News Archive

The extent of health inequalities among children in Ireland has been revealed by a report released today by the Health Promotion Research Centre, NUI Galway. This is the second national report from the Irish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Study "Inequalities in Health among School-aged Children in Ireland". For the first time, patterns in health, health behaviour and wellbeing among - children from the Travelling Community, immigrant children, children with disabilities and chronic illnesses, and children in disadvantaged schools - have been studied in comparison to other children. Key findings include elevated rates of alcohol use among girls and boys from the Travelling Community, and low rates of drunkenness among immigrant boys; children from disadvantaged schools reporting poorer diets and higher levels of bully victimisation among Traveller girls, immigrants and children with a disability or chronic illness. Students from the Travelling Community, from immigrant families and with a disability or chronic illness are less likely to feel accepted by other students and girls in particular are less likely to have three or more friends. Interestingly, very few differences are identified between groups in terms of their relationships with parents. Dr Saoirse Nic Gabhainn of NUI Galway's Health Promotion Research Centre, said: "This is a landmark report which challenges our assumptions in relation to inequality and diversity in Ireland. We knew there were inequalities in health among adults but it was thought that children were more equal - this is simply not the case. Some groups of children are having a more difficult time than others, and this is an issue for all of us". Focusing on children from 5th class to 5th year, all of whom are in school, this is the first time that differences and similarities in general health and well-being, substance use, diet and food behaviour, physical activity, violence and injuries, perceptions of school and relationships with parents and friends have been systematically documented. Welcoming the report, Ms Mary Wallace T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children with special responsibility for Health Promotion and Food Safety, said: "It is important to document how our children are doing. This will help us better understand where our efforts need to be focussed. We are committed to using research evidence to inform our approach to social inclusion". The HBSC Ireland study has been based at the Health Promotion Research Centre, NUI Galway since 1994 and all reports and articles are available for download from www.nuigalway.ie/hbsc -ends-

A new collaboration between the Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI) at NUI Galway and Dr David Kent, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Aut Even Private Hospital, Kilkenny, aims to investigate the therapeutic potential of adult stem cells in combating the loss of vision in diseases such as Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). "AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in the over 50s. It is estimated the condition affects over 60,000 adults here in Ireland. The WHO has stated that the instances of AMD will triple in the next 25 years as our population ages, however there is currently no cure for the condition and awareness remains low", said Avril Daly, Head of Public Affairs at Fighting Blindness. She added: "Irish researchers are making great inroads in discovering the causes and potential treatments for AMD and we at Fighting Blindness strongly support Dr Kent and REMEDI in this important project and wish them every success". Amy Lynch, a Ph.D. student in REMEDI, NUI Galway, will investigate the therapeutic potential of stem cells to regenerate retinal cells in the macula area of the eye. Amy's project will be based around the determination of efficacy in an in vivo model of macular degeneration, where she will avail of the in-house expertise in stem cells and delivery in REMEDI and will be supported with strong clinical and scientific guidance from both Dr Kent and Professor Frank Barry, Scientific Director, REMEDI. Des Kenny, CEO of the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI) said: "We are very excited about the contribution this project will make to supporting people with sight loss in this country. We were delighted many years ago to have been able to support David Kent's choice of specialisation into this very important aspect of significant sight loss". According to Professor Barry, "REMEDI is very focused on developing novel strategies for treating human disease using the stem cell and gene therapy technologies we have developed at NUI Galway. This project is very important to us because of the high incidence of this condition in Ireland and worldwide. We are delighted to initiate the project in collaboration with Dr Kent and will benefit greatly from his clinical and research expertise in AMD. We also welcome the input from Fighting Blindness and the NCBI, both of whom have done a great deal to promote the research effort in Ireland in diseases of the eye". Further details of AMD can be found at www.amd.ie. REMEDI is an SFI funded research institute at the National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science located at NUI Galway www.remedi.ie. -ends-

The NUI Galway Open Day will take place from 9am to 3pm on Thursday, 9 October, 2008. Thousands of secondary school students from all over Ireland are expected to attend, along with their parents and teachers. Caroline Loughnane, NUI Galway's Director of Marketing and Communications and one of the organisers of the Open Day, says: "This is an excellent opportunity for anyone considering applying to NUI Galway to talk to staff and students, find out more about the course you are interested in, explore the campus and decide whether the University is right for you". "The Open Day also gives students the opportunity to experience university life first hand" she added. "Visitors can see our full range of subject specific exhibition stands in Áras na Mac Léinn, our student centre, and check out our programme of interactive taster sessions on a wide range of subjects that run throughout the day". Some of the newer programmes on offer at NUI Galway include: BEng/MEng in Engineering Innovation - Electronic. This programme aims to provide graduates with specialised multi-disciplinary skills to start their own business, centred on the development of innovative, niche, market-led, electronic products. BE (Hons) and MEngSc in Sports and Exercise Engineering. The first of its kind in Ireland, this programme will provide graduates with the skills and expertise to design systems and devices for the evaluation and execution of sport performance across a broad range of sports. BSC (Hons) in Podiatry. This course consists of the study and treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle, knee, leg and hip, the only such course available in the Republic of Ireland. The majority of study will be undertaken in the state of the art podiatry clinic which is to be developed by the HSE at the Merlin Park Hospital site. BA CONNECT Programme. With a radical departure from traditional Arts degrees, the BA CONNECT Programme offers seven four-year degrees designed to increase the employability of graduates by developing distinctive skills and creating connections with life beyond the campus. The degrees are: BA with Children's Studies; BA with Creative Writing; BA with Film Studies; BA with Human Rights; BA with Irish Studies; BA with Theatre and Performance; and BA with Women's Studies. Tours of the campus will give an insight in to university life, and the top class facilities offered at NUI Galway including the brand new €22 million Sports Complex located by the Quincentennial Bridge. The 6,500 sq.m. eco-friendly sports and leisure complex includes a 25 metre 6-lane swimming pool with moveable floor, squash and racquetball courts, a three-court basketball hall, multipurpose studios, a substantial gym and a high-tech climbing wall. Operators, the Kingfisher Fitness Group, who already run six successful leisure centres across the country, are offering NUI Galway students significant discounts for this state-of-the-art facility. Joe Cosgrove, Managing Director of Kingfisher Fitness Club, says: "Whether it's signing up for a year's gym membership, or popping by for a 'Splash and Dash', we have offers to suit everyone's sporting and fitness needs". With over 40 clubs and 85 societies at NUI Galway, there is something to suit all interests. Representatives from all clubs and societies will be available on the day in order for visitors to find out more. Representatives will also be at hand from the ALIVE Volunteering Programme, which aims to support and promote volunteering on campus, to talk about the wide range of volunteer opportunities available for students. Visitors can book a place at the Open Day and receive a programme in advance by logging on to www.nuigalway.ie/openday or you can just turn up on the day. For further information contact the Schools Liaison Office on 091 492814, email mary.coyle@nuigalway.ie or visit http://www.nuigalway.ie/openday/ -Ends-

- NUI Galway Extends Knowledge-Economy in Gaeltacht - A new high speed telecommunications network, which will result in high speed broadband services, is being brought to the Galway Gaeltacht as a result of a joint initiative undertaken by NUI Galway, HEAnet and Údarás na Gaeltachta. The new network, which will be operated by AirSpeed Telecom, will support in excess of 300Mb and will be made available at seven of NUI Galway's Gaeltacht centres* and available for business users within the Galway Gaeltacht region. These services, to be launched today (Monday, 6 October, 2008) by Minister Éamon Ó Cuív T.D., will strengthen the University and its academic partners in delivering their core teaching and research mission. The work of Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUI Galway's Irish language arm, will be facilitated, as the new services help it to 'collapse distance' and integrate its various units. Kieran Loftus, Director of Computer Services, NUI Galway, said: "High Speed Networking has featured in NUI Galway campus life for several years, but our presence also extends along the Western seaboard. Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge has centres in locations throughout the Gaeltacht. The marine science research activities of the Martin Ryan Institute at its Carna location will benefit as will those of the Environmental Change Institute at Mace Head in Connemara and Carron in the Burren, Co. Clare. NUI Galway's knowledge region partner GMIT will also benefit from provision at its sites in Castlebar and Letterfrack". Kieran Loftus added: "It is not just NUI Galway that will benefit from these new services. Our academic partners, in both teaching and research, will be able to access our resources. We hope that our presence will stimulate new and advanced activities in these communities. HEAnet services are being provided in a way which will make it easier to provide services locally, perhaps acting as a catalyst and an enabler for the provision of good broadband services to these rural communities". The new communications network should make a significant difference to companies and organisations operating in the Galway Gaeltacht region, according to Pádraig Ó hAoláin, CEO of Údarás na Gaeltachta, which part-funded the service. "Broadband is like air and water to any modern business nowadays. It is simply essential. Having high speed access available in these Gaeltacht areas can only help retain businesses, encourage growth and attract others to the region. This project was also a joint venture with NUI Galway, who needed high speed network to their Gaeltacht outreach campuses. The provision of third-level accredited courses in the Gaeltacht is central to the Údarás' strategy and part of the bigger picture to help enterprise promotion for the area. This new network also addresses the lack of broadband connectivity in the southwest Connemara area and this investment by an tÚdarás and HEAnet now means that a high speed service is available to businesses in the area", he said. John Boland, CEO, HEAnet, said in advance of the launch: "HEAnet is bringing the power of the national and international research networks to these remote but important sites. This opens up a very fast and very powerful two-way communication channel and globally connects these valuable resources, linking the Irish sites seamlessly to the other 3,000 research institutions across Europe". Liam O'Kelly, Managing Director, AirSpeed Telecom, says: "AirSpeed Telecom is delighted to extend its network infrastructure in the Galway, Mayo and Clare region. Our licensed radio network is ideally suited to solving the geographic and cost challenges of providing high bandwidth telecommunications services in the region". ENDS

Leathnaíonn Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh geilleagar eolasbhunaithe sa Ghaeltacht Tá líonra teileachumarsáide nua ardluais, a chuirfidh seirbhís leathanbanda ardluais ar fáil, á thabhairt chuig Gaeltacht Chonamara mar thoradh ar chomh-thionscnamh idir Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh, HEAnet agus Údarás na Gaeltachta. Beidh an líonra nua atá á sholáthar ag Airspeed Telecom agus a thacaíonn le breis agus 300Mb, ar fáil ag seacht gcinn d'ionaid Ghaeltachta de chuid OÉ Gaillimh, agus beidh fail ag lucht gnó laistigh de Ghaeltacht na Gaillimhe ar an tseirbhís chomh maith. Neartóidh na seirbhísí seo, atá á seoladh inniu (Dé Luain, 6 Deireadh Fómhair 2008) ag an Aire Éamon Ó Cuív, T.D., an Ollscoil agus na comhpháirtithe acadúla lena bpríomh mhisean teagaisc agus taighde a sheachadadh. Éascófar obair Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge mar go gcabhróidh na seirbhísí nua seo an fhadhb achair a réiteach agus na haonaid atá scaipthe amach go forleathan a chomhtháthú. Ag labhairt dó ag an seoladh, dúirt Kieran Loftus, Stiúrthóir ar Sheirbhísí Ríomhaireachta, Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh, "Tá líonrú ardluais ar fáil ar champas OÉ Gaillimh, le blianta, ach tá láithreacht againn chomh maith feadh chósta an Iarthair. Tá ionaid ag Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge i gceantair ar fud na Gaeltachta. Beidh buntáiste anseo chomh maith d'Institiúid Muireolaíochta Mháirtín Uí Riain i gCarna sna gníomhaíochtaí taighde ar eolaíocht mhuirí atá ar bun acu agus ag an Institiúid Athrú Comhshaoil ag Ceann Mhása i gConamara agus sa Charn, An Boirinn, Co. an Chláir. Beidh an soláthar nua leathanbhanda seo tairbheach freisin d'Institiúid Teicneolaíochta na Gaillimhe-Mhaigh Eo sna hionaid atá acu i gCaisleán an Bharraigh agus i Leitir Fraic." Ag cur leis an méid sin, dúirt An Dr. Loftus: "Ní ag OÉ Gaillimh amháin a bheidh buntáiste na seirbhíse nua seo. Beidh fáil ag ár gcomhpháirtithe acadúla, teagaisc agus taighde araon, ar ár n-acmhainní. Tá súil againn go spreagfaí ár láithreacht ard-ghníomhaíochtaí nua sna pobail seo. Tá seirbhísí HEAnet á gcur ar fáil ar shlí ina mbeidh sé níos furasta seirbhísí a sholáthar go háitiúil, b'fhéidir ag feidhmiú mar acmhainn agus mar éascaitheoir le seirbhísí maithe leathanbhanda a sholáthar do na pobail tuaithe seo." Ba cheart go ndéanfadh an líonra nua teileachumarsáide seo difríocht shuntasach do chomhlachtaí agus d'eagraíochtaí atá ag feidhmiú i nGaeltacht na Gaillimhe, a deir Pádraig Ó hAoláin, Príomhfheidhmeannach, Údarás na Gaeltachta, a rinne cómhaoiniú ar an tseirbhís seo. "Is ionann leathanbhanda le haer agus uisce d'aon ghnó nua-aimseartha sa lá atá inniu ann". Tá sé thar a bheith riachtanach. Cabhróidh an rochtain ardluais le gnóthaí a choimeád slán, fás a spreagadh agus gnóthaí nua a mhealladh chuig an réigiún. Is comhfhiontar a bhí sa togra seo freisin le OÉ Gaillimh, ar theastaigh líonra ardluais uathu chuig a n-ionaid for-rochtana Gaeltachta. Tá soláthar cúrsaí creidiúnaithe tríú leibhéal sa Ghaeltacht lárnach i straitéis an Údaráis agus mar pháirt den mhór-phictiúr chun cabhrú le fiontraíocht a chur chun cinn sa cheantar seo. Díreoidh an líonra nua seo freisin ar an easpa ceangal leathanbhanda in iardheisceart Chonamara agus ciallaíonn an infheistíocht seo atá déanta ag Údarás na Gaeltachta agus HEAnet anois go bhfuil fáil ag gnóthaí sa cheantar seo ar sheirbhís ardluais leathanbhanda", a dúirt sé. Agus é ag labhairt roimh an seoladh, dúirt John Boland, Príomhfheidhmeannach HEAnet, "Tá HEAnet ag tabhairt cumhacht na líonraí taighde náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta chuig na ceantair iargúlta seo. Osclaíonn sé seo suas cainéal cumarsáide dhá-threo agus ceanglaítear go domhanda na hacmhainní luachmhara seo, ag nascadh na suímh Éireannacha seo gan stró leis na 3,500 institiúidí taighde eile ar fud na hEorpa. Dúirt Liam O Kelly, Bainisteoir Stiúrtha Airspeed Telecom, "Tá áthas ar AirSpeed Telecom a n-infreastruchtúr líonra a leathnú i réigiún Ghaillimh, Mhaigh Eo agus an Chláir. Tá ár líonra raidió ceadúnaithe foirfe chun na dúshláin geografacha agus airgeadais a bhaineann le seirbhísí teileachumarsáide ard bhandaleithead a sholáthar sa cheantar. Críoch

Beidh Lá Oscailte OÉ Gaillimh ar siúl ó 9am go 3pm, Déardaoin, 9 Deireadh Fómhair, 2008. Táthar ag súil go dtabharfaidh na mílte mac léinn meánscoile ó cheann ceann na tíre cuairt ar an Ollscoil i dteannta a dtuismitheoirí agus múinteoirí. Dar le Caroline Loughnane, Stiúrthóir Margaíochta agus Cumarsáide, OÉ Gaillimh, agus duine de lucht eagraithe an Lae Oscailte gur "deis iontach é seo do dhuine ar bith atá ag smaoineamh teacht chun staidéir in OÉ Gaillimh labhairt le comhaltaí foirne agus le mic léinn, agus níos mó a fhoghlaim faoi na cúrsaí ar spéis leo iad, dul ag spaisteoireacht mórthimpeall an champais agus ansin cinneadh a dhéanamh an mian leo freastal ar OÉ Gaillimh amach anseo". "Chomh maith leis sin, tugann an Lá Oscailte seo deis do mhic léinn taithí a fháil ar shaol na hollscoile ar an láthair féin. Beidh deis ag cuairteoirí léargas a fháil ar an raon iomlán ábhar atá ar fáil anseo in OÉ Gaillimh ag na seastáin éagsúla a bheidh in Áras na Mac Léinn – ionad na mac léinn anseo – agus freastal ar chuid de na seisiúin tosaigh idirghníomhacha bunaithe ar ábhair éagsúla a bheidh ar siúl i gcaitheamh an lae". Cúrsaí éagsúla ar fáil ag OÉ Gaillimh le cúpla bliain anuas ná: Baitsiléir/Máistreacht Innealtóireachta i Nuálaíocht Innealtóireachta. Is é atá mar aidhm leis an gclár seo sainscileanna ildisciplíneacha a thabhairt do chéimithe le cur ar a gcumas tús a chur lena ngnó féin; gnóthaí a bheidh dírithe ar tháirgí nuálaíochta, nideoige, táirgí faoi chinnireacht an mhargaidh, agus táirgí leictreonacha a fhorbairt. Baitsiléir Innealtóireachta (Onór) & Máistreacht Eolaíochta in Innealtóireacht Spóirt agus Aclaíochta. Is é seo an chéad chlár dá leithéid in Éirinn, agus ar chríoch an chláir seo beidh na scileanna agus an saineolas ag na céimithe chun córais agus feistí a dhearadh chun gníomhaíocht spóirt a mheas agus a chur i bhfeidhm thar raon leathan spórt. Baitsiléir Eolaíochta (Onór) sa Chosliacht. Tá an cúrsa seo dírithe ar staidéar agus ar chóireáil neamhord a bhaineann leis an gcos, an rúitín, an ghlúin, géag na coise agus an chorróg, agus is é seo an t-aon chúrsa dá leithéid atá á thairiscint i bPoblacht na hÉireann. Beidh na mic léinn ag staidéar den chuid is mó sa chlinic cosliachta den chéad scoth atá le forbairt ag Feidhmeannacht na Seirbhíse Sláinte ag suíomh cóngarach d'Ospidéal Pháirc Mheirlinne. Baitsiléir Onóracha Dán (BA CONNECT): Tá athrú ag teacht ar na céimeanna traidisiúnta sna Dána agus tá seacht gcéim ceithre bliana á dtairiscint faoin gClár CONNECT - clár atá á reáchtáil ag Coláiste na nDán, na nEolaíochtaí Sláinte agus an Léinn Cheiltigh. Tá na cláir CONNECT deartha le cinntiú go n-éiríonn le céimithe poist a fháil trí scileanna ar leith a fhorbairt agus naisc a chruthú leis an saol lasmuigh den champas. Seo a leanas na seacht gcéim atá á dtairiscint trí chlár CONNECT: B.A. le Staidéar Leanaí; B.A. le Scríbhneoireacht Chruthaitheach; B.A. le Staidéar Scannán; B.A. le Staidéar ar Chearta Daonna; B.A. leis an Léann Éireannach; B.A. le Staidéar Amharclannaíochta agus Taibhithe; agus B.A. le Léann na mBan. Gheobhaidh mic léinn léargas ar shaol na hollscoile trí dhul ar thuras mórthimpeall an champais, mar aon le léargas ar na háiseanna atá ar fáil in OÉ Gaillimh lena n-áirítear an tIonad Spóirt a chosain €22 milliún atá lonnaithe in aice le Droichead na gCúig Chéad. Tá achar 6,500 sq.m. san ionad spóirt agus fóillíochta éiceabhách seo ina bhfuil linn snámha 6-lána 25 méadar ar féidir an t-urlár a ardú agus a ísliú inti, cúirteanna scuaise agus raicéadaíochta, halla ina bhfuil trí chúirt cispheile, stiúideonna ilchuspóireacha, giomáisiam an-mhór agus balla dreapadóireachta chomh maith. Tá lascaine shuntasach le fáil ag mic léinn OÉ Gaillimh ón Kingfisher Fitness Group, cuideachta atá i gceannas ar shé ionad fóillíochta eile ar fud na tíre. Deir Joe Cosgrove, Stiúrthóir Bainistíochta, Kingfisher Fitness Club, "go bhfreastalóidh an t-ionad seo ar riachtanais spóirt agus aclaíochta an uile dhuine, is cuma más ag iarraidh ballraíocht bliana atá tú nó más fearr leat leas a bhaint as tairiscintí éagsúla cosúil le 'Splash and Dash', cuirtear gach duine san áireamh." Tá os cionn 40 club agus 85 cumann in OÉ Gaillimh, rud a chiallaíonn go bhfuil rud éigin ann don uile dhuine. Beidh ionadaithe ó na clubanna agus ó na cumainn go léir i láthair ar an Lá Oscailte le labhairt le cuairteoirí. Chomh maith leis sin, beidh ionadaithe ó Chlár Oibre Deonaí ALIVE i láthair, clár a bhfuil sé mar aidhm leis tacú le hobair dheonach agus lena cur chun cinn ar an gcampas, chun labhairt faoin raon leathan deiseanna oibre deonaí atá ar fáil do mhic léinn. Féadfaidh cuairteoirí áit a chur in áirithe don Lá Oscailte agus clár a fháil roimh ré trí logáil ar www.nuigalway.ie/openday nó go deimhin féadfaidh tú cuairt a thabhairt orainn ar an lá más mian leat. Tá tuilleadh eolais le fáil ón Oifig um Idirchaidreamh le Scoileanna ag 091 492814, nó trí ríomhphost a sheoladh chuig mary.coyle@nuigalway.ie nó trí chuairt a thabhairt ar http://www.nuigalway.ie/openday/ CRÍOCH

Fifteen projects from Ireland, including two from NUI Galway, have been awarded the European Award for Languages - the Language Label for innovative ways of teaching and learning languages. The awards are coordinated by the European Commission and managed locally by the Irish coordinating body Léargas. The European Award for Languages - the Language Label, which is simultaneously run in over 20 European countries, has been a major event in the languages calendar since 1998. This year's winners were selected on the basis of excellence, innovation, intercultural dialogue and their ability to serve as a model for others. The award-winning projects from NUI Galway are: L Italia in Diretta, NUI Galway: This project is aimed at secondary school students and features an interactive website, www.italianliving.org. The website was created by students undertaking the Bachelor of Commerce International (Italian) Degree. Blogs and forums encourage secondary school students to embrace the Italian language and culture through participation in forum discussions and interactive games. The award was presented to Dr Laura Incalcaterra McLoughlin and Dott. Francesca Magnoni of the Department of Italian, NUI Galway. According to Dr McLoughlin: "We are thrilled to receive the prestigious European Award for Languages. The Award is an important recognition of the work and the level of commitment of students and lecturers in the Department of Italian. Our undergraduate students designed the website, chose the topics, researched and created all the material, and now they keep the site regularly updated. This is an on-going project which will be expanded in future years. We are particularly grateful to the Istituto Italiano di Cultura for their continuing sponsorship and support". The National Digital Learning Repository Modern Languages Community of Practice Blog as a Community Building Medium: This blog is a one-stop-shop online space for anyone involved in teaching languages, including literature and culture, in the Irish higher education sector. The project aims to encourage a sense of community and peer support to facilitate the sharing of information and resources by providing an easy to use, dynamic and accessible web space which highlights a range of community news and activity. The website can be found at www.ndlr.ie/modlang/blog The Award was presented to Project Coordinators Paul Gormley and Michelle Tooher, Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT), NUI Galway. Dr Tooher explained the usefulness of the project: "The blog provides a valuable service to the language community, helping to build and enhance community spirit across all language sectors. Guest editors from across the higher education sector drive the content and focus of the blog, and our regular podcasting series provides a platform to highlight and celebrate the incredible language initiatives being undertaken throughout Ireland. The blog also provides a gateway to the National Digital Learning Repository – an online database of free-to-use resources for all Irish higher education practitioners". Both NUI Galway projects were supported by the University's An Teanglann – Language Laboratories, a part of CELT which primarily supports the teaching and learning of modern languages; specifically French, German, Italian and Spanish. The awards were made by Simon Coveney, T.D. at a special celebration to mark the European Day of Languages on 26 September. -ends-

NUI Galway students of the M.A. in Production and Direction at the Huston School of Film & Digital Media have won the Best Short Documentary prize at the Radharc Awards in Dublin. Producer Richard Walsh from Ballybunion, County Kerry, and Director Julian Ulrichs from Galway City, received the award for their short documentary 'F.G.M. – No Way Home'. The documentary deals with the issue of female genital mutilation in relation to African refugees in Ireland. The documentary team travelled to Africa to film some of the footage and the resulting piece is a hard-hitting yet sensitive exploration of the cultural and legal aspects surrounding the issue of female genital mutilation, a subject which was has hit the headlines in Ireland during the last year. The short documentary was based on a brief proposed by students of the M.A. in Public Advocacy, who collaborate with Production and Direction students every year to deliver incisive films addressing societal issues. Commenting on the win, James Finlan, coordinator of the M.A. in Production and Direction said: "This was the first year we had students shooting outside of Ireland which was an exciting development. This project was ideally suited to the competition as many of the original Radharc films dealt with African issues. Winning the award vindicates the collaboration between the Production and Public Advocacy students, which is a unique aspect of these courses". The Radharc Awards honour the memory of the late Fr Joe Dunn, co-founder of Radharc Films. The awards are presented to the producers of documentaries of outstanding quality, which address national or international topics of social justice, morality or faith. Huston School of Film & Digital Media runs a number of M.A. courses including Production/Direction, Screenwriting, Film Studies, Digital Media and Public Advocacy. Earlier this year, another Huston graduate Brian Deane won the Babelgum online film festival prize which was presented by Spike Lee at the Cannes Film Festival. Huston Screenwriting graduates have also won three out of four Stella Artois Pitching Awards at the Galway Film Fleadh. Further information available from: www.filmschool.ie -ends-

NUI Galway President, Dr James J. Browne has signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Maryland in the United States. The arrangement has been made to create future study and research ties between the two universities. President Browne, said: "This agreement of cooperation between NUI Galway and the University of Maryland is the product of a culture which is collaborative and where individuals are willing to work together for a common purpose. This collaboration represents an important step in shaping our futures as we share and build on our respective educational and research strengths. I look forward to fostering our relationship with the University of Maryland for our mutual benefit". Governor of Maryland, Martin O Malley also met with President Browne and President of the University of Maryland, Dan Mote Jr.. Governor O Malley visited NUI Galway in June of this year, when he received an honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws from the University. The memorandum signing coincided with the NUI Galway University Foundation Gala event which hosted former President Bill Clinton, Founder, William J. Clinton Foundation and Loretta Brennan Glucksman, Chairman of the American Ireland Fund, in honour of their contributions to delivering peace and prosperity on the island of Ireland over the past two decades. The event was held at the Metropolitan Club in New York City and was attended by NUI Galway alumni and friends including Druid Theatre Director, Garry Hynes; Niall Burgess, Consul General of Ireland in New York; and RTÉ broadcaster Seán O Rourke, who was MC for the night. Loretta Glucksman spoke of her first visit to Galway and recalled when she met then President Colm Ó hEocha, subsequently she interacted with Pat Fottrell and Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh as Presidents, and she and the American Ireland Fund now looked forward to working with Dr Browne in his presidency role. President Clinton in his opening remarks spoke of when his wife Hilary was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate at NUI Galway some ten years ago and of his own Irish connection through his mother with Roslea, Co. Fermanagh. President Clinton also spoke of his involvement with the peace process and how the people were ahead of the politicians in their desire for peace. He emphasised that research in Universities should focus on alternative energy notwithstanding the fact that oil prices had once again fallen to a low level. In his remarks, President Browne referred to President Clinton's achievements since he left office particularly in relation to the William J. Clinton Foundation, which seeks to strengthen the capacity of people throughout the world to meet the challenges of global interdependence. The President went on to praise the outstanding work of philanthropist Loretta Glucksman for her contribution to Ireland though the American Ireland Fund. He said "The goodwill generated by this event will leave a favourable and lasting impression of NUI Galway on all who attended". The fundraising event was attended by over 300 people including alumni and friends of the University and all proceeds will go towards the development of the Research Library at NUI Galway. Ends

The Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI), NUI Galway has assembled a distinguished panel of speakers to partake in a free public forum meeting on the subject of Osteoarthritis. The 2008 REMEDI public forum entitled 'Osteoarthritis - current treatments and future therapies' will be held on Tuesday, 9 December, from 7:30pm in The G Hotel Conference Centre, Galway. Osteoarthritis is a major disease focus of the research effort at REMEDI. The annual public forum provides the public with an opportunity to participate in discussions on all sides of the intensive research effort to combat human diseases and to improve the lives of patients. Participating panel members are: Mr. Philip Gleeson, Arthritis Ireland – a patient battling early-onset arthritis. Dr Drew Burdon, Smith & Nephew, UK – a global medical technology company specialist who will highlight several new treatments for Osteoarthritis. Professor Frank Barry, REMEDI, NUI Galway – is an adult stem cell expert with a research focus on cellular therapy for Osteoarthritis. Mr. Bill Curtin, Galway University Hospital - an orthopaedic surgeon with significant international experience. The forum has also been endorsed by leading Irish sporting personalities Pat Spillane and Gary O'Toole. Spillane, the former Kerry GAA great, is currently suffering from severe Osteoarthritis. O'Toole, the former Irish Olympic swimmer is now a consultant orthopaedic surgeon in The Beacon Clinic, Dublin. Both have given extraordinary interviews about their respective experiences with Osteoarthritis and both interviews will be exclusively screened during the REMEDI forum. The forum is free and open to all members of the public. Further information can be obtained by contacting 091-495726, info@remedi.ie or by visiting www.remedi.ie. ENDS

Dr Jimmy Devins T.D., Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, yesterday presented Enterprise Ireland's Industrial Technologies Commercialisation Awards. Two out of ten awards went to NUI Galway for its work in developing technologies in the fields of renewable energy and waste management. Since 2005, the Industrial Technologies Commercialisation Awards have recognised those researchers who successfully commercialised their research via a licence deal with an industrial partner or through the realisation of a successful spin-off. The award winners from NUI Galway were: Professor Gerard Hurley of the Electronic Engineering Department and Director of the Power Electronics Research Centre on campus. His project, in partnership with Convertec, is called 'Battery Condition Monitoring and Control'. Dr Michael Rodgers, a senior lecturer with the Department of Engineering, and researchers Edmond O'Reilly and Eoghan Clifford. The team licensed a technology to Bord na Móna called 'Horizontal-flow biofilm systems for small scale wastewater treatment'. NUI Galway has a strong reputation in technology transfer activities, as measured by license agreements, spin-out companies, new invention disclosures, patent applications, collaborative projects with industry and support to campus company formation. -ends-

One of the major writers of contemporary Irish fiction, John Banville, is the subject of a new book by NUI Galway's Dr John Kenny. Entitled John Banville, the book is an accessible yet detailed study that brings to the surface many of the hidden depths of the Man-Booker Prize-winning novelist. With a close eye on chronology, the book begins by establishing the intellectual and cultural contexts of Banville's writing and its reception among readers. It then provides insights into Banville's Irish themes, his crucial theories of the imagination, his preoccupation with morality and immorality, and his idiosyncratic devotion to a self-reflexive art. The book touches on all of Banville's work, from his first book, Long Lankin (1970) to his Man-Booker winning novel, The Sea (2005), and his recent popular fiction written under the pseudonym Benjamin Black. A native of Glenamaddy, Co. Galway, Dr John Kenny lectures in the English Department at NUI Galway where he is Director of the new BA with Creative Writing. For Dr Kenny, Banville is a rich source of insight into creative writing: "For anyone who has read the words 'They departed, the gods, on the day of the strange tide' and then delved further into The Sea, they know the lyrical and emotive strength of Banville's writing". He added: "For this book, I have researched his literary archive and it is a model lesson in the creative process. In the multiple drafts of his novels we can see the way discipline and inventiveness are combined in one of Ireland's great exponents of the imagination. His work is testament to the powerful ways in which dedicated artists of the word can make created worlds come vividly alive on the page". Dr Kenny is also an Academic Director of the John McGahern International Seminar and Summer School and founding editor of The John McGahern Yearbook. He is currently working on a second book on Banville and on a study of Patrick McCabe's fiction. John Banville is published as part of a major new series on Irish writers from Irish Academic Press. -ends-

NUI Galway students were among the winners at the 7th Media and Multicultural Awards (MAMA) yesterday. Richard Walsh and Julian Ulrichs, students of the M.A. in Production and Direction at the Huston School of Film & Digital Media, won an award for their short documentary 'F.G.M. - No Way Home'. Dealing with the issue of female genital mutilation, the film tells the story of Pamela Izevbekhai, a Nigerian woman currently seeking asylum with her daughters in Ireland. The MAMAs were established by the newspaper Metro Éireann, to recognise people, groups, companies, institutions and media platforms that promote diversity and multiculturalism in Ireland. In September, F.G.M. - No Way Home was also awarded the Best Short Documentary prize at the Radharc Awards. For their short film, producer Richard Walsh, from Ballybunion, County Kerry, and Director Julian Ulrichs, from Galway City, travelled to Nigeria to film footage for the documentary. The resulting piece is a hard-hitting yet sensitive exploration of the cultural and legal aspects surrounding the issue of female genital mutilation. The short documentary was based on a brief proposed by students of the M.A. in Public Advocacy, who collaborate with Production and Direction students every year to deliver incisive films addressing societal issues. Commenting on the most recent win, James Finlan, coordinator of the M.A. in Production and Direction said: "This was the first year we had students filming outside of Ireland, which was an exciting development. It's important to note the input from NUI Galway's Public Advocacy students Elisa Allen and Jayme Street, who came up with the initial brief on which the film was based. Winning the award vindicates the collaboration between the Production and Public Advocacy students, which is a unique aspect of these courses". Earlier this year, another Huston graduate Brian Deane won the Babelgum online film festival prize which was presented by Spike Lee at the Cannes Film Festival. Huston Screenwriting graduates have also won three out of four Stella Artois Pitching Awards at recent Galway Film Fleadhs. Huston School of Film & Digital Media runs a number of M.A. courses including Production/Direction, Screenwriting, Film Studies, Arts Policy, Digital Media and Public Advocacy. Further information available from: www.filmschool.ie -ends-

Pfizer Healthcare Ireland and NUI Galway, in collaboration with the Health Service Executive (HSE) have launched a Multilingual Project for General Practice settings, which includes a poster and a quick reference guide for GP staff. The aim of the Multilingual Project is to facilitate communication with patients with limited English proficiency (LEP), to provide a tool to overcome minor language barriers during consultations and to serve as a welcome poster in GP surgeries for patients coming from different ethnic backgrounds. To date, the Irish health sector has not had to address diversity in healthcare delivery on such a large scale or for such a wide variety of cultural groups. Research at the Department of General Practice, NUI Galway highlights that language differences between patients with LEP and their GPs are a serious barrier to health care access. The Multilingual Project contains words and phrases commonly used in a GP consultation. These are translated into ten languages that are frequently spoken in modern Ireland including English, Irish, French, Polish, Chinese (Mandarin), Lithuanian, Latvian, Portuguese, Arabic (Classic) and Russian. In light of a recent successful piloting of the Multilingual Project among GPs in Co Galway it will be distributed to all GPs in the Republic of Ireland. Dr Hans-Olaf Pieper, Fellow in Asylum Seeker and Refugee Healthcare, NUI Galway commented, "It is vital that all people living on the island of Ireland have access to healthcare. While this tool is not designed to replace the use of a professional, trained interpreter, it is intended to facilitate a path of communication between a GP and their patient. The display of the poster has the potential to indicate to patients with LEP that their doctor is aware of, and concerned about their language differences. The poster also has the potential to facilitate communication exchange between doctors and patients where there is a minor language barrier. Patients may have some English but may need help identifying medical terminology, specific body parts and so on." Ms Claire Murphy, Corporate Responsibility Programmes Manager, Pfizer Healthcare Ireland, stated "Currently, Ireland is a diverse society with migration named as the dominant factor responsible for the increase of Ireland's population. The development of the Pfizer Health Connect Project is timely as earlier this year the HSE National Intercultural Health Strategy identified information, language and communications as one of four main priorities and areas of development. As part of the Pfizer Health Connect Project we are launching today the Multilingual Project which addresses that need. People with LEP can now visit their GP with more confidence that they can overcome minor language barriers." Richard Broderick, Primary Care Manager, HSE West, remarked, "The Multilingual Project was developed and related research undertaken as part of the work of the Fellow in Asylum Seeker and Refugee Healthcare, NUI Galway. This post is a collaborative project between the Department of General Practice at NUI Galway, the Galway Refugee Support Group and the HSE West Primary Care Unit, which provides funding for the post. It is an inspiring achievement that in partnership between these organizations and Pfizer Healthcare Ireland this new communication aid is made available to all GPs in Ireland." Language diversity is a reality in modern Ireland and problems can arise when a communication breakdown occurs. This problem is felt especially in the General Practice setting whereby health barriers can exist due to a patient presenting with limited English. The new communication aid will hopefully assist in easing the challenging role of a General Practitioner and also facilitate a more worry free consultation for the patient. ENDS

A Ph.D. research programme in the Arts and Humanities entitled 'Texts, Contexts, Cultures' has been formally launched by the Minister for Education, Batt O'Keeffe, T.D.. The multidisciplinary programme is delivered in co-operation between research hubs at three Irish universities: The Moore Institute, NUI Galway; The Long Room Hub, Trinity College Dublin; and The Graduate School, the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences, UCC. Texts, Contexts, Cultures has recruited its full cohort of students after an international competition, with an intake of over 30 students from Ireland, Europe and the Americas. Over the course of four years, the programme will offer students a structured path to the completion of a Ph.D., while allowing them to engage with the research knowledge and skills of scholars from three universities. The programme is designed to integrate knowledge and use of new technologies and related professional placements into the traditional Ph.D. At NUI Galway, Texts, Contexts, Cultures is administered by Professor Nicholas Allen and Dr Sean Ryder. According to Professor Allen: "The project has five strands that cross European history and culture from the earliest period to the contemporary moment. Focussing on a wide range of expressive forms, from writing to visual art, the project incorporates the latest technology into its delivery, using internet teaching tools and video conferencing to give students access to the wider world". The five areas of specific research focus at NUI Galway are: Protecting the Inscribed Stones of Ireland: Led by Professor Dáibhí Ó Cróinín, students will gather and analyse data on the inscribed stones of Ireland, at a time when such monuments are increasingly threatened with physical damage and destruction. The research will focus especially on Clonmacnois, and will incorporate new technologies for archaeological research, such as laser-based tools. Columbanus - Life and Legacy: Led by Conor Newman and Dr Mark Stansbury, the research strand will investigate the textual and visual evidence for the life and work of the medieval Irish missionary Columbanus. The project will result, among other things, in the creation of new digital editions and archaeological surveys. Texts, Transmission and Cultural Exchange: Led by Dr Daniel Carey and Professor Jane Conroy, this strand will illuminate the impact of travel writing and images on the transmission and exchange of culture within Europe and between Europe, Asia and the Americas from the 17th to the 19th centuries. Among the results of this research will be several new databases and editions of historical, literary and visual material. Irish Landed Estates: Led by Professor Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh, this will expand an IRCHSS-funded database project on the landed estates of Connaught from the 18th to 20th centuries by producing a similar online database of the estates of Munster, thus facilitating access to valuable information that has hitherto been dispersed and disorganised. Researchers on this project will also produce analyses of the economic, social and cultural impacts of Irish landed estates. Globalisation, Empire and Culture: Led by Dr Lionel Pilkington, research will trace some of the relations between European imperialism and media of various types, including newspapers, popular theatre and religious texts. Among its tasks will be the construction of an online archive of primary materials for further study in this area. Further details are available here -ends-

As a small to medium sized enterprise (SME) operating in the very competitive IT services sector, Storm Technology has limited resources for product research and development. The 40+ strong team at Storm primarily focus on providing high quality software consultancy and web integration services to a wide range of public and private sector clients. What Storm does have, literally on its doorstep in Galway, is NUI Galway's Digital Enterprise Research Institute (DERI). With over 125 staff, the Institute is an internationally recognised institute in semantic web research, education and technology transfer. For Storm, commercialising some of DERI's research was an obvious stepping stone to meeting a customer need. Storm and its client Nortel had identified the challenge of connecting Nortel's structured product catalogue with relevant documents from their multiple unstructured information sources. Nortel wanted users of its product catalogue to be easily able to retrieve context relevant documents from their corporate document repositories. Through collaboration with the team at DERI, Storm was able to scale up its R&D capability, while DERI had access to a real-world industrial scenario for its work. The project, which was called INDRA focused on tackling a key challenge within the enterprise, the management of unstructured information (document repositories, websites, intranets, etc). The question was whether the leading-edge semantic techniques developed at DERI could provide the solution? The Semantic Web is an evolving extension of World Wide Web where data and services are defined and have meaning. This enriching of web content is opening semantically-powered solutions and is applicable to day-to-day business issues such as Nortel's document management process. Part of DERI's remit is the bringing together of academic and industrial partners to boost innovation in science and technology, with its research focused on the Semantic Web. DERI has worked extensively with multi-national industrial partners, including Hewlett Packard, and the INDRA project provided an opportunity to work closely with an Irish SME. Dr Edward Curry, INDRA Project Manager DERI, commented, "Research commercialisation is an important avenue for smaller companies as well as larger enterprises. Working with indigenous companies such as Storm, DERI and the University can provide a huge amount of research expertise and know-how". Working closely with Nortel, the teams from DERI and Storm were able to deliver a successful solution after 11 months of collaboration. The solution provides simple user friendly product search across all of Nortel's repositories with relevant context information from the product catalogue included within the search results. The project utilised DERI's techniques for information identification using ontology-based entity detection and disambiguation. Bill McDaniel, a Senior Research at DERI, described the usefulness of the project, "The INDRA project gave DERI the opportunity to build a serious, real world semantic application while researching new ideas in how semantics can make a difference in the emerging science of knowledge discovery". The day-to-day interaction between DERI and Storm personnel leads to knowledge transfer opportunities between both parties. The potential benefits of this transfer were emphasised by Karl Flannery, Managing Director of Storm Technology, "Equally important to the development of a product is the actual knowledge transfer and the opportunity to innovate across both organisations". The INDRA project was supported by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and both DERI and Storm own the part of the project they worked on, with some limited joint ownership. Based on its successful participation within the INDRA project, Storm has committed to further collaboration with DERI. -ends-

Over 800 students will graduate from across the five colleges at NUI Galway on Friday, 28 November 2008, at the University's winter conferring ceremonies. Ms Audrey Corbett, musical director of Galway Baroque Singers will also be honoured with a Master of Music (honoris causa). The choral group will give a special performance in her honour at this ceremony. Audrey Corbett s musical career began in Dublin where as a pianist and organist she won many of the major awards at the Dublin Feis Ceoil, among other festivals. Her interest in choral music first manifested itself when, as a music student at UCD she created the St. Stephen s Singers, an ensemble which was acclaimed both nationally and internationally on winning the BBC Radio competition Let the Peoples Sing in 1971. Since moving to Galway, Audrey has contributed significantly to the flourishing of choral music, with the formation of the Corrib Singers, an award winning female voice choir, the Galway Boys Choir, and the Galway Baroque Singers. She is in frequent demand as a choral adjudicator and director of workshops, seminars and masterclasses and was a member of the Board of Directors of the National Concert Hall for five years. Recognised for her outstanding contribution to music in the West of Ireland, Audrey was a recipient of the Galway County Arts Award in 1997. She conducted the annual Messiah for all in the National Concert Hall in 2001. In the same year, Audrey formed a new chamber choir, 'Sunus', with whom she has had considerable success, winning the overall Irish choir of the Festival at the Cork Choral Festival in 2003 and competing in the International Competition there in 2004. Speaking in advance of the ceremony, President of NUI Galway, Dr James J. Browne, commented: "NUI Galway has a strong tradition of commitment to the arts and artistic life, within the University, the local community and beyond. We are delighted to honour Audrey Corbett for her outstanding contribution to music and the development of choral singing in Galway". Students will graduate throughout the day 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. Among these will be the first students to graduate from the MA in Language Planning, the first third-level course in this discipline to be offered in Ireland and in Europe designed to provide opportunities for professional and academic development for both recent graduates and for practitioners already working in a professional capacity in a language planning context or in a related sector. -Ends-

The Moore Institute at NUI Galway will launch the pilot phase of the Thomas Moore Hypermedia Archive at a conference on the life, work and legacy of Thomas Moore (1779 – 1852) entitled Thomas Moore: Texts, Contexts, Hypertext, taking place on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 November. The Archive, the first of its kind in Ireland and funded by the IRCHSS, is a free online electronic resource which will collect and present in digital form Moore's writings, music, illustrations, fresh scholarly notes and commentary and a selection of audio performances. These will include the new recordings by EMI producer Jonathan Allen of all 124 of Moore's Irish Melodies, with pianist Úna Hunt and the young vocalists featured in 'My Gentle Harp'. According to the Archive's director, Dr Sean Ryder of NUI Galway: "The Thomas Moore Hypermedia Archive will allow people to experience Moore's work in multimedia form – combining words, music, and illustrations – and will be a resource for scholars as well as the general public. The project will continue to develop over the next few years, as more materials are added, more texts are edited, and users themselves begin to contribute. Moore published over a thousand poems, along with biographies, a novel and other prose works, and we plan eventually to have all this material available online." Speakers at the conference will include Moore's most recent biographer, Ronan Kelly, Irish cultural critics Luke Gibbons and Emer Nolan, musicologist Harry White, and Moore editors Jeffery Vail and Jane Moore. The conference will open with a lecture and recital by tenor and scholar James Flannery, accompanied by harpist Janet Harbison. A nationwide concert tour and travelling exhibition entitled 'My Gentle Harp: Moore's Irish Melodies 1808 – 2008', coincides with the conference and will take place in the Aula Maxima at NUI Galway on Saturday, 29 November at 8pm. The tour continues around the country until April 2009 and will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the first publication in 1808 of 'Moore's Irish Melodies', by the famous Irish composer and poet Thomas Moore supported by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, the Arts Council, the Office of Public Works, the National Library of Ireland and the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama. The concert tour will feature one of Ireland's leading pianists Dr Úna Hunt with Dean Power, Claudia Boyle and Gavan Ring, all young vocal prize-winners from the DIT Thomas Moore Festival held in January 2008, who will present Moore's well-known songs such as The Last Rose of Summer, The Minstrel Boy, The Harp that Once Through Tara's Halls or The Meeting of the Waters and, in addition, some of the unknown songs from the collection, of which there are 124 written by Moore over a period of 26 years. The programme also features 'souvenir' piano music, written by nineteenth century composers in response to Moore's Melodies. The commemorative celebrations 'My Gentle Harp' also includes a travelling exhibition, curated by the Royal Irish Academy, which will be on display in the Aula Maxima, NUI Galway until 5 December. It consists of panels depicting Moore's early and later life, a showing of the TV documentary 'One Faithful Harp' by Hummingbird Productions, and audio clips from a compilation CD of recordings of Moore's Melodies by well-known artists. The recordings will also be available on CD in December 2008. Attendance at the conference is free, and a programme is available at: www.mooreinstitute.ie. ENDS

Researching Intelligent, Powerful Systems to Help Companies Use Data Strategically IDA Ireland has announced that IBM is establishing an exascale stream computing research 'collaboratory' and the creation of 40 new jobs at IBM and local Universities supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland. The agreement will see IBM supercomputing and multidisciplinary experts work directly with University researchers from NUI Galway, Trinity College Dublin Tyndall National Institute in Cork, UCC and IRCSET, the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology to develop computing architectures and technologies that overcome current limitations of dealing with the massive volumes of real-time data and analysis. The two NUI Galway research groups invited by IBM to collaborate in this R&D initiative are Applied Optics led by Professor Chris Dainty and Bio-Inspired Electronics and Reconfigurable Computing led by Dr Fearghal Morgan. President of NUI Galway, Dr James J. Browne, said: "NUI Galway has a strong commitment to collaboration and partnership. The Applied Optics Group and the Bio-Inspired Electronics and Reconfigurable Computing Group (BIRC) are internationally recognised research and development groups working to build strategically important links with industry. The University welcomes this timely opportunity to partner with IBM in developing tomorrow s computing technology and we look forward to increasing our portfolio of innovative research and development partnerships in the future. While high performance computing today primarily focuses on scientific applications in areas such as physics or medicine, the exascale research will focus on how these new powerful computing systems can be applied to solving complex business problems. The research will include both technical and applications research. For example, the application research for exascale computing will study financial services using real-time, intelligent analysis of a company's valuation developed from business models using data from investor profiles, live market trading and RSS news feeds. The research will also focus on making sense of the volume of data from social networks to understand rapidly evolving and changing business trends and opportunities. The technical research will explore innovative ways of using new memory architectures, interconnecting technologies and fabric structures, and will evaluate business applications that would benefit from an exascale streaming platform. IBM believe that the expertise already developed within the partner research groups will help them achieve their goal of increasing computer performance by a factor of 1000 over the next 8 years. Research at NUI Galway will investigate electronic integrated circuits which incorporate high speed optical connectivity and whose architecture mimics that of the brain. This project will provide devices which can process the vast amounts of data which exist in medical, financial and scientific domains, in real time. Commenting on the announcement, Michael Daly, Country General Manager IBM Ireland, said: "IBM's collaboratory strategy will be a vital part of how we will work to apply intelligence to improve the way the world works and solve our clients' toughest problems. A collaboratory is not a place, but it's an integration of teams who can achieve more by working together than working alone. The collaboration between Irish Universities and IBM will not only work on exascale stream computing, but will aim to apply sophisticated and unprecedented computing power to solve the seemingly insurmountable problems businesses are facing today such as inefficient supply chains, energy shortage, managing risk and more." Speaking at today's announcement Minister Lenihan said: "Choosing Ireland as a preferred location for global research centres is significant for Ireland and is in line with IDA Ireland's strategy of developing high-value knowledge-based R&D projects with leading technology companies. Today's announcement strengthens the computational science capability of Ireland in line with the Government's Strategy for Science and Technology 2006-2013. It is a further endorsement of the excellent long-standing relationship between IBM and Irish universities." -Ends-

Seolfaidh Institiúid de Móra in OÉ Gaillimh céim phíolótach Chartlann Hipirmheán Thomas Moore ag comhdháil faoi shaol, faoi shaothar agus faoi oidhreacht Thomas Moore (1779 – 1852), dar teideal Thomas Moore: Texts, Contexts, Hypertext, Dé hAoine agus Dé Sathairn, an 28 agus an 29 Samhain. Is áis leictreonach ar líne saor in aisce a bheidh sa Chartlann, arb í an chéad cheann den sórt sin í in Éirinn agus atá á maoiniú ag an IRCHSS, ina mbaileofar scríbhinní, ceol agus léaráidí Moore, nótaí agus tuairimíocht scolártha nua agus taifeadtaí éagsúla fuaime. Ina measc seo beidh taifeadadh nua ar gach ceann den 124 fonn a chum Moore, leis an bpianódóir Úna Hunt agus leis na hamhránaithe óga atá ag ceol i gceolchoirm 'My Gentle Harp', á léiriú ag léiritheoir EMI Jonathan Allen. Dúirt stiúrthóir na Cartlainne, an Dr Sean Ryder as OÉ Gaillimh, an méid seo a leanas: "Cuirfidh Cartlann Hipirmheán Thomas Moore ar chumas daoine taithí a fháil ar shaothar Moore i bhfoirm ilmheán – ina nascfar focail, ceol agus léaráidí – agus beidh sí ina háis ag lucht léinn agus ag an bpobal i gcoitinne. Beifear ag forbairt an tionscadail as seo go ceann cúpla bliain, trína thuilleadh ábhair a chur leis, trí eagarthóireacht á déanamh ar théacsanna eile, agus trí ábhar a bheith á chur leis an gcartlann ag na húsáideoirí. D'fhoilsigh Moore níos mó ná míle dán, mar aon le beathaisnéisí, úrscéal agus saothair phróis eile, agus tá súil againn go mbeidh an t-ábhar seo ar fad ar fáil ar líne." I measc chainteoirí na comhdhála beidh beathaisnéisí Moore, Ronan Kelly, na léirmheastóirí ar chultúr na hÉireann Luke Gibbons agus Emer Nolan, an ceoleolaí Harry White, agus eagarthóirí Moore, Jeffery Vail agus Jane Moore. Cuirfear tús leis an gcomhdháil le léacht agus ceadal ceoil leis an teanór agus an scoláire James Flannery, le tionlacan ón gcláirseoir Janet Harbison. Chomh maith leis an gcomhdháil, mar chuid de thuras náisiúnta, cuirfear tús le ceolchoirm agus taispeántas taistil dar teideal 'My Gentle Harp: Moore's Irish Melodies 1808 – 2008' san Aula Maxima in OÉ Gaillimh Dé Sathairn, an 29 Samhain ag 8pm. Beidh an turas ag dul ar fud na tíre idir seo agus Aibreán 2009 mar cheiliúradh ar an 200 bliain ó foilsíodh Moore's Irish Melodies leis an gcumadóir agus leis an bhfile cáiliúil Thomas Moore. Is le tacaíocht ón Roinn Ealaíon, Spóirt agus Turasóireachta, ón gComhairle Ealaíon, ó Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí, ón Leabharlann Náisiúnta agus ó Ardscoil Cheoil agus Drámaíochta DIT atá an turas á reáchtáil. Ina measc sin a bheidh ar stáitse le linn na ceolchoirme beidh duine de phríomhphianódóirí na hÉireann an Dr Úna Hunt agus ina teannta beidh Dean Power, Claudia Boyle agus Gavan Ring, ar buaiteoirí duaiseanna guthanna óga iad ag Féile Thomas Moore DIT a tionóladh i mí Eanáir 2008, agus a chuirfidh amhráin cháiliúla Moore, leithéidí The Last Rose of Summer, The Minstrel Boy, The Harp that Once Through Tara's Halls nó The Meeting of the Waters agus cuid de na hamhráin sa bhailiúchán nach bhfuil an oiread sin eolais ag daoine orthu i láthair. Scríobh Moore 124 amhrán ar fad i dtréimhse 26 bliain. Tá ceol 'cuimhneacháin' pianó ar an gclár chomh maith a scríobh cumadóirí ón naoú céad déag mar fhreagairt ar Moore's Melodies. Tá taispeántas taistil, a roghnaigh Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann, ina chuid de cheiliúradh cuimhneacháin 'My Gentle Harp' agus beidh sé ar bun san Aula Maxima in OÉ Gaillimh go dtí an 5 Nollaig. Is éard atá ann painéil ina ndéantar cur síos ar óige agus ar shaol Moore, léiriú ar an gclár faisnéise teilifíse One Faithful Harp a rinne Hummingbird Productions, agus gearrthóga fuaime ó dhlúthdhiosca ar díolaim é de thaifeadtaí a rinne ceoltóirí cáiliúla ar fhoinn Moore. Beidh na taifeadtaí ar fáil ar dlúthdhiosca chomh maith i mí na Nollag 2008. Níl aon táille ar an gcomhdháil, agus tá an clár ar fáil ar an láithreán gréasáin: www.mooreinstitute.ie. CRÍOCH

Bronnfar céim ar bhreis agus 800 mac léinn as cúig choláiste OÉ Gaillimh Dé Aoine, an 28 Samhain 2008, ag searmanais bronnta céimeanna an gheimhridh san Ollscoil. Bronnfar Céim Mháistreachta sa Cheol (honoris causa) ar Audrey Corbett, stiúrthóir ceoil Amhránaithe Barócacha na Gaillimhe chomh maith. Cloisfear féasta ceoil ó na córchantóirí sin ina honóir ag an searmanas. Mar phianódóir agus mar orgánaí a thug Audrey Corbett faoi shaol an cheoil ar dtús i mBaile Átha Cliath, áit ar bhuaigh sí go leor de na príomhghradaim ag an bhFeis Ceoil, i measc féilte eile. Ina mac léinn le ceol di sa Choláiste Ollscoile, Baile Átha Cliath, a céadléiríodh a spéis i gceol córúil nuair a bhunaigh sí St. Stephen's Singers, ensemble a raibh iúl an phobail orthu go náisiúnta agus go hidirnáisiúnta nuair a bhuaigh siad comórtas 'Let the Peoples Sing' de chuid Raidió an BBC i 1971. Ó bhog sí go Gaillimh, tá Audrey tar éis cur go mór le bláthú an cheoil chórúil, ó bhunaigh sí Cantóirí na Gaillimhe, cór ban a bhfuil go leor duaiseanna buaite acu, Cór Buachaillí na Gaillimhe agus Amhránaithe Barócacha na Gaillimhe. Tá an-tóir uirthi mar mholtóir ar chóir agus mar stiúrthóir ceardlann, seimineár agus máistir-ranganna agus bhí sí ina comhalta ar Bhord Stiúrthóirí an Cheolárais Náisiúnta ar feadh cúig bliana. Mar chomhartha aitheantais ar a saothar ar son an cheoil in iarthar Éireann, bronnadh Gradam Ealaíon Chomhairle Contae na Gaillimhe ar Audrey i 1997. Bhí sí ina stiúrthóir ar an 'Messiah for all' bliantúil sa Cheoláras Náisiúnta in 2001. An bhliain sin, bhunaigh Audrey cór aireagail nua, 'Sonas', atá an-rathúil; bhuaigh siad duais Scothchór Éireannach na Féile ag Féile Cór Chorcaí in 2003 agus bhí siad san iomaíocht sa Chomórtas Idirnáisiúnta ansin in 2004. Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, an Dr James J. Browne, roimh an searmanas: "Tá OÉ Gaillimh an-tugtha le fada do na healaíona agus do shaol na n-ealaíon san Ollscoil féin, sa phobal áitiúil agus in áiteanna níos faide ó bhaile. Tá an-áthas orainn an onóir seo a thabhairt d'Audrey Corbett as an tsárobair atá déanta aici ar mhaithe leis an gceol agus ag forbairt na córchantana i nGaillimh". Beifear ag bronnadh céimeanna ar mhic léinn i rith an lae ó Choláiste an Leighis, an Altranais agus na nEolaíochtaí Sláinte; ó Choláiste na hInnealtóireachta agus na Faisnéisíochta; 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. Ina measc, beidh mic léinn ón MA sa Phleanáil Teanga, an chéad chúrsa tríú leibhéal san ábhar acadúil seo atá á chur ar fáil in Éirinn nó fiú amháin san Eoraip, cúrsa dírithe ar mhic léinn a bhfuil céim bainte amach acu agus atá ag iarraidh oibriú i bpoist i réimsí na pleanála teanga, na forbartha pobail agus na n-eagraíochtaí stáit agus ar dhaoine atá cheana féin ag obair i réimse na pleanála teanga nó in earnáil ghaolmhar. -Críoch-

Professor William Schabas, Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights, NUI Galway, has said the human right to 'share in scientific advancement and its benefits' could become pivotal in the climate change debate. Professor Schabas was speaking following a high-level meeting at NUI Galway over the weekend, jointly organised with UNESCO and the Amsterdam Centre of International Law. Almost 60 years ago, the right of everyone to share in scientific advancement and its benefits was first established in Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. According to Professor Schabas: "From a legal standpoint, the right to enjoy the benefit of scientific progress and its applications remains largely unexplored. Yet in today's context, there is undoubtedly a relationship between the right to benefit from scientific progress, climate change and environmental protection. The necessity to share the benefits of scientific progress and knowledge across humanity in the face of a global challenge has never been so relevant". He continued: "We already know that those living in poverty, in sub-Saharan Africa for example, are among the first casualties of climate change. The question for national and international law makers is how the right to benefit from scientific progress will be interpreted in relation to global climate change". The Professor also noted, as UNESCO has reported previously, that progress in science and technology does not necessarily constitute "progress" for humankind. Elements of scientific research can also have detrimental consequences leading to ethical questions. This might include sophisticated weaponry, untested medicines or genetically modified products. Opened in 2000, the Irish Centre for Human Rights at NUI Galway supports the study and promotion of human rights and humanitarian law. The Centre offers a range of postgraduate programmes including International Human Rights Law, International Peace Support Operations, Human Rights Law, and Human Rights and Criminal Justice. At undergraduate level, NUI Galway also offers a new Bachelor of Arts with Human Rights. -ends-

NUI Galway and the University of Ulster, have received a grant of over £1.3 million for the establishment of a research collaboration in the area of functional biomaterials. The cutting edge research will be led by Professor Brian Meenan at the University of Ulster and Professor Abhay Pandit at NUI Galway, with the funding coming from the Northern Ireland Department for Employment and Learning, under its Cross Border R&D Funding Programme. Professor Pandit is Director of the Network of Excellence for Functional Biomaterials (NFB), which is part of NUI Galway's National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science (NCBES). Biomaterials are synthetic materials which are placed within the body for therapeutic reasons. Their effectiveness can be greatly increased by combining them with therapeutic agents such as cells, proteins and genes. The new technology has applications linked to several important diseases, including cardiovascular disease, disc repair, bone repair, spinal cord and nerve damage. According to Professor Pandit: "Through collaboration with the established biomaterials group at the University of Ulster, we can continue to grow the network and our research capability. We are now in a position to make a substantial impact on the world stage for biomaterials research and are tackling scientific challenges in the areas of medical devices, nanotechnology, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine". Professor Meenan added: "This major award from the Cross Border R&D Funding Programme will establish a critical mass for research in functional biomaterials across the island. New and existing staff at the University of Ulster, working directly with colleagues at NUI Galway, will establish an internationally leading research base in this strategically important area with the aim of contributing to relevant aspects of economic and social development in the North and the South". Welcoming the research awards, Professor Richard Barnett, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ulster, said: "This funding for the University of Ulster-led research represents an endorsement and recognition of the international calibre of the research capacity at the University. The projects also mark a milestone in our relations with our academic partners in the Republic of Ireland. Together, we will bring to bear on these important research themes the most powerful analytical minds on the island". Dr James J. Browne, President of NUI Galway, added: "I am delighted to see our long standing fruitful co-operation with the University of Ulster is further enhanced by this award. It will facilitate deeper co-operation between the team in the University of Ulster and NUI Galway's recently established, Science Foundation Ireland funded, functional biomaterials group led by Professor Abhay Pandit. I congratulate all of those involved in winning this award and wish them well with their ongoing research". Professor Terry Smith, Vice-President for Research at NUI Galway, commented on the announcement stating: "NUI Galway strongly supports this partnership with the University of Ulster and looks forward to further developing a collaborative approach to this critically relevant area of research. This research award is a welcome testament to the strength of functional biomaterial research ongoing in NUI Galway through the NFB." A total of £7.7 million has been awarded through the Cross Border R&D Funding Programme, which will contribute to the development of an all-island research infrastructure through meaningful, targeted collaboration with leading research teams in the Republic of Ireland. -ends-

Reáchtáilfidh Bord na Gaeilge an ócáid 'Do Ghairm trí Ghaeilge' i dTéatar Uí Chearbhalláin in Áras na Gaeilge, OÉ Gaillimh inniu (Déardaoin, 20 Samhain) ag a 3.00i.n. Ócáid a chuirfidh eolas ar fáil faoi chúrsaí agus gairmeacha trí mheán na Gaeilge. Ag caint faoin ócáid, deir Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, an Dr James J. Browne: "Tabharfaidh an ócáid seo deis do mhic léinn Ollscoile agus don phobal, eolas a fháil ar na deiseanna atá ann maidir le cúrsaí a dhéanamh trí mheán na Gaeilge agus na deiseanna fostaíochta atá ar fáil in earnáil na Gaeilge". Is iad na haoichainteoirí a bheidh i láthair ar an lá ná: Joe Greaney, Stiúrthóir an chomhlachta Westbic; Eimear Ní Chonfhaola, Nuacht TG4; Susan Ní Chualáin, Comhordaitheoir an M.A. san Ateangaireacht Chomhdhála; agus Lochlainn Ó Tuairisg, Eagarthóir Litríochta le Cló Iar-Chonnachta. Beidh seastáin éagsúla ann chun gach saghas eolais faoi chúrsaí agus gairmeacha Gaeilge a sholáthar do mhic léinn agus don phobal. Lean an tUachtarán: "Is é seo an chéad bhliain a leithéid d'ócáid a bheith á reáchtáil san Ollscoil trí mheán na Gaeilge agus táim cinnte go dtiocfaidh méadú agus borradh ar an ócáid seo bliain i ndiaidh bliana. Guím gach rath ar an ócáid seo agus ar na mic léinn chumasacha a bheidh mar ionadaithe don Ollscoil seo in earnáil na Gaeilge amach anseo". -Críoch-

- Integrated Nanoscience Platform for Ireland - INSPIRE – The Integrated Nanoscience Platform for Ireland was officially launched recently by Dr Jimmy Devins T.D., Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation. LightHouse, the Centre for Applied Photonics in NUI Galway, is a key member of this national initiative, which is a consortium of ten academic institutes leading the strand on nano-photonics research. The project has a total value of €32 million, the largest funding allocation to any national consortium, of which €2.7 will go to LightHouse. The award will enable LightHouse to install a suite of new cleanroom and ultrafast laser processing and process control facilities for developing new nanotechnology- based processes, products and nanomaterials. The award will also enhance the University's teaching reputation, by adding value to graduate research and training in biomedical science, photonics and materials science. Commenting on the funding award Dr Gerard O'Connor of LightHouse, NUI Galway, said: "This award is recognition of the recent inclusion of Photonics as a theme in the formal research strategy of the University. This vision for the future of photonics research strategically positions the University to respond to the growing opportunities and challenges that such new technologies will present to industry, both nationally, and internationally. It recognises the importance of the enabling contributions that photonics will make to biomedical engineering science and environmental science at NUI Galway and to nanoscience and ICT initiatives nationally". -Ends-

NUI Galway will officially launch its new Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Care at its annual social care seminar from 22-23 November. Using distance-learning techniques, the B.A. programme combines home-study, tutor support, work placement and workshops available in NUI Galway centres in Carlow, Galway and Portarlington. The four year, part- time, programme builds on the successful certificate and diploma courses offered since 1993. The new B.A. in Social Care is designed for adult learners returning to education, with experience in care work. Flexibility is provided by allowing students to exit and return to the programme at different points, taking up to seven years to complete the degree or choosing to finish at the end of year one with a certificate, or year two with a diploma. Course Director, NUI Galway's Dr Jane Sixsmith, says flexible access to third-level learning opportunities for social care workers will ultimately enhance care: "In the field of social care, increased attention is being given to qualifications, regulation and professionalisation. The degree programme is designed with this in mind, to support the education needs of social care workers, in as flexible a manner as possible". Dr Sixsmith added: "This degree programme provides an opportunity for a much broader range of people to access third level education than would traditionally be the case and exemplifies the University's commitment to life long learning". The theme of this year's social care seminar is "Working with Older People". Over 250 NUI Galway students undertaking social care programmes will attend, including the first cohort of B.A. students. For more information about the B.A. in Social Care please visit www.nuig.ie/hpr, call 091 493874, or email yvonne.forde@nuigalway.ie -ends-

Osclóidh Príomhfheidhmeannach Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, Peadar Mac an Iomaire, deireadh seachtaine ceiliúrtha 10 mbliana Áras Shorcha Ní Ghuairim i gCarna ar an Aoine, 21 Samhain, 2008. Ionad for-rochtana de chuid Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, OÉ Gaillimh é Áras Shorcha Ní Ghuairim. Cuireann an tIonad raon deiseanna ollscolaíochta ar fáil do phobal na Gaeltachta agus do Ghaeilgeoirí ó cheantair eile, mar aon leis an Ghaeilge a chothú mar phríomhtheanga pobail sa Ghaeltacht. View in English "Is cúis mhór áthais dúinn an sprioc seo a bheith sroichte againn" a dúirt Riarthóir an Ionaid Séamas Ó Concheanainn. "Ag tógáil ar mhisean bunaithe an Ionaid deich mbliana ó shin tá clár ollscolaíochta, tacaíochta teanga agus tionscnamh forbartha pobail idir lámha ag an Ionad ar mhaithe le forbairt inbhuanaithe phobal na Gaeltachta agus na Gaeilge". Tá sa bhreis ar 580 mac léinn tar éis cáilíochtaí Ollscoile a bhaint amach faoi scáth an Árais trí chúrsaí réamhollscoile, fochéime agus iarchéime a dhéanamh i dTeicneolaíocht na Faisnéise agus sa Riarachán Gnó; sa Ghaeilge; sa Bhéaloideas; i gCúram Sóisialta agus i bFhorbairt Phobail. Tá forbairt á déanamh ar an gclár cúrsaí atá á thairiscint ag an Ionad ar bhonn leanúnach le freastal ar riachtanais spriocghrúpaí agus an mhargaidh. Tá pobal forleathan tagtha faoi thionchar chláir shealbhaithe agus bhuanaithe Gaeilge an Ionaid freisin. "Tá cúrsaí an Ionaid ag cabhrú lenár mic léinn fostaíocht mhaith a aimsiú mar aon le deis a thabhairt dóibh leanacht leis an oideachas fadsaoil gar do bhaile ina dteanga dúchais" a deir Ó Concheanainn. Tá clár forbartha agus taighde á chur chun cinn ag an Ionad freisin a nascann nuálaíocht teanga agus nuálaíocht teicneolaíochta i réimsí a áiríonn an tIdirlíon agus an Chartlannaíocht. Tá an tAcadamh dóchasach go gcothóidh na tionscnaimh taighde agus forbartha seo tuilleadh deiseanna ardoiliúna agus fostaíochta sa Ghaeltacht. Tá obair an Ionaid ag tacú le cur chun cinn an bhonneagair oideachais, eacnamaíochta agus seirbhíse ar fud na Gaeltachta. Tá comhoibriú láidir ar siúl le heagraíochtaí stáit agus leis an bpobal ar mhaithe le cur ar chumas an phobail a bheith páirteach i sochaí agus i ngeilleagar an eolais, mar a léiríodh leis an bhfeachtas ar éirigh leis le gairid córas leathanbhanda ardluais HEAnet a sholáthar i gCarna agus i gceantair Ghaeltachta eile. "Tá an tacaíocht atá á fháil ag an Ionad ón Roinn Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta agus ó Údarás na Gaeltachta fíorthábhachtach ó thaobh timpeallacht a chothú atá báúil do chur chun cinn bonneagair Ollscolaíochta sa Ghaeltacht" a deir Ó Concheanainn. Tá idir léachtaí, taispeántais, ceardlanna agus ceolchoirm oíche Dé Sathairn ar chlár imeachtaí an deireadh seachtaine comórtha in Áras Shorcha Ní Ghuairim. San áireamh tá léacht ar shaothar Shorcha Ní Ghuairim féin a thabharfaidh an Dr Ríonach Uí Ógáin tráthnóna Dé hAoine, 21 Samhain ag 8.00i.n. Tugtar cuireadh don phobal freastal ar imeachtaí uile an deireadh seachtaine. Is féidir tuilleadh eolais maidir le himeachtaí an deireadh seachtaine a fháil ag: www.acadamh.ie CRÍOCH

On Friday 21 November, Peadar Mac an Iomaire, Príomhfheidhmeannach of Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge will launch a weekend of events at Áras Shorcha Ní Ghuairim, Carna to celebrate the Centre's 10-year anniversary. Áras Shorcha Ní Ghuairim is an outreach centre of Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUI Galway. The Centre offers a range of third level educational opportunities through the medium of Irish to Gaeltacht communities and to Irish speakers elsewhere, in addition to endeavouring to sustain the Irish language as the primary community language in the Gaeltacht. Leagan Gaeilge Séamas Ó Concheanainn, the Centre's Administrator, commented ahead of the celebration: "It is a great sense of joy for us that we have reached this important milestone. Building on the centre's founding mission 10 years ago, we are offering a programme of third level education, language support and community development initiatives geared towards the sustainable development of Gaeltacht and Irish-speaking communities". To date, in excess of 580 students have achieved third level qualifications through Access, undergraduate and post-graduate level programmes in Information Technology and Business Administration, Gaeilge, Folklore Studies, Social Care and Community Development under the aegis of the Centre. The Centre's programme of courses is being developed on an ongoing basis to meet target group and market needs. A widespread community has also come under the influence of the Centre's Irish language acquisition and sustainment programme. Ó Concheanainn continued: "Our programmes assist our students in attaining high quality employment as well as enabling them to pursue lifelong learning opportunities close to home in their native language. The Acadamh Centre is developing a programme of research and development that integrates linguistic and technological innovation in areas encompassing the Internet and archiving. We are confident that these research and development initiatives will create further higher-education and employment opportunities in the Gaeltacht". The Centre's work is also contributing to the development of the educational, economic and services infrastructure in the Gaeltacht. There is strong co-operation with state bodies and with the public to enable communities to participate in the knowledge society and economy. This is evident in the recent successful campaign to attain the HEAnet high-speed broadband service at Carna and in other Gaeltacht areas. "The support received by the Centre from the Roinn Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta and from Údarás na Gaeltachta is paramount in nurturing an environment conducive to the development of a third level education infrastructure in the Gaeltacht" says Ó Concheanainn. The weekend programme of events at Áras Shorcha Ní Ghuairim includes lectures, exhibitions, workshops, and a Saturday night concert featuring sean-nós singers and dancers, musicians and other artists from near and far. Dr Ríonach Uí Ógáin will give a lecture on Sorcha Ní Ghuairim's career and accomplishments on Friday, 21 November at 8.00pm. The public are invited to attend all events through the weekend. Further details regarding the weekend's events can be found at: www.acadamh.ie ENDS

NUI Galway is delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Terry Eagleton as Adjunct Professor of Cultural Theory based at the Moore's Institute for Research in the Humanities and Social Studies. Professor Eagleton, who is of Irish descent, is regarded by many as arguably Britain's most influential living literary critic. His specialities are literary and cultural theory and the English-language literature and culture of Ireland, on which he has recently completed a trilogy of works. Eagleton's books of literary criticism include Literary Theory: an Introduction (1983) and After Theory (2003). He is also the author of the novel Saints and Scholars (1987) and The Gatekeeper: a Memoir (2001). His latest books are How to Read a Poem (2006); The Meaning of Life (2007); and Trouble with Strangers: a Study of Ethics (2008). Announcing the appointment, Professor Kevin Barry, Dean of the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies at NUI Galway, said: "We warmly welcome Terry Eagleton to the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies where he will join the Moore Institute for Research in the Humanities and Social Studies. Eagleton, as adjunct Professor of Cultural Theory, will provide each semester master-classes for doctoral students and junior staff, in addition to open lectures and seminars on modern literature". "Without doubt Terry Eagleton is one of the most distinguished and recalcitrant public intellectuals of his time. He has on many occasions been a celebrated visitor to Galway, receiving an Honorary Doctorate from this University some ten years ago. He has continued, whether in his writings on culture, critical thinking, economic inequality, or the politics of terror, to rough up the edges of the mainstream , as he calls it. He remains (and his time may have come again) a defender of Marx's analysis of power and its discontents. He is a famous and fabulous communicator and one of the rare articulate, persuasive critics of contemporary liberalism. His presence on campus will bring exciting benefits to our students, and we are delighted he will be sharing with them his time and the energy of his arguments." Terry Eagleton was recently appointed to a Chair in English Literature at the Department of English and Creative Writing at Lancaster University and has previously held the positions of Thomas Wharton Professor of English Literature at the University of Oxford (1992-2001), and until recently the John Edward Taylor Professor of English Literature at the University of Manchester. Eagleton commented on his appointment to NUI Galway: "I am delighted to be appointed to a chair in the most beautiful of all the Irish campuses, a college which honoured me with a Degree of Doctor of Letters some years ago. Coming to Galway is particularly exciting for me since I have many old friends in the town and college. In fact, the Eagletons come from Headford and Shrule and there are still members of my family in the borderlines of Co. Galway and Co. Mayo. I am particularly grateful to Professor Kevin Barry who took the initiative to bring me to Galway and I look forward to meeting the students very soon". Professor Eagleton will deliver his Inaugural Lecture at NUI Galway on 10 December entitled 'The Death of Criticism'. -Ends-

- Scientists report major steps towards 1st Census of Marine Life - Research from the Martin Ryan Institute at NUI Galway will headline the latest report from the 2,000-strong community of Census of Marine Life (CoML) scientists from 82 nations tomorrow (Tuesday, 11 November, 2008) announcing astonishing examples of recent new finds from the world's ocean depths. As more than 700 delegates gather for the World Conference on Marine Biodiversity (Valencia, Spain, 11-15 November), organized by the Census's European affiliate program on Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning, the report details major progress towards the first ever marine life census, for release in October, 2010. Antarctic ancestry of many deep-sea octopuses worldwide Principal Investigator Dr Louise Allcock from NUI Galway, and her colleagues from Cambridge University, Queen's University Belfast and British Antarctic Survey, will report the first molecular evidence that a large proportion of deep-sea octopus species worldwide evolved from common ancestor species that still exist in the Southern Ocean. Octopuses started migrating to new ocean basins more than 30 million years ago as Antarctica cooled and large icesheets grew. These huge climatic events created a "thermohaline expressway," a northbound flow of deep cold water, providing new habitat for the animals previously confined to the sea floor around Antarctica. Isolated in new habitat conditions, many different species evolved; some octopuses, for example, lost their defensive ink sacs – pointless at perpetually dark depths more than two kilometres below the surface. This revelation into the global distribution and diversity of deep-sea fauna, to be reported on 11 November in the journal Cladistics, was made possible by intensive sampling during Census International Polar Year expeditions. Dr Allcock commented: "It is clear from our research that climate change can have profound effects on biodiversity, with impacts even extending into inaccessible habitats such as the deep oceans". In the fourth highlights report issued since the global collaboration began in the year 2000, Census scientists say their work is compiling an unprecedented number of "firsts" for ocean biodiversity: Advancing technology for discovery; organizing knowledge about marine life and making it accessible; measuring effects of human activities on ocean life; and providing the foundation for scientifically-based policies. According to Ian Poiner, chair of the Census's International Scientific Steering Committee and Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Institute of Marine Science: "The release of the first Census in 2010 will be a milestone in science. After 10 years of new global research and information assembly by thousands of experts the world over, it will synthesize what humankind knows about the oceans, what we don't know, and what we may never know – a scientific achievement of historic proportions". "Dedication and cooperation are enabling the largest, most complex program ever undertaken in marine biology to meet its schedule and reach its goals. When the program began, such progress seemed improbable to many observers". -Ends-