Monday 5 February 2007: A troupe of sixth-class pupils from across Galway city will entertain family and friends in a story-telling evening at the Aula Maxima, NUI Galway on Thursday 8 February as part of the University's Access Office programme.

The children from Scoil Bhríde, Shantalla; Holy Trinity Girls School; and St Michael's Boys School Mervue have been developing their story telling skills through workshops led by storytellers Clare Murphy and Rab Fulton, as part of the 'Uni For You' initiative. The Access Office's three-year structured programme of activities aims to positively promote third level education to children and their communities.

Story-telling is an excellent educational tool, which develops the child's capacity for active listening, in a world filled with stimuli that reduces the attention span this is an excellent starting point for self-development. The memory, imagination, creativity, liner and abstract thought and self-expression of the child is enhanced through the process of creating and telling their own story.

Speaking ahead of the story telling evening, Vice President of Strategic and External Affairs at NUI Galway, Professor Ger Hurley said: "Story-telling enhances confidence and communication skills and is part of the Irish seanchaí tradition that we want to encourage in the next generation."

Parents, siblings, teachers and NUI Galway staff will enjoy the children's debut story telling performance, where a selection of stories ranging from the frightening to the funny, will be relayed.

Clare Murphy, story-teller, says: "By retelling old tales and inventing their own, children engage their imagination and find confidence in their own innate storytelling abilities. Story-telling is the intrinsic glue that encourages us to learn to listen, to respect and to understand those around us in our community."

The Access programme has wide-ranging activities and has been developed in close partnership with the link schools, Scoil Bhríde, Shantalla, Holy Trinity Girls School, and St Michael's Boys School Mervue.