Two of the foremost jurists in the area of Family and Child Law, The Right Honourable Baroness Hale of Richmond and Mrs. Justice Catherine McGuinness, will jointly deliver the Annual Distinguished Lecture 2008 hosted by the Faculty of Law at NUI Galway on Friday, 11 April at 7pm. The event will take place in the main lecture theatre of Áras Moyola, NUI Galway, on the north campus beside St. Anthony's. The title of the lecture is Family Law in Ireland and the United Kingdom: Common Threads and Divergent Perspectives. The joint lecture will focus on three broad themes: the division of assets and the question of 'proper provision' upon divorce, the position of children, and the role of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms in family law. Both speakers bring a wealth of experience and insight to the topic. Baroness Hale became the first woman 'Lord of Appeal in Ordinary' in January 2004 after a varied career as an academic lawyer, law reformer and judge. She is recognised internationally as one of the most distinguished judicial experts in the area of family and child law. Mrs. Justice Catherine McGuinness was a member of the Irish Supreme Court from 2000 to 2006 and is now the President of the Law Reform Commission and Adjunct Professor of Law at NUI Galway. Prior to becoming a judge she was a member of Seanad Éireann and is widely known for her work on the Kilkenny Incest Investigation, the Employment Equality Agency and the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation. Announcing the event, Donncha O'Connell, Dean of Law, said: "This is the fourth Annual Distinguished Lecture organised by the Law Faculty and, this year, we are especially honoured to have the two most distinguished women judges on these islands as our speakers on a topic of enduring controversy and acute importance." The lecture will be introduced by President of NUI Galway, Dr. Jim Browne, and chaired by family law expert and graduate of NUI Galway, Geoffrey Shannon. It will be followed by a reception (sponsored by the NUI Galway Alumni Association) in the foyer of Áras Moyola at which it will be possible to meet with the speakers. ENDS

Two NUI Galway Law students will spend the summer immersed in the atmosphere of the imminent US Presidential election as they undertake internships in Washington DC. Second Year Corporate Law student Peter Mannion will work with Senator Barack Obama, while fourth year Corporate Law student Chris Joyce joins the office of Congressman Peter King. Peter Mannion, from Tuam, County Galway, is excited about joining the Obama campaign, "This summer presents precious opportunities with an election looming, and Washington in full campaign mode. It will certainly be an interesting place to be and working in the Obama office will be a chance to watch history in the making. This really is an incredible opportunity - I can barely believe my luck. I used to live life in a West Wing fantasy so this is bringing it one step closer to reality!" Chris Joyce from Renmore, is a Galway Titans National League Basketball player. His interest in the Northern Ireland Peace Process makes his internship a perfect fit. He explains, "It really is a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the political life of Washington DC. I will be working at Congressman Peter King's office, a long time supporter of the Northern Ireland Peace process. Even before he was sworn-in as Congressman in 1992, King flew to Belfast to meet with Gerry Adams to help initiate peace talks. He also doesn't appear to be afraid to speak his mind on a number of controversial issues so it should a very interesting summer." The internships are part of the Washington-Ireland Program – an organisation designed to give Irish students a rich insight into America's professional and social culture, through a two-month internship and an intensive course in leadership and service training, all in the heart of Washington DC. According to Donncha O Connell, Dean of Law at NUI Galway, "This is a great opportunity for the two Law students involved. The coming months are probably going to be one of the most interesting times, politically, in the US. An internship abroad at anytime is an experience which can bring huge benefits, adding a whole new dimension to a Law student s education." The Washington-Ireland Program programme aims to pick young, promising individuals, from the North and South of Ireland, who will ultimately use their unique talents in leadership and service to contribute back to their home communities and their country. This summer a total of twenty-six Irish students will have the opportunity to partake in the programme. -ends-

Jeff Halper, one of the leading figures in the Israeli peace movement, will speak at a public seminar at 7pm, on Wednesday, 4 June, at Nun's Island Theatre, Galway City. The event is part of a speaking tour jointly organised by Trócaire, NUI Galway's Irish Centre for Human Rights, and Amnesty International Irish Section. An activist for over 30 years, Jeff Halper is credited with pioneering the use of non-violent action and civil disobedience to resist the Israeli policy of demolishing Palestinian homes and mobilising international support to rebuild these houses. Halper has just published a new book, An Israeli in Palestine: Resisting Dispossession, Redeeming Israel. Halper was Co-founder and Director of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions which has protested the demolition of 18,000 Palestinian homes since 1969 in the Occupied Territories, in violation of international law. Speaking about the upcoming event, Dr. Vinodh Jaichand, Deputy Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights at NUI Galway, commented, "Jeff Halper is a warrior for peace in a region so torn by violence. Many who work for peace there rarely get the attention they deserve. Along with his colleagues he has chosen to stand shoulder to shoulder with oppressed Palestinian communities in the name of human rights and equality. His visit to Ireland is an opportunity for us to hear the viewpoint of Israelis who are opposing their government's actions." For further information about the evening contact Jameen Kaur, Amnesty International, on 091 533 637. -ends-

Hundreds of NUI Galway graduates are expected to attend a special annual reunion during the weekend 6-8 June. The University has issued a worldwide invitation to the classes of 1958, 1968, 1978, 1983, 1988, and 1998 who attended UCG/NUI Galway. Highlights include a 50 Year Club dinner on the Friday and a BBQ for all six classes by the River Corrib on Saturday night. The reunion celebrations begin on Friday afternoon when the 50 Year Club/Cumann Caoga Bliain are welcomed back to campus for a luncheon in the Aula Maxima in the Quadrangle. Following lunch, a presentation of "1958 - the year that was" will be made by local historian Peadar O'Dowd, focussing on some of the highlights of that year, locally and nationally. The 50 Year Club will then be taken on a bus tour of the campus which will showcase the many new developments on campus since the 1950s. NUI Galway has grown dramatically since 1958 when there were 175 graduates. The equivalent number this year will be in the region of 4,700. The day will culminate with a reception and celebration dinner at the Galway Bay Hotel. On Saturday, 7 June at 7pm, the Annual Reunion BBQ for those celebrating 50, 40, 30, 25, 20 and 10 years since graduation takes place in the Students' Union Bar and Áras na Mac Léinn, overlooking the River Corrib. Mr. JB Terrins, Director of Alumni Relations, encourages graduates to come along, "The reunion is a wonderful opportunity to revisit the University, renew old acquaintances and see how NUI Galway has developed over the years. Many people have already booked their places with graduates returning to Galway from across the globe for this event. This annual event is driven by demand from our alumni, who want the perfect opportunity to catch up with old friends." Reunion weekend comes to a close for the Class of 1958 on Sunday, 8 June, with a mass held in memory of deceased graduates in the Chapel of St. Columbanus on campus. This is followed by a farewell lunch in the Quadrangle. For further information please contact Sheila Gorham in the Alumni Office on 091 493750 or email alumni@nuigalway.ie or visit the reunion www.nuigalway.ie/alumni/reunion2008 -ends-

A record number of over 400 students from 13 Galway secondary schools participated in this years' NUI Galway First Year Schools Competition. The art competition is part of the University Trail Access Programme designed to encourage an interest in third-level education among students in selected Secondary Schools in Galway City, County and Gaeltacht regions. The programme is supported by the HEA targeted funding for special initiatives. For the competition, the students are asked to express through the media of Art, Music, Drama and Writing why they would like to study at NUI Galway, what it would mean for them and how it would change their future. Ashla Ward, of NUI Galway's Access Office, commented, "This competition is designed primarily to start the student thinking about their future, linking their current learning status to a long-term goal and sensitising them to the whole notion of third level attainment. The competition has proved very successful over the last six years. Teachers and students have worked diligently to produce wonderful pieces of Art for the competition". At second level, NUI Galway's University Trail starts with the First Year School Competition and continues in second, third, fifth and on to the Leaving Certificate year, with a series of activities such as campus tours, mentoring and Study Skills Workshops. The main objective of the Trail is to promote regular interaction with the University and the students. The effectiveness of this initiative has been greatly enhanced with the ongoing support of management and staff in the participating schools.