D'iarr comhdháil idirnáisiúnta thrítheangach (Gaeilge, Béarla agus Fraincis) a reáchtáil Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge i gcomhar leis an Ionad Éireannach um Chearta an Duine, Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh, agus eagraithe ag an Acadamh Idirnáisiúnta ar Dhlí Teanga i nGaillimh ar an 16 Meitheamh, ar UNESCO cosaint a thabhairt do theangacha an domhain. Toscairí ó níos mó ná 20 tír a d'iarr ar UNESCO cosaint a thabhairt d'ilghnéitheacht theangacha an domhain. An dr. Joseph Turi, Rúnaí Ginearálta an IALL/AIDL (International Academy of Linguistic Law/Académie internationale de Droit linguistique) a mhol an Ráiteas. "Is céim an-tábhachtach í seo. Nuair a shocrós UNESCO ar chosaint a thabhairt don ilghnéitheacht teangacha, beidh ar na tíortha éagsúla tacaíocht a thabhairt do na pobail teanga a bhfuil cónaí orthu laistigh dá gcuid teorainneacha náisiúnta. Ní féidir cosaint a thabhairt do chultúir faoi leith gan cosaint a thabhairt do na teanga a bhaineann leo", a dúirt Seosamh Mac Donnacha, an Comhordaitheoir Acadúil in Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge. Dúirt an dr Conchúr Ó Giollagáin, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, gur éigeandáil idirnáisiúnta atá i gceist. "Tá suas le 90% de theangeacha an domhain i mbaol a mbáis roimh dheireadh an chéid seo. Seo uair na cinniúna." Glacadh le Ráiteas na Gaillimhe d'aon ghuth. Ba é téama na Comhdhála 'Na Dúshláin a Bhaineann le hAchtú agus le Cur i bhFeidhm Dlí agus Cearta Teanga'. Ba í an Roinn Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta a rinne urraíocht ar an gComhdháil. I measc na n-aoíchainteoirí bhí Séan Ó Cuirreáin, an Coimisinéir Teanga Philip Blair, stiúrthóir, Directorate of Cooperation for Local and Regional Democracy, Comhdháil na hEorpa Dzenana Hadziomerovic, comhairleoir dlí ag an Ard-Coimisinéir ar Mhionlaigh Náisiúnta Fernand de Varennes, saineolaí Astrálach Tuilleadh eolais ar: http://www.conference.ie/Conferences/index.asp?Conference=24 -críoch-

The international, trilingual (English, French and Irish) conference in NUI Galway, organised by Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge and the Irish Centre for Human Rights, called for the protection of language diversity around the world at its plenary session on 16 June in Galway. The 'Galway Declaration' was passed unanimously by the attendees. Delegates from over 20 countries supported the call to UNESCO to protect the world's linguistic diversity. Dr Joseph Turi, Secretary General of IALL/IADL (International Academy of Linguistic Law/Académie Internationale de Droit linguistique) proposed the call. Seosamh Mac Donnacha, Academic Coordinator of Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge said, "This is a very important step. Once UNESCO calls for the protection of linguistic diversity, the countries of the world will have to focus on supporting languages and their speakers within their borders. Linguistic diversity ensures cultural diversity." Dr Conchúr Ó Giollagáin of Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge said, "This is now an international crisis. Up to 90% of the world's languages are in danger of dying out in less than one hundred years. Now is the time to act." The theme of the conference was 'Language Law and Language Rights: The Challenges of Enactment and Implementation', and was supported by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Keynote speakers included: Séan Ó Cuirreáin, an Coimisinéir Teanga/The Language Commissioner Philip Blair, Director, Directorate of Cooperation for Local and Regional Democracy, Council of Europe Dzenana Hadziomerovic, Legal Advisor to the High Commissioner for National Minorities Fernand de Varennes, Australian expert on linguistics For more information, see http://www.conference.ie/Conferences/index.asp?Conference=24 -ends-

The Centre for Irish Studies at NUI Galway has announced details of a new Diploma in Irish Music Studies that will trace the progress of Irish music from the kitchens of rural Ireland to concert halls and festivals worldwide, from Madagascar to Mali, from Miltown Malbay to Memphis. The course will look at the journey of Irish music to the West Indies and on to the Ozark and Appalachian regions of North America, and its connections with black-face minstrelsy, old-time, bluegrass and country music before tracking its journey home again, disguised as country and western, rockabilly, folk, and rock and roll. The diploma will also investigate the connection between music and poetry in Ireland from the eighteenth century through to the work of contemporary poets such as Thomas Kinsella, Seamus Heaney, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill and Cathal Ó Searcaigh. The course will be taught by renowned author, broadcaster, and music historian, PJ Curtis, by Méabh Ní Fhuartháin, who has previously taught at Brown University, Boston College, and UCC, and Seán Crosson, who has recently completed a groundbreaking study of the relationship between Irish poetry and traditional music. The Diploma in Irish Music Studies is specially designed for mature students and would be suitable for anyone considering further studies in modern Irish music, literature and culture and for those seeking employment in cultural tourism and the heritage industry. This is a two-year, part-time programme, with classes to be held one evening per week during term time. Closing date for applications is 1st August 2006. For further details, contact Samantha Williams at 091 492051 or email irishstudies@nuigalway.ie -ends

-Honorary Doctorates to be conferred on International Golfers Christy O'Connor Sr and Jr; Irish Entrepreneurs Senator Feargal Quinn, Dr. Ronan Lambe and Hugh Green; Irish Philosopher John Moriarty; Contemporary Irish Artist James Coleman and Distinguished Italian Algebraist Professor Francesco de Giovanni- NUI Galway today (Friday) recognised the achievements of eight outstanding individuals who have excelled in their chosen fields. Those chosen to receive the honour include individuals from the worlds of business, sport, art, philosophy and mathematics. Following on from the recent launch at NUI Galway of the JE Cairnes Graduate School of Business and Public Policy, the University has reflected its commitment to promoting entrepreneurship and nurturing Ireland's future business leaders by honouring individuals who have excelled in the field of business including Senator Feargal Quinn, Hugh Green and Dr. Ronan Lambe. Honorary degrees will also be conferred on renowned golfers Christy O'Connor Senior and Junior; Irish Philosopher John Moriarty; Irish Artist James Coleman and distinguished Algebraist Professor Francesco de Giovanni. Commenting on the honorary conferrings, Dr. Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh President of NUI Galway said, "It is a great honour for NUI Galway to recognise the exceptional achievements of each of these individuals. This is a significant year in Ireland to honour the achievements of our golfers as we play host to the Ryder Cup. Equally, we have brought together a number of individuals from the worlds of business, philosophy and the arts who have each touched society in their own way both in Ireland and across the globe." The Honorary Conferring Ceremony took place in the presence of the Chancellor of the National University of Ireland and former Taoiseach, Dr. Garret FitzGerald. Note to Editors: Christy O'Connor, Sr and Christy O'Connor, Jr are natives of Galway and two of Ireland's most well-known professional golfers. The uncle and nephew team have both represented Ireland on the Ryder Cup team and are among Ireland's most distinguished golfers. Christy Sr won the first £1,000 prize in European golf, then the world's biggest prize. He also won the Canada Cup (World Cup) with Harry Bradshaw, was a regular high finisher in the British Open and played on the Ryder Cup team ten times between 1955 and 1973. Christy Jr claimed the British Open twice and in a famous Ryder Cup moment, hit a three iron to the eighteenth at The Belfry in 1989 beating Fred Couples and leading Europe to a memorable Ryder Cup victory. John Moriarty, a native of Co. Kerry has gained a reputation as a distinguished Irish philosopher and writer. Having spent time lecturing in Canada in the 1960s, he returned to Ireland to pursue a life of reflection and the exploration of a fundamental agenda of philosophical and cultural issues. He has published a wide body of work to critical acclaim; his 2001 autobiographical work Nostos explores many of his previously articulated ideas interrogating and re-contextualising the Western philosophical and cultural paradigm. Senator Feargal Quinn has been a well-known name on the Irish business landscape for many years. Best known as President of the supermarket chain, Superquinn, which he founded in 1960, he has made many other contributions to Irish life including serving as chairman of An Post for a decade and chairing a steering committee on reform of the Irish education system. He was appointed as an independent member of Seanad Éireann in 1993 and received a Papal knighthood in 1994. Senator Quinn has recently been appointed Adjunct Professor at NUI Galway's Department of Marketing. Hugh Green, a native Donegal man who emigrated to Australia in the 1950s is now a leading figure in the Irish community in New Zealand and has been an active philanthropist in New Zealand for many years. Under his leadership, the Hugh Green Group has become one of the most professionally managed and commercially successful businesses in New Zealand today. Dr. Ronan Lambe, originally a scientist at the Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Dr. Lambe achieved success when he co-founded ICON with Dr. John Climax in 1990. ICON provides pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries with clinical research and biometric services and was floated on the NASDAQ in 1998. It now boasts twenty-seven offices in sixteen countries with over 2,200 employees worldwide. James Coleman is among the most distinguished Irish visual artists currently practising, although he is better known abroad than in Ireland. A native of Ballaghderreen in County Roscommon, he has emerged in recent years as one of the most important artists of visual postmodernism. His work has transformed critical debates about the status of image in contemporary culture and influenced an entire generation of younger artists. He has been made a member of Aosdána and three of his paintings have recently been purchased by the Irish Museum of Modern Art. Professor Francesco de Giovannian internationally acclaimed algebraist with an outstanding research record. He ranks among the youngest ever professors appointed by the Universitá Federico II di Napoli. He is supervisor and director at one of the most prestigious graduate schools in Italy and through his efforts and cooperation, mutually beneficial exchange links were forged between Universitá Federico II di Napoli and NUI Galway. -ends-

– Céimeanna Dochtúireachta Oinigh le bronnadh ar na Galfairí Idirnáisiúnta Christy O'Connor Sinsear agus Sóisear; Fiontraithe Éireannacha an Seanadóir Feargal Quinn, an Dr Ronan Lambe agus Hugh Green; an Fealsamh Éireannach John Moriarty; an tEalaíontóir Comhaimseartha Éireannach James Coleman agus an tAilgéabraí Iodálach ardchlúite an tOllamh Francesco de Giovanni – Inniu (Dé hAoine) d'aithin OÉ Gaillimh an méid atá bainte amach ag ochtar den scoth a bhfuil sár-obair déanta acu ina réimse roghnaithe. I measc na ndaoine a roghnaíodh chun onóir a fháil tá daoine ó shaol an ghnó, an spóirt, na healaíne, na fealsúnachta agus na matamaitice. Tar éis Scoil Iarchéime JE Cairnes don Ghnó & don Bheartas Poiblí a sheoladh le gairid in OÉ Gaillimh, tá tiomantas na hOllscoile don fhiontraíocht a chur chun cinn agus do cheannairí gnó na hÉireann amach anseo a spreagadh léirithe ag an Ollscoil trí onóir a bhronnadh ar dhaoine a bhfuil sár-obair déanta acu i saol an ghnó, ina measc an Seanadóir Feargal Quinn, Hugh Green agus an Dr Ronan Lambe. Bronnfar céimeanna oinigh chomh maith ar na galfairí cáiliúla Christy O'Connor Sinsear agus Sóisir; an Fealsamh Éireannach John Moriarty; an tEalaíontóir Éireannach James Coleman agus an tAilgéabraí ardchlúite an tOllamh Francesco de Giovanni. Ag labhairt faoin mbronnadh, dúirt an Dr Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, "Is mór an onóir d'OÉ Gaillimh aitheantas a thabhairt do sháréachtaí na ndaoine seo. Is suntasach an rud é onóir a thabhairt do na galfairí seo in Éirinn agus an Ryder Cup ar siúl anseo i mbliana. Tá roinnt daoine ó shaol an ghnó, na fealsúnachta agus na healaíne tugtha le chéile againn freisin, agus a dtionchar féin imeartha acu ar shochaí na hÉireann agus ar an domhan trí chéile." Bronnadh na Céimeanna Oinigh i láthair Shainsiléir Ollscoil na hÉireann agus an tIar-Thaoiseach, an Dr Garret FitzGerald. Nóta d'Eagarthóirí Is as Gaillimh Christy O'Connor, Sinsear agus Christy O'Connor, Sóisear agus tá siad ar bheirt de na galfairí gairmiúla is clúití in Éirinn. Tá ionadaíocht déanta ag an uncail agus a nia d'Éirinn ar fhoireann an Ryder Cup agus tá siad ar bheirt de na galfairí is cáiliúla sa tír. Ba é Christy Sinsear a ghnóthaigh an chéad duais £1,000 i ngalf na hEorpa, an duais ba mhó ar domhan ag an am. Ghnóthaigh sé Corn Cheanada (Corn an Domhain) freisin le Harry Bradshaw. Ba mhinic a rinne sé go maith sa British Open agus d'imir sé ar fhoireann an Ryder Cup deich n-uaire idir 1955 agus 1973. Ghnóthaigh Christy Sóisear an British Open faoi dhó agus ní dhéanfar dearmad go brách ar an Ryder Cup nuair a fuair sé an ceann is fearr ar Fred Couples ar an ochtú poll déag sa Belfry i 1989, agus, bhí sé chomh maith a rá, ghnóthaigh an Eoraip an Ryder Cup dá bharr. Tá cáil ar John Moriarty, ó Co. Chiarraí ó thús, mar fhealsamh agus mar scríbhneoir clúiteach de chuid na hÉireann. Chaith sé seal ag léachtóireacht i gCeanada sna 1960idí, agus d'fhill sé ar Éirinn ansin chun a shaol a chaitheamh ag smaoineamh faoi shaincheisteanna cultúir agus fealsúnachta agus á bhfiosrú. Tá saothar go leor foilsithe aige agus ardmholadh faighte acu. Scrúdaíonn a dhírbheathaisnéis Nostos (2001) go leor de na smaointe a bhí léirithe aige roimhe sin agus paraidím chultúir agus fealsúnachta an Iarthair á ceistiú agus á cur i gcomhthéacs arís aige. Tá cáil ar an Seanadóir Feargal Quinn le fada an lá i saol an ghnó in Éirinn. Is fearr aithne air mar Uachtarán Superquinn, ollmhargaí a bhunaigh sé i 1960, ach tá go leor eile déanta aige i saol na hÉireann; chaith sé deich mbliana mar chathaoirleach ar An Post agus bhí sé ina chathaoirleach ar choiste stiúrtha chun córas oideachais na hÉireann a leasú. Ceapadh é mar chomhalta neamhspleách de Sheanad Éireann i 1993 agus bhronn an Pápa ridireacht air i 1994. Ceapadh an Seanadóir Quinn mar Ollamh Cúnta i Roinn Margaíochta OÉ Gaillimh le gairid. Is as Dún na nGallHugh Green ó thús, agus d'imigh sé go dtí an Astráil sna 1950idí. Is duine mór le rá anois é i measc phobal na hÉireann sa Nua-Shéalainn agus tá sé ina dhaonchara gníomhach sa Nua-Shéalainn le blianta fada. Faoina cheannaireacht, tá an Hugh Green Group ar cheann de na gnónna is rathúla agus is fearr bainistithe sa Nua-Shéalainn sa lá atá inniu ann. Eolaí a bhí sa Dr Ronan Lambe ar dtús in Institiúid na Cógaseolaíochta Cliniciúla. D'éirigh thar cionn leis an Dr Lambe nuair a bhunaigh sé féin agus an Dr John Climax ICON i 1990. Cuireann ICON seirbhísí bithmhéadracha agus taighde chliniciúil ar fáil do thionscail na cógaisíochta agus na biteicneolaíochta agus bunaíodh ar an NASDAQ é i 1998. Tá seacht n-oifig fichead aige anois i sé thír déag agus os cionn 2,200 fostaí ar fud an domhain. Tá James Coleman ar cheann de na hamharcealaíontóirí Éireannacha is cáiliúla i mbun na healaíne faoi láthair, cé gur fearr aithne air thar sáile ná in Éirinn. Is as Bealach an Doirín i gContae Ros Comáin é ó dhúchas, agus tá cáil air le blianta beaga anuas mar dhuine de na healaíontóirí is tábhachtaí de ré an iarnua-aoiseachais san amharcealaín. Tá mór-athrú déanta ag a shaothar ar dhíospóireachtaí faoi stádas na híomhá sa chultúr comhaimseartha agus tá tionchar imeartha ag a shaothar ar ghlúin iomlán ealaíontóirí óga. Is comhalta é den Aosdána agus cheannaigh Áras Nua-Ealaíne na hÉireann trí cinn dá phéintéireachtaí. Tá cáil idirnáisiúnta ar an Ailgéabraí an tOllamh Francesco de Giovanni agus tá taifead taighde den scoth aige. Tá sé ar cheann de na hollúna is óige a cheap an Universitá Federico II di Napoli riamh. Tá sé ina mhaoirseoir agus ina stiúrthóir i gceann de na scoileanna céime is cáiliúla san Iodáil agus leis an obair agus leis an gcomhoibriú a rinne sé, cruthaíodh naisc mhalartaithe idir Universitá Federico II di Napoli agus OÉ Gaillimh, naisc chomhthairbhiúla don dá Ollscoil. -críoch-