NUI Galway is pleased to announce the appointment of Máire Uí Dhroighneáin as Sean-Nós Singer in Residence at the Centre for Irish Studies. A native of Spiddal, Máire received the Gradam Sean Nós Cois na Life in 2004 in recognition of her contribution to the living tradition, both as a performer and as a teacher. She has also won Comórtas na mBan at the Oireachtas and has been runner-up in Corn Uí Riada, the premier award for sean-nós singing. Máire also has extensive experience as an actress, both on stage and screen and is perhaps best known to television audiences for her portrayal of Máire, the sanctimonious shopkeeper, in the popular RTE soap opera, Ros na Rún. Over the past 17 years, Máire has been involved with An Gaelacadamh, teaching children the songs that were passed on to her and which she is now handing on to a new generation, many of who have gone on to compete successfully at the Oireachtas, and at various fleadhanna ceoil. Máire cites her mother Máire Nic an Ríogh, from An Gleann Mór, Carraroe, as a formative influence on her singing style. "She used to sing while she was working around the house or trying to get us to sleep and those are the first songs I can remember. I had her tormented, asking her to sing the same songs over and over again," she said. Other singers to have influenced Máire include; Pat Phádraic, Máire Chólman Nic Dhonnacha, Máire Áine Nic Dhonncha, Tom Ó Conghaile, Máirtín Phatch Ó Cúláin, Seán Mac Donncha and Seosamh Ó hÉanaí. During her residency, Máire will participate in a series of performances and workshops at the Centre for Irish Studies and other venues throughout Connemara and the Aran Islands. She will also record her own work and that of other singers. Workshops at the Centre for Irish Studies will commence on Tuesday 14 February 2006 at 7.00pm and will run until Easter. The project is funded by Ealaín na Gaeltachta, Údarás na Gaeltachta and An Chomhairle Ealaíon in association with the Centre for Irish Studies at NUI Galway.

St Angela s College, Sligo has become a College of NUI Galway, with effect from January 1, 2006, under a formal Agreement between the College and the University. This is the first occasion on which an independent educational institution has become a College of a Constituent University of the NUI. The Agreement, which is aimed at expanding the provision of University education and research in the North-West, will ensure a much closer strategic and working relationship between the College and the University, while ensuring an appropriate degree of autonomy for the College and preserving its independent and separate legal status and its traditional ethos. Students of St Angela s College will also be registered as students of NUI Galway, and their degrees and other qualifications (which will, as with all students within the NUI system, be degrees and qualifications of the National University of Ireland) will be awarded by NUI Galway. The existing governance structures of the College will remain in place and there will be no change in the position of staff as employees of St Angela s College. There will be appropriate cross-representation of staff on the academic and governing bodies of the partner institutions, including ex officio membership of Údarás na hOllscoile (The University Governing Authority) for the President of St Angela s College, with a view to maximising the joint resources of both, in programme development and research, for the benefit of the North-West region. A joint body is also being established to oversee the implementation of the Agreement, including reciprocal use of library, technology and other facilities as appropriate. The Agreement, which is the outcome of discussions in response to an approach by St Angela s College to NUI Galway in recent years, has been welcomed by the staff and governing bodies of both institutions. It has also received the warm support of the Department of Education and Science (which to date has been the funding body for the College), the Higher Education Authority and the Senate of the National University of Ireland. St Angela s College, which has since 1978 been a Recognised College of the NUI, under the oversight of NUI Galway, has ceased to be a Recognised College since December 31, 2005, in consequence of its new status as a College of NUI Galway. St Angela s College, Sligo was founded in 1952 by the Irish Ursuline Union as a training college for teachers of home economics. While its achievements in that area were recognised in 2003 by its being designated by the Minister for Education and Science as henceforth the sole national centre for the training of teachers of Home Economics, with a consequent growth and diversification of its specialisms within that discipline, its educational provision has expanded far beyond that original remit. Today it offers programmes at Bachelor, Master, Higher Diploma and Diploma levels in a wide range of aspects of Home Economics, Education (including Special Education Needs), Nursing (General and Intellectual Disability), Food, Textiles, Fashion and Design; it also provides an Access course for the socioeconomically disadvantaged and cooperates in the delivery onsite of NUI Galway s BA programme in Economic and Social Studies. It also has an important Food Product Development Centre and has been involved in a variety of cross-Border projects, with educational institutions in Northern Ireland. The College currently has an enrolment of 510 fulltime and 300 part-time students and a staff of 90 fulltime and 21 part-time. The St. Angela's College community of staff and students enjoy a scenic and tranquil setting on the shores of Lough Gill in the heart of Sligo's Yeats Country. The College campus is located a short distance from Sligo City, which is a vibrant and rapidly growing social, cultural and commercial centre, with good road, rail and air access. A subsidised bus service transports students to and from the campus at regular intervals from early morning to late evening. The College has demonstrated its commitment to the modernisation of its facilities and infrastructure, with ongoing investment in upgrading its teaching and learning facilities, specialist laboratories, information and communications technology, and a range of student facilities and support structures. Under its President, Dr. Anne Taheny, St. Angela's is currently constructing a €9 million Nursing and Health Studies building funded by the Department of Health and Children. Also under construction is a €12 million student residence complex, which will be ready for occupation in September, 2006.

Tá Coláiste San Aingeal, Sligeach ina Choláiste d'Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh ó Eanáir 1, 2006, faoi Chomhaontú foirmiúil idir an Coláiste agus an Ollscoil. Seo an chéad uair go mbeidh institiúid oideachais neamhspleách mar Choláiste ag aon Chomhollscoil de chuid Ollscoil na hÉireann. Is í aidhm an Chomhaontaithe ná an soláthar ollscolaíochta agus taighde san Iarthuaisceart a leathnú, agus ciallóidh sé go mbeidh gaol oibre agus straitéiseach i bhfad níos dlúithe idir an Coláiste agus an Ollscoil. Ag an am céanna, cinnteoidh sé go mbeidh féinriail chuí ag an gColáiste agus go gcaomhnófar an stádas dlíthiúil neamhspleách agus leithleach atá ag an gColáiste agus go gcoinneofar a éiteas traidisiúnta slán. Clárófar mic léinn Choláiste San Aingeal ina mic léinn freisin d'Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh, agus is ó Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh a gheobhaidh said a gcéimeanna agus a gcáilíochtaí eile (ar céimeanna agus cáilíochtaí iad d'Ollscoil na hÉireann, mar is amhlaidh i gcás na mac léinn uile i gcóras Ollscoil na hÉireann). Fanfaidh struchtúir rialaithe an Choláiste mar atá agus ní bheidh aon athrú i stádas na foirne mar fhostaithe Choláiste San Aingeal. Beidh crosionadaíocht chuí ón fhoireann ar choistí acadúla agus rialaithe a chéile – agus ballraíocht ex officio ag Uachtarán an Choláiste ar Údarás na hOllscoile mar chuid di sin – é sin chun an leas is fearr a bhaint as a gcomhacmhainní, i bhforbairt chlár acadúil agus sa taighde, ar mhaithe le réigiún an Iarthuaiscirt. Bunófar comhchoiste freisin le maoirseacht a dhéanamh ar fheidhmiú an Chomhaontaithe, agus socrófar go mbeidh a n-áiseanna leabharlainne, teicneolaíochta agus eile i gcomhar acu de réir mar is cuí. Thángthas ar an gComhaontú tar éis do Choláiste San Aingeal teacht chun cainte faoi le hOllscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh le blianta beaga anuas, agus tá fáilte mhór curtha roimhe ag foireann agus údaráis rialaithe an dá institiúid. Tá tacaíocht láidir tugtha dó freisin ag an Roinn Oideachais agus Eolaíochta (óna bhfuair an Coláiste a maoiniú go dtí seo), ag an Údarás um Ardoideachas agus ag Seanad Ollscoil na hÉireann. Bhí Coláiste San Aingeal ina Choláiste Aitheanta ag Ollscoil na hÉireann ó 1978, faoi mhaoirseacht Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh, ach tá sí éirithe as bheith ina Coláiste Aitheanta ó Nollaig 31, 2005, de bhun an stádais nua atá gnóthaithe aici anois mar Choláiste d'Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh. Bunaíodh Coláiste San Aingeal, Sligeach i 1952 ag Aontas Ursulach Éireann mar choláiste oiliúna do mhúinteoirí Eacnamaíochta Baile. Is aitheantas ar ar bhaineadar amach sa réimse sin gur ainmnigh an tAire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta i 2003 an Coláiste mar an t-aon ionad náisiúnta feasta um oiliúint mhúinteoirí Eacnamaíochta Baile, rud a chuir le líon na mac léinn agus na speisialtachtaí sa chlár sin. Mar sin féin, ní taobh leis an ngort sin amháin a d'fhan an Coláiste le roinnt blianta siar, rud is léir ó na cláracha Bunchéime, Mháistir, Ard-Dioplóma agus Dioplóma atá á soláthar aici i réim mhór gnéithe den Eacnamaíocht Bhaile, Oideachas (Riachtanais Speisialta Oideachais ina measc), san Altranas (Ginearálta agus Míchumas Intleachta), sa Bhia, agus i dTeicstílí, Faisean agus Dearadh. Tá cúrsa Rochtana á chur ar fáil aici freisin dóibh siúd faoi mhíbhuntáiste socheacnamaíoch agus comhoibríonn sí le hOllscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh lena clár BA siúd sa Léann Eacnamaíoch agus Sóisialta a chur ar fáil ar an gcampas sin. Tá Ionad tábhachtach um Fhorbairt Tháirgí Bia aici freisin agus bíonn baint aici le tionscnaimh éagsúla trasteorann i bpáirt le hinstitiúidí oideachais i dTuaisceart Éireann. Faoi láthair tá 510 mac léinn lánaimseartha agus 300 páirtaimseartha, chomh maith le foireann de 90 lánaimseartha agus 21 páirtaimseartha, ag an gColáiste. Suíomh den scoth ar bhruach Loch Gile i gcroílár Dúiche Yeats i Sligeach, atá ag coláiste San Aingeal, achar gearr ó Chathair Shligigh. Tá seirbhís thráthrialta bhus, le cabhair airgid ón gColáiste, ann le mic léinn a thabhairt ó mhoch maidne go deireanach tráthnóna chuig an gcampas ón chathair agus ar ais. Cathair bheoga í Sligeach atá ag fás go tapaidh mar ionad sóisialta, cultúrtha agus tráchtála agus seirbhís mhaith bhóthair, thraenach agus aeir aici. Tá gach dícheall déanta ag an gColáiste cóir nua a chur ar na háiseanna agus ar an infreastruchtúr atá aici, rud is léir ón infheistíocht atá déanta agus á déanamh le feabhas a chur ar na háiseanna teagaisc agus foghlama, na saotharlanna speisialaithe, an teicneolaíocht faisnéise agus cumarsáide agus ar na háiseanna agus struchtúir tacaíochta do na mic léinn. Faoin Uachtarán, an Dr. Anne Taheny, agus le maoiniú ón Roinn Sláinte agus Leanaí, tá foirgneamh €9 m don Altranas agus Léann Sláinte á thógáil faoi láthair ag an gColáiste. Tá ollionad cónaithe do mhic léinn, a bheas réidh i Meán Fómhair 2006, á thógáil freisin faoi láthair ar chostas €12 m.

This year's annual Postgraduate Studies Fair at NUI Galway, which will showcase over 150 programmes on offer at the University, will take place on Monday 6th February, from 1.30 pm–6.30 pm. The popular exhibition takes place in the main Sports Hall of Áras na Mac Léinn (Student Centre). The Postgraduate Studies Fair will give prospective postgraduate students the opportunity to check out their options for next year. Academic staff will be available at over 60 stands which will also be staffed by personnel from Postgraduate Admissions Offices, the Adult Education Office, and the Careers Service, who will provide advice and answer any administrative queries. This year, due to popular demand, the Fair will be supplemented with talks on research and funding, a careers presentation, and postgraduate students will give a talk on "What it means to be a Postgrad". Valerie Leahy, Postgraduate Admissions Officer at the University, said students considering continuing their studies could not afford to miss this year's Fair. "For graduates already in employment who may want to supplement their qualifications with a part-time postgraduate degree or diploma, this exhibition is an ideal opportunity to find out about the many options available in postgraduate studies," she said. "Postgraduate study pays, as it enables the individual to specialise in a particular area and improve their employment prospects. Indeed well over a third of Irish graduates are now topping up their basic degree with a postgraduate qualification." John Hannon, Senior Careers Advisor at NUI Galway said postgraduate students have an excellent track record in terms of employment. "NUI Galway's most recent Postgraduate Students Survey shows that 75% of postgraduates are now in employment, while a further 17% are in further education and training." NUI Galway currently offers over 100 taught programmes and over 50 programmes which can be completed by research. The University also offers a number of postgraduate courses taught through Irish and online distance learning is available in certain disciplines.

An extensive study into life in rural Ireland, which covers a wide range of economic, environmental and social issues, has been launched by the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Mr Éamon Ó Cuív, at a special reception at NUI Galway. The Rural Living: An Analysis of 1,249 Households in the Republic of Ireland, survey was conducted by students of the Rural Development programme at the four NUI constituent universities; University College Dublin, University College Cork, NUI Galway and NUI Maynooth. Its findings offer a contribution to the debate on the future of life in rural Ireland whose population today faces the challenges associated with the decline in full-time farming as a way of life, the expansion of part-time farming, increased urbanization and the rise in commuter towns and villages. Commenting on the study, Minister Ó Cuív said the study was a valuable contribution to our understanding of the changes and pressures being experienced by rural communities in a time of radical change. "The academic directors and students on the programme, who have contributed to this body of research deserve our thanks," said Mr Ó Cuív. "It presents a comprehensive overview and analysis of the current status of rural households in Ireland while underlining the value and relevance of collaboration between universities in the area of rural research, programme design and delivery. Monday's launch was preceded by a seminar featuring addresses by academic experts in rural development from each of the four universities. Professor Michael Cuddy, Department of Economics, NUI Galway, delivered an overview of rural development in Ireland, which formed a key component of the study. "Ireland now has two rural societies which are very different in respect to the challenges they face," he said. "The first is urbanized and integrated into the global production and consumer society while the second is traditional and continues to face the challenges of migration and increasingly costly social services. The time of 'crying wolf' for all of rural Ireland has passed, there must be two different approaches to these distinctly different challenges." The original Rural Development programme, introduced at diploma level in 1996, was expanded in 2004 to include a Bachelor of Science Degree in Rural Development. The students benefit from the combined expertise of the four participating universities who offer the courses by distance education. The programmes for mature students contribute to the attainment of national policy objectives for higher education in expanding access to higher education and providing opportunities for lifelong learning.