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UrbanLab Galway, an initiative of University of Galway, has unveiled a perspective-shifting art installation in Salthill Park, Galway, as part of the Architecture on the Edge festival. Samhlú Salthill is a canvas which reimagines the urban space and presents a glimpse of the potential future, allowing the viewer to look out to Galway Bay and to the well-known Leisureland complex and how they might look in decades to come. The installation combines with the UrbanLab App to take the experience further, allowing visitors to unlock additional layers of change through augmented reality. Dr Patrick Collins, Director of UrbanLab Galway and lecturer in Geography at University of Galway, said: "The Samhlú Salthill installation is a combination of perspective and imagination. It uses anamorphic techniques to create stunning visual effects that change as viewers move around it. “From one angle, you might see one potential future for Salthill. But as you shift your position, the image changes to reveal alternative future visions for the area. It's a powerful metaphor for the transformative power of community-driven urban planning. “This anamorphic artwork isn't just a feast for the eyes; it's a catalyst for conversation. Thanks to the Urban Lab and our app, each image contains elements drawn from our ongoing public consultation, where we are asking people in Galway to identify locations and how they could be reimagined, redeveloped, enhanced, reopened. “As people interact with the art, they're literally seeing their community's ideas take shape before their eyes." Samhlú Salthill was strategically placed in Salthill Park, across from the well-known Leisureland complex, a space ripe for revitalisation. The project is backed by Galway City Council, Science Foundation Ireland, and University of Galway and serves as both an artistic landmark and a focal point for community discussion. Dr Collins explains: "Anyone who downloads the UrbanLab app can then use it and point their phone at the artwork, and watch as digital elements spring to life. We want people to share their reactions and ideas directly through the app. This fusion of physical art and digital interaction creates a truly unique public forum." Ends

Frequent fizzy drinks doubles the risk of stroke More than 4 cups of coffee a day increases chances of a stroke by a third Drinking water and tea may reduce risk of stroke  Frequent drinking of fizzy drinks or fruit juice is associated with an increased risk of stroke, according to new findings from global research studies co-led by University of Galway, in collaboration with McMaster University Canada and an international network of stroke researchers. The research also found that drinking more than four cups of coffee per day also increases the risk of stroke. The findings come from two analyses of the INTERSTROKE research project which have been published – the effects of fizzy drinks, fruit juice/drink and water was reported in the Journal of Stroke; and the findings related to tea and coffee in the International Journal of Stroke. Stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut-off and damages brain cells - it can either be ischemic stroke, which is usually due to a blood clot, or when there intracerebral haemorrhage, which is bleeding into the brain tissue. INTERSTROKE is one of the largest international studies of risk factors for stroke, involving almost 27,000 people, in 27 countries, including almost 13,500 people who experienced their first stroke. Those who took part in the study came from a broad range of geographical and ethnic backgrounds, with different cardiovascular risk profiles, including Ireland and the UK. The study which focused on people’s consumption of fizzy drinks and fruit juice found: Fizzy drinks, including both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened such as diet or zero sugar, were linked with a 22% increased chance of stroke, and the risk increased sharply with two or more of these drinks a day The link between fizzy drinks and chance of stroke was greatest in Eastern/Central Europe and Middle East, Africa, and South America The research noted that many products marketed as fruit juice are made from concentrates and contain added sugars and preservatives, which may offset the benefits usually linked with fresh fruit, and actually increase stroke risk Fruit juice drinks were linked with a 37% increase in chance of stroke due to bleeding (intracranial haemorrhage). With two of these drinks a day, the risk triples Women show the greatest increased chance of stroke due to bleeding (intracranial haemorrhage) linked to fruit juice/drinks Drinking more than 7 cups of water a day was linked with a reduced odds of stroke caused by a clot Lead researcher on both studies Professor Andrew Smyth, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at University of Galway and Consultant Physician at Galway University Hospitals, said: “Not all fruit drinks are created equal - freshly squeezed fruit juices are most likely to bring benefits, but fruit drinks made from concentrates, with lots of added sugars and preservatives, may be harmful. Our research also shows that the chance of stroke increases the more often someone consumes fizzy drinks. “As a doctor and as someone who has researched the risk of stroke, we would encourage people to avoid or minimise their consumption of fizzy and fruit drinks, and to consider switching to water instead.” The study which focused on people’s consumption of coffee and tea found: Drinking more than four cups of coffee a day increased chance of stroke by 37%, but not associated with stroke risk for lower intakes Drinking tea was linked with a reduced chance of stroke by 18-20% Drinking 3-4 cups per day of black tea - including Breakfast and Earl Grey teas, but not green tea or herbal teas - was linked with a 29% lower chance of stroke Drinking 3-4 cups per day of green tea was linked with a 27% lower chance of stroke Adding milk may reduce or block the beneficial effects of antioxidants that can be found in tea. The reduced chance of stroke from drinking tea was lost for those that added milk There were important geographical differences in the findings - tea was linked with lower chance of stroke in China and South America but higher chance of stroke in South Asia Professor Martin O’Donnell, Executive Dean of College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at University of Galway and Consultant Stroke Physician at Galway University Hospitals, co-leads the INTERSTROKE study in partnership with Professor Salim Yusuf of the Population Health Research Institute at McMaster University, Canada.             Professor O’Donnell said: “A key goal of the INTERSTROKE study is to provide usable information on how to reduce one’s risk of stroke. While hypertension is the most important risk factor, our stroke risk can also be lowered through healthy lifestyle choices in diet and physical activity. The current study adds further information on what constitutes healthy choices on daily intake of beverages.” A series of findings have been released as part of the wider INTERSTROKE project and can be accessed here.  Ends

Tá Ollscoil na Gaillimhe réidh chun fáilte a chur roimh na mílte mac léinn féideartha, tuismitheoirí, comhairleoirí gairmthreorach agus múinteoirí chuig Laethanta Oscailte na bliana seo – na cinn is mó riamh. Reáchtáltar an imeacht seo thar dhá lá i gcúig spás taispeántais suite ar fud an champais seo i lár na cathrach agus cois abhann, agus áirítear ann na céadta cainteanna ar chúrsaí agus ar ábhair chomh maith le deiseanna do dhaltaí blaiseadh ceart a fháil de shaol na hOllscoile seo. Beidh laethanta oscailte an fhómhair ar siúl Dé hAoine agus Dé Sathairn, an 4 agus an 5 Deireadh Fómhair, ó 9:00am go 3:00pm gach lá. Bhí an méid seo le rá ag Sarah Geraghty, Stiúrthóir Earcaíochta Mac Léinn agus For-rochtana in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe: “Is é cuspóir na Laethanta Oscailte seo blaiseadh ceart a thabhairt do mhic léinn ar shaol na hollscoile, agus é a chur ar a súile dóibh an t-iliomad deiseanna iontacha atá amach rompu. Is údar bróid dúinn a bheith rangaithe i measc an 2% is fearr d’ollscoileanna an domhain, agus i measc an 100 is fearr san Eoraip! Níos fearr ná sin, táimid rangaithe sa 34ú háit ar domhan, agus sa chéad áit in Éirinn, de réir Ranguithe Tionchair THE de thoradh ár gcuid oibre ar Spriocanna Forbartha Inbhuanaithe na Náisiún Aontaithe. “Tá ár léachtóirí, comhaltaí foirne agus mic léinn reatha iontacha ar bís le bualadh leo siúd a bheidh ina mic léinn amach anseo, agus cuidiú leo eolas a fháil ar na roghanna spreagúla staidéir agus gairme go léir atá ar fáil dóibh. Cuirimid os cionn 60 fochéim ar fáil a aithnítear go hidirnáisiúnta, lena n-áirítear Leigheas, Altranas, Eolaíochtaí Sláinte, na Dána, Eolaíocht, Innealtóireacht, Gnó, Dlí agus Bainistíocht Óstáin. Ina theannta sin, soláthraíonn breis agus 90% de na cúrsaí deiseanna chun tabhairt faoi shocrúchán oibre agus/nó staidéar thar lear chun a chinntiú go mbíonn céimithe réidh don ionad oibre, agus go mbíonn tóir ag fostóirí sa bhaile agus thar lear orthu. Níl an ollscoil seo le sárú ó thaobh na ndeiseanna foghlama atá ar fáil ón sárthaighde agus teagasc a bhíonn ar siúl ag na comhaltaí foirne acadúla anseo, rud a réiteoidh daoine óga do ghairm thairbheach áit ar bith ar domhan.” Buaicphointe Laethanta Oscailte na bliana seo is ea go dtabharfar rochtain eisiach ar roinnt de na háiseanna teagaisc agus foghlama is nuálaí dá bhfuil againn. Ina measc: Is féidir le daltaí atá ag cuimhneamh tabhairt faoin altranas amach anseo turas a fháil ar na háiseanna Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais. Cuirfear tús leis na turais in Áras Mhaighe Seola, an Zón Glas, ag 1pm agus 1:30pm an dá lá. Dóibh siúd ar spéis leo cúrsaí Dlí, ná cailltear an deis cuairt a thabhairt ar Chúirt Bhréige Scoil an Dlí ina n-athchruthaítear éispéireas an tseomra cúirte! Tá cúig thuras in aghaidh an lae, ach ní mór clárú roimh ré ag Seastán 45 sa Zón Oráiste. Tabharfaidh Coláiste na hEolaíochta agus na hInnealtóireachta turais ar Áras iontach na hInnealtóireachta, a thosófar i bhforhalla an Zóin Ghlais. Ba cheart do mhic léinn a bhfuil spéis acu san Fhisic clárú ag Seastán 6 sa Zón Corcra le haghaidh turas spreagúil ar na saotharlanna Fisice. Is féidir le lucht spéise na Drámaíochta páirt a ghlacadh i Máistir-rang Drámaíochta ag 1pm, nó i dturas ar Ionad Uí Dhonnchadha don Drámaíocht, an Amharclannaíocht agus an Taibhléiriú i bhforhalla an Zóin Ghoirm ag 11:30am. Beidh deis ag daoine a bhfuil dúil acu i gcúrsaí spóirt bualadh le cóitseálaithe agus lúthchleasaithe chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil ar na scoláireachtaí spóirt agus na háiseanna den scoth atá ar fáil anseo. Beidh na sonraí go léir le fáil gach lá in The Cube, sa Zón Oráiste. Ina theannta sin, tabharfar deis do dhaltaí lóistín an champais a fheiceáil agus blaiseadh a fháil de shaol an mhic léinn. Cuirfear fáilte roimh thuismitheoirí chuig léacht speisialta do Thuismitheoirí ag 11:30am Dé Sathairn, ina bhfaighidh siad go leor leideanna faoin gcaoi is fearr chun tacú le mic léinn agus iad ag aistriú go dtí an ollscoil. Is gá clárú roimh ré, agus tá tuilleadh eolais agus an clár iomlán ar fáil ag www.universityofgalway.ie/opendays, nó trí ríomhphost a sheoladh chuig opendays@universityofgalway.ie. Críoch