October 2015 Autumn Conferrings at NUI Galway

Actor Stephen Rea to Receive Honorary Degree 

Over 2,500 students will graduate from NUI Galway during the Autumn Conferring Ceremonies which take place from 19-23 October.  The University will also confer an Honorary Doctor of Arts Degree on Tuesday on Irish actor, Stephen Rea.

Stephen Rea – Doctor of Arts honoris causa: Stephen Rea was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland and attended Belfast High School and Queen’s University, where he studied English. He later trained at the Abbey Theatre School in Dublin and acted with the Focus Theatre Company in Dublin, along with actors such as Gabriel Byrne and Colm Meaney. In 1980, he co-founded the Field Day theatre company with Irish playwright, Brian Friel.

After several stage, television and film appearances, Rea came to international success for his performance in Neil Jordan’s film, The Crying Game (1992), for which he was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor. Notable films followed, including Interview with the Vampire, Michael Collins, The Butcher Boy, This Is My Father and The End of the Affair.

Stephen is also a highly-regarded stage actor, most recently for his role in Ballyturk, directed and written by Enda Walsh. In 2015, Stephen Rea was awarded a Bafta TV Award for The Honourable Woman and was the recipient of the Special Tribute Award at The Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards in recognition of his continued commitment to theatre, for his work with the Field Day theatre company, and for his recent stage roles.

Celebrating Stephen Rea’s honorary conferring, NUI Galway’s Huston School of Film and Digital Media will hold a two events on Wednesday, 21 October. The first, ‘Stephen Rea: Politics and the Artist’ will take place at 1pm where Stephen will discuss the role of political engagement in arts and culture in Ireland.

‘Stephen Rea: a Life in Film and Theatre’ will take place at 2.30pm and will focus on Stephen’s significant contribution to cinema and drama, in Ireland and internationally, and will include extract screenings from his film and television work. Both events will take place in the Main Room in Huston School of Film and Digital Media and are free to attend and open to the public. Advance registration is necessary as the number of places is limited. To register please email hustonfilmschool@nuigalway.ie.

In advance of the conferring ceremonies, Dr Jim Browne, President of NUI Galway, said: “NUI Galway is fortunate to be associated with many outstanding honorary graduates throughout its history. This week we are very proud to honour Stephen Rea for his outstanding and distinctive contribution to the world of culture, theatre and film in Ireland and far beyond. NUI Galway is very pleased to be in a position to recognise his exceptional talent and achievement. On behalf of the University I congratulate Stephen and each of the 2,500 students who will be conferred with degrees this week from NUI Galway. ”

A series of short interviews with Stephen Rea are available to view at  https://vimeo.com/143070571, https://vimeo.com/143067094 and https://vimeo.com/143125238.

-Ends-

Bronnadh an Fhómhair in OÉ Gaillimh

Céim Oinigh le bronnadh ar an Aisteoir Stephen Rea 

Bainfidh os cionn 2,500 mac léinn céim amach in OÉ Gaillimh sna Searmanais Bronnta Céime a bheidh ar bun idir 19-23 Deireadh Fómhair.  Bronnfaidh an Ollscoil Céim Oinigh Dhochtúireachta sna Dána Dé Máirt ar aisteoir na tíre seo, Stephen Rea.

Stephen Rea – Céim Dhochtúireachta sna Dána honoris causa: Rugadh Stephen Rea i mBéal Feirste, Tuaisceart Éireann agus d'fhreastail sé ar Ardscoil Bhéal Feirste agus ar Ollscoil na Banríona áit a ndearna sé staidéar ar an mBéarla. Fuair sé a chuid oiliúna i Scoil Amharclann na Mainistreach i mBaile Átha Cliath agus thosaigh sé a cheird leis an gCompántas Focus i mBaile Átha Cliath, in éineacht le haisteoirí eile cosúil le Gabriel Byrne agus Colm Meaney. I 1980, bhunaigh sé féin agus an drámadóir Brian Friel an compántas Field Day.

Chaith Rea seal ar stáitse, ar an teilifís agus i scannáin sular bhain sé cáil idirnáisiúnta amach as a pháirt i scannán Neil Jordan, The Crying Game (1992). Ainmníodh é do ghradam Oscar don Aisteoir is Fearr ina dhiaidh sin. Bhí páirt aige i scannáin mhóra le rá eile ina dhiaidh sin, cosúil le Interview with the Vampire, Michael Collins, The Butcher Boy, This Is My Father agus The End of the Affair.

Tá ardmheas ar Stephen mar aisteoir stáitse chomh maith, go mór mór as a ról in Ballyturkle gairid, stiúrtha agus scríofa ag Enda Walsh. In 2015, bronnadh gradam teilifíse BAFTA ar Stephen Rea as The Honourable Woman agus bronnadh gradam ómóis speisialta air ag Gradaim Amharclannaíochta na hÉireann The Irish Times mar aitheantas as a dhúthracht don amharclannaíocht, as a shaothar leis an gcompántas Field Day, agus as a róil ar stáitse le scaitheamh anuas.

Mar cheiliúradh ar chéim oinigh Stephen Rea, beidh Scoil Scannán agus Meán Digiteach Huston in OÉ Gaillimh ag reáchtáil dhá ócáid Dé Céadaoin, an 21 Deireadh Fómhair. Beidh an chéad cheann, ‘Stephen Rea: Politics and the Artist’ ar siúl ag 1pm áit a labhróidh Stephen faoi ról na polaitíochta sna healaíona agus sa chultúr in Éirinn.

Beidh ‘Stephen Rea: a Life in Film and Theatre’ ar siúl ag 2.30pm agus an bhéim ag an ócáid seo ar shaothar Stephen sa phictiúrlann agus sa drámaíocht, in Éirinn agus thar lear, agus taispeánfar giotaí dá shaothar scannánaíochta agus teilifíse. Beidh an dá ócáid ar siúl sa Seomra Mór i Scoil Scannán agus Meán Digiteach Huston agus tá siad saor in aisce agus oscailte do chách. Ní mór clárú roimh ré áfach mar go bhfuil teorainn ar líon na n-áiteanna atá ar fáil. Chun clárú seol ríomhphost chuig hustonfilmschool@nuigalway.ie.

Ag labhairt dó roimh na searmanais bhronnta, dúirt an Dr Jim Browne, Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh: “Tá an t-ádh ar OÉ Gaillimh a bheith bainteach leis an oiread sin céimithe oinigh den scoth ó bunaíodh an Ollscoil. An tseachtain seo, táimid bródúil céim oinigh a bhronnadh ar Stephen Rea as an obair atá déanta aige i saol an chultúir, na hamharclannaíochta agus na scannán in Éirinn agus thar lear. Is cúis áthais dúinn anseo in OÉ Gaillimh an deis a bheith againn aitheantas a thabhairt don tallann agus don tsárobair atá déanta aige. Thar ceann na hOllscoile, tréaslaím le Stephen agus leis an 2,500 mac léinn a mbronfnar céimeanna orthu an tseachtain seo in OÉ Gaillimh.”

-Críoch-