News & Events

University of Galway’s Arts in Action 2026-2027 programme returns this week with free events, workshops and partnerships with arts organisations in the west. A flagship public arts, performance and creative engagement programme of the University of Galway, Arts in Action prides itself on the strong partnerships it has built from year to year. With a new home at the University of Galway’s Institute for Creativity, the upcoming programme spans arts forms from theatre to music, film to comedy, as well as conversation, talks and hands-on workshops. The programme includes 15 free events, 3 workshops and partnerships with TULCA Festival of Visual Arts, Theatre of the Oppressed Festival, Music for Galway, MusicConnects, Culture Night and Galway City Council. Highlight events include: Opening the programme on September 11th, writer Sam Fowley and poet and University of Galway alumna Laoighseach Ní Choistealbha will deliver readings of their works related to the theme of the associated research symposium ‘Water Ways: Water in Flux in Ireland and Beyond’. On Culture Night, September 18th, ‘What about M.E.?’, supported by Galway City Council, features four short plays that give an insight into the thousands of people in Ireland who live with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Long-Covid, written by people living with these illnesses. On November 5th, The Pale Blue Dot, a Music for Galway performance by Elevation Ensemble, will reimagine the extraordinary cultural time capsule of the Voyager Golden Records that were affixed to NASA’s Voyager spacecrafts launched in 1977 as humanity’s message to the cosmos. This unique multimedia performance includes new music by Irish composers Linda Buckley and Jonathan Nangle. In December, a MusicConnects event ‘3 Kinds of Music’ will feature Galway guitarist and composer Aengus Hackett, MusicConnects’ Ensemble in Residence, ConTempo Quartet and the In Flow Gamelan Group – an ensemble of talented adults with Intellectual Disabilities, facilitated by That’s Life and supported by Corlann Services, Galway. Throughout October and November, artist Maeve Curtis and author Mike McCormack will lead deep-listening workshops responding to MusicConnects’ season of music. In partnership with TULCA Festival of Visual Arts, internationally renowned artist, photographer, writer and cultural producer Del LaGrace Volcano will give a live artist talk and presentation on November 12th as part of TULCA 2026: Veruca Salt. In comedy, The Accidental Activist, is a quick-witted show about the Climate Crisis by Irish comedian Diane O’Connor. Róisín Stack’s No Woman is an Island will also display sharp humour and considers the relationship between productivity and identity. Talks include a lecture by Professor Helena Grehan (Edith Cowen University) on Theatre; a presentation by Uruguayan actress, educator, and social activist Sabrina Speranza; and an hour with Alfrun Rose, writer, actor, and producer of major productions including Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. Documentary film Monarca from North to South: Migrant Audiovisual Memory, gathers the memories, songs and experiences of Nicaraguan composers exiled in Costa Rica. The screening will be followed by a discussion with historian and executive producer Dr Antonio Monte Casablanca. Florian Schneider, Director of the Institute for Creativity, University of Galway, said: “Arts in Action has a formidable legacy within the University of Galway as a major cultural initiative of the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies.  “As the programme enters a new phase of development, we are delighted that Arts in Action will now reside under the institutional banner of the Institute for Creativity, the University’s recently established interdisciplinary hub for creative innovation, research, and societal engagement. “Our plan over the coming years is to position Arts in Action as a cross-disciplinary, strategic programme for the University, strengthening links with curriculum, teaching and learning. We also want to further develop existing and new partnerships with community, cultural and creative groups and organisations, and build national and international recognition for this fantastic cultural programme.” Marianne Ní Chinnéide, Lecturer in Drama and Theatre Studies at University of Galway and Artistic Director and Head of Production and Curation for Arts in Action, said: “The University is delighted to present this year’s Arts in Action. I have curated a programme of events, lectures, talks, showcases and workshops where creative practice meets research and teaching, that embodies University of Galway’s commitment to integrated, research-led, and socially engaged artistic practice and arts education.  “Looking back over Arts in Action programmes throughout the years, a rich legacy has been formed between the University and the artistic community of all art forms, throughout the Galway region and across Ireland. I would like to sincerely thank all of our strategic partners who co-fund the programme - our university colleagues and researcher community, and festival and arts organisations – making this programme accessible to all. The reach of this programme at the intersection of research disciplines and, art form development and the live art event, is a unique model nationally and I can’t wait to share it with you all.”  Founded by the late Mary McPartlan, the Arts in Action programme was established to create a space where artistic excellence, cultural dialogue and public participation could flourish. The programme provides opportunities for staff, students, artists, researchers, community and arts organisations as well as audiences to encounter innovative artistic work, artistic research and engage in critical conversations about contemporary society.  Arts in Action events will take place at the University’s O’Donoghue Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance, the Bank of Ireland Theatre and the Siobhán McKenna Theatre.  All events are free and open to staff, students and the wider community. Registration is required. The full programme with booking details is available here.  Ends

Scientific study reveals unexpected links between anti-cancer drugs and antibiotic effectiveness Scientists from University of Galway have uncovered a surprising link between commonly used anti-cancer drugs and antibiotics that could offer a potential new approach to tackling notorious superbug infections. The research team set out to find new ways to treat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus – better known as MRSA infections - using drugs that are currently ineffective due to antibiotic resistance – a growing challenge in healthcare. The study investigated whether a range of anti-cancer drugs could help penicillin-type antibiotics, which are among the most widely used antibiotics, to become effective again. The study was carried out by researchers Dr Aaron Nolan, Sarah Byrne, Dr Merve Zeden and Professor James O’Gara from the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences at University of Galway.   The team tested five anti-cancer drugs and revealed that four of them (5-fluorouracil; 5-fluororidine; gemcitabine; and mitomycin C) helped penicillin-type antibiotics to kill MRSA. These drugs interfere with the bacteria’s ability to make DNA, making the bacteria more vulnerable to the antibiotics. A fifth anti-cancer drug which was tested (6-thioguanine) had the opposite effect and reduced the effectiveness of the antibiotics. Although this drug also affects DNA production in MRSA, it works in a different way, which may explain the different effects. Dr Aaron Nolan, Postdoctoral Researcher and lecturer in Microbiology, explained: "We discovered several anti-cancer drugs that helped antibiotics to kill MRSA. But we also identified one anti-cancer drug that interfered with antibiotic effectiveness highlighting the importance of carefully prescribing the most appropriate antibiotic in patients undergoing chemotherapy."  Sarah Byrne, PhD Researcher in Microbiology, said: “The antibiotic resistance crisis is one of the world's most urgent health challenges. These findings are particularly important for patients with cancer who may need treatment for bacterial infections while also taking chemotherapy drugs.” MRSA is a type of S. aureus bacteria that has developed resistance to commonly used antibiotics, making infections more difficult to treat. The findings also suggest that drugs already used to treat cancer could potentially be used alongside antibiotics to help them work against resistant bacteria. Assistant Professor in Microbiology Dr Merve Zeden said: "Our findings suggest that certain drugs originally developed for cancer treatment may have the potential to be repurposed alongside antibiotics. This could offer a new strategy to re-sensitise bacteria that have become resistant to existing treatments." The findings build on the team's ongoing research, which has identified the process of DNA production as a vulnerability in MRSA. By interfering with this process, some of the anti-cancer drugs tested in the study appear to make the bacteria more vulnerable to antibiotics. The discovery opens new avenues for research into combination therapies that pair antibiotics with non-antibiotic drugs. Such approaches could help extend the lifespan of existing antibiotics and provide new options for infections caused by bacteria resistant to traditional antibiotic treatments. Professor of Microbiology at University of Galway, James O'Gara, said: “We are excited by this discovery, which advances our long-term goal of finding new ways to boost the effectiveness of existing antibiotics against superbugs like MRSA. Because this approach relies on existing medications rather than developing completely new drugs, it could provide a faster route towards developing new strategies to improve patient care." The paper is published in mBio, the flagship journal of the American Society for Microbiology, is available at https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mbio.01274-26. Ends

 University of Galway will host the 51st Sir Peter Freyer Memorial Lecture and Surgical Symposium on September 4th and 5th 2026.  The Symposium is recognised as Ireland’s largest Surgical Conference and is held in memory of Galway-born Surgeon Sir Peter Freyer, who performed the first successful operation to remove an enlarged prostate in 1900. It comprises research and education sessions across various surgical subspecialties, two keynote addresses and a discussion forum about emergency surgery in Ireland.  The keynote addresses at this year’s event will be delivered by two internationally recognised surgeons from the UK and Ireland. Professor Shafi Ahmed will deliver the Sir Peter Freyer Memorial Lecture - Intelligent: The Evolution of AI Transforming Healthcare, on Friday, September 4th; and Professor Helen Heneghan will deliver the State of the Art Lecture - The Changing Landscape of Obesity Treatment: Personalised Approaches to Optimise Surgery and Outcomes, on Saturday, September 5th.  Professor Shafi Ahmed is a surgeon, educator and healthcare innovator and known for pioneering the use of technology in medicine. He has helped shape the future of surgical training through his work in digital health, virtual reality and medical education and has delivered more than 350 keynote presentations in more than 70 countries. Professor Ahmed is a Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgeon specialising in colorectal cancer at The Royal London and St Bartholomew’s Hospitals. He is also Professor of Strategic Innovation at Bolton University, Honorary Professor of Practice at UCL Global Business School for Health and Visiting Professor at Imperial College London.  Professor Helen Heneghan is a Consultant Bariatric and General Surgeon at St Vincent’s University Hospital and Professor of Surgery at University College Dublin. A graduate of the University of Galway, she completed her basic surgical training at Galway University Hospital and was awarded a PhD by the University in 2012. She is the Surgical Lead for the National Clinical Programme for Obesity and President and co-founder of the Society for Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Ireland.   The 51st Sir Peter Freyer Memorial Lecture and Surgical Symposium will also host the first telesurgery training event for surgeons and surgical trainees.   Professor Ahmed will unveil for the first time a new global AI platform, designed to change how surgeons learn, develop and navigate their careers. Surgeon.AI is the first global surgical training platform being launched in Ireland and represents a significant milestone for the Irish Medtech and AI Surgical Innovation sectors. The platform brings surgical education, career development and personalised learning into a single AI-powered platform designed to support surgeons from medical school and training through to consultant or attending level. The platform includes a proprietary AI-driven algorithm designed to track how an individual’s surgical knowledge and capabilities develop over time by using artificial intelligence to make high-quality, personalised surgical education more accessible to surgeons around the world.    The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) will provide surgical trainees and surgeons in Galway with the opportunity to remotely operate the Sentire Surgical System located at its Robotic Surgery and Research Centre in Dublin. Supported by University of Galway and Cornerstone Robotics, the workshop will demonstrate the potential of telesurgery to expand access to robotic surgery education and training across Ireland.  Professor Michael Kerin, Professor of Surgery at University of Galway and President of RCSI, who is hosting the event with his colleague Professor Stewart Walsh, Chair of Surgery at University of Galway, said: “We are honoured to welcome Professor Ahmed and Professor Heneghan to the University of Galway. Professor Ahmed’s pioneering work in digital health, virtual reality and healthcare innovation will provide an important perspective on the transformative role of artificial intelligence in medicine. It is also a pleasure to welcome Professor Heneghan back to Galway. As a graduate of the University and a former trainee at Galway University Hospital, she has become a leading clinician in bariatric and metabolic surgery. Her lecture will address one of the most important challenges facing modern healthcare.  “We are particularly proud to host the pioneering telesurgery training workshop, in collaboration with RCSI and Cornerstone Robotics UK, which highlights how innovation and collaboration can expand access to advanced robotic surgery education and training across Ireland.  “Both lectures form the centrepiece of a large programme showcasing some of the finest surgical research this country has to offer. The Conference marks the start of the academic year and has long been a mainstay of the national academic surgical community, underpinned by the contributions of Consultants and Trainees from across every specialty in Irish surgery. We are also delighted to welcome the RCSI Council, who will hold their out-of-town meeting at University of Galway during the event.”   Ends