. It was with CR Bard that his lifelong career in medical devices began in 1986. Following a number of years of leadership of this group and developing a number of commercially successful PTCA products, he left to co-found Ireland’s first start-up in the field of endovascular medicine, MedNova. The Company was acquired by Abbott Laboratories in 2006. Following the sale of MedNova, Paul along with co-founder Chas Taylor established Veryan Medical, a spinout from Imperial College in London to develop innovative Peripheral Stenting technologies. Based on the established cluster of Medtech Companies in Galway, Veryan located its operations in Galway. In parallel, he also co-founded Novate Medical to develop a new technology for IVC filtration, also located in Galway. Paul continues to mentor and invest in Medtech start-ups including those emerging from the NUI Galway BioInnovate program and was Chairman of Embo Medical, a BioInnovate start-up recently acquired by CR BARD. He is a named inventor on more than 40 granted US patents and has been published in a number of peer review journals. John O’Shaughnessy - Founder of MedNova and Neuravi John led the establishment of C.R. Bard Inc. (NYSE:BCR) at the very beginnings of the Galway medtech cluster in the early nineteen eighties and spent sixteen years as Managing Director with Bard. He co-founded two Irish medical device companies, Mednova in 1997 and Neuravi in 2009, and has invested in many others. He is Chairman of several companies and is an advisor to a major multi-national company advising on their strategy on medtech investing, acquisitions and management.  He was awarded the “The 2012 Life Time Achievement Award for his contribution to the Irish Medical Device Industry” awarded by IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Irish Medical Device Association.  He was appointed by the Irish Government to the Board of the Irish Development Authority (IDA) and served on the Board from 1995 till 2000. He was a founder of Croi, The West of Ireland Cardiology Foundation.                                                  -ends- Céimeanna bronnta ag OÉ Gaillimh ar dhaoine iomráiteacha in earnáil na teicneolaíochta leighis Dé Luain, an 26 Meán Fómhair, bhronn OÉ Gaillimh céimeanna oinigh ar sheisear ceannairí den scoth in earnáil teicneolaíochta leighis na hÉireann. Bronnadh céim orthu seo a leanas: -          John Power, Bunaitheoir agus Príomhfheidhmeannach Aerogen; -          Helen Ryan, iar-Phríomhfheidhmeannach Creganna; -          Ian Quinn, Bunaitheoir agus iar-Phríomhfheidhmeannach, Creganna; -          John O’Dea, Bunaitheoir agus Príomhfheidhmeannach Crospon; -          Paul Gilson, Comhbhunaitheoir MedNova agus Veryan; -          John O’Shaughnessy, Bunaitheoir MedNova agus Neuravi. Aithnítear earnáil na teicneolaíochta leighis in Éirinn ar cheann de na cúig lárionad domhanda a bhfuil borradh tréan faoi. Tá Gaillimh i gcroílár na forbartha seo agus tá OÉ Gaillimh thar a bheith sásta onóir a bhronnadh ar dhaoine ina réigiún féin a raibh dlúthbhaint acu le fás na hearnála seo in Éirinn. Tá os cionn 29,000 duine fostaithe san earnáil seo in Éirinn agus táimid ar an dara fostóir is mó de ghairmithe teicneolaíochta leighis san Eoraip. Tá Éire ar cheann de na heaspórtálaithe is mó de tháirgí leighis san Eoraip le heaspórtálacha bliantúla ar fiú €12.6 billiún iad agus easpórtálann cuideachtaí anseo chuig breis is 100 tír ar fud an domhain.  Ó thús na 2000í, thug OÉ Gaillimh tús áite do thaighde ar eolaíocht innealtóireachta bithleighis. Tá réimse ionad agus tionscnamh a bhaineann le taighde idirdhisciplíneach forbartha aici, trí dhlúthbhaint le comhpháirtithe sa tionscal, i ngníomhaireachtaí cúraim sláinte agus rialtais, chun infreastruchtúr cliniciúil, taighde agus daonna den scoth a thógail. Ag labhairt dó ag an searmanas bronnta, bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag an Dr Jim Browne, Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh:  “Bhí baint ag OÉ Gaillimh le céimithe oinigh den scoth in imeacht na mblianta agus is grúpa den scoth amach is amach iad céimithe oinigh na bliana seo. Tá a c(h)ion féin déanta ag gach céimí oinigh daoibh seo i bhforbairt na hearnála teicneolaíochta leighis in Éirinn, trí chabhrú le lárionad teicneolaíochta leighis na hEorpa a dhéanamh dár réigiún. Chuir siad ar fad le héiceachóras a thugann taighdeoirí, cliniceoirí agus nuálaithe tionscail le chéile agus mar thoradh air seo tá earnáil teicneolaíochta leighis bisiúil againn a chuireann go mór le geilleagar agus le sochaí na hÉireann. Tá an-áthas ar OÉ Gaillimh a bheith in ann aitheantas a thabhairt do na daoine eisceachtúla seo.” Bhí an Searmanas Bronnta Oinigh ar siúl an tráth céanna le seoladh oifigiúil CÚ‏RAM - Ionad Taighde d'Fheistí Leighis de chuid SFI atá lonnaithe in OÉ Gaillimh. Is Ionad Taighde de chuid Fhondúireacht Eolaíochta Éireann é CÚRAM atá lonnaithe, atá ina chaidreamh uathúil siombóiseach idir lucht acadúil agus comhpháirtithe tionsclaíochta a thugann dúshlán na dteorainneacha eolaíocha i bhfeistí leighis. Bronnadh Céim Dhochtúireachta le hInnealtóireacht (honoris causa) ar na céimithe ar fad. CÉIMITHE OINIGH John Power – Bunaitheoir agus Príomhfheidhmeannach Aerogen Sa bhliain 1997 bhunaigh John an chuideachta ar a dtugtar Aerogen inniu, cuideachta atá aitheanta mar an ceannaire Idirnáisiúnta i seachadadh drugaí aerasóil i suíomh an Dianchúraim. Tá táirgí Aerogen lárnach i gcóir leighis a chur ar bhreis is ceithre milliún othar atá an-tinn as breis is 70 tír ar fud na cruinne agus is acu a bhí an chéad druga aerasóil dianchúraim éifeachtach do leanaí nuabheirthe a rugadh roimh am nó go luath. I mbliana bhronn an American Association of Respiratory Care an Gradam mór le rá Zenith ar Aerogen, roimhe seo ainmníodh an chuideachta mar Easpórtalaí Éireannach na Bliana agus mar Chuideachta Teicneolaíochta Feistí Leighis na Bliana.   Is mar aitheantas ar éachtaí móra John ina ghairm fhairsing mar nuálaí táirgí agus mar cheannródaí margaidh a ainmníodh John mar Fhiontraí Eorpach na Bliana 2015/16 ag na Gradaim Ghnó Eorpacha i Meitheamh na bliana seo.Is Innealtóir Chairte FIEI é John, agus tá MBA aige ó Ollscoil  Oxford Brookes. Is Léachtóir Taca in OÉ Gaillimh é John agus feidhmíonn sé mar aoi-léachtóir ar a phríomhleasa gnó, is iad sin Straitéisí Nuálaíochta agus Fiontraíocht Teicneolaíochta. Is ball de Bhord Chumann Feistí Leighis na hÉireann é John agus is comhalta dáimhe é ar chlár BioInnovate OÉ Gaillimh.  Helen Ryan– Iar-phríomhfheidhmeannach CEO, Creganna Tá Helen ag feidhmiú ar roinnt Bord lena n-áirítear Fiontraíocht Éireann, Capsos Medical agus Fondúireacht Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, agus tá sí ina comhairleoir straitéiseach le Bord Gáis, le Ciste Forbartha Caipitil BDO agus le roinnt cuideachtaí dúchasacha. Ón mbliain 2005 go dtí Meán Fómhair 2013, bhí Helen ina Príomhfheidhmeannach ar Creganna Medical, atá rangaithe i measc na ndeich soláthróir seachfhoinse is fearr ar fheistí leighis.  I rith thréimhse Helen mar Phríomhfheidhmeannach, d’fhás an chuideachta faoi chúig go dtí go raibh sí ar an gcuideachta dhúchasach is mó feistí leighis.  D’fhás an eagraíocht ó 100 duine ar shuíomh amháin i nGaillimh go dtí breis is 1250 duine thar líonra domhanda ar cheithre shuíomh in Éirinn, i Stáit Aontaithe Mheiriceá agus i Singeapór. Sular tháinig sí ar bord le Creganna Medical sa bhliain 2003, d’oibrigh Helen le Medtronic agus le Covidien i bhForbairt Táirgí agus i dTaighde agus Forbairt. Tá Baitsiléir Innealtóireachta ag Helen ó OÉ Gaillimh, céim Mháistreachta i mBainistíocht Tionscadail ó Ollscoil Luimnigh, agus tá Clár Feidhmiúcháin Shinsearaigh curtha i gcrích aici in Ollscoil Stanford.  Is comhalta í Helen d’Institiúid Innealtóirí na hÉireann. Ian Quinn - Comhbhunaitheoir agus iar-Phríomhfheidhmeannach, Creganna Medical Devices Chomhbhunaigh Ian Creganna sa bhliain 1980 agus bhí sé ina Phríomhfheidhmeannach ar feadh 25 bliain.  Le linn a thréimhse in Creganna mhéadaigh sé ó fhoireann de thriúr i nGaillimh go dtí foireann 2,250 duine ar cheithre ilchríoch. Soláthraíonn Creganna na hollchuideachtaí feistí idirghabhála ar fad le teicneolaíocht feistí seachadta ó dhearadh agus forbairt go táirgí críochnaithe.  Agus é ag obair le OÉ Gaillimh bhí baint aige le bunú BioInnovate atá anois ag cur sruth leanúnach cuideachtaí feistí nuálaíocha nua ar fáil.  Is síol-infheisteoir é Ian i gcuid de na cuideachtaí seo. Tá Ian ar bhord BioInnovate, Institiúid Náisiúnta Taighde Tyndall, IPIC (Ionad na hÉireann do Chomhtháthú Fótónaice), Acadamh Innealtóireachta na hÉireann agus roinnt gnólachtaí nuathionscanta.  Tá sé ina Chathaoirleach ar Amarenco (forbróir fuinnimh gréine sa Fhrainc agus in Éirinn). John O’Dea – Bunaitheoir agus Príomhfheidhmeannach, Crospon Tá John ina Phríomhfheidhmeannach ar Crospon, cuideachta feistí leighis Éireannach a bhunaigh sé i ndeireadh 2006. Roimhe sin sa bhliain 1998 chomhbhunaigh sé Caradyne, cuideachta feistí leighis riospráide Éireannach; cheannaigh Respironics Inc. an chuideachta sin sa bhliain 2004. Le 30 bliain anuas bhí poist bhainistíochta Taighde agus Forbartha aige in Nellcor Puritan Bennett agus bhí poist innealtóireachta aige in Digital Equipment Inc. agus in Dataproducts Inc. Is Ollamh Taca é John i Scoil na hInnealtóireachta agus na hIonformaitice in OÉ Gaillimh áit a bhfuil sé ina Chathaoirleach chomh maith ar Bhord Seachtrach Comhairleach BioInnovate Ireland agus ina Chomhairleoir Speisialta ar an Ionad Taighde d'Fheistí Leighis de chuid SFI - CÚRAM. Bhí sé ina Chathaoirleach tráth ar Bhord Chumann Feistí Leighis na hÉireann, agus ina iar-Uachtarán ar Institiúid Innealtóirí na hÉireann. Is Comhalta é d’Acadamh Innealtóireachta na hÉireann. Paul Gilson – Comhbunaitheoir, MedNova D’fhorbair Paul spéis ar leith sa dearadh agus san innealtóireacht tar éis dó a chéim a bhaint amach agus d’oibrigh sé le General Electric i Stáit Aontaithe Mheiriceá, i gCeanada agus sa Mheánoirthear i bpoist a bhain le hInnealtóireacht throm. Is le CR Bard a chuir sé tús lena ghairm fhada le feistí leighis sa bhliain 1986. Tar éis roinnt blianta a chaitheamh i gceannas ar an ngrúpa seo agus ag forbairt roinnt táirgí PTCA ar éirigh go maith leo go tráchtála, d’fhág sé an grúpa seo agus chomhbhunaigh sé an chéad ghnólacht in Éirinn i réimse an leighis ionsoithíoch, MedNova. Cheannaigh Abbott Laboratories an chuideachta sa bhliain 2006. Tar éis MedNova a dhíol, bhunaigh Paul, in éineacht le comhbhunaitheoir Chas Taylor, Veryan Medical, seach-chuideachta ó Imperial College i Londain chun teicneolaíochtaí nuálacha a bhaineann le Steinteáil Fhorimeallach. Bunaithe ar an mbraisle de Chuideachtaí Teicneolaíochta Leighis atá bunaithe i nGaillimh, chinn Veryan a chuid oibríochtaí a lonnú anseo chomh maith. Ag an am céanna, chomhbhunaigh sé Novate Medical chun teicneolaíocht nua a fhorbairt maidir le scagachán IVC; tá an chuideachta seo lonnaithe i nGaillimh freisin. Tá Paul fós ag meantóireacht agus ag infheistiú i ngnólachtaí nuathionscanta lena n-áirítear iad siúd atá ag teacht chun cinn ó chlár BioInnovate OÉ Gaillimh agus bhí sé ina Chathaoirleach ar Embo Medical, gnólacht nua-thionscanta de chuid BioInnovate a cheannaigh CR BARD le deireanaí. Tá sé ina aireagóir ainmnithe ar bhreis is 40 paitinn a fuarthas i Stáit Aontaithe Mheiriceá agus tá ábhar dá chuid foilsithe i roinnt irisí piarmheasúnaithe. John O’Shaughnessy - Bunaitheoir MedNova agus Neuravi Bhí John i gceannas bhunú C.R. Bard Inc. (NYSE:BCR) nuair a thosaigh braisle teicneolaíochta leighis na Gaillimhe go luath sa 1980idí agus chaith sé sé bliana déag ina Stiúrthóir Bainistíochta le Bard. Chomhbhunaigh sé dhá chuideachta teicneolaíochta leighis Éireannacha, Mednova sa bhliain 1997 agus Neuravi sa bhliain 2009, agus tá infheistíocht déanta aige i gcuideachtaí go leor eile. Tá sé ina Chathaoirleach ar roinnt cuideachtaí agus is comhairleoir é le hollchuideachta ilnáisiúnta maidir lena straitéis ar infheistíocht, ceannach agus bainistíocht na teicneolaíochta leighis. Bhronn IDA Éireann, Fiontraíocht Éireann agus Cumann Feistí Leighis na hÉireann “Gradam Saoil 2012 de bharr a chuid oibre ar mhaithe le Tionscal Feistí Leighis na hÉireann” air. Cheap Rialtas na hÉireann é ar Bhord Údarás Forbartha na hÉireann (IDA) agus bhí sé ar an mBord sin ó 1995 go dtí 2000. Bhí sé ar dhuine den dream a bhunaigh Croí, Fondúireacht Chairdeolaíochta Iarthar na hÉireann.                                                                      -críoch-