Leathnaíonn Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh geilleagar eolasbhunaithe sa Ghaeltacht Tá líonra teileachumarsáide nua ardluais, a chuirfidh seirbhís leathanbanda ardluais ar fáil, á thabhairt chuig Gaeltacht Chonamara mar thoradh ar chomh-thionscnamh idir Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh, HEAnet agus Údarás na Gaeltachta. Beidh an líonra nua atá á sholáthar ag Airspeed Telecom agus a thacaíonn le breis agus 300Mb, ar fáil ag seacht gcinn d'ionaid Ghaeltachta de chuid OÉ Gaillimh, agus beidh fail ag lucht gnó laistigh de Ghaeltacht na Gaillimhe ar an tseirbhís chomh maith. Neartóidh na seirbhísí seo, atá á seoladh inniu (Dé Luain, 6 Deireadh Fómhair 2008) ag an Aire Éamon Ó Cuív, T.D., an Ollscoil agus na comhpháirtithe acadúla lena bpríomh mhisean teagaisc agus taighde a sheachadadh. Éascófar obair Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge mar go gcabhróidh na seirbhísí nua seo an fhadhb achair a réiteach agus na haonaid atá scaipthe amach go forleathan a chomhtháthú. Ag labhairt dó ag an seoladh, dúirt Kieran Loftus, Stiúrthóir ar Sheirbhísí Ríomhaireachta, Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh, "Tá líonrú ardluais ar fáil ar champas OÉ Gaillimh, le blianta, ach tá láithreacht againn chomh maith feadh chósta an Iarthair. Tá ionaid ag Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge i gceantair ar fud na Gaeltachta. Beidh buntáiste anseo chomh maith d'Institiúid Muireolaíochta Mháirtín Uí Riain i gCarna sna gníomhaíochtaí taighde ar eolaíocht mhuirí atá ar bun acu agus ag an Institiúid Athrú Comhshaoil ag Ceann Mhása i gConamara agus sa Charn, An Boirinn, Co. an Chláir. Beidh an soláthar nua leathanbhanda seo tairbheach freisin d'Institiúid Teicneolaíochta na Gaillimhe-Mhaigh Eo sna hionaid atá acu i gCaisleán an Bharraigh agus i Leitir Fraic." Ag cur leis an méid sin, dúirt An Dr. Loftus: "Ní ag OÉ Gaillimh amháin a bheidh buntáiste na seirbhíse nua seo. Beidh fáil ag ár gcomhpháirtithe acadúla, teagaisc agus taighde araon, ar ár n-acmhainní. Tá súil againn go spreagfaí ár láithreacht ard-ghníomhaíochtaí nua sna pobail seo. Tá seirbhísí HEAnet á gcur ar fáil ar shlí ina mbeidh sé níos furasta seirbhísí a sholáthar go háitiúil, b'fhéidir ag feidhmiú mar acmhainn agus mar éascaitheoir le seirbhísí maithe leathanbhanda a sholáthar do na pobail tuaithe seo." Ba cheart go ndéanfadh an líonra nua teileachumarsáide seo difríocht shuntasach do chomhlachtaí agus d'eagraíochtaí atá ag feidhmiú i nGaeltacht na Gaillimhe, a deir Pádraig Ó hAoláin, Príomhfheidhmeannach, Údarás na Gaeltachta, a rinne cómhaoiniú ar an tseirbhís seo. "Is ionann leathanbhanda le haer agus uisce d'aon ghnó nua-aimseartha sa lá atá inniu ann". Tá sé thar a bheith riachtanach. Cabhróidh an rochtain ardluais le gnóthaí a choimeád slán, fás a spreagadh agus gnóthaí nua a mhealladh chuig an réigiún. Is comhfhiontar a bhí sa togra seo freisin le OÉ Gaillimh, ar theastaigh líonra ardluais uathu chuig a n-ionaid for-rochtana Gaeltachta. Tá soláthar cúrsaí creidiúnaithe tríú leibhéal sa Ghaeltacht lárnach i straitéis an Údaráis agus mar pháirt den mhór-phictiúr chun cabhrú le fiontraíocht a chur chun cinn sa cheantar seo. Díreoidh an líonra nua seo freisin ar an easpa ceangal leathanbhanda in iardheisceart Chonamara agus ciallaíonn an infheistíocht seo atá déanta ag Údarás na Gaeltachta agus HEAnet anois go bhfuil fáil ag gnóthaí sa cheantar seo ar sheirbhís ardluais leathanbhanda", a dúirt sé. Agus é ag labhairt roimh an seoladh, dúirt John Boland, Príomhfheidhmeannach HEAnet, "Tá HEAnet ag tabhairt cumhacht na líonraí taighde náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta chuig na ceantair iargúlta seo. Osclaíonn sé seo suas cainéal cumarsáide dhá-threo agus ceanglaítear go domhanda na hacmhainní luachmhara seo, ag nascadh na suímh Éireannacha seo gan stró leis na 3,500 institiúidí taighde eile ar fud na hEorpa. Dúirt Liam O Kelly, Bainisteoir Stiúrtha Airspeed Telecom, "Tá áthas ar AirSpeed Telecom a n-infreastruchtúr líonra a leathnú i réigiún Ghaillimh, Mhaigh Eo agus an Chláir. Tá ár líonra raidió ceadúnaithe foirfe chun na dúshláin geografacha agus airgeadais a bhaineann le seirbhísí teileachumarsáide ard bhandaleithead a sholáthar sa cheantar. Críoch

Beidh Lá Oscailte OÉ Gaillimh ar siúl ó 9am go 3pm, Déardaoin, 9 Deireadh Fómhair, 2008. Táthar ag súil go dtabharfaidh na mílte mac léinn meánscoile ó cheann ceann na tíre cuairt ar an Ollscoil i dteannta a dtuismitheoirí agus múinteoirí. Dar le Caroline Loughnane, Stiúrthóir Margaíochta agus Cumarsáide, OÉ Gaillimh, agus duine de lucht eagraithe an Lae Oscailte gur "deis iontach é seo do dhuine ar bith atá ag smaoineamh teacht chun staidéir in OÉ Gaillimh labhairt le comhaltaí foirne agus le mic léinn, agus níos mó a fhoghlaim faoi na cúrsaí ar spéis leo iad, dul ag spaisteoireacht mórthimpeall an champais agus ansin cinneadh a dhéanamh an mian leo freastal ar OÉ Gaillimh amach anseo". "Chomh maith leis sin, tugann an Lá Oscailte seo deis do mhic léinn taithí a fháil ar shaol na hollscoile ar an láthair féin. Beidh deis ag cuairteoirí léargas a fháil ar an raon iomlán ábhar atá ar fáil anseo in OÉ Gaillimh ag na seastáin éagsúla a bheidh in Áras na Mac Léinn – ionad na mac léinn anseo – agus freastal ar chuid de na seisiúin tosaigh idirghníomhacha bunaithe ar ábhair éagsúla a bheidh ar siúl i gcaitheamh an lae". Cúrsaí éagsúla ar fáil ag OÉ Gaillimh le cúpla bliain anuas ná: Baitsiléir/Máistreacht Innealtóireachta i Nuálaíocht Innealtóireachta. Is é atá mar aidhm leis an gclár seo sainscileanna ildisciplíneacha a thabhairt do chéimithe le cur ar a gcumas tús a chur lena ngnó féin; gnóthaí a bheidh dírithe ar tháirgí nuálaíochta, nideoige, táirgí faoi chinnireacht an mhargaidh, agus táirgí leictreonacha a fhorbairt. Baitsiléir Innealtóireachta (Onór) & Máistreacht Eolaíochta in Innealtóireacht Spóirt agus Aclaíochta. Is é seo an chéad chlár dá leithéid in Éirinn, agus ar chríoch an chláir seo beidh na scileanna agus an saineolas ag na céimithe chun córais agus feistí a dhearadh chun gníomhaíocht spóirt a mheas agus a chur i bhfeidhm thar raon leathan spórt. Baitsiléir Eolaíochta (Onór) sa Chosliacht. Tá an cúrsa seo dírithe ar staidéar agus ar chóireáil neamhord a bhaineann leis an gcos, an rúitín, an ghlúin, géag na coise agus an chorróg, agus is é seo an t-aon chúrsa dá leithéid atá á thairiscint i bPoblacht na hÉireann. Beidh na mic léinn ag staidéar den chuid is mó sa chlinic cosliachta den chéad scoth atá le forbairt ag Feidhmeannacht na Seirbhíse Sláinte ag suíomh cóngarach d'Ospidéal Pháirc Mheirlinne. Baitsiléir Onóracha Dán (BA CONNECT): Tá athrú ag teacht ar na céimeanna traidisiúnta sna Dána agus tá seacht gcéim ceithre bliana á dtairiscint faoin gClár CONNECT - clár atá á reáchtáil ag Coláiste na nDán, na nEolaíochtaí Sláinte agus an Léinn Cheiltigh. Tá na cláir CONNECT deartha le cinntiú go n-éiríonn le céimithe poist a fháil trí scileanna ar leith a fhorbairt agus naisc a chruthú leis an saol lasmuigh den champas. Seo a leanas na seacht gcéim atá á dtairiscint trí chlár CONNECT: B.A. le Staidéar Leanaí; B.A. le Scríbhneoireacht Chruthaitheach; B.A. le Staidéar Scannán; B.A. le Staidéar ar Chearta Daonna; B.A. leis an Léann Éireannach; B.A. le Staidéar Amharclannaíochta agus Taibhithe; agus B.A. le Léann na mBan. Gheobhaidh mic léinn léargas ar shaol na hollscoile trí dhul ar thuras mórthimpeall an champais, mar aon le léargas ar na háiseanna atá ar fáil in OÉ Gaillimh lena n-áirítear an tIonad Spóirt a chosain €22 milliún atá lonnaithe in aice le Droichead na gCúig Chéad. Tá achar 6,500 sq.m. san ionad spóirt agus fóillíochta éiceabhách seo ina bhfuil linn snámha 6-lána 25 méadar ar féidir an t-urlár a ardú agus a ísliú inti, cúirteanna scuaise agus raicéadaíochta, halla ina bhfuil trí chúirt cispheile, stiúideonna ilchuspóireacha, giomáisiam an-mhór agus balla dreapadóireachta chomh maith. Tá lascaine shuntasach le fáil ag mic léinn OÉ Gaillimh ón Kingfisher Fitness Group, cuideachta atá i gceannas ar shé ionad fóillíochta eile ar fud na tíre. Deir Joe Cosgrove, Stiúrthóir Bainistíochta, Kingfisher Fitness Club, "go bhfreastalóidh an t-ionad seo ar riachtanais spóirt agus aclaíochta an uile dhuine, is cuma más ag iarraidh ballraíocht bliana atá tú nó más fearr leat leas a bhaint as tairiscintí éagsúla cosúil le 'Splash and Dash', cuirtear gach duine san áireamh." Tá os cionn 40 club agus 85 cumann in OÉ Gaillimh, rud a chiallaíonn go bhfuil rud éigin ann don uile dhuine. Beidh ionadaithe ó na clubanna agus ó na cumainn go léir i láthair ar an Lá Oscailte le labhairt le cuairteoirí. Chomh maith leis sin, beidh ionadaithe ó Chlár Oibre Deonaí ALIVE i láthair, clár a bhfuil sé mar aidhm leis tacú le hobair dheonach agus lena cur chun cinn ar an gcampas, chun labhairt faoin raon leathan deiseanna oibre deonaí atá ar fáil do mhic léinn. Féadfaidh cuairteoirí áit a chur in áirithe don Lá Oscailte agus clár a fháil roimh ré trí logáil ar www.nuigalway.ie/openday nó go deimhin féadfaidh tú cuairt a thabhairt orainn ar an lá más mian leat. Tá tuilleadh eolais le fáil ón Oifig um Idirchaidreamh le Scoileanna ag 091 492814, nó trí ríomhphost a sheoladh chuig mary.coyle@nuigalway.ie nó trí chuairt a thabhairt ar http://www.nuigalway.ie/openday/ CRÍOCH

Fifteen projects from Ireland, including two from NUI Galway, have been awarded the European Award for Languages - the Language Label for innovative ways of teaching and learning languages. The awards are coordinated by the European Commission and managed locally by the Irish coordinating body Léargas. The European Award for Languages - the Language Label, which is simultaneously run in over 20 European countries, has been a major event in the languages calendar since 1998. This year's winners were selected on the basis of excellence, innovation, intercultural dialogue and their ability to serve as a model for others. The award-winning projects from NUI Galway are: L Italia in Diretta, NUI Galway: This project is aimed at secondary school students and features an interactive website, www.italianliving.org. The website was created by students undertaking the Bachelor of Commerce International (Italian) Degree. Blogs and forums encourage secondary school students to embrace the Italian language and culture through participation in forum discussions and interactive games. The award was presented to Dr Laura Incalcaterra McLoughlin and Dott. Francesca Magnoni of the Department of Italian, NUI Galway. According to Dr McLoughlin: "We are thrilled to receive the prestigious European Award for Languages. The Award is an important recognition of the work and the level of commitment of students and lecturers in the Department of Italian. Our undergraduate students designed the website, chose the topics, researched and created all the material, and now they keep the site regularly updated. This is an on-going project which will be expanded in future years. We are particularly grateful to the Istituto Italiano di Cultura for their continuing sponsorship and support". The National Digital Learning Repository Modern Languages Community of Practice Blog as a Community Building Medium: This blog is a one-stop-shop online space for anyone involved in teaching languages, including literature and culture, in the Irish higher education sector. The project aims to encourage a sense of community and peer support to facilitate the sharing of information and resources by providing an easy to use, dynamic and accessible web space which highlights a range of community news and activity. The website can be found at www.ndlr.ie/modlang/blog The Award was presented to Project Coordinators Paul Gormley and Michelle Tooher, Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT), NUI Galway. Dr Tooher explained the usefulness of the project: "The blog provides a valuable service to the language community, helping to build and enhance community spirit across all language sectors. Guest editors from across the higher education sector drive the content and focus of the blog, and our regular podcasting series provides a platform to highlight and celebrate the incredible language initiatives being undertaken throughout Ireland. The blog also provides a gateway to the National Digital Learning Repository – an online database of free-to-use resources for all Irish higher education practitioners". Both NUI Galway projects were supported by the University's An Teanglann – Language Laboratories, a part of CELT which primarily supports the teaching and learning of modern languages; specifically French, German, Italian and Spanish. The awards were made by Simon Coveney, T.D. at a special celebration to mark the European Day of Languages on 26 September. -ends-

NUI Galway students of the M.A. in Production and Direction at the Huston School of Film & Digital Media have won the Best Short Documentary prize at the Radharc Awards in Dublin. Producer Richard Walsh from Ballybunion, County Kerry, and Director Julian Ulrichs from Galway City, received the award for their short documentary 'F.G.M. – No Way Home'. The documentary deals with the issue of female genital mutilation in relation to African refugees in Ireland. The documentary team travelled to Africa to film some of the footage and the resulting piece is a hard-hitting yet sensitive exploration of the cultural and legal aspects surrounding the issue of female genital mutilation, a subject which was has hit the headlines in Ireland during the last year. The short documentary was based on a brief proposed by students of the M.A. in Public Advocacy, who collaborate with Production and Direction students every year to deliver incisive films addressing societal issues. Commenting on the win, James Finlan, coordinator of the M.A. in Production and Direction said: "This was the first year we had students shooting outside of Ireland which was an exciting development. This project was ideally suited to the competition as many of the original Radharc films dealt with African issues. Winning the award vindicates the collaboration between the Production and Public Advocacy students, which is a unique aspect of these courses". The Radharc Awards honour the memory of the late Fr Joe Dunn, co-founder of Radharc Films. The awards are presented to the producers of documentaries of outstanding quality, which address national or international topics of social justice, morality or faith. Huston School of Film & Digital Media runs a number of M.A. courses including Production/Direction, Screenwriting, Film Studies, Digital Media and Public Advocacy. Earlier this year, another Huston graduate Brian Deane won the Babelgum online film festival prize which was presented by Spike Lee at the Cannes Film Festival. Huston Screenwriting graduates have also won three out of four Stella Artois Pitching Awards at the Galway Film Fleadh. Further information available from: www.filmschool.ie -ends-

NUI Galway President, Dr James J. Browne has signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Maryland in the United States. The arrangement has been made to create future study and research ties between the two universities. President Browne, said: "This agreement of cooperation between NUI Galway and the University of Maryland is the product of a culture which is collaborative and where individuals are willing to work together for a common purpose. This collaboration represents an important step in shaping our futures as we share and build on our respective educational and research strengths. I look forward to fostering our relationship with the University of Maryland for our mutual benefit". Governor of Maryland, Martin O Malley also met with President Browne and President of the University of Maryland, Dan Mote Jr.. Governor O Malley visited NUI Galway in June of this year, when he received an honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws from the University. The memorandum signing coincided with the NUI Galway University Foundation Gala event which hosted former President Bill Clinton, Founder, William J. Clinton Foundation and Loretta Brennan Glucksman, Chairman of the American Ireland Fund, in honour of their contributions to delivering peace and prosperity on the island of Ireland over the past two decades. The event was held at the Metropolitan Club in New York City and was attended by NUI Galway alumni and friends including Druid Theatre Director, Garry Hynes; Niall Burgess, Consul General of Ireland in New York; and RTÉ broadcaster Seán O Rourke, who was MC for the night. Loretta Glucksman spoke of her first visit to Galway and recalled when she met then President Colm Ó hEocha, subsequently she interacted with Pat Fottrell and Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh as Presidents, and she and the American Ireland Fund now looked forward to working with Dr Browne in his presidency role. President Clinton in his opening remarks spoke of when his wife Hilary was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate at NUI Galway some ten years ago and of his own Irish connection through his mother with Roslea, Co. Fermanagh. President Clinton also spoke of his involvement with the peace process and how the people were ahead of the politicians in their desire for peace. He emphasised that research in Universities should focus on alternative energy notwithstanding the fact that oil prices had once again fallen to a low level. In his remarks, President Browne referred to President Clinton's achievements since he left office particularly in relation to the William J. Clinton Foundation, which seeks to strengthen the capacity of people throughout the world to meet the challenges of global interdependence. The President went on to praise the outstanding work of philanthropist Loretta Glucksman for her contribution to Ireland though the American Ireland Fund. He said "The goodwill generated by this event will leave a favourable and lasting impression of NUI Galway on all who attended". The fundraising event was attended by over 300 people including alumni and friends of the University and all proceeds will go towards the development of the Research Library at NUI Galway. Ends