Harry McGee, political correspondent with the Irish Times has been named as the most recent appointment to NUI Galway’s governing authority, Údarás na hOllscoile. Harry McGee is a native of Galway and an alumnus of NUI Galway, holding a BA (1987), H Dip in Journalism (1989) and an LLB (1993). He studied at King’s Inns and is a barrister. He worked in Galway with The Connacht Tribune before moving to Dublin where he worked with RTÉ, as Special Correspondent with the Sunday Tribune and as Editor of Magill.

He became Political Editor with the Irish Examiner before moving to the Irish Times, also as Political Correspondent. He is a frequent contributor to both radio and television broadcasts in English and Irish, and is a fluent Irish speaker.

Speaking about his appointment, Harry said: “NUI Galway is my alma mater. I completed all of my third level study there, played Fitzgibbon hurling for the University and was very involved with the student societies.

I had some very memorable years at NUI Galway as a student and am very proud to have graduated from this University. I feel a strong sense of belonging to the University and was delighted to be asked to serve as a member of Údarás na hOllscoile”.

Údarás na hOllscoile is the University’s governing authority and acts as both an oversight and advisory body for NUI Galway. The chair of Údarás na hOllscoile is the Hon Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness, and Údarás na hOllscoile is made up of academic and academic support staff from the university and of external members nominated by both national and regional representative bodies.

Welcoming Harry to his first meeting of the governing authority, the Hon Mrs. Justice McGuinness commented: “I am delighted to have Harry as a member of Údarás na hOllscoile. It is admirable to see the great loyalty he has to NUI Galway.

I hope that he will enjoy being involved and look forward to his contribution. His widespread experience as a journalist will bring great insights to this University”.

Rúnaí na hOllscoile Gearóid Ó Conluain welcomed the appointment and said “Both as an alumnus and a working journalist, Harry McGee has a keen sense of the importance of NUI Galway’s role in both a regional and national context. External representatives on Údarás na hOllscoile play a vital role in helping to inform the university’s decision making processes in relation to key strategic and governance priorities.”

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Harry McGee, Iriseoir leis an Irish Times, ceaptha ar Údarás Ollscoil OÉ Gaillimh

Tá Harry McGee, comhfhreagraí polaitíochta leis an Irish Times, ainmnithe ar an duine is déanaí atá ceaptha ar Údarás na hOllscoile, údarás rialaithe OÉ Gaillimh. Is as Gaillimh ó dhúchas é Harry McGee agus is alumnus de chuid OÉ Gaillimh é, áit ar bhain sé amach BA (1987), Ard-Dioplóma san Iriseoireacht (1989) agus LLB (1993). Rinne sé staidéar in Óstaí an Rí agus is abhcóide é. Chaith sé tréimhse ag obair leis an gCuradh Connachtach i nGaillimh sular thug sé aghaidh ar Bhaile Átha Cliath áit ar oibrigh sé le RTÉ, leis an Sunday Tribune mar Chomhfhreagraí Speisialta agus mar Eagarthóir ar Magill.

Bhí sé ina Eagraí Polaitíochta leis an Irish Examiner sula ndeachaigh sé leis an Irish Times, mar Chomhfhreagraí Polaitíochta chomh maith. Is minic leis a bheith ag craoladh ar an raidió agus ar an teilifís i mBéarla agus i nGaeilge, is cainteoir líofa Gaeilge é.

Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag Harry faoina cheapachán:  “Is í OÉ Gaillimh m’alma mater. Rinne mé mo staidéar tríú leibhéal ar fad ansin, d’imir mé ar fhoireann iomána Chorn Mhic Giobúin don Ollscoil agus bhí baint mhór agam le cumainn na mac léinn.

Tá cuimhní maithe agam ar na blianta a chaith mé in OÉ Gaillimh agus tá bród orm gur bhain mé mo chéim amach san Ollscoil seo. Airím go bhfuil dlúthcheangal agam leis an Ollscoil agus bhí an-áthas orm cuireadh a fháil a bheith i mo bhall d’Údarás na hOllscoile.”

Is údarás rialaithe na hollscoile é Údarás na hOllscoile agus gníomhaíonn sé mar chomhlacht maoirseachta agus comhairleoireachta do OÉ Gaillimh. Is í an Breitheamh Onórach Catherine McGuinness cathaoireach Údarás na hOllscoile. Tá comhaltaí foirne acadúla agus tacaíochta acadúla ón ollscoil chomh maith le baill sheachtracha ainmnithe ag comhlachtaí ionadaíocha náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta araon ar Údarás na hOllscoile.

Agus í ag cur fáilte roimh Harry ag a chéad chruinniú de chuid Údarás na hOllscoile, dúirt an Breitheamh Onórach Catherine McGuinness:  “Tá an-áthas orm go bhfuil Harry mar bhall d’Údarás na hOllscoile. Is iontach an dílseacht atá aige do OÉ Gaillimh.

Tá súil agam go mbainfidh sé sult as a bheith rannpháirteach agus táim ag súil leis an méid a chuirfidh sé leis an Údarás. Tabharfaidh a thaithí leathan mar iriseoir léargas ar leith don Ollscoil seo.”

Chuir Rúnaí na hOllscoile, Gearóid Ó Conluain fáilte roimh an gceapachán agus dúirt, “Mar alumnus agus mar iriseoir, tá tuiscint mhaith ag Harry McGee ar an tábhacht ar leith a bhaineann le OÉ Gaillimh i gcomhthéacs réigiúnach agus náisiúnta araon. Tá ról ríthábhachtach ag na hionadaithe seachtracha atá ar Údarás na hOllscoile i gcuidiú le próisis déanta cinntí na hOllscoile agus maidir le príomhthosaíochtaí straitéiseacha agus rialachais.”

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