NUI Galway today announced the appointment of Professor Pól Ó Dochartaigh as Registrar and Deputy-President.

Professor Ó Dochartaigh joins NUI Galway from the University of Ulster, where he has been Dean of the Faculty of Arts and a member of the Senior Management Team since 2008. A Professor of German since 2005, Pól has spearheaded the development of Humanities research at the University of Ulster. He was the founding Director of Ulster’s Humanities Research Institute (2005-8), as well as the founding Dean of the University’s Confucius Institute in 2011.

Speaking about his appointment, Professor Ó Dochartaigh said: “NUI Galway is a university that has developed an international reputation for excellence in research and innovation while being firmly rooted in Ireland's communities and cultures, especially the West. I am delighted to be joining NUI Galway and to be bringing my family to Galway, and I look forward to the adventures and challenges ahead.”

Professor Ó Dochartaigh was elected a Member of the Royal Irish Academy in 2010 and is also a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. In April 2014 he will complete a three-year term as President of the Association for German Studies in Great Britain and Ireland. He previously served as Chair of the Royal Irish Academy Committee for Modern Language, Literary and Cultural Studies (2004-8), a member of the UK’s RAE (Research Assessment Exercise) 2008 Panel for German and, until his appointment in Galway, as a member of the Modern Languages Panel for REF 2014, the Research Excellence Framework for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions.

A native of Belfast, Pól Ó Dochartaigh was educated there, before going on to take a BA Hons in German at University College Cardiff, a PhD in German Literature at Nottingham University, a Postgraduate Certificate in University Teaching at the University of Ulster and a BA Hons in Irish Language and Literature, also at the University of Ulster. His main research interests are German-Jewish literature and history, especially anti-Semitism and the legacy of the Holocaust, the German involvement in Celtic Studies, and Irish-Jewish literature and history. He has authored four books, edited six collections of essays and published over 40 research papers.

He is married to Dr Geraldine Cuskelly, a nutritionist, and they have twin daughters, Róise and Treasa.

Professor Ó Dochartaigh will succeed Professor Nollaig Mac Congáil, whose term as Registrar and Deputy-President concludes at the beginning of March.

Speaking about the appointment of Professor Pól Ó Dochartaigh, President of NUI Galway, Dr Jim Browne, said: “I am delighted to welcome Pól to NUI Galway and look forward to working with him to develop the teaching and research agenda for the University for the coming years. His tenure as Registrar and Deputy-President  begins at a time when NUI Galway is developing a new strategic plan, a blueprint to take us to 2020. Pól’s experience, particularly of the competitive research environment in the UK and Northern Ireland, will bring an invaluable external perspective to this process.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank most sincerely Professor Nollaig Mac Congáil, the outgoing Registrar and Deputy-President, whose outstanding leadership and tireless commitment to the University over many years has enabled NUI Galway to deliver exceptional teaching and research performance across our five Colleges”.

Ends

 Ceapann OÉ Gaillimh an tOllamh Pól Ó Dochartaigh mar Mheabhránaí/Uachtarán Ionaid

D’fhógair OÉ Gaillimh inniu ceapachán an Ollaimh Pól Ó Dochartaigh mar Mheabhránaí/Uachtarán Ionaid.

Tagann an tOllamh Ó Dochartaigh chuig OÉ Gaillimh ó Ollscoil Uladh, áit a raibh sé ina Dhéan ar Dhámh na nDán agus ina bhall den Fhoireann Shinsearach Bhainistíochta ó 2008. Tá Pól ina Ollamh le Gearmáinis ó 2005, agus bhí sé ina cheannródaí ar thaighde sna Daonnachtaí a fhorbairt in Ollscoil Uladh. Ba é an Stiúrthóir é a bhunaigh Institiúid Uladh ar Thaighde na nDaonnachtaí (2005-08), agus ba é freisin an Déan é a bhunaigh Institiúid Chonfúicias na hOllscoile sa bhliain 2011.

Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag an Ollamh Ó Dochartaigh faoina cheapachán: “Is ollscoil í OÉ Gaillimh a bhfuil cáil idirnáisiúnta forbartha aici i bhfeabhas sa taighde agus sa nuálaíocht agus ag an am céanna tá sí fréamhaithe go láidir i bpobail agus i gcultúir na hÉireann, go háirithe san Iarthar. Tá an-áthas orm a bheith ag teacht chuig OÉ Gaillimh agus a bheith ag tabhairt mo theaghlach liom go Gaillimh, agus táim ag súil leis na heachtraí agus leis na dúshláin amach romham.”

Toghadh an tOllamh Ó Dochartaigh mar Bhall d’Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann sa bhliain 2010 agus is Comhalta é den Royal Historical Society. I mí Aibreáin 2014 cuirfidh sé deireadh le téarma trí bliana mar Uachtarán ar an gCumann do Léann na Gearmáinise sa Bhreatain Mhór agus in Éirinn. Roimhe sin bhí sé ina Chathaoirleach ar Choiste Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann do Nua-Theangacha, Léann Liteartha agus Cultúrtha (2004-8), bhí sé ina bhall de Phainéal RAE na Ríochta Aontaithe 2008 don Ghearmáinis agus, go dtí gur ceapadh i nGaillimh é, bhí sé ina bhall de Phainéal REF 2014 do Nua-Theangacha, an Chreatlach Feabhais Taighde chun caighdeán an taighde in institiúidí ardoideachais na Ríochta Aontaithe a mheas. 

Is as Béal Feirste do Phól Ó Dochartaigh ó thús, áit ar cuireadh oideachas air sula ndeachaigh sé i mbun BA Onóracha sa Ghearmáinis i gColáiste na hOllscoile, Cardiff, PhD i Litríocht na Gearmáine in Ollscoil Nottingham, Teastas Iarchéime i dTeagasc Ollscoile in Ollscoil Uladh agus BA Onóracha sa Ghaeilge agus i Litríocht na hÉireann, in Ollscoil Uladh chomh maith. I measc a chuid príomhréimsí spéise tá litríocht na Gearmáine agus na nGiúdach, go háirithe frith-Sheimíteachas agus oidhreacht an Uileloiscthe, baint na Gearmáine leis an Léann Ceilteach, agus litríocht agus stair na hÉireann agus na nGiúdach.  Tá ceithre leabhar scríofa aige, sé bhailiúchán aistí curtha in eagar aige agus breis is 40 páipéar taighde foilsithe aige.

Tá sé pósta leis an Dr Geraldine Cuskelly, saineolaí cothúcháin, agus tá cúpla acu, Róise agus Treasa.

Tiocfaidh an tOllamh Ó Dochartaigh i gcomharbacht ar an Ollamh Nollaig Mac Congáil, a dtiocfaidh críoch lena théarma mar Mheabhránaí agus Uachtarán Ionaid ag tús mhí an Mhárta.

Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, an Dr Jim Browne faoi cheapachán an Ollaimh Pól Ó Dochartaigh: “Tá an-áthas orm fáilte a chur roimh Phól chuig OÉ Gaillimh agus táim ag tnúth a bheith ag obair leis chun clár oibre teagaisc agus taighde a fhorbairt don Ollscoil sna blianta amach romhainn. Cuireann sé tús lena thréimhse mar Mheabhránaí agus Uachtarán Ionaid ag am a bhfuil OÉ Gaillimh ag forbairt plean straitéiseach nua, treoirphlean chun muid a thabhairt go dtí 2020. Tabharfaidh taithí Phóil, go háirithe i dtimpeallacht iomaíoch taighde sa Ríocht Aontaithe agus i dTuaisceart Éireann, peirspictíocht sheachtrach luachmhar go dtí an próiseas seo.

Ba mhaith liom an deis seo a thapú chun buíochas ó chroí a ghabháil leis an Meabhránaí agus Uachtarán Ionaid atá ag éirí as, an tOllamh Nollaig Mac Congáil, as an gceannaireacht agus an tsárobair a rinne sé ar mhaithe leis an Ollscoil le blianta anuas a chuir ar chumas OÉ Gaillimh torthaí feidhmíochta den scoth sa teagasc agus sa taighde a bhaint amach inár gcúig Choláiste.”

Críoch