Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUI Galway, is delighted to announce the appointment of actor and director Diarmuid de Faoite as its new performing arts executive. Diarmuid is well known to the general public through his television work with TG4 (Ros na Rún), RTÉ, STV (Scotland) and through his stage work with The Town Hall Theatre, Druid, An Taibhdhearc, The Peacock, Project Arts Centre and his own company, POC productions. The performing arts unit of Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge at NUI Galway runs two part-time courses and one full-time course as well as providing support and teaching services for other departments. The courses include the Diploma in Arts (Acting), a Higher Diploma in Theatre Studies, and the Diploma in Arts (Arrangement and Staging of Traditional Irish Music). De Faoite is a multi-award winning actor, writer and producer and has received many plaudits for his work in the field of theatre, television and performance. Most notably, he received: The Stewart Parker Trust/BBC NI Award for his play about Irish language writer, 'Pádraic Ó Conaire'; ESB Dublin FRINGE Best Production for POC productions' stage adaptation of 'Paris, Texas'; and most recently, Best Feature Documentary with Johnny White (Seanchas Productions) at the Celtic Media Festival 2008, for the documentary, 'Padraic Ó Conaire, An Fear'. De Faoite has taught drama from primary through to third level and on to the professional theatre and television industry for almost twenty years. He was education officer for Na Fánaithe theatre company for a number of years, organising and delivering workshops in Gaeltacht schools as well as national workshops. He worked with Trevor Ó Clochartaigh on 'Lasair', intensive residential theatre workshops in Ireland and Scotland and has provided acting, writing and personal development training for Learning Waves, Solas, Ros na Rún, Pléaráca, NUI Galway as well as various other interest groups and organisations. Diarmuid has provided various forms of performance training for Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge since its foundation, having taught many classes for visiting students, radio drama classes for the Diploma in Radio Skills and drama writing on the Higher Diploma in Drama. Since Diarmuid began performing in 1988 there has been great growth in the performing arts in general but especially in the West of Ireland and in Irish language arts. He sees huge potential for further growth in the areas of research, scripting, theatre in education and personal development. "If we look at drama as an example, said Diarmuid, it is now part of the primary schools' curriculum, and its use in the areas of linguistic development, therapy, the building of self-esteem and confidence, and the vast fields of social analysis is widely recognized. Drama can be communicative, participatory, creative and often transcendent, all in the one instant and, as a creative mirror, is one of the most powerful social tools we possess in our evolutionary arsenal." Diarmuid goes on to say that, "Aonad na dTaibhealaíon (Centre for Performing Arts) wishes to focus on the performing arts in this wider context so that greater opportunities can be made available to our students, not only in the traditional performing arts sectors but also in the academic, therapeutic and corporate sectors". Marianne Ní Chinnéide, the performing arts unit administrator, "Aonad na dTaibhealaíon is in continual contact with professional performing arts companies, Ealaín na Gaeltachta, funding bodies, art therapists and a host of individual musicians, dramatists, designers and performers to ensure that we provide the best possible service in terms of both education and employment opportunities to our students. Diarmuid's appointment further encourages this relationship". Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge is confident that Diarmuid's appointment will provide a major boost to arts and educational development within the University. Further information about any of these courses may be obtained by contacting Diarmuid on 091 869859 diarmuid.defaoite@oegaillimh.ie or Marianne on 091 869103 marianne.nichinneide@oegaillimh.ie ENDS

Tá an t-aisteoir cáiliúil, Diarmuid de Faoite, ceaptha ina fheidhmeannach drámaíochta ag Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, OÉ Gaillimh. Bhain Diarmuid cáil amach lena pháirt 'Jack' sa sobalchlár Ros na Rún, ar TG4, chomh maith le tréimhsí fada a bheith caite aige le RTÉ, STV (Albain), Amharclann na Cathrach, Gaillimh, Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe agus lena chomhlacht féin, POC Productions. Go deimhin, shílfeá gur beag comhlacht drámaíochta in Éirinn nár chaith Diarmuid seal ina dteannta agus é ag plé leis an aisteoireacht ghairmiúil ó 1988 i leith. Ag obair as lámh a chéile a bheas Diarmuid de Faoite agus Riarthóir Aonad na dTaibhealaíon, Máire Áine Ní Chinnéide, agus trí chúrsa faoina gcúram: Dioplóma san Aisteoireacht (cúrsa páirtaimseartha bliana); an tArd-Dioplóma sa Drámaíocht (cúrsa iarchéime, páirtaimseartha, thar dhá bhliain); agus an Dioplóma i gCóiriú agus Stáitsiú an Cheoil Thraidisiúnta (cúrsa nua lánaimseartha bliana). Ní mar aisteoir amháin atá cáil bainte amach ag Diarmuid. Mar scríbhneoir, bhuaigh a leaganacha stáitse agus teilifíse de shaol Phádraic Ó Conaire Gradam Stewart Parker/BBC NI, 2001, agus an 'Gnéchlár Faisnéise is Fearr', Féile na Meán Ceilteach, 2008, faoi seach. Anuas air sin, bhuaigh sé an 'Léiriú is Fearr' dá leagan stáitse de 'Paris, Texas' lena chomhlacht POC Productions, ESB Dublin Fringe Fest 2003, chomh maith le Duais Aitheantais an Oireachtais, 2002. Ní haon strainséir é Diarmuid don mhúinteoireacht ach an oiread. Agus é ag feidhmiú mar oifigeach oideachais leis an gcompántas dramaíochta, Na Fánaithe, reáchtáil sé cúrsaí drámaíochta sna bunscoileanna i gConamara agus i Maigh Eo Theas, chomh maith le ceardlanna lae do gach aoisghrúpa ar fud na tíre. Mhúin sé drámaíocht ar na dianchúrsaí aisteoireachta 'Lasair' in Éirinn agus in Albain agus tá ceardlanna drámaíochta agus forbairt phearsanta cumtha agus stiúrtha aige do Learning Waves, Ros na Rún, Solas agus POC, chomh maith le comhlachtaí agus eagraíochtaí eile. Deir Diarmuid go dtaispeánann an fás agus forbairt iontach atá tagtha ar chúrsaí drámaíochta trí Ghaeilge na deiseanna ollmhóra a bhaineann leis na healaíona chun athruithe dearfacha a chur i bhfeidhm sa tsochaí. "Má thógtar an drámaíocht, mar shampla", deir sé, "tuigtear anois a éifeachtaí is atá sí chun forbairt phearsanta, cumas teanga, cumarsáid agus féinmhuinín an duine a fheabhsú." I dtuairim Dhiarmada, "Trasnaíonn an ealaín gach teanga, inscne, aicme agus teideal; ach oiread leis an mbás, tá sí thar a bheith daonlathach!" "Is ar mhórphictiúr forbartha agus fostaíochta atá Aonad na dTaibhealaíon, OÉ Gaillimh, dírithe", a deir Diarmuid. "Úsáidtear eilimintí drámaíochta go rialta anois i gcúrsaí forbartha agus san earnáil chorparáideach chun smaointeoireacht úr a spreagadh. Freisin, tuigtear sa chóras bunscoile tábhacht na drámaíochta mar áis teagaisc agus foghlama agus é ar an gcúrsa léinn anois" a dúirt sé. Deir Máire Áine Ní Chinnéide, Riarthóir Aonad na dTaibhealaíon, OÉ Gaillimh, go mbíonn teagmháil leanúnach ag an aonad le gach ceann de na "comhlachtaí drámaíochta Gaeilge, le hEalaín na Gaeltachta, le féilte agus comhlachtaí léiriúcháin, chomh maith le healaíontóirí agus ceoltóirí aonaracha, lena chinntiú gur cúrsaí den chaighdeán is airde atá á soláthar againn agus deiseanna fostaíochta dá réir. Nasc breise leis an tionscal é ceapachán Dhiarmada". Tá gach dóchas ag Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge gur céim mhór ar son na healaíne agus cúrsaí oideachais tríú leibhéil i gcoitinne é ceapachán Dhiarmada. CRÍOCH

NUI Galway will hold a special examination in Mathematics on Wednesday, 20 August for students who have not achieved the required Leaving Certificate grade in this subject for entry to Undergraduate Engineering and Information Technology Degree Courses. The exam is aimed at students who have already applied for a degree at NUI Galway and have the points but who do not have the maths requirement. Students who pass this examination will be deemed to have satisfied the maths requirement and will then receive an additional CAO offer at Round 2. For more than 20 years, NUI Galway has provided this special entrance examination to help applicants who did not attain the required honours level in their Leaving Certificate. The normal entry requirement to accredited engineering degree programmes requires that students have a C3 or better in higher level maths. Passing the special exam allows students fulfill the requirement for entry to 1st year Engineering. The option of taking the special entrance examination has also been available to students applying for the B.Sc. Degree in Information Technology, which is also an accredited software engineering degree. The minimum entry requirement in maths is either: a C3 in higher level; an A2 in ordinary level; or a pass in the special entrance examination. The exam applies to all Engineering courses except the B.Sc. in Project and Construction Management. Professor Padraic O'Donoghue, Dean of Engineering and Informatics at NUI Galway reminded students: "This exam is in keeping with NUI Galway's policy of providing additional entry opportunities to students. In this instance, students have the points, but may have fallen short on the day in the Leaving Cert maths exam. The special exam provides students with a valuable second opportunity to achieve the mathematics requirement and may be particularly relevant this year with the difficulties in Leaving Certificate mathematics experienced by many students". The standard of the syllabus for the examination is relatively similar to that of the Leaving Certificate higher level but it is focused more on the mathematics that is required for Engineering/IT programmes. The examination will take place in the University on Wednesday 20th August. Further details and application forms may be obtained at http://www.nuigalway.ie/engineering/ or by calling the Admissions Office on 091 492199/492137 The Application form and past papers are available from the College of Engineering and Informatics website at: www.nuigalway.ie Applications will be accepted at the admissions office reception desk up to 9.00am the morning of exam. ENDS

On Saturday, 23 August David O'Leary, an NUI Galway Law student will have the honour of singing "The Star Spangled Banner" live on television and before a sell-out crowd of 55,000 people. In one of the last games at Shea Stadium, home of the New York Mets baseball team, the young Irish tenor will sing the American national anthem at the last "Irish Night" before the Mets move to their new home at Citi Field. It is the second time David has had the honour of singing for the New York team, the first having taken place last September, just as he was beginning his LLB at NUI Galway. A graduate of Legal Science and French, the 24 year-old Wexford man is spending his third summer in New York studying voice with internationally renowned vocal coaches and accompanists and, despite his impending conferral with the LLB, intends to pursue a professional career in opera. "It s a huge privilege for me to have the opportunity to perform the American national anthem for the Mets at one of the biggest games of the year. To be a small part of an historic evening will be a humbling experience". David successfully auditioned for the Irish Youth Choir and has been a guest soloist at many performances on radio and television with the NUI Galway Chamber Choir and with the Irish Sopranos. He also sings with the renowned Galway Baroque Singers. ENDS

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms. Mary Coughlan T.D., has today (Tuesday 5th August 2008) announced the re-appointment of Professor Patrick Fottrell as Chairperson of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI). Chairman of SFI since 2003, Professor Fottrell is a former Professor of Biochemistry at NUI Galway, serving as President of the University from 1996-2000. Announcing the reappointment, Minister Coughlan said "Since becoming Chairperson in 2003, Professor Fottrell has spearheaded SFI's operations in helping to establish a world-class research environment in Ireland. His dedication and expertise have been an integral part of the major strides achieved to date by SFI. The range of research programmes and supports provided by SFI has expanded significantly under Professor Fottrell's tenure as Chairperson, and I am delighted that he has agreed to serve another 5 year term". Minister Coughlan added "The Government remains committed to placing the development of our knowledge-based economy at the very heart of Ireland's economic and social policy, and under Professor Fottrell's stewardship, SFI has been a key player in achieving this objective. I look forward to working with Professor Fottrell in further implementing the Government's Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation (SSTI) 2006-2013. Professor Fottrell is a Board Member of Teagasc, the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority and Chairman of the Teagasc Research Committee, he is also a Board Member of Safefood, the Irish Food Safety Promotion Board. He has served as Chairman of the Dublin Institute of Technology, the Irish Council of Bioethics and the Ireland-USA Fulbright Commission. Prof. Fottrell is currently Chairman of Westgate Biological. He is a member and former Vice-President of the Royal Irish Academy. Professor Fottrell has a B.Sc. and M.Sc. from University College Cork, a Ph.D. from the University of Glasgow, and a D.Sc. from the National University of Ireland. He is a recipient of the Conway Medal from Ireland s Royal Academy of Medicine, and has been a visiting Professor at Harvard, as well as in Germany and Japan. Ends