Signed works by Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney, Edna O'Brien and Galway writer Ken Bruen are among the many books on sale at the inaugural NUI Galway 'Buy-a-Book Day' which takes place on Thursday 9th March, 2006,from 10.30am to 7.00pm. The general public are invited to the sale in the Aula Maxima, where an exciting and diverse range of books will be available. Other notable authors to contribute to this charitable event include Gerald Dawe, Moya Cannon, Ré Ó Laighléis and Joan McBreen. The proceeds from the event will be donated to international, national and local charities through the University's United Charities Group (UCG), with a portion of the total amount raised being used to purchase an item of interest for the Special Collections department at the James Hardiman Library. Formed in 2004, UCG consolidates the efforts of the three University based charitable committees: the Third World Appeal Committee, the IFUT Charitable Committee and Medicus Mundi. The event is one of the more novel ideas to emanate from the University's Staff Suggestion Scheme – Ursmaointe – and has been generously supported by several businesses throughout Galway. Vice President Mary O'Riordan said: "This is a wonderful initiative, coming from the staff of the University, which allows the University community to respond to the needs of the charities who will benefit." An end-of-day bargain sale will be held on the day to ensure that all stock is cleared, with any remaining stock being donated to local charity shops.

Guidelines to improve the organisation and effectiveness of Student Support Services in all Irish universities have been published by the Irish Universities Quality Board (IUQB) and launched today (Monday 24th April) by the Board's Chair, the Honourable Mrs. Justice Catherine McGuinness. With the increase in the number and diversity of students entering third level education, the role of Student Support Services has become more complex and important as it contributes to the academic, social, financial and personal well-being of students. The booklet – 'National Guidelines of Good Practice in the Organisation of Student Support Services in Irish Universities' - aimed to establish current practice, identify good practice and prepare a national code of good practice, and was the result of inter-university projects conducted by the IUQB in collaboration with the universities. It is intended that each university will take the booklet's agreed statements of good practice into consideration when planning improvements to its own relevant systems. One of a series of booklets from the IUQB, it was funded by the HEA Quality Assurance Programme under the National Development Plan 2000-2006. The IUQB was established in 2002 and was incorporated earlier this year as a non-profit making limited company, with its Board of Directors representative of all stakeholders in Irish universities, in addition to nominees from the European and North American university systems. Based at 10 Lower Mount Street, its mission is to play a leading role in developing and fostering a coherent culture of quality in all activities of the Irish universities in line with the highest international standards. Ends

NUI Galway Societies came out on top with three major wins at this year s Board of Irish College Societies (BICS) national society awards. Best Society went to The NUI Galway Juggling Society who had an exceptional year under the leadership of auditor Brian McGinley (Phd in Engineering). Best New Society went to the Business Society who in their first year have run a number of events and have made a significant contribution to campus life under the auditorship of David Keane (final year corporate law). Best Society Individual went to Donna Cummins (second year medical student), incoming auditor of the Literary and Debating society who had a very successful year which included hosting the Irish Times final. Donna was also instrumental in forming the new Sláinte Society which ran the Teddy Bear Hospital which saw students of medicine interact with local children. Other winners on the night are as follows. Best Event: Teddy Bear Hospital; Best Improved: GIG(Gay in Galway) Society: Best Fresher: Andrew Murphy, Young Greens Society; Best Poster: Art Soc; Best Website: Juggling Society. Riona Hughes, NUI Galway Societies Officer and Vice-chairperson of BICS described the Universities victory as "a recognition of the high standard of the societies in NUI Galway and the commitment of their very talented and generous members who add immeasurably to the life of the campus and to Galway city." Special guest for the evening was Mr. Pat Cox, former President of the European Parliament, who presented the nine awards to the winners. During his opening speech, Mr. Cox praised the members of third level societies and expressed the opinion that everyone present was a winner by virtue of engagement and that societies offered their members the opportunity to turn the knowledge they have internalsied into good for their communities. The BICS (Board of Irish College Societies) National Awards, was hosted by Cork Institute of Technology on April 13th in the Rochestown Park Hotel. Choral Society Success at International Choral Competition in Riva del Garda, Italy The NUI Galway Choral received a gold certificate for coming second in the Youth Choir section at the International Choral Festival in Riva del Garda, Italy. This entitles them to enter the Choral Olympics - 4th WORLD CHOIR GAMES 2006 Xiamen / China, which will be held in July. The winning choir was from Singapore. The NUI galway beat stiff competition from choirs from Wales, Italy, USA, Germany, Croatia and Cork. Well done to Peter Mannion (Director) and all the singers who made the trip. End

NUI Galway students whose performance at their pre-degree examinations in 2004-05 was outstanding were honoured at a special ceremony today (Wednesday) at 11.00 in Áras na Mac Léinn. The President, Dr. Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, conferred the title 'University Scholar', together with a cheque for €250 and a specially designed scroll, on 391 students to mark their achievement in reaching First-class Honours standard at their examinations. The occasion also marked the award of 155 other Prizes across all Faculties, including 27 NUI Scholarships and Prizes won by NUI Galway students. Dr. Ó Muircheartaigh said that the ceremony highlighted for students the remarkable number and range of opportunities provided by this University for recognition of academic performance – a total of some 546 individual awards in 2004-05. "As an institution dedicated to academic excellence", he said, "the University is happy to mark today in this way the dedication of each of you students to developing your academic potential. The public recognition accorded you by this title of University Scholar will, I hope, encourage you further in that direction without neglecting the many other opportunities for personal development offered you by the University in the social and sporting arenas." He added that they were obviously, also well capable of going on in due course to do postgraduate research here and, for that purpose, to avail of the major research funding won by NUI Galway in recent years in all Faculties. Speaking of the Prizes, he said that the number and variety of these awards were a striking testimony of the support enjoyed by the University from industry and companies and private donors, all of whom he thanked for their generosity. Ends

Rinneadh ceiliúradh inniu (Dé Ceadaoin) ag 11.00 in Áras na Mac Léinn ar na torthaí den scoth a bhain mic léinn Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh amach ina scrúduithe réamhchéime in 2004-05. Bronn an tUachtarán, an Dr. Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, an teideal 'Scoláire Ollscoile', seic de €250 agus scrolla speisialta ar 391 mac léinn a bhain Céadonóracha amach ina scrúduithe. Chomh maith leis sin, rinneadh ceiliúradh ar 155 Duaiseanna eile a gnóthaíodh sna Dámha éagsúla, ina measc 27 Scoláireachtaí agus Duaiseanna de chuid Ollscoil na hÉireann a bhain mic léinn na Gaillimhe amach. Dúirt an Dr. Ó Muircheartaigh gur léirigh Lá na nGradam do mhic léinn go gcuireann an Ollscoil iliomad deiseanna ar fáil le haitheantas a thabhairt dóibh siúd a léiríonn a gcumas acadúil: i mbliana, mar shampla, iomlán de 546 Scoláireachtaí/Duaiseanna i leith 2004-05. "Mar institiúid arb í an feabhas acadúil an chéad chloch ar a paidrín", dúirt sé, "tá áthas ar an Ollscoil aitheantas a thabhairt inniu don díograis atá léirithe agaibhse go léir, a mhic léinn, i leith bhur gcumas acadúil a fhorbairt. Tá súil agam gur spreagadh díbhse iad an teideal seo Scoláire Ollscoile a bheith bronnta oraibh agus an t-aitheantas poiblí seo le coinneáil libh ar an mbóthar sin, ach ar ndóigh go dtapóidh sibh freisin na deiseanna go leor eile a thugann an Ollscoil seo díbh chun forbairt phearsanta a dhéanamh oraibh féin sna réimsí sóisialta agus spóirt." Dúirt sé freisin gur léir go raibh an cumas iontu go léir dul i mbun an taighde iarchéime amach anseo agus, chuige sin, teacht i dtír ar na deontais mhóra taighde atá bainte amach ag OÉ Gaillimh le blianta beaga anuas i ngach Dámh. Ag trácht dó ar na Duaiseanna, dúirt sé gur rí-léir ó líon agus éagsúlacht na nduaiseanna sin leibhéal na tacaíochta a tharraingíonn an Ollscoil chuici féin ón tionscal, ó chomhlachtaí agus ó dheontóirí príobháideacha, agus ghlac sé buíochas leo sin uile as a bhflaithiúlacht. Críoch