- Integrated Nanoscience Platform for Ireland - INSPIRE – The Integrated Nanoscience Platform for Ireland was officially launched recently by Dr Jimmy Devins T.D., Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation. LightHouse, the Centre for Applied Photonics in NUI Galway, is a key member of this national initiative, which is a consortium of ten academic institutes leading the strand on nano-photonics research. The project has a total value of €32 million, the largest funding allocation to any national consortium, of which €2.7 will go to LightHouse. The award will enable LightHouse to install a suite of new cleanroom and ultrafast laser processing and process control facilities for developing new nanotechnology- based processes, products and nanomaterials. The award will also enhance the University's teaching reputation, by adding value to graduate research and training in biomedical science, photonics and materials science. Commenting on the funding award Dr Gerard O'Connor of LightHouse, NUI Galway, said: "This award is recognition of the recent inclusion of Photonics as a theme in the formal research strategy of the University. This vision for the future of photonics research strategically positions the University to respond to the growing opportunities and challenges that such new technologies will present to industry, both nationally, and internationally. It recognises the importance of the enabling contributions that photonics will make to biomedical engineering science and environmental science at NUI Galway and to nanoscience and ICT initiatives nationally". -Ends-

NUI Galway will officially launch its new Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Care at its annual social care seminar from 22-23 November. Using distance-learning techniques, the B.A. programme combines home-study, tutor support, work placement and workshops available in NUI Galway centres in Carlow, Galway and Portarlington. The four year, part- time, programme builds on the successful certificate and diploma courses offered since 1993. The new B.A. in Social Care is designed for adult learners returning to education, with experience in care work. Flexibility is provided by allowing students to exit and return to the programme at different points, taking up to seven years to complete the degree or choosing to finish at the end of year one with a certificate, or year two with a diploma. Course Director, NUI Galway's Dr Jane Sixsmith, says flexible access to third-level learning opportunities for social care workers will ultimately enhance care: "In the field of social care, increased attention is being given to qualifications, regulation and professionalisation. The degree programme is designed with this in mind, to support the education needs of social care workers, in as flexible a manner as possible". Dr Sixsmith added: "This degree programme provides an opportunity for a much broader range of people to access third level education than would traditionally be the case and exemplifies the University's commitment to life long learning". The theme of this year's social care seminar is "Working with Older People". Over 250 NUI Galway students undertaking social care programmes will attend, including the first cohort of B.A. students. For more information about the B.A. in Social Care please visit www.nuig.ie/hpr, call 091 493874, or email yvonne.forde@nuigalway.ie -ends-

Osclóidh Príomhfheidhmeannach Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, Peadar Mac an Iomaire, deireadh seachtaine ceiliúrtha 10 mbliana Áras Shorcha Ní Ghuairim i gCarna ar an Aoine, 21 Samhain, 2008. Ionad for-rochtana de chuid Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, OÉ Gaillimh é Áras Shorcha Ní Ghuairim. Cuireann an tIonad raon deiseanna ollscolaíochta ar fáil do phobal na Gaeltachta agus do Ghaeilgeoirí ó cheantair eile, mar aon leis an Ghaeilge a chothú mar phríomhtheanga pobail sa Ghaeltacht. View in English "Is cúis mhór áthais dúinn an sprioc seo a bheith sroichte againn" a dúirt Riarthóir an Ionaid Séamas Ó Concheanainn. "Ag tógáil ar mhisean bunaithe an Ionaid deich mbliana ó shin tá clár ollscolaíochta, tacaíochta teanga agus tionscnamh forbartha pobail idir lámha ag an Ionad ar mhaithe le forbairt inbhuanaithe phobal na Gaeltachta agus na Gaeilge". Tá sa bhreis ar 580 mac léinn tar éis cáilíochtaí Ollscoile a bhaint amach faoi scáth an Árais trí chúrsaí réamhollscoile, fochéime agus iarchéime a dhéanamh i dTeicneolaíocht na Faisnéise agus sa Riarachán Gnó; sa Ghaeilge; sa Bhéaloideas; i gCúram Sóisialta agus i bFhorbairt Phobail. Tá forbairt á déanamh ar an gclár cúrsaí atá á thairiscint ag an Ionad ar bhonn leanúnach le freastal ar riachtanais spriocghrúpaí agus an mhargaidh. Tá pobal forleathan tagtha faoi thionchar chláir shealbhaithe agus bhuanaithe Gaeilge an Ionaid freisin. "Tá cúrsaí an Ionaid ag cabhrú lenár mic léinn fostaíocht mhaith a aimsiú mar aon le deis a thabhairt dóibh leanacht leis an oideachas fadsaoil gar do bhaile ina dteanga dúchais" a deir Ó Concheanainn. Tá clár forbartha agus taighde á chur chun cinn ag an Ionad freisin a nascann nuálaíocht teanga agus nuálaíocht teicneolaíochta i réimsí a áiríonn an tIdirlíon agus an Chartlannaíocht. Tá an tAcadamh dóchasach go gcothóidh na tionscnaimh taighde agus forbartha seo tuilleadh deiseanna ardoiliúna agus fostaíochta sa Ghaeltacht. Tá obair an Ionaid ag tacú le cur chun cinn an bhonneagair oideachais, eacnamaíochta agus seirbhíse ar fud na Gaeltachta. Tá comhoibriú láidir ar siúl le heagraíochtaí stáit agus leis an bpobal ar mhaithe le cur ar chumas an phobail a bheith páirteach i sochaí agus i ngeilleagar an eolais, mar a léiríodh leis an bhfeachtas ar éirigh leis le gairid córas leathanbhanda ardluais HEAnet a sholáthar i gCarna agus i gceantair Ghaeltachta eile. "Tá an tacaíocht atá á fháil ag an Ionad ón Roinn Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta agus ó Údarás na Gaeltachta fíorthábhachtach ó thaobh timpeallacht a chothú atá báúil do chur chun cinn bonneagair Ollscolaíochta sa Ghaeltacht" a deir Ó Concheanainn. Tá idir léachtaí, taispeántais, ceardlanna agus ceolchoirm oíche Dé Sathairn ar chlár imeachtaí an deireadh seachtaine comórtha in Áras Shorcha Ní Ghuairim. San áireamh tá léacht ar shaothar Shorcha Ní Ghuairim féin a thabharfaidh an Dr Ríonach Uí Ógáin tráthnóna Dé hAoine, 21 Samhain ag 8.00i.n. Tugtar cuireadh don phobal freastal ar imeachtaí uile an deireadh seachtaine. Is féidir tuilleadh eolais maidir le himeachtaí an deireadh seachtaine a fháil ag: www.acadamh.ie CRÍOCH

On Friday 21 November, Peadar Mac an Iomaire, Príomhfheidhmeannach of Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge will launch a weekend of events at Áras Shorcha Ní Ghuairim, Carna to celebrate the Centre's 10-year anniversary. Áras Shorcha Ní Ghuairim is an outreach centre of Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUI Galway. The Centre offers a range of third level educational opportunities through the medium of Irish to Gaeltacht communities and to Irish speakers elsewhere, in addition to endeavouring to sustain the Irish language as the primary community language in the Gaeltacht. Leagan Gaeilge Séamas Ó Concheanainn, the Centre's Administrator, commented ahead of the celebration: "It is a great sense of joy for us that we have reached this important milestone. Building on the centre's founding mission 10 years ago, we are offering a programme of third level education, language support and community development initiatives geared towards the sustainable development of Gaeltacht and Irish-speaking communities". To date, in excess of 580 students have achieved third level qualifications through Access, undergraduate and post-graduate level programmes in Information Technology and Business Administration, Gaeilge, Folklore Studies, Social Care and Community Development under the aegis of the Centre. The Centre's programme of courses is being developed on an ongoing basis to meet target group and market needs. A widespread community has also come under the influence of the Centre's Irish language acquisition and sustainment programme. Ó Concheanainn continued: "Our programmes assist our students in attaining high quality employment as well as enabling them to pursue lifelong learning opportunities close to home in their native language. The Acadamh Centre is developing a programme of research and development that integrates linguistic and technological innovation in areas encompassing the Internet and archiving. We are confident that these research and development initiatives will create further higher-education and employment opportunities in the Gaeltacht". The Centre's work is also contributing to the development of the educational, economic and services infrastructure in the Gaeltacht. There is strong co-operation with state bodies and with the public to enable communities to participate in the knowledge society and economy. This is evident in the recent successful campaign to attain the HEAnet high-speed broadband service at Carna and in other Gaeltacht areas. "The support received by the Centre from the Roinn Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta and from Údarás na Gaeltachta is paramount in nurturing an environment conducive to the development of a third level education infrastructure in the Gaeltacht" says Ó Concheanainn. The weekend programme of events at Áras Shorcha Ní Ghuairim includes lectures, exhibitions, workshops, and a Saturday night concert featuring sean-nós singers and dancers, musicians and other artists from near and far. Dr Ríonach Uí Ógáin will give a lecture on Sorcha Ní Ghuairim's career and accomplishments on Friday, 21 November at 8.00pm. The public are invited to attend all events through the weekend. Further details regarding the weekend's events can be found at: www.acadamh.ie ENDS

NUI Galway is delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Terry Eagleton as Adjunct Professor of Cultural Theory based at the Moore's Institute for Research in the Humanities and Social Studies. Professor Eagleton, who is of Irish descent, is regarded by many as arguably Britain's most influential living literary critic. His specialities are literary and cultural theory and the English-language literature and culture of Ireland, on which he has recently completed a trilogy of works. Eagleton's books of literary criticism include Literary Theory: an Introduction (1983) and After Theory (2003). He is also the author of the novel Saints and Scholars (1987) and The Gatekeeper: a Memoir (2001). His latest books are How to Read a Poem (2006); The Meaning of Life (2007); and Trouble with Strangers: a Study of Ethics (2008). Announcing the appointment, Professor Kevin Barry, Dean of the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies at NUI Galway, said: "We warmly welcome Terry Eagleton to the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies where he will join the Moore Institute for Research in the Humanities and Social Studies. Eagleton, as adjunct Professor of Cultural Theory, will provide each semester master-classes for doctoral students and junior staff, in addition to open lectures and seminars on modern literature". "Without doubt Terry Eagleton is one of the most distinguished and recalcitrant public intellectuals of his time. He has on many occasions been a celebrated visitor to Galway, receiving an Honorary Doctorate from this University some ten years ago. He has continued, whether in his writings on culture, critical thinking, economic inequality, or the politics of terror, to rough up the edges of the mainstream , as he calls it. He remains (and his time may have come again) a defender of Marx's analysis of power and its discontents. He is a famous and fabulous communicator and one of the rare articulate, persuasive critics of contemporary liberalism. His presence on campus will bring exciting benefits to our students, and we are delighted he will be sharing with them his time and the energy of his arguments." Terry Eagleton was recently appointed to a Chair in English Literature at the Department of English and Creative Writing at Lancaster University and has previously held the positions of Thomas Wharton Professor of English Literature at the University of Oxford (1992-2001), and until recently the John Edward Taylor Professor of English Literature at the University of Manchester. Eagleton commented on his appointment to NUI Galway: "I am delighted to be appointed to a chair in the most beautiful of all the Irish campuses, a college which honoured me with a Degree of Doctor of Letters some years ago. Coming to Galway is particularly exciting for me since I have many old friends in the town and college. In fact, the Eagletons come from Headford and Shrule and there are still members of my family in the borderlines of Co. Galway and Co. Mayo. I am particularly grateful to Professor Kevin Barry who took the initiative to bring me to Galway and I look forward to meeting the students very soon". Professor Eagleton will deliver his Inaugural Lecture at NUI Galway on 10 December entitled 'The Death of Criticism'. -Ends-