A new play by well-known writer Biddy Jenkinson will be performed by students of NUI Galway's Ard Dioplóma sa Drámaíocht, the country's first University course in Drama Studies through the medium of Irish, as their end of year production on 10 and 11 March 2007 in Amharclann Chois Fharraige, Indreabhán. Crosántacht is a retelling of the well-known legend, Diarmuid and Gráinne, and tells the story of the latter's return to Tara after 15 years. Leaving a war in her wake, Gráinne arrives home to find preparations under way for her younger sister's wedding to the heroic but aging Fionn Mac Cumhail. Sheer mayhem ensues with the court jesters providing much of the comic action. Former artistic director of the Taibhdhearc Darach Mac Con Iomaire is director of the play, which is a physical and boisterous production. Course director Nora Nic Con Ultaigh says she is excited about the performance. "This is the first year of the course and everyone, between cast and crew, is working very hard on the production. "The play gives students the opportunity of utilising the skills they have learnt during the course and it gives them the experience of working with a professional director." Crosántacht will be staged in Amharclann Chois Fharraige, Seanscoil Shailearna, Indreabhán on 10th and 11th March at 8.00pm. -ENDS- For bookings or for more information please call 091 593017.

The most famous Astro-photographer in the world, Professor David Malin of Anglo-Australian Observatory (AAO), and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia, is to deliver a unique lecture at the Centre for Astronomy, NUI Galway on Monday, 14th May at 7pm. The event, which is a unique opportunity to meet the David Malin, will have the theme David Malin - The Man Who Colours Stars: Talks on Capturing Ancient Light. Announcing the event the Director of the Centre for Astronomy at NUI Galway, Prof. Michael Redfern said: "This talk is a unique opportunity to meet one of the world's great astro-photographers. He was the person that made us all realise that the stars, galaxies and nebulae are not in black and white, but are in glorious colour. The wonderful images that we get nowadays, from Hubble, for example, owe everything to his pioneering work." Professor Malin said: "In this talk I will briefly review the history of astronomical imaging and the profound effect it has had on our knowledge of the universe. I will also discuss the art and science of colour photography in astronomy and how the vivid colours of clouds of gas and dust can be at the same time be real and yet invisible through the telescope. I will also describe ways in which the subtle colours of the brightest stars can be captured with simple photographic techniques." Photographs created by David Malin can be found in many popular astronomy books and magazines, and are displayed in museums and planetaria throughout the world. Previews of his work can be seen on www.davidmalin.com. This event is free and open to the public and as interest is expected to be high pre-booking is essential. Please email malintalk@gmail.com to book seats. The visit is part of a tour that starts in the Armagh Planetarium and will go on to Limerick University and to the Blackrock Planetarium & Science Centre, Cork. ENDS

The Department of Physics at NUI Galway is to offer a new full-time degree in Physics with Medical Physics. The four-year course, leading to an Honours BSc degree, starts in September 2007. There is currently a considerable demand for qualified medical physicists in Ireland and in response to this demand, the Department of Physics in conjunction with the Medical Physics Department at Galway University Hospitals, have introduced the new course. The programme will combine essential core physics modules, with medical physics, chemistry, mathematical science, biology and anatomy. Prof. Wil Van der Putten, Director of the Medical Physics & Bioengineering Centre, Galway University Hospital, welcomed the new course. "This is a new programme which merges a core programme in Physics with additional material in biology, anatomy, and various medical diagnostics and instrumentation. There is currently a considerable demand for qualified medical physicists in Ireland and the UK and this demand is expected to grow in the future." Graduates from the programme will be well qualified to proceed to professional medical physics training at Masters Degree level. There are also exciting career opportunities in the medical device and health care industry* and in the health and safety sector. Prof. Tom Glynn, Head of the Physics Department, NUI Galway, said: "Graduates of this course will receive an education in physics, instrumentation, and computational techniques - with a strong emphasis on the medical applications. They will acquire useful skills such as, problem solving, data handling, critical reasoning, and computing, all of which are essential elements in their careers. As well as pursuing a further career in medical physics, graduates will also have employment options in research, industry, teaching, energy and environment and in many other areas" Prof. Van der Putten added: "The degree will provide comprehensive training in Physics, as many graduates, without the basic Physics training, are currently seeking to build a career in Medical Physics but the lack of a fundamental grounding in Physics is preventing them from achieving accredited status." Graduates from this programme can seek employment in the wide range of careers open to regular physics graduates but will also have a strong foundation in medical physics and will be well qualified to proceed to professional medical physics training at Masters Degree level. The degree course is listed on the CAO website as GY316 and is open for entry in 2007 through the CAO process, using the change of mind option. There is a link to the course brochure on the CAO website. ENDS

The Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge, offered by Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUI Galway, has received recognition from the Department of Education and Science, as an acceptable entry requirement for primary teaching postgraduate courses in the training colleges. Students who possess the Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge will also be allowed entry to second year Irish on the BA in Scoil na Gaeilge, NUI Galway. This diploma gives the student an extra qualification whilst studying for his/her degree in another faculty or subjects. "This is an excellent opportunity for those who would like a degree in Irish or a postgraduate qualification in primary school teaching" according to Nuala Uí Aimhirgín, Director of Oifig na Gaeilge Labhartha, NUI Galway, Galway. She went on to say "To date, more than two thousand people have completed the Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge and it is in more demand now than ever before". The Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge is a two year part-time course. This year, applicants will be offered a choice of three levels in the Diploma, based on levels C1, B2 and A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference. Nuala Uí Aimhirgín said "We have been offering staff and students of NUI Galway and the general community this course to afford them the opportunity to improve their spoken and written ability in the Irish language. The course has been designed to give students good communication and written skills in the Irish language". Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge is a national institute of NUI Galway dedicated to pioneering third level education through the medium of Irish. As well as courses on campus, the institue has developed three external centres in the Gaeltacht; two of those are in Galway (Carna and An Cheathrú Rua) and the third is in Donegal (Gaoth Dobhair). Applications are currently being accepted for the course. For more information, contact Mary Ní Niadh, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUI Galway at 091 495248 or email mary.niniadh@oegaillimh.ie ENDS

Tá an Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge, á thairiscint ag Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, OÉ Gaillimh aitheanta ag an Roinn Oideachais agus Eolaíochta mar cháilíocht inghlactha iontrála don Iarchéim i mBunmhúinteoireacht sna Coláistí Oiliúna. Ag cur leis sin, tá cead isteach sa dara bliain Gaeilge de chuid an chúrsa BA, Scoil na Gaeilge, OÉ Gaillimh ag an mac léinn a bhfuil an Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge bainte amach acu. Tugann an dioplóma seo cáilíocht bhreise don mhac léinn Ollscoile fad is atá sé/sí ag déanamh na céime i ndámh nó in ábhair eile. "Is deis iontach é seo do dhaoine atá ag iarraidh céim sa Ghaeilge nó Iarchéim i mBunmhúinteoireacht a bhaint amach" a deir Nuala Uí Aimhirgín, Riarthóir Oifig na Gaeilge Labhartha, Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh. Dúirt sí freisin "Go dtí seo, tá an Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge bainte amach ag os cionn dhá mhíle duine agus tá éileamh níos mó anois ná riamh air". Cúrsaí dhá bhliain páirtaimseartha atá i gceist leis an Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge. I mbliana, beidh trí leibhéal dioplóma á thairiscint d'iarrthóirí, bunaithe ar leibhéal C1, B2 agus A2 de Fhráma Tagartha Coiteann an Chomhchreata Eorpaigh. Dúirt Nuala Uí Aimhirgín, "Táimid ag cur na gcúrsaí seo ar fáil do mhic léinn agus do bhaill foirne OÉ Gaillimh agus don phobal i gcoitinne le go mbeadh deis acu cur lena gcumas i labhairt agus scríobh na Gaeilge. Is é aidhm na gcúrsaí scileanna maithe cumarsáide agus scríofa sa Ghaeilge a thabhairt d'iarrthóirí". Is Institiúid Náisiúnta de chuid OÉ Gaillimh é Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge atá tiomanta do cheannródaíocht in oideachas tríú leibhéal a chur ar fáil trí Ghaeilge. I dteannta na gcúrsaí ar an gcampas, déanfaidh an institiúid forbairt ar thrí ionad sheachtracha sa Ghaeltacht; tá dhá ionad acu sin i nGaeltacht na Gaillimhe (Carna agus an Cheathrú Rua) agus ionad eile i nDún na nGall (Gaoth Dobhair). Táthar ag glacadh le hiarratais do na cúrsaí seo anois. Chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil, cuir glaoch ar Mary Ní Niadh, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, OÉ Gaillimh ag 091 495248 nó seol ríomhphost chuig mary.niniadh@oegaillimh.ie Críoch