August 2006

29 August 2006: The academic year at NUI Galway will commence with public lectures from two guest lecturers, both prestigious international human rights experts, on 5th and 6th September. The visits by Professor Conor Gearty, London School of Economics and Political Science, and Colin Gonsalves, Human Rights Law Network, will set the scene for another stimulating and eventful year at the Irish Centre for Human Rights, NUI Galway. According to Professor William A. Schabas, Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights, "Since its inception in 2000, the Irish Centre for Human Rights has developed a global reputation as a centre of expertise in humanitarian law and has become the focal point of human rights activity in Ireland. We are delighted to commence the 2006/2007 academic year with a visit to Ireland by such distinguished guest lecturers who are willing to share their expertise with the public." The free public lectures will take place in the Siobhan McKenna Theatre, Arts Millennium Building, NUI Galway: Tuesday, 5 September 2006 at 9.30am - 'The Challenge of Social and Economic Rights' 'The Challenge of Social and Economic Rights' is the title of the lecture to be given by Colin Gonsalves, Executive Director of the Human Rights Law Network and a pioneer in public interest law in India. The HRLN is India s first association of legal professionals providing support to those who have little or no access to law. Mr Gonsalves has also developed the Indian People s Tribunal on Environment and Human Rights (IPT), an independent organization directed by retired Supreme Court and High Court Judges which investigates human rights violations and environmental degradation. Its work has sparked public interest litigation, formed social movements, and led to concrete policy changes. Wednesday, 6 September 2006 at 5pm - 'Can Human Rights Survive?' 'Can Human Rights Survive?' is the topic being covered by Conor Gearty, Rausing Director of the Centre for the Study of Human Rights and Professor of Human Rights Law at the London School of Economics and Political Science. The event in Galway is the culmination of a series of lectures, delivered in the UK and Northern Ireland as the 2005 Hamlyn Lectures, since published by Cambridge University Press. Professor Gearty will confront the fundamental concept of human rights and question whether human rights have the resilience to stand firm against such contemporary challenge as the 'war on terror', the revival of political religion, and the steady erosion of the world's natural resources. For further information please contact the Irish Centre for Human Rights on 353 (0) 91 494575. -ends-

Beidh iarcheannaire RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Tomás Mac Con Iomaire, ag teagasc ar an gcúrsa Dioplóma i Scileanna Raidió, a bheas ag tosú go luath in Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge ar an gCeathrú Rua, Co. na Gaillimhe. D'éirigh Tomás Mac Con Iomaire as a phost mar cheannaire RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta mí Eanáir seo caite. Bhí sé ag obair leis an stáisiún ó 1974 i leith agus ceapadh ina cheannaire é sa bhliain 2000. Chaith sé tréimhsí roimhe sin ina eagarthóir stiúrtha nuachta, ina eagarthóir stiúrtha cláracha agus ina leascheannaire. Ar na teagascóirí eile ar an gcúrsa beidh na hiriseoirí Norita Ní Chartúir agus Uinsionn Mac Dubhghaill. Tá taithí na mblianta ag Norita Ní Chartúir mar chraoltóir le RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta agus tá taithí ag Uinsionn Mac Dubhghaill mar iriseoir leis an Irish Times, le Nuacht TG4, agus le heagrais eile. Cúrsa leathan a bhfuil béim ar obair phraiticiúil ann agus a leanann ar aghaidh ar feadh bliana is ea an Dioplóma i Scileanna Raidió. Pléitear gnéithe éagsúla den obair raidió lena linn, ón iriseoireacht go dtí an chraoltóireacht. Tugtar oiliúint do mhic léinn an chúrsa sna scileanna praiticiúla a bhaineann le cúrsaí raidió i stiúideo a bhfuil trealamh fuaime den scoth ann. Tá tréimhse taithí oibre mar chuid de chomh maith. D'oibrigh mic léinn an cúrsa le RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, RTÉ Lyric FM agus BBC Thuaisceart Éireann roimhe seo agus tugadh cuireadh do chuid acu leanúint lena gcuid oibre ann. Tá gné den iriseoireacht chlóite mar chuid den chúrsa, agus chuir mic léinn na bliana seo caite forlíonadh le chéile a foilsíodh in Foinse. Oiliúint mhaith phraiticiúil a bhí ann, dar le mic léinn a bhain an dioplóma amach níos luaithe i mbliana. "Bhain mé an-sásamh as na cláracha nuachta, mar bhí brú orainn agus d'airigh muid cén chaoi a mbeadh sé bheith ag obair i stáisiún raidió," a dúirt Micheál Ó Braonáin. Bhí an file Rita Ann Higgins ar an gcúrsa chomh maith. "Bhí deis iontach agam sa chúrsa," a dúirt sí. "Ní raibh a fhios agam cén chaoi an ndéanann tú clár, agus tá a fhios agam anois." Cúrsa an-iomlán a bhí ann, dar le Seán Leainde. "Chlúdaigh sé go leor rudaí, ní hamháin an chraoltóireacht raidió ach chlúdaigh sé iriseoireacht agus cúrsaí fuaime agus teicniúla. Do mo leithéide, a d'fhág an scoil tar éis na Meánteiste, thug sé deis domsa a thíocht ar ais agus blaiseadh den oideachas tríú leibhéal a fháil." De bharr tacaíocht Údarás na Gaeltachta ní bhíonn táille ar an gcúrsa agus íocann an tÚdarás liúntas seachtainiúil do na mic léinn. Tháinig forbairt mhór ar na deiseanna fostaíochta atá ar fáil do dhaoine in earnáil na cumarsáide Gaeilge le blianta beaga anuas. Tá éileamh mór ar dhaoine a bhfuil na scileanna cuí craoltóireachta, teicniúla agus fuaime acu, ag eagraíochtaí ar nós RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, stáisiúin raidió eile, TG4, Telegael, Abú Media agus neart comhlachtaí eile. Tá roinnt áiteanna fós ar fáil ar an gcúrsa. Is féidir a thuilleadh eolais a fháil ach glaoch ar Norita Ní Chartúir ag 091 595101. - críoch -

28 August 2006: The former head of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Tomás Mac Con Iomaire, will be among the tutors of NUI Galway's Arts Diploma in Radio Skills. The course, taught entirely through Irish, will focus on radio production and presentation, and starts this September in An Cheathrú Rua, Co. Galway. The one-year, full-time 'Dioplóma i Scileanna Raidió' is offered by Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUI Galway's Irish-language college. During the year students will cover a broad range of subjects including journalism, broadcast skills, sound production, post-production, ethics, law, and communication skills. In addition, the course has a strong emphasis on practical skills, and aims to prepare participants for a career in radio, either in front of the microphone as a presenter or behind the sound desk as a technician or producer. A key part of the Diploma will be a four-week work placement. Tomás Mac Con Iomaire retired as ceannaire of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta at the end of January. He worked with the station since 1974 and held the post of ceannaire since the year 2000. At different times he also served as Head of News, Head of Programming, and Deputy Director. Tutors from NUI Galway's Acadamh will include Norita Ní Chartúir, formerly of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, and Uinsionn Mac Dubhghaill, former Irish language editor of the Irish Times who also worked as a journalist with Nuacht TG4. Course fees and a weekly training allowance will be provided by Údarás na Gaeltachta. A limited number of places are still available. More information will be available at the Acadamh's Open Night for New Students in An Cheathrú Rua on September 6th or by contacting Norita Ní Chartúir on 091 595101. - ends -

NUI Galway Information Evenings in Dundalk, Castlebar, Galway, Ennis, Sligo, Athlone and Donegal Town Following the excitement of the Leaving Cert results and the CAO offers, many students are now preparing to embark on the next phase of their education at university. For some it will mean leaving home for the first time and this can be an anxious time for both students and parents. The NUI Galway Alumni Association, incorporating Cumann Céimithe na Gaillimhe, is hosting the seventh annual series of information evenings for parents and students commencing their third level education in September 2006 at NUI Galway. An information evening or 'Student Send-off' as these events are called, will take place on: Tuesday, 22nd August in the Fairways Hotel, Dundalk from 7.00 – 9.00p.m. Wednesday, 23rd August in Lough Lannagh Village, Castlebar from 7.00 – 9.00p.m. Thursday, 24th August in the Aula Maxima, NUI Galway from 7.00 – 9.00p.m. Monday, 28th August in the Old Ground Hotel, Ennis from 7.00 – 9.00p.m. Tuesday, 29th August in the Model Arts and Niland Gallery, Sligo from 7.00 – 9.00p.m. Wednesday, 30th August in the Prince of Wales Hotel, Athlone from 7.00 – 9.00p.m. Thursday, 31st August in Pier One, Donegal Town from 7.00 – 9.00p.m. NUI Galway Alumni Association Board Members and Students' Union representatives will advise students on what to expect when arriving at NUI Galway and will answer any questions relating to university life. The topics covered will include Accommodation, Finance and the Students' Assistance Fund, Safety, Careers, Counselling, Clubs & Societies and the Students' Union. "This is an ideal opportunity for both parents and students to get advice on finding one's way around campus during those first days of term; find out about the University's student support services; and the benefits of becoming involved in the University's many Clubs and Societies," says JB Terrins, Director of Alumni Relations. Admission is free to the information sessions and refreshments will be served. ends Information from: Emma Goode, Alumni Project Manager, NUI Galway. Tel. 091-493750 Email: alumni@nuigalway.ie

NUI Galway will hold a special examination in Mathematics on Wednesday 23rd August for students who have not achieved the required Leaving Cert grade in this subject for Undergraduate Engineering and Information Technology Degree Courses. The exam is aimed at students who have already applied for a degree at NUI Galway and have the points but who don't have the maths requirement. Students who pass this examination will be deemed to have satisfied the maths requirement and will then receive a CAO offer at Round 2. For more than 20 years, NUI Galway has provided this special entrance examination to help applicants who did not attain the required honours level in their Leaving Certificate. The normal entry requirement to accredited engineering degree programmes requires that students have a C3 or better in higher level maths. Passing the special exam allows students fulfil the requirement for entry to 1st year Engineering. For the past two years, the option of taking the special entrance examination has also been available to students applying for the B.Sc. Degree in Information Technology, which is also an accredited software engineering degree. The minimum entry requirement in maths is either: a C3 in higher level; an A2 in ordinary level; or a pass in the special entrance examination. "This exam is in keeping with NUI Galway's policy of providing additional entry opportunities to students. In this instance, students have the points, but may have fallen short on the day in the Leaving Cert maths exam. The special exam may be particularly relevant this year with the difficulties in Leaving Certificate mathematics experienced by many students," commented Prof. Padraic O Donoghue, Dean of Engineering, NUI Galway. The standard of the syllabus for the examination is relatively similar to that of the Leaving Certificate but it is focused more on the mathematics that is required for Engineering/IT programmes. The examination will take place in the University on Wednesday 23rd August. Further details and application forms may be obtained at http://www.nuigalway.ie/engineering/ or by calling the Admissions Office on 091 492199. -ends-

Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUI Galway, is to offer a new part-time diploma in acting through the medium of Irish. The course begins in September 2006 and takes the form of Saturday workshops on the Ceathrú Rua campus in Connemara. The diploma course is open to all with an interest in acting, whether on a professional or amateur basis. Students will study physical acting, script-based acting, puppetry and devising (creating drama without a script). The course also aims to promote team skills, which are valuable in any area of work. Previous experience is not required, only a passion for drama and the Irish language. Participants may consider employment opportunities in the areas of stage and screen acting. A maximum of 20 people will be taken on the course so early booking is advisable. For more information please contact Nora Nic Con Ultaigh in Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUI Galway at 091 495381 or e-mail nora.nicconultaigh@oegaillimh.ie -ends-

Beidh dioplóma nua páirtaimseartha á reáchtáil ag Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge i réimse na haisteoireachta an bhliain seo chugainn. Cuirfear tús leis an gcúrsa i Meán Fómhair 2006 agus déanfar ceardlanna aisteoireachta á reáchtáil gach Satharn ar an gcampas sa Cheathrú Rua. Tá an dioplóma seo feiliúnach do dhaoine a bhfuil spéis acu san aisteoireacht ghairmiúil, do dhaoine atá ag plé leis an drámaíocht phobail nó do dhaoine a bhfuil spéis acu san aisteoireacht ar bhonn pearsanta. Is cúrsa an-phraiticiúil a bheidh ann a thabharfaidh oiliúint san aisteoireacht agus sa phuipéadóireacht agus beidh deis ag baill an chúrsa a gcuid scileanna a chur i bhfeidhm nuair a chruthóidh siad dráma le chéile. Cothóidh an cúrsa scileanna foirne chomh maith. Is scileanna iad seo atá luachmhar in aon réimse oibre. Ní gá taithí aisteoireachta a bheith ag iarratasóirí. Fáilteofar roimh iarratais ó aon duine a bhfuil suim acu sa drámaíocht agus a bhfuil an Ghaeilge ar a dtoil acu. Beidh an rogha ag baill an chúrsa deiseanna fostaíochta a ghlacadh i réimse na haisteoireachta stáitse agus i réimse na haisteoireachta teilifíse. Glacfar suas le fiche duine ar an gcúrsa. Ní mór iarratas a dhéanamh roimh an 16 Lúnasa le d'áit a chinntiú. Le haghaidh tuilleadh eolais a fháil faoin gcúrsa cuir glaoch ar Nora Nic Con Ultaigh in Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh ag 091 495381 nó seol ríomhphost chuig nora.nicconultaigh@oegaillimh.ie.

Ireland's recently launched research centre on economic and social ageing, the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology (ICSG) at NUI Galway, has announced details of its first education initiative, the Diploma in Social Gerontology. The part-time, two year programme for mature students, commences in September 2006 and the closing date for applications is Friday 18 August. Classes and workshops will be held on Saturdays to accommodate the work and family commitments of prospective students. The diploma covers a broad range of economic, social and political theories relating to ageing and examines public policy for older people across a number of fields. It is designed to equip students with the professional and analytical skills necessary to understand age and ageing in an economic, social and policy context and to enhance and develop their careers in age-related fields. The course is aimed at those working with older people in health or social care settings, and governmental, non-governmental, or voluntary organisations. Members of active retirement groups, older volunteers, members of community groups and people with an interest in ageing issues would also be candidates for the course. Professor Eamon O'Shea, Director of the ICSG, commented, "This course is designed so that participants can bring their own life experiences to bear on the programme, enabling students to contribute to debate and discussion, which is an important part of the learning process". The Irish Centre for Social Gerontology is the first of its type in Ireland which will examine the economic and social aspects of Ireland's ageing population across multiple disciplines including: social gerontology, economics, sociology, psychology, law, nursing and medicine. According to Professor O'Shea, "The Centre aims to develop social gerontology as a subject at diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate levels, educating future policy makers, public servants and leaders of private industry on ageing issues. The new diploma for mature students is the first step in that process". Students on the Diploma course will attend classes at NUI Galway on six Saturdays in Semester 1 and six Saturdays in Semester 2 in each year. Classes run from 9.00am-12.00pm and from 2.00pm-5.00pm, with opportunities for lecturer consultation and library visits in between. The programme is offered on a two-year cyclical basis. Further information can be found at http://www.icsg.ie/education.html -ends –