Jobs in demand for Highly Skilled Irish Translators The demand for Irish language translators with third-level qualifications has rapidly increased as a result of the Official Languages Act and the newly-acquired status of Irish as an official working language of the European Union. Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge at NUI Galway is offering a Masters degree (MA) in Translation Studies, which meets this rapidly growing demand for professional Irish translators at home and abroad. Applications for the two-year, full-time masters course, the highest accredited course in this discipline ever to be offered in the country, will be accepted until 27 April. The course is also available over one year as a Postgraduate Diploma. With the expansion of translation in Ireland as a field of education, business and employment, there is an onus on professional translators to ensure their work reaches a very high standard. Achieving a recognised qualification and acquiring sound translation skills is now, therefore, more important than ever. "Acquiring professional translation skills and achieving a recognised third-level qualification is becoming an important career move. Our translation courses are designed to suit people's needs, whether it's a worker who wants to study part-time to improve their career path or someone who wants to study full-time to embark on a new career in Brussels", commented Peadar Mac an Iomaire, CEO, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUI Galway. Throughout the course there will be an emphasis on accuracy in written Irish as a target language in translation. Participants will also get an insight into the translation business, as well as the software and electronic tools available to the Irish language translator. The course is designed to give practical experience of translating the types of texts most commonly translated into Irish. Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge is NUI Galway's national institute pioneering third-level education through the Irish language. In addition to translation courses, NUI Galway's Acadamh offers a growing range of courses through Irish including: Communications, TV & Radio Skills, Language Planning, Drama and IT. Applications are now being accepted for all courses. For more information, telephone Cassie Ní Chathasaigh, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUI Galway on 091 869 022 or e-mail aistriuchan@oegaillimh.ie Ends

John Bradley, Lower Dangan, Galway, runner-up in the Safety Category receiving his award from Joe Walsh, FCILT, International President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport (CILT), sponsors of the awards. Maura Garvey, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, runner-up in the Rail Category receiving her award from Joe Walsh, FCILT, International President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport (CILT), sponsors of the awards The Faculty of Engineering at NUI Galway is celebrating with its students receiving Logistics & Transport 'Idea of the Year Award' awarded by The Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport (CILT). The awards were presented by Joe Walsh, CILT, International President of CILT at a special awards ceremony on Thursday, 29 March in Dublin. Six NUI Galway students (three Industrial Engineering students, two Management Engineering students and one International student) were winners in six categories of the competition which is open to both students and professionals. The awards are presented to the originator of an idea, which the judges consider to be the most innovative and which could make a significant contribution to some aspect of transport in Ireland. Professor Padraic O Donoghue, Dean of Engineering at NUI Galway said: "I am delighted to acknowledge the success of six NUI Galway students in receiving awards for their projects from CILT. This is a particularly high number of awards for one university and it is also noteworthy that three of the awards represented category winners. I wholeheartedly congratulate all of the students and their lecturers on these achievements." The annual awards, which include a range of categories, are based on innovative ideas submitted by students in the areas of: Logistics, Air, Safety & Environment, Sea, Rail and Road. Among the winners were David Byrne, Rochfortbridge, Co Westmeath, winner of the Safety Category; John Bradley, Galway, runner-up in the Safety Category; Maura Garvey, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, runner-up in the Rail Category; Stephen McCarthy, Cloughjordan, Co. Tipperary, runner-up in the Road Category; Vicky Bryan, Ballina, Co. Mayo, winner in the Marine Category; and Kaitlin Walsh, a visiting student from New York, USA, winner in the Rail Category. Lecturer in Logistics at the Faculty of Engineering, NUI Galway, Ms Mary Dempsey, said: "The outstanding dedication and commitment the NUI Galway students make each year in transport innovation is reflected in their logistics projects, and is fortified by CILT recognition in the form of the Innovation Transport Awards. I am extremely proud of the Business Logistics students and of the possible spin-offs from these projects including, investigation by the technology transfer office into possible patent opportunities and requests for copies of the projects from Mr. Gay Byrne, Chairperson of the Road Safety Authority, Capt. Brian Sheridan, Galway Harbour Master and Bus Éireann". Mr. Chris McGlinn, CILT Eastern Section Ideas Awards coordinator commended the achievements of the students: "There were excellent entries received and it made for some difficult decisions by our adjudicators. It is rewarding to see the commitment and interest the NUI Galway students have shown again on this occasion". The Minister of Transport was represented at the ceremony by Mr. Andy Cullen, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Transport. Support for the Galway students was kindly received from PEM Europe, Galway Harbour, Irish Rail, Faculties of Engineering, Arts, the International Office and Commerce as well as from the Office of the Registrar at NUI Galway. - Ends –

Inniu in OÉ Gaillimh, sheol an Dr Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, Uachtarán, OÉ Gaillimh an chéad MA sa Phleanáil Teanga san Eoraip. Is iad Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, coláiste lán-Ghaeilge de chuid OÉ Gaillimh atá ag tairiscint an chúrsa iarchéime sa réimse nuálach léinn seo. Beidh deis ag scoláirí tabhairt faoi chúrsa go lánaimseartha (bliain amháin) nó go páirtaimseartha (dhá bhliain) ó Mheán Fómhair 2007 ar aghaidh. "Is é seo an chéad chúrsa tríú leibhéal san ábhar acadúil seo atá á chur ar fáil in Éirinn nó fiú amháin san Eoraip," a deir Stiúrthóir an chúrsa, an Dr Conchúr Ó Giollagáin, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge. Ag cur leis sin deir sé, "is cúrsa spéisiúil dúshlánach an cúrsa seo a dhéanfaidh cúram do na riachtanais ghairmiúla, acadúla agus anailíseacha atá de dhíth le tabhairt faoin bpleanáil straitéiseach teanga ina réimsí éagsúla saoil. Tá an cúrsa seo dírithe ar mhic léinn a bhfuil céim bainte amach acu agus atá ag iarraidh oibriú i bpoist i réimsí na pleanála teanga, na forbartha pobail agus na n-eagraíochtaí stáit agus ar dhaoine atá cheana féin ag obair i réimse na pleanála teanga nó in earnáil ghaolmhar." Déanann an réimse léinn seo taighde agus iniúchadh ar na réimsí éagsúla a bhaineann leis na riachtanais straitéiseacha phleanála a theastaíonn ó phobal teanga chun a chinntiú go mbeidh an pobal sin inmharthana. Clúdóidh an cúrsa seo gach gné den phleanáil teanga, lena n-áirítear teoiricí teangeolaíochta agus socheolaíocht na teanga, an phleanáil teanga mar phróiseas, feidhmiú eagraíochta, forbairt pobail agus an dioscúrsa teanga. Cuirfidh an cúrsa seo le cumas anailíseach agus straitéiseach na n-iarrthóirí an phleanáil éifeachtach teanga a chur i bhfeidhm ar an réimse saoil/gairmiúil a bhaineann lena gcúram. "Is céim an-tábhachtach í seo. Tá suas le 90% de theangeacha an domhain i mbaol a mbáis roimh dheireadh an chéid seo", a deir Seosamh Mac Donnacha, Comhordaitheoir Acadúil, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge. Ag cur leis sin deir sé, "Ní féidir cosaint a thabhairt do chultúir faoi leith gan cosaint a thabhairt do na teangacha a bhaineann leo. Tá an MA nua curtha ar fáil chun an phleanáil teanga a fhorbairt ina réimsí gairmiúla, oiliúna agus acadúla agus chun cuidiú le scolairí iarchéime agus le daoine gairmiúla anailís a dhéanamh agus tuiscintí a fháil ar na riachtanais teanga a bhaineann leis an bpleanáil straitéiseach". Táthar ag glacadh le hiarratais don chúrsa seo go dtí an 22 Meitheamh 2007. Chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil, cuir glaoch ar Bhríd Seoige, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, OÉ Gaillimh ag 091 495302 nó seol ríomhphost chuig brid.seoige@oegaillimh.ie Críoch

Pictured during a recent lecture at NUI Galway is Professor David Malin, the most famous Astro-photographer in the world. Prof. Malin of Anglo-Australian Observatory (AAO), and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia delivered a free public lecture at the Centre for Astronomy at the University. His talk focused on the history of astronomical imaging and the profound effect it has had on knowledge of the universe, and 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. 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.

Dr. Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, President of NUI Galway today launched an MA in Language Planning, the first MA of its kind in Europe. Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUI Galway's pioneering Irish Language college, which provides third-level education through the medium of Irish, developed this innovative and pioneering programme in the field of language planning. The MA programme is offered as a one-year full-time or a two-year part-time taught postgraduate degree course from September 2007. Dr. Conchúr Ó Giollagáin, Director of the Course, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge said "this is a very interesting and challenging course and primarily concentrates on the development of the professional, academic and analytical requirements for strategic language planning in various aspects of life. It has been designed to provide opportunities for professional and academic development for both recent graduates and for practitioners already working in a professional capacity in a language planning context or in a related sector." Dr O Giollagain added, "This is the first third level course in this discipline in Ireland or indeed in Europe and the Acadamh is the first institution in Europe to offer such a course". The MA programme researches and examines the various aspects of strategic language planning required by a language community to ensure their community is sustainable. The course will cover every aspect of language planning, including linguistic theories and sociolinguistics, language planning as a process, organisational function, community development and language discourse. The course will enable participants to use analyses and strategy to implement effective language planning in their own areas. "This is a very important step. Up to 90% of the world's languages could be extinct before the end of this century", according to Seosamh Mac Donnacha, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge's Academic Co-ordinator. "Specific cultures cannot be protected without protecting their own unique languages. The new MA is being provided to develop language planning in professional, training and academic areas and to help postgraduate students and professionals analyse and understand the language requirements of strategic planning". Applications for this course are being accepted until the 22 June, 2007. For more information contact Bríd Seoige, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUI Galway on 091 495302 or email brid.seoige@oegaillimh.ie Ends