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