Beidh dráma nua Crosántacht leis an scríbhneoir iomráiteach Biddy Jenkinson á léiriú ag an gcúrsa Ard-Dioplóma sa Drámaíocht, faoi stiúir Dharach Mhic Con Iomaire, i Seanscoil Sailearna, Dé Sathairn agus Dé Domhnaigh, 10 - 11 Márta 2007, ag a 8.00 i.n. Is ócáid ar leith é léiriú an dráma seo mar gurb é seo léiriú cinn chúrsa an Ard-Dioplóma sa Drámaíocht, cúrsa nua atá á reáchtáil ag Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge i gcomhar le Scoil na Gaeilge, Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh. "Tugann an dráma deis do na mic léinn na scileanna a d'fhoghlaim siad i rith an chúrsa a tharraingt le chéile agus tugann sé deis dóibh freisin oibriú in éineacht le léiritheoir proifisiúnta agus scríbhneoir iomráiteach. Tá gach duine idir chliar agus chriú ag obair go dian chun an dráma a chur ar an stáitse" a deir stiúrthóir an chúrsa, Nora Nic Con Ultaigh. Dráma dúthshlánach, fisiciúil agus dána é Crosántacht a dhéanann cur síos ar a thárlaíonn do Ghráinne, Iníon Chormaic Mhic Airt, nuair a shocraíonn sí filleadh ar Theamhair, den chéad uair le cúig bliana déag, tar éis di éalú le Diarmuid Ó Duibhne. Níl Crosáin Charna róshásta nuair a thuigeann siad go bhfuil Ailbhe, leasdeirfiúr Ghráinne, ag pósadh ag breacadh an lae agus gan scéala faighte acu faoi bhainis ar bith – ainneoin iad ag troid i gcoinne na nAllmhúrach atá tagtha i dtír i Ros An Mhíl agus atá ag bánú Conamara leis an Dragan Tine atá acu. Tá sé in am acu Crosáin Dhuibhlinne a chur ina gceart… Ochtar aisteoirí, iliomad carachtair, diabhlaíocht, dánacht, damhsa agus drúis, corrdhuine bocht - ag Crosántacht! Beidh luach €10.00 an ceann ar na ticéid agus is féidir ticéid a chur in áirithe nó breis eolais a fháil faoin dráma ach glaoch ar Nóirín in oifig Sheanscoil Sailearna ar 091 593017. -Críoch– Tuilleadh eolais: Bríd Seoige, Acadamh na hOllscolaiochta, OÉ Gaillimh 091-495302 nó 087-1266353

19 February 2007: Following on from its huge inaugural success last year, NUI Galway is to hold its second Buy a Book Day on Thursday 1st March, 2007 from 10.30am to 6.00pm in the Aula Maxima. It is hoped that as well as attending the sale, the public will donate material to the event, which is sure to offer the most avid reader an exciting and diverse range of books. Last year's event raised almost €6,000, half of which was donated to international, national and local charities through the University's United Charities Group (UCG). Formed in 2004, UCG consolidates the fundraising efforts of the three University based charitable committees: the Third World Appeal Committee, the IFUT Charitable Committee and Medicus Mundi. The remainder was used to purchase items of interest for Special Collections at the James Hardiman Library. NUI Galway Librarian, and co-ordinator of the Buy-a-Book event, Marie Reddan said: "Last year's event was very worth while – raising money for both Special Collections in the Library and for a variety of charities. It was a great example of cross-campus collaboration – supported enthusiastically by staff and students alike. Most importantly, it was an event for the university and the citizens of Galway who were so very generous in their support of the day. Hopefully, this year's sale will be bigger and better and it will become an annual feature on the University's calendar." The event is one of the more novel ideas to emanate from the University's Staff Suggestion Scheme - Úrsmaointe – and has received generous support from local businesses. Books remaining at the end of the day will go to local charity shops. -ENDS-

19 February 2007: An exhibition of posters by Engineering students at NUI Galway have proved that the priorities of a student extend beyond a healthy social life and passing exams. As part of an Engineering in Society module offered to third-year Biomedical and Mechanical Engineering students, participants developed devices for the physically impaired, a road safety initiative on roundabouts and provided engineering workshops for children with learning disabilities. The poster exhibition entitled "Engineering in Society and Community Outreach", describing the projects takes place this week in the Arts Millennium Building. The Engineering in Society module is an intrinsic part of the academic programme taken by students in the third-year Biomedical and Mechanical Engineering programme. It is designed to encourage students to commit some of their time and energy to the benefit of local communities. Professor Abhay Pandit, Department of Biomedical and Mechanical Engineering and co-ordinator of the initiative says: "This is a wonderful opportunity for the students to put something back into their communities. 'Service Learning,' where students use their skills to see how they can be of use to the community is commonplace in most American universities but is a relatively new concept in Ireland. In our programme, students identify a need in their locality and provide a service, with the input from the local community, towards assisting with that need. The program is designed to foster a partnership for the next generation of citizens to engage in social partnerships, specifically in the skill set they know best; i.e. Engineering." The module is supported by the University's Centre for Excellence in Learning and Training (CELT). Lorraine McIlrath, Academic Staff Developer at CELT, describes the projects as "a massive achievement and a great inspiration to staff and students locally and nationally". In one of the projects a simple boiled egg top remover, 'The Egg Chopper Off'r' was designed for people with limited or no use of one arm, such as those suffering from arthritis, stroke victims or amputees. "We researched the idea and designed a prototype which was a success but needs continued development in order to make it more user-friendly and accessible to those who need it." said Kiel McCool, who designed the device along with Aoife Heneghan. In another project, a group of four students facilitated engineering workshops with students at the Galway Association's St Joseph training centre. The Engineering students introduced methods of engineering drawing and spatial awareness through the workshops which proved intellectually stimulating to those involved. "We chose to focus our project on helping students with intellectual disabilities," said Lorna Ryan. "We showed them how to visualise a 3-D object from different views and represent this in a technical drawing." The poster exhibition is open to the public from Friday 23rd February to Friday 2nd March 2007. -Ends-

Marie Reddan, Librarian, NUI Galway; Professor Jim Browne, Registrar, NUI Galway and Jane O Leary, Music for Galway 12 February 2007: To mark the 25th anniversary of Music for Galway, the archive was recently presented to the James Hardiman Library at NUI Galway. The Archive was accepted by the Registrar and Deputy President, Professor Jim Browne at a reception in the Aula Maxima attended by friends of the University and Music for Galway, and enjoyed a musical interlude from Galway's Quartet in Residence, ConTempo. The archive is a rich mix of programmes, posters, reviews, press cuttings, photographs, correspondence and minute books. It is a major addition to the Library's existing archival collections, of An Taibhdhearc, Druid, Galway Arts Festival and Macnas, which highlight the artistic and cultural life of Galway over the years. Accepting the archive on behalf of NUI Galway, Prof. Jim Browne said: "The University is delighted to accept this very special collection, given the long association between Music for Galway and the University. The development of Music for Galway is such a concrete example of active citizenship. The archive will be a resource for scholars and citizens alike, and will undoubtedly provide a rich research resource for those engaged in charting Galway's cultural and social history over the last 25 years". Music for Galway began 25 years ago with a concert by the Ulster Orchestra, intended to raise funds for a Steinway grand piano for Galway. The piano moved into the Aula Maxima, NUI Galway in 1981 and since then hundreds of concert performances have been organised by Music for Galway with performers from all over the world. Five years ago Music for Galway initiated the Ensemble in Residence project, which brought ConTempo Quartet to Galway. Special moments over the past quarter century have included Yehudi Menuhin's visit, Nigel Kennedy's early performances in Galway, performances of the complete cycle of Beethoven Piano Sonatas by Robert Taub, the Hallé Orchestra's appearance in Seapoint, and many more. -Ends – For further information contact: Marie Redden, Librarian, James Hardiman Library at 091-492540 or by email: marie.reddan@nuigalway.ie

12 February 2007: A key member of the team that brought the Special Olympics to Ireland, Ms Mary Davis, will address the issue of citizenship during a seminar at NUI Galway on Thursday, 22nd February at 1.00pm in the Siobhan McKenna Theatre. Ms Davis' talk 'Perspectives on Active Citizenship in Ireland Today' is part of a Keynote Seminar Series, organised by the University's Community Knowledge Initiative. Focusing on themes related to civic engagement and active citizenship, the series is being offered as a response to the impact that volunteering has in today's communities. Ms Davis has played a pivotal role in terms of raising awareness, and creating a supportive sporting environment for those with diverse abilities. She has been recognised nationally for enhancing a culture of volunteerism in modern Irish society through the hosting of the Special Olympics World Games in Ireland in 2003. Recently appointed Chair of the Taskforce on Active Citizenship by the Taoiseach, which seeks to address the perceived decline in levels of social capital in Ireland, Ms Davis' address will offer personal and professional reflections on citizenship, her role in the culmination of the Special Olympics event and her vision for the future of engaged and active citizens in modern Irish society through the work of the Taskforce. Lorraine McIlrath, Project Coordinator, Community Knowledge Initiative, NUI Galway said "Insights from the Chair of the Taskforce on Active Citizenships of the levels of social capital in modern Irish society is essential to the work that NUI Galway is enabling to embed as part of the Community Knowledge Initiative, our work and its future will be advanced I'm sure through perspective offers by this address" Tickets for the free event, which is hosted in partnership with the President's Office and the Arts Faculty, are available from Mary Bernard at the Community Knowledge Initiative at mary.bernard@nuigalway.ie or on 091 493823. The Community Knowledge Initiative (CKI) is a project at NUI Galway that promotes partnership with communities and endeavours to enhance social commitment within communities. Funded by philanthropic donations, the CKI hopes to reinvigorate the civic mission of higher education in Ireland, putting communities at the centre of debate. -ends – For further information contact Lorraine McIlrath, Project Coordinator, Community Knowledge Initiative, NUI Galway. Phone 091 495234