Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, National University of Ireland, Galway is offering a part-time diploma in translation studies this forthcoming academic year. The course will be held from mid September in the Corca Dhuibhne Gaeltacht, An Daingean, Co. Kerry. This is a two-year, part-time course and will take place one night a week. The course is suited to those with fluent Irish and English, both written and spoken, and is aimed at people who wish to pursue a career in the field of translation or who wish to perfect their accuracy in written Irish. 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. Eoin Ó Droighneáin, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta, said: "Due to the recent 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". Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUI Galway is also offering a postgraduate course – Dioplóma Iarchéime / M.A. i Léann an Aistriúcháin (Postgraduate Diploma / M.A. in Translation Studies). This is a fulltime course held over one year for the postgraduate diploma, and two years for the M.A. Applications are now being accepted for both courses. ENDS

Tom McEnaney, Business Editor with the Irish Independent, is to address the new NUI Galway Skillnets Network at their launch event on Tuesday, 11 September, 2007. This new network for 'innovative technology and export orientated companies' aims to satisfy the training and networking needs of its' member companies. The event will take place from 9.30am – 3pm in Cromleach Lodge, near Boyle, Co. Roscommon. The Skillnets Network is an outcome of the various initiatives run by the Technology Transfer Office (TTO) at NUI Galway, whose high performance team guides breakthrough research to business reality, such as: promoting entrepreneurship and new business growth, providing support services for new knowledge intensive companies; and linking researchers to industry. According to Ms. Niamh Corcoran, TTO, National University of Ireland, Galway: "This is a key event for emerging start up companies. We look forward to the network members benefiting from accessing Mr. McEnaney's perspective and learning from his experience. We envisage that members will use the network to share, learn and grow. It is an exciting time for the Technology Transfer Office to be forming a key link for entrepreneurs across the region." As a member of the network, companies will benefit from training which will be designed to help them grow competitive advantage, grow capacity and which can expand the team's skill set. The training output will seek to positively impact the company's business strategy, vision and goals. In addition, it will facilitate a formal networking environment where peer and professional contact sharing can result in efficiencies of knowledge and resources. The Technology Transfer Office is seeking to grow the membership base of the network and invites innovative, technology driven, export orientated companies to register for the event. The network currently boasts 20 members across three different sectors in the five regional hubs of Galway, Castlebar, Sligo, Donegal and the Athlone area. In May 2007, the network successfully secured development funding from Skillnets, which is an enterprise-led support body whose mission is to enhance the skills of people in employment in Irish industry to support competitiveness and employability. Skillnets is funded by the National Training Fund. ENDS

Tá sé fógartha ag Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge in Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh go bhfuil cúrsa Dioplóma i Scileanna Aistriúcháin le tosnú i gCorca Dhuibhne an mhí seo chugainn. Cúrsa páirtaimseartha thar dhá bhliain atá i gceist agus cuirfear tús leis i lár mí Mheán Fómhair 2007 sa Daingean, Co. Chiarraí. Is é an aidhm atá leis an gcúrsa eolas tosaigh a thabhairt do mhic léinn ar na scileanna is tábhachtaí is gá a bheith ag duine a bhíonn ag aistriú idir an Béarla agus an Ghaeilge agus oiliúint bhunúsach a thabhairt dóibh sna scileanna sin. Is é seo an dara huair an cúrsa seo á reáchtáil i gCorca Dhuibhne; chríochnaigh aon duine dhéag an chéad bhabhta den chúrsa san earrach seo caite. Seo an méid a bhí le rá ag Eoin Ó Droighneáin, Riarthóir an Aonad Aistriúcháin agus Pleanála Corpais, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge: "Mar is eol do chách anois, tá an-éileamh go deo ar aistritheoirí a bhfuil an Ghaeilge mar sprioctheanga acu, agus cabhróidh an cháilíocht a bheidh mar thoradh ar an gcúrsa seo le daoine teacht i dtír ar na deiseanna fostaíochta agus eile atá ann". Tá an cúrsa oiriúnach do dhaoine a bhfuil caighdeán maith Gaeilge agus Béarla acu agus ar mhaith leo díriú ar an aistriúchán mar shlí bheatha nó scileanna áirithe aistriúcháin a úsáid ina saol oibre. Glacfar le hiarratais don chúrsa go dtí Dé hAoine, 31 Lúnasa 2007. CRÍOCH

A reunion to celebrate 40 years of choral singing at NUI Galway will be held in the University from Friday 28th to Sunday 30th September 2007. Cór an Choláiste will host a weekend of meetings and rehearsals which will culminate in a choral performance on the evening of Saturday 29th. In addition to the current conductor, Thomas Cryan, former University choir conductors, Peter Mannion (BSc 2006), Dr Brendan O'Connor (BSc 1982, PhD 1985) and John Murphy (BA 1970), will return to conduct graduate groups in this performance. The concert will also include a guest performance by Cois Cladaigh and traditional music performances from society members from the relevant years. This performance will be free and open to the public. Tickets to participate in the Choral Alumni Reunion Weekend are €20.00 per person. If you have any queries or require information, please contact Sheila Gorham in the Alumni Office at: 091 493750 or email alumni@nuigalway.ie or contact Dr Brendan O'Connor at: 091 756812 or email boc@aquafact.ie Hundreds of UCG/NUI Galway graduates were members of, or associated with, the various University choirs over the years. Unfortunately many of their names do not appear on our mailing list. To ensure that everyone interested is given an opportunity to participate, we ask that you contact the NUI Galway Alumni Office with contact information of choir members. ENDS

Minister for Health Promotion and Food Safety at the Department of Health and Children, Pat the Cope Gallagher T.D., yesterday (22 August 2007) launched the Irish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Study, conducted in 2006 by Principal Investigator Dr Saoirse Nic Gabhainn, and colleagues Dr Colette Kelly and Dr Michal Molcho of the Health Promotion Research Centre, NUI Galway. The Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study (HBSC) is the Irish part of a cross-national study of children's health behaviours, attitudes, perceptions and the contexts of children's health - family life, school, relationships with peers and the local community. Dr Nic Gabhainn has been Principal Investigator for HBSC Ireland since 1994, and this is the third and largest survey of Irish children s health. Previous HBSC surveys were conducted in the Health Promotion Research Centre, NUI Galway in 1998 and 2002. Findings have been widely used to inform both policy and practice developments in relation to child and adolescent health, nationally, regionally and internationally. Dr Saoirse Nic Gabhainn said: "we in the Health Promotion Research Centre at NUI Galway are delighted by the launch of our third report by Minister Gallagher. This new Irish data show where we have made progress in relation to child and adolescent health, for example in food behaviour, smoking and seat-belt use, but also warns us not to be complacent, there remain worrying levels of alcohol consumption, bullying, injuries and hunger". More than 13,000 children from 3rd class in primary school to 5th year (pre-leaving cert) in post primary schools participated in HBSC Ireland 2006, making it the largest and most robust survey of Irish children. This first report from the 2006 survey includes data on general health and social well-being, tobacco use, alcohol, drug use, food and dietary behaviour, exercise and physical activity, injuries, self- care and bullying. All findings are presented separately for girls and boys, by age groups and by parental social class. The key findings of the study include increases in: seatbelt use (79%), meeting physical activity guidelines (55%), fruit (19%) and vegetable (18%) consumption. Decreases in ever (36%) and current smoking (15%), 12 month cannabis rates for older boys (24%), sweet (39%) and soft drink (26%) consumption. There are also small increases in health (87%) and happiness (91%), with a consistent gender gap in favour of boys. There are few changes in bullying (34%) or reported injuries (43%) which are higher in boys, nor in dieting (12%) or not eating breakfast (14%), which are higher in girls. Consistent social class differences remain, particularly for eating and dieting behaviour. HBSC Ireland has been supported by the Department of Health and Children and is funded by research grant from the Health Promotion Policy Unit and the Office of the Minister for Children. ENDS