The television programme Ardán, presented by Páidí Ó Lionáird, and broadcast weekly on TG4, will focus on NUI Galway and the Alumni Awards Ceremony. The show will broadcast on Sunday, 18 March, 2007 at 8.30pm.

NUI Galway's eighth annual Gala Banquet, took place at the Radisson SAS Hotel on 3rd March and featured the presentation of the Annual Alumni Awards; the event was filmed by the RTÉ crew and directed by John Keogh.

The alumni award winners who will feature on the special Ardán broadcast include:

• Dr Pat Gullane, Medtronic Vascular Award for Health Care and Medical Science;
• Dr Reg Shaw, Seavite Award for Natural Science;
• Irial Finan, Bank of Ireland Award for Business and Commerce;
• Seán O Rourke, AIB Award for Literature, Communications and the Arts;
• Paddy and Tom Coffey, TBD Award for Engineering, IT and Mathematics;
• Máiréad Ní Nuadháin, Duais Hewlett-Packard don Ghaeilge; and
• Brian O Donnell, NUI Galway Award for Law, Public Service and Government.

NUI Galway staff as well as graduates and former Alumni Award recipients will also feature in this special event. Also featuring on the show will be RTÉ presenter Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh, MC for the Alumni Award ceremony.

Distinguished guests also in attendance at the Award ceremony included Éamon Ó Cuiv T.D., Mr Enda Kenny T.D., Mr Frank Fahy T.D., Michael D. Higgins T.D. and Adjunct Professor of Human Rights at NUI Galway, RTÉ broadcaster Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh, Alan Kerins, Galway Senior Hurler, Pádraig Ó Céidigh, Aer Arann, Senator Feargal Quinn of Superquinn and also Adjunct Professor of Marketing at NUI Galway and Gary Cullen, former CEO of Aer Lingus and current CEO of Aer Arann.

-ENDS-

Contact: Michelle Ní Chróinín, Press & Information Officer, NUI Galway 091-493361 or michelle.nichroinin@nuigalway.ie