Tá buaiteoirí Ghradaim Alumni 2025 fógartha ag Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. Tá ochtar le haitheantas a fháil ag oíche mhór na ngradam Dé hAoine, an 23 Bealtaine 2025. Déanann Gradaim Alumni ceiliúradh ar dhaoine eisceachtúla as 133,000 alumnus na hOllscoile trí aitheantas a thabhairt dá n-éachtaí suntasacha i réimsí éagsúla, idir áitiúil, náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta.   Seo a leanas na daoine a mbronnfaidh Ollscoil na Gaillimhe gradam alumni orthu in 2025:   Gradam Alumni do na Dána, an Litríocht agus an Léann Ceilteach Deirdre Sullivan, úrscéalaí a bhfuil gradaim buaite aici Gradam Alumni don Ghnó agus an Tráchtáil - urraithe ag Banc na hÉireann  Anne O’Riordan, Iar-Stiúrthóir an Ghrúpa Dhigitigh ag Jardine Matheson Limited Gradam Alumni don Ghaeilge Rónán Ó Domhnaill, An Coimisinéir um Fhorbairt na Meán, Coimisiún na Meán Gradam Alumni don Dlí, an Beartas Poiblí agus an tSochaí - urraithe ag RDJ Geoffrey Shannon, Breitheamh na Cúirte Cuarda Gradam Alumni don Innealtóireacht, an Eolaíocht agus an Teicneolaíocht  An Dr Fiona Grant, Ceannaire na gClár Idirnáisiúnta in Foras na Mara Gradam Alumni don Leigheas, an tAltranas agus na hEolaíochtaí Sláinte - urraithe ag Medtronic  An Dr Elizabeth Whalen, Stiúrthóir Leighis na hOifige Sláinte Poiblí do Stát Nua-Eabhrac Gradam Alumni don Rannpháirtíocht sa Spórt  Kevin Dinneen, Cathaoirleach Rugbaí Tríú Leibhéal agus Bhord Achomharc an IRFU  Gradam Alumni do Cheannairí Nua An Dr Ríona Ní Ghriallais, comhbhunaitheoir ProVerum               Dúirt Uachtarán Eatramhach Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, an tOllamh Peter McHugh: “Is mór an phribhléid é ómós a léiriú d’éachtaí na n-ochtar iontach seo a rinne sárobair ina réimsí féin sa bhaile agus i gcéin. Tá tionchar mór ag gach duine acu ar a mbealach féin agus tá súil agam go mbeidh a gcuid éachtaí ina n-eiseamláir dár mic léinn reatha agus dár gcéimithe. Táim ag tnúth le fáilte a chur rompu ar ais chuig a n-alma mater i mí Bealtaine.”   Bhí an méid seo le rá ag an Ollamh Becky Whay, Uachtarán Ionaid agus Meabhránaí Ollscoil na Gaillimhe: “Is deis iontach iad na Gradaim Alumni agus an oíche mhór ar an gcampas le haitheantas a thabhairt do chéimithe Ollscoil na Gaillimhe agus ár mic léinn reatha a spreagadh trí bhealaí éagsúla a raibh tionchar ag na céimithe ar an domhan a thaispeáint dóibh. Gan buaiteoirí na bliana seo san áireamh fuair 113 duine ó gach cineál cúlra an gradam go dtí seo. Daoine iad seo a raibh lámh againne ina gcuid oideachais agus, a raibh sé de phribhléid againn aitheantas a thabhairt dóibh agus iad a cheiliúradh as a gcuid éachtaí iontacha ó cuireadh tús leis na gradaim sa bhliain 2000.”   Chun ticéad a chur in áirithe téigh chuig https://www.universityofgalway.ie/alumni/alumniawards/ nó déan teagmháil le Colm O’Dwyer ag 091 494310.   Críoch

University of Galway has announced the winners of our 2025 Alumni Awards. Eight recipients are to be recognised at a gala awards night on Friday May 23, 2025. The University’s Alumni Awards celebrate outstanding individuals among the 133,000 alumni, recognising their remarkable accomplishments across various fields on a local, national and international level.   The winners of the 2025 University of Galway Alumni Awards are:   Alumni Award for Arts, Literature and Celtic Studies Deirdre Sullivan, award winning novelist Alumni Award for Business and Commerce - Sponsored by Bank of Ireland Anne O’Riordan, former Group Director of Digital at Jardine Matheson Limited Gradam Alumni don Ghaeilge Rónán Ó Domhnaill, Media Development Commissioner, Coimisiún na Meán Alumni Award for Law, Public Policy and Society – Sponsored by RDJ Geoffrey Shannon, Circuit Court Judge Alumni Award for Engineering, Science and Technology  Dr Fiona Grant, Head of International Programmes at the Marine Institute Alumni Award for Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences – Sponsored by Medtronic Dr Elizabeth Whalen, Medical Director of the Office for Public Health for the State of New York Alumni Award for Contribution to Sport  Kevin Dinneen, Chair of Third Level Rugby and the IRFU Appeals Board  Alumni Award for Emerging Leaders Dr Ríona Ní Ghriallais, co-founder of ProVerum             Professor Peter McHugh, Interim President of University of Galway, said: “It is a privilege to honour the accomplishments of these eight remarkable individuals who have made outstanding contributions in their respective fields at home and abroad. Each one of them are making a great impact in their own way and I hope their achievements serve as an inspiration to our current students and our graduates. I look forward to welcoming them back to their alma mater in May.”   Professor Becky Whay, Interim Deputy President and Registrar at University of Galway, said: “Our Alumni Awards and our awards night on campus are a wonderful opportunity to recognise University of Galway graduates and to inspire our current students by showcasing some of the many different ways their predecessors have made a positive mark on the World. This year’s winners join an impressive roll call of 113 people from all walks of life who we have had the pleasure of helping to educate and, importantly, the pleasure of recognising and celebrating for their outstanding achievements since the awards began in the year 2000.” For online reservations, visit https://www.universityofgalway.ie/alumni/alumniawards/ or contact Colm O’Dwyer at 091 494310. Ends

Two undergraduate medicine students at University of Galway have led a major study examining how cardioprotective glucose-lowering therapies - medications that lower blood sugar and reduce the risk of heart disease in people with diabetes - affect the risk of developing dementia. The research has been published in JAMA Neurology. The new study involved a systematic review and meta-analysis of 26 clinical trials involving more than 160,000 participants. The researchers found that while most glucose-lowering therapies were not significantly associated with a reduction in dementia risk, one class of drugs – known as GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1Ras) was linked to a significant reduction. The study was conducted by medical students Allie Seminer and Alfredi Mulihano, alongside researchers from University of Galway, the HRB Clinical Research Facility Galway and University Hospital Galway. Key Findings: The research analysed data from 26 randomised controlled trials with a total of 164,531 participants. While glucose-lowering therapies as a whole did not significantly reduce dementia risk, GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1Ras) were linked to a 45% lower risk of dementia. The findings provide crucial insights into the potential for diabetes medications to influence long-term brain health. Dr Catriona Reddin, senior author, researcher at the University of Galway and Registrar in Geriatric Medicine at HSE West North West, said: "This research represents a significant contribution to our understanding of how some diabetes medications may impact brain health. Diabetes is a known risk factor for dementia, but whether glucose-lowering therapies can help prevent cognitive decline has remained unclear. Our findings suggest that GLP-1 receptor agonists, in particular, may have a protective effect on brain health.” Professor Martin O'Donnell, Dean of the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at University of Galway and Consultant Stroke Physician with HSE West North-West said: “Given the increasing prevalence of both diabetes and dementia, findings from this study have important public health implications for prevention of dementia. “What makes this study particularly exciting for the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at University of Galway, is that it was led by two of our undergraduate medicine students. We place a strong emphasis on research as a core component of our undergraduate medicine programme, ensuring that students have opportunities to engage in high-impact studies that shape global healthcare.” Allie Seminer, a third year student from New York and co-lead author, said: "Being involved in a study of this scale as an undergraduate has been an incredible experience. What stood out for me was the sense of responsibility - knowing that our work could help shape understanding of a global health issue. It was incredibly motivating to be part of a team working at this level, and it has shown me how research is an essential part of becoming a well-rounded doctor. It highlights how research is not just an add-on to our degree but an essential part of how we learn to advance medical knowledge." Alfredi Mulihano, a third year student from Dundalk and co-lead author, said:  "Being part of this study has completely changed how I see my role as a future doctor. It brought together clinical insight, data analysis, and critical thinking in a way that lectures alone cannot. The experience opened my eyes to the impact we can have beyond the bedside - contributing to knowledge that could change how diseases like dementia are prevented.” The full study in JAMA Neurology is available here. Ends