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Artistic Director for the Abbey Theatre Caitríona McLaughlin has presented the 2024-2025 Siobhán McKenna Scholarship to University of Galway MA in Drama and Theatre Studies student Chen Rui (Daphne).   Siobhán McKenna was born in Belfast and went on to be a world-renowned actress of stage and screen, starring in Dr Zhivago, King of Kings and Of Human Bondage.   The Award and Lecture Series in her name was established by her family in celebration of the 100th year of her birth in 1922, to support the next generation of student creatives in drama and theatre in University of Galway.   The 2024-2025 Siobhán McKenna Scholarship has been awarded to student Chen Rui (Daphne), originally from China, who has a particular interest in intercultural and transcultural performance.   Donnacha O’Dea, Siobhán McKenna’s son who initiated the lecture series and scholarship award, said: "As we enter into the second year of this lecture series and award, the power of this initiative to further my mother’s legacy has become even clearer to me as the skills and national origins of both of our winners to date have challenged the limits of my own imagination in ways that I know my mother would have found exciting and energising.”   Dr Charlotte McIvor, head of Postgraduate Programmes in Drama and Theatre Studies in the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies, University of Galway said: “Chen Rui (Daphne)’s journey from China to Ireland to pursue this scholarship and further her theatre and performance skills at the intersection of theory and practice would make McKenna proud.  Chen’s particular interest in intercultural and transcultural performance epitomizes the hope of this scholarship as a continuation of and furthering of McKenna’s legacy through theatre practices yet to be even imagined.”               Caitríona McLaughlin, Artistic Director of the Abbey Theatre, the National Theatre of Ireland said: “McKenna had a profound impact on Irish theatre and her celebrated performances in English and Irish on stage at the Abbey Theatre are part of theatre lore. Not only did she star in many significant productions at the National Theatre of Ireland, it was pivotal to her life, as she met her husband Denis O’Dea at the Abbey in the 1940s. Her extraordinary international career on stage and screen led the way for many Irish actors who came after her. This scholarship award is a worthy way to honour her life, her family and future generations of theatre makers.”   The 2025 Siobhán McKenna Lecture’s celebration of the past, present and future of Irish theatre and performance through gathering leading practitioners, scholars and exceptional students at University of Galway epitomises the ongoing achievements of Drama and Theatre Studies at University of Galway which was recognised for the second year running in the top 100 QS World University rankings for Performing Arts.   Caitríona McLaughlin is an award-winning theatre and opera director. As part of the lecture, she also launched a new book by University of Galway academics, Dr Charlotte McIvor and Dr Ian R. Walsh, Contemporary Irish Theatre: Histories and Theories. It is the first contemporary Irish theatre history survey in 20 years covering both the Republic and Northern Ireland.    Siobhán McKenna’s career started in An Taibhdhearc Theatre in Galway and she went on to appear in Abbey Theatre productions in the 1940s before making her London debut in 1947 in The White Steed. She was also a theatre director, translator and activist, as well as an alumna of University of Galway.   The University of Galway Library is the custodian of the Siobhán McKenna’s archive. Donated to the University in 2012 and made accessible to the public in 2019, the collection consists of material in paper and audio-visuals, covering all aspects of her life and career, as well as material relating to her family and friends.   Born in Belfast in 1922, Siobhán McKenna’s career started in An Taibhdhearc Theatre, the National Theatre of the Irish Language in Galway and she went on to appear in Abbey Theatre productions in the 1940s before making her London debut in 1947 in The White Steed and continuing on to Broadway where she was the first Irish actor to win a Tony Award in 1956.  She was also a theatre director, translator and activist.     The event is co-presented by Galway University Foundation, University of Galway’s College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies; Drama and Theatre Studies; and Arts in Action.   Ends  

Political figures and distinguished academic experts gathered at Boston College to explore past, present and future contributions of the US to peacebuilding and reconciliation on the island of Ireland. The conference, ‘Peace, Prosperity, and Future Relations: The U.S. and Ireland North and South’, also focused on the unique relationship between the United States and both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. A collaboration between the Boston College Irish Institute, University of Galway, and Queen's University Belfast, the event featured discussions from key political and governmental figures, as well as renowned academics of Irish and Northern Irish politics and history. 2025 marks the 180th anniversary since the Queen’s Colleges in Belfast, Galway and Cork were founded in 1845. The conference examined critical issues such as the role of the US in fostering peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland, the ongoing political developments in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, and the shifting dynamics of US-Ireland relations in light of changing political landscapes. Topics ranged from the historical contributions of US diplomacy to the future of US involvement in Northern Ireland’s peace process. Professor Niall Ó Dochartaigh, Professor of Political Science at University of Galway, a 2024-25 Fulbright fellow researching US civil society peace-making efforts during the Troubles at NYU, said: “At a time of huge uncertainty about the role of the United States on the International stage, the country's contribution to the ending of the Northern Ireland conflict demonstrates the potential for the US to play a positive and significant role in peacemaking when it takes a balanced and principled approach and sustains engagement over the long-term.” Notable speakers included U.S. Representative Richard E. Neal, an advocate for Irish-American relations, Simon Coveney, former Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mark Durkan, former leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), Lee Reynolds, former Director of Policy for the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), and former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, Claire Cronin. The conference, which represents a benchmark in the Boston College-University of Galway-Queen’s University Belfast partnership launch in 2024, also featured a number of distinguished academics including Dr Helen Maher, University of Galway Vice President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion; Professor Ó Dochartaigh, University of Galway; David Quigley, Boston College; Professor Mary Murphy; Boston College Irish Institute; and Dr Peter McLoughlin from Queen's University Belfast. Ends

Filleann céimithe ó chúig ilchríoch go hÉirinn don searmanas bronnta Chuir Coláiste Ósta na Sionna de chuid Ollscoil na Gaillimhe fáilte roimh níos mó ná 70 céimí ar fud an domhain inniu do shearmanas bronnta céimeanna 2025. Agus iad ag déanamh ionadaíochta ar chuid de na heagraíochtaí fáilteachais is fearr ar chúig ilchríoch, tá fostaíocht bainte amach cheana féin ag gach céimí a bhí i láthair, ag leanúint le taifead fostaíochta 100% an Choláiste ó bunaíodh é in 1951.  Thaistil céimithe ón Ríocht Aontaithe, an Astráil, an Ísiltír, Ceanada, an tSín, na Stáit Aontaithe, Aontas na nÉimíríochtaí Arabacha, na Séiséil agus níos faide i gcéin, ag taispeáint an raon domhanda atá ag líonra alumni Choláiste na Sionna. Tá céimithe na bliana seo ina mbaill de líonra alumni mór le rá a bhfuil poist cheannaireachta acu in eagraíochtaí fáilteachais ar fud an domhain, ó bhialanna le réalta Michelin go hóstáin cúig réalta agus moil turasóireachta domhanda.    Rinne an ócáid ceiliúradh freisin ar bharr feabhais na mac léinn, agus bronnadh breis is €30,000 i scoláireachtaí agus duaiseanna, lena n-áirítear Scoláireacht Banfi, arbh fhiú $10,000 é, a bronnadh ar XX as a chuid/a cuid díograis agus obair ghníomhach i gColáiste na Sionna ar a aistear/a haistear acadúil   Bhí an méid seo le rá ag an Ollamh Becky Whay, Uachtarán Ionaid agus Meabhránaí Ollscoil na Gaillimhe: “Thar ceann Ollscoil na Gaillimhe agus ár gcomhghleacaithe i gColáiste Ósta na Sionna, déanaimid comhghairdeas mór le rang 2025. Is teist é ceiliúradh an lae inniu ar a ndíograis agus a mian go n-éireoidh leo sa saol. Leanann céimithe Choláiste na Sionna i mbliana liosta fada alumni a bhfuil cáil orthu as an mbainistíocht fáilteachais is fearr a sholáthar a bhfuil gairmeacha acu ar fud an domhain. Guímid gach rath ar gach duine a bhainfidh céim amach anseo inniu – pé áit a dtugann siad a n-aghaidh ina dhiaidh seo.”  Is é David Fitzgerald, Bainisteoir Ginearálta Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel & Spa agus Pátrún Choláiste na Sionna, a thug an phríomhléacht agus labhair sé ar a thaithí féin ar ghairm iomráiteach san fáilteachas. Tá blianta fada caite aige ina cheannaire, lena n-áirítear i gceannas ar oibríochtaí ráschúrsaí Thiobraid Árann agus Chorcaí mar Stiúrthóir Woodlands Catering ó 2004 i leith agus ar Bhord Original Irish Hotels.   Ag cur comhairle ar na mic léinn, dúirt David Fitzgerald: “Tá sé aisteach cuimhneamh ar bhronnadh céime; is ionann é agus deireadh a chur le cúig bliana de do shaol ach níos tábhachtaí ná sin, is ionann é agus tús saol iomlán nua – saol atá chomh spreagúil agus is mian leat. Cuimhnigh, cibé cá dtabharfaidh tú d’aghaidh, ‘Bláthaigh san áit a bhfuil tú ag cur fút’, mar a dúirt San Proinsias de Sales.”  Dúirt Adrian Sylver, Ceannaire Choláiste Ósta na Sionna: “Tréaslaímid le Rang David Fitzgerald 2020–2025 agus iad ag baint céim amach ó Choláiste Ósta na Sionna. Is aistear cróga, inoiriúnaithe agus sármhaitheasa a bhí acu, agus is é inniu an chéad lá dá ngairm dhomhanda spreagúil. Tá fostaíocht bainte amach ag 100% de na céimithe agus iad ag tabhairt aghaidh ar róil cheannaireachta anois in óstáin agus gnólachtaí fáilteachais a bhfuil cáil dhomhanda orthu ar fud na n-ilchríoch – ón Eoraip go Meiriceá Thuaidh, ón Meánoirthear go dtí an Áise. Agus iad anois ina mbaill de líonra alumni mór le rá, ní hamháin go bhfuil na scileanna agus an t-eolas a fuair siad sa tSionainn acu ach freisin tá tiomantas láidir don bharr feabhais a mhúnlóidh todhchaí an fháilteachais ar fud an domhain. Tréaslaímid leo as an éacht dochreidte seo agus táimid ag tnúth iad a fheiceáil ag teacht faoi bhláth ar an ardán domhanda.”   Críoch