Tá Buaiteoirí Gradam Spóirt 2008 fógartha ag OÉ Gaillimh. Is é an t-aoi speisialta, An tOllamh Jim Browne, Uachtarán nua na hOllscoile, a bhronnfaidh na gradaim. Beidh an searmanas bronnta ar siúl anocht, Déardaoin, an 6 Márta in Óstán an Ard Oileáin, i nGaillimh ag 8pm. I measc na mbuaiteoirí gradam tá Alan Martin (Bóthar na Trá), Cormac Folan (Bearna) and James Wall (Luimneach) – ó fhoireann cheathrar iomróirí trom-mheáchain na hÉireann – a gheobhaidh Gradam Gnóthachtála Speisialta 2008. Déanfaidh an criú seo ionadaíocht thar ceann na hÉireann ag na Cluichí Oilimpeacha a bheidh ar siúl i mBéising níos déanaí i mbliana. Seo a leanas buaiteoirí na nGradam Spóirt i mbliana: Boghdóireacht: Niamh Breathnach, Corr na Móna, Co. na Gaillimhe. Lúthchleasaíocht: Kevin Duggan, An Muileann gCearr, Co. na hIarmhí. Dornálaíocht: Deirdre Flynn, Sráid an Mhuilinn, Co. Chorcaí. Camógaíocht: Laura Linnane, Sionainn, Co. an Chláir. Cruicéad: Abhi Shekdixit, An India. Iománaíocht: Darragh Egan, Cill Daingin, Co. Thiobraid Árann. Peil Ghaelach na mBan: Anna Conlon, Drom Dhá Thiar, Co. Liatroma. Sacar na mBan: Niamh Fahey, Cill Aithnín, Co. na Gaillimhe. Rugbaí na mBan: Anne O'Callaghan, Abhainn an Scáil, Co. Chiarraí. Peil Ghaelach na bhFear: Gareth Bradshaw, Maigh Cuilinn, Co. na Gaillimhe. Rugbaí na bhFear: Gary Collins, An Rinn Mhór, Gaillimh. Sacar na bhFear: Seamus Conneely, Caiseal, Co. na Gaillimhe. Gradam Foirne: An Club Rámhaíochta – Ruadhán Cooke, John Forde, Evin Donnelly, Paul Giblin, Jason Wall, Breffny Morgan, Mathew Carroll, Martin Wallace, Dave Mannion agus Paul Murray. Bhuaigh an fhoireann seo Comórtas Sinsearach na bhFear do Cheathrar Iomróirí agus Liagóir agus Comórtas Sinsearach na bhFear do Bheirt Iomróirí gan Liagóir ag Craobhchomórtas Náisiúnta Rámhaíochta na hÉireann 2007, mar aon leis an gComórtas Sinsearach d'Ochtar Iomróirí ag an gComórtas Rámhaíochta Idir-Ollscoile. Gradam Foirne: An Club Liathróid Láimhe – Shane Hayes, Kevin Cradock, Ciaran Burke, Ricky O'Gara, Caitríona Casey, John Kennedy agus Marianne Rushe. Is é an Club Liathróid Láimhe seaimpíní foirne 40 x 20 Idir-Ollscoile. Bhuaigh Marianne Rushe agus Caitríona Casey an Comórtas Oscailte Dúbailte ag Comórtas Domhanda na nOllscoileanna Coláisteacha i Missouri in 2007. Gradam Foirne: An Club Tonnmharcaíochta – Stephen Kilfeather, Eoin McCarthy Deering, Hugh Galloway, Andrew Kilfeather, Aidan Kelly, Claire Concannon, Elisha Hickey, Brian O Donnacha, Brendan O'Toole, Ricky Whelan. Bhuaigh an fhoireann seo an Comórtas Idir-Ollscoile trí bhabhta as a chéile. Gradam Gnóthachtála Speisialta 2008: Alan Martin, Cormac Folan agus James Wall, Rámhaíocht. Seo a leanas a bhí le rá ag Tony Regan, Oifigeach Spóirt agus Áineasa, OÉ Gaillimh le linn dó na buaiteoirí a fhógairt: "Tá bua ar leith ag buaiteoirí na ngradam i mbliana agus is iad an chéad ghlúin eile de Réalta Spóirt na hÉireann iad. Tugann na lúthchleasaithe iontacha seo dea-shampla dúinn ar fad agus cúis bróid agus mórtais dúinn iad a bheith mar mhic léinn againn anseo in OÉ Gaillimh faoi láthair. Cabhraíonn na Gradaim Spóirt seo linn, i dteannta lenár Scéim Scoláireachta Spóirt, aitheantas a thabhairt do bhua na ndaoine óga seo agus guímid gach rath orthu sna blianta amach romhainn". Bronntar Gradaim Spóirt OÉ Gaillimh gach bliain chun aitheantas a thabhairt do mhic léinn OÉ Gaillimh ar éirigh go maith leo i gcúrsaí spóirt sa bhliain acadúil atá caite agus is é Brainse na hOllscoile de Bhanc na hÉireann a chuireann urraíocht ar fáil do na gradaim. CRÍOCH

NUI Galway has announced the recipients of the 2008 Sports Awards. The awards will be presented by Guest of Honour Professor Jim Browne, newly appointed President of the University. The award ceremony will take place tomorrow, Thursday, 6 March in the Ardilaun House Hotel, Galway at 8pm. Among the award winners announced are Irish rowing heavyweight fours crew members Alan Martin (Salthill), Cormac Folan (Barna) and James Wall (Limerick), who will receive the Special Achievement Award 2008. The crew will represent Ireland in the Olympic Games in Beijing later this year. This year's Sports Awards recipients are: Archery: Niamh Breathnach, Corr na Mona, Co. Galway Athletics: Kevin Duggan, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath Boxing: Deirdre Flynn, Millstreet, Co. Cork Camogie: Laura Linnane, Shannon, Co. Clare Cricket: Abhi Shekdixit, India Hurling: Darragh Egan, Kildangan, Co. Tipperary. Ladies Gaelic Football: Anna Conlon, Dromahair, Co. Leitrim Ladies Soccer: Niamh Fahey, Killanin, Co. Galway Ladies Rugby: Anne O'Callaghan, Annascaul, Co. Kerry Men's Gaelic Football: Gareth Bradshaw, Moycullen, Co. Galway Men's Rugby: Gary Collins, Renmore, Galway Men's Soccer: Seamus Conneely, Cashla, Co. Galway Team Award: Rowing Club – Ruadhán Cooke, John Forde, Evin Donnelly, Paul Giblin, Jason Wall, Breffny Morgan, Mathew Carroll, Martin Wallace, Dave Mannion and Paul Murray. The team were Winners of Men's Senior Coxed Fours and Men's Senior Coxless Pairs at the Irish National Rowing Championships 2007, also winners of Senior Eights at Rowing Intervarsities. Team Award: Handball Club – Shane Hayes, Kevin Cradock, Ciaran Burke, Ricky O'Gara, Caitríona Casey, John Kennedy and Marianne Rushe. The club are Intervarsity 40 x 20 team champions. Marianne Rushe and Caitríona Casey were winners of the Women's Open Doubles at the World Handball Collegiates in Missouri 2007. Team Award: Surfing Club – Stephen Kilfeather, Eoin McCarthy Deering, Hugh Galloway, Andrew Kilfeather, Aidan Kelly, Claire Concannon, Elisha Hickey, Brian O Donnacha, Brendan O'Toole, Ricky Whelan. The team are three in a row Intervarsity Champions. Special Achievement Award 2008: Alan Martin, Cormac Folan and James Wall, Rowing. Announcing the awardees, Tony Regan, Sports and Recreation Officer, NUI Galway said: "This year's winners have outstanding talent and are the next generation of Irish Sporting Stars. These outstanding athletes are wonderful role models and are an inspiration to us all and we are proud and honoured to have them as current students at NUI Galway. In conjunction with our Sport Scholarship Scheme, these Sports Awards have helped to identify the talents of these young people and we wish them well in their future endeavours". The NUI Galway Sports Awards are given out each year in recognition of the NUI Galway students who excelled in the world of sport during the year and are supported by Bank of Ireland University Branch. ENDS

NUI Galway is launching a new Masters programme, the LL.M. in Law, Technology and Governance. This new postgraduate course offers students an innovative and internationally focused programme dealing with law, commercial activity, science and technology. The new LL.M includes mandatory modules in regulation, governance and enterprise and optional modules dealing with cutting edge topics such as Internet Regulation, Copyright in the Digital Era, and Biotechnology. The programme is full time for twelve months and applicants must hold a degree in law, or an interdisciplinary degree which includes a substantial law component. The Dean of the Faculty of Law, Donncha O'Connell, also announced that a scholarship for the course has been generously funded by Galway commercial law firm, RDJ Glynn Solicitors. Programme Co-ordinator, Rónán Kennedy, said, "The LL.M. in Law, Technology and Governance will provide a solid grounding for future practitioners, academics and policy-makers. Led by a dynamic team of experts, the students will acquire an ability to deal critically with the problems which arise for law and policy-makers in this rapidly changing area." This programme builds on the success of the existing LL.M. in Public Law, which was launched in 2005. According to the Head of the Department, Marie McGonagle, "Taught masters programmes of the kind offered at NUI Galway are invaluable for those seeking to deepen their knowledge in a particular area of the law, whether for the purposes of professional application or further doctoral study." For further information on the new programme and the RDJ Glynn Solicitors scholarship, contact Rónán Kennedy at 091-495626 or email llmltag@nuigalway.ie Information on all of NUI Galway's postgraduate programmes is available at http://www.goforth.ie -ends-

Tá 21 mac léinn ó OÉ Gaillimh le coicís a chaitheamh ag obair go deonach ar thionscadal tógáil tithe sa tSaimbia. Tabharfaidh na mic léinn aghaidh ar bhaile Kawama i dTuaisceart na Saimbia an 30 Bealtaine, agus is ag obair le cumainn chleamhnaithe Habitat for Humanity (HFH) a bheidh siad. Eagraíocht idirnáisiúnta tógáil tithe é HFH a bhfuil obair déanta aici i mbeagnach 100 tír anois. Is é atá mar aidhm ag HFH tithe a sholáthar dóibh siúd nach bhfuil tithe acu. Is é an tAthair Iomar Daniels, Déan na Seirbhíse Séiplíneachta, OÉ Gaillimh, ceannaire an ghrúpa mac léinn, agus tá triúr ceannairí foirne ann. Dúirt an tAthair Daniels go bhfuil gníomhaíochtaí tiomsaithe airgid ar siúl ag foireann OÉ Gaillimh i láthair na huaire ar mhaithe le costas an turais a ghlanadh agus síntiús a thabhairt do HFH. I measc na ngníomhaíochtaí atá eagraithe do na míonna amach romhainn tá cáirióice, ceolchoirmeacha, tráth na gceist boird agus neart eile. Deir sé go bhfuil súil acu go leor airgid a bhailiú trí na gníomhaíochtaí tiomsaithe airgid seo. Beidh na mic léinn ag obair faoi threoir ceardaithe áitiúla oilte, agus iad ag tabhairt faoi bhríceadóireacht, siúinéireacht, plástráil agus péinteáil. Beidh na mic léinn ag obair i dteannta oibrithe deonacha áitiúla agus teaghlaigh. Dúirt duine de na mic léinn a bheidh ag obair sa tSaimbia – Katie Crudden as Inis Ceithleann, Co. Fhear Manach, mac léinn sa tríú bliain i nDámh na Tráchtála – go bhfuil an fhoireann ag súil go mór leis an turas seo agus an taithí a bheidh le fáil acu. "Táimid ar fad ag tnúth le bheith ag obair agus ag maireachtáil sa phobal, ag bualadh le muintir Kawama, ag sealbhú scileanna nua agus ag cuidiú le teaghlaigh tithe simplí inacmhainne a thógáil". Bíonn cuma dhifriúil ar na tithe a thógann HFH i dtíortha éagsúla agus sa tSaimbia is déanta de bhrící cré atá na tithe agus iad clúdaithe le leatháin d'iarann rocach. Sa tSaimbia, áfach, meascán de thithe déanta as láib le clúdach féir agus struchtúir chaolaigh is coitianta – tithe agus struchtúir nach mór iad a dheisiú go bliantúil. Meastar go bhfuil 86% de dhaonra na Saimbia ag maireachtáil faoin tairseach bochtaineachta. Aisíocann formhór na dteaghlach a cheannaíonn tithe HFH thart ar £5 in aghaidh na míosa – airgead a úsáidtear chun tithe eile a thógáil don phobal. Má theastaíonn tuilleadh eolais uait faoin turas seo nó más mian leat síntiús a thabhairt, féadfaidh tú teagmháil a dhéanamh leis an Athair Iomar Daniels ag 091-492168 nó iomar.daniels@nuigalway.ie. Chomh maith leis sin, féadfaidh tú síntiús a thabhairt ar an láithreán gréasáin www.mycharity.ie/event/nuigzambia08/ - críoch -

NUI Galway's first ever Green Week is to be held from the 10-14 March. It is aimed at raising environmental awareness and promoting the importance of wildlife and biodiversity among students, staff and the general public. The week is being organised by NUI Galway's Student Ecological Society and is supported by the Environmental Change Institute. Among the range of events to take place is an Art Workshop on "Ecological Living" using recycled and found objects (7-9pm, Tuesday, 11 March), a talk by the Irish Seed Saver Association (12pm, Wednesday, 12 March), a unique lecture on the "Cuban Organic Growing Movement" (6pm, Wednesday, 12 March), and a week-long photo exhibition depicting a wide range of Ireland's wildlife (in the foyer of Áras na mac Léinn). A contributor to the wildlife photo exhibition, Professor Michael O'Connell of the Botany Department at NUI Galway expressed his enthusiasm for the Green Week, saying "People have never been so conscious of the importance of the environment, not least for our future but for our pleasure." Dr. Martina Prendergast of the Environmental Change Institute said she expects that Green Week will become an annual event at NUI Galway, "We hope the events will highlight the positive contribution that biodiversity and wildlife can have to our everyday wellbeing". Other events during the week will include a talk on 'Environmental Politics in Galway' (7.30pm, Monday, 10 March) by local community leader and head of the Save the Terryland Forest Park campaign, Brendan Smith. The talk will inform people about environmental issues currently at the forefront in Galway. According to Mr. Smith, "The proposal before Galway City Council to build a road through Terryland Forest Park, which will have a devastating effect on local wildlife, is being met with considerable objection by the general public." A full calendar of events and venues is available on the NUI Galway Societies website at http://www.socs.nuigalway.ie/ or by contacting Christina O Rourke at c.orourke4@nuigalway.ie -ends-