An exhibition of the digital Abbey Theatre Archive opens to the public for the first time today to mark the launch of the Hardiman Research Building.

Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn TD today opened two new buildings at NUI Galway; the Hardiman Research Building for research in the humanities and social sciences, and a new home for the University’s School of Psychology. The new buildings, with a combined investment of €23 million, will offer world-class teaching, learning and research facilities for staff, students and the public.

The Hardiman Research Building, recently named the 2014 Irish Building & Design Architectural Project of the Year, is situated at the heart of NUI Galway’s campus, adjacent to the James Hardiman Library. Home to NUI Galway’s unique collection of more than 350 literary, theatrical, political and historical archives, the Hardiman Research Building will house the digitised Abbey Theatre Archive, the world’s largest digital theatre archive, in development since 2012.

An exhibition of the digital Abbey Theatre Archive opens to the public for the first time today to mark the launch of the Hardiman Research Building. The ‘Performing Ireland’ exhibition features a taste of the more than 1 million items that comprise the Abbey Theatre Archive, dating from 1894.

The Hardiman Research Building brings together the Moore Institute for Research in the Humanities and Social Studies and the Whitaker Institute for Innovation and Societal Change. The Moore Institute is a leading voice in digital humanities, medieval and early modern history and literature and travel and cultural encounter. The Whitaker Institute, honouring the enduring contribution of public servant T.K. Whitaker, is the largest national business and social science institute on the island. Together these institutes have secured nearly €30m in competitive funding awards.

The new NUI Galway Psychology building opened today by Minister Quinn brings both students and staff under one roof for the first time in the School of Psychology’s 40-year history. A new electro-physiological laboratory will further enhance the School’s standing as a centre of excellence for Health Psychology; it counts two of Ireland’s total of six Health Research Board Leaders amongst its 20 staff. Built at a cost of €8m, the Psychology building will cater for more than 200 students.

Funding for this project was made through HEA and Department of Education and Skills, with additional support from private sources.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Ruairí Quinn said: “The investment we celebrate today is a very welcome enrichment of facilities to support the humanities and social sciences at NUI Galway. The Hardiman Research Building is a unique platform for digital humanities and social sciences research in Ireland and will further develop NUI Galway’s reputation as a major international research centre in the field of digital humanities”

NUI Galway President Dr Jim Browne said “these new, landmark buildings at the heart of our campus are testament to the breadth of the humanities and social sciences; from the creative arts to the complexity of the mind. They will be centres of education and research, home to future generations of scholars and to NUI Galway’s unique collection of archives from the past.” 

The €15 million Hardiman Research Building project was partially funded under the Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions (PRTLI) and co-funded under the European Regional Development Fund.  €10 million of funding was provided by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through PTRLI Cycle 5 and the balance from private sources through Galway University Foundation. 

The ‘Performing Ireland 1904-2014’ exhibition to mark the opening of the Hardiman Research Building and the NUI Galway Psychology building is open to the public in the foyer of the Hardiman Research Building and will run until October. Further details available at www.nuigalway.ie/AbbeyTheatre

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Osclóidh an tAire Ruairí Quinn Áras nua Taighde Uí Argadáin agus Scoil Síceolaíochta nua OÉ Gaillimh

Osclófar taispeántas de Chartlann dhigiteach Amharclann na Mainistreach don phobal den chéad uair inniu chun ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar sheoladh Áras Taighde Uí Argadáin.

Inniu, d’oscail an tAire Oideachais Ruairí Quinn TD dhá fhoirgneamh nua in OÉ Gaillimh; Áras Taighde Uí Argadáin do thaighde sna daonnachtaí agus sna heolaíochtaí sóisialta, agus ionad nua do Scoil Síceolaíochta na hOllscoile. Bhí infheistíocht €23 milliún i gceist leis na foirgnimh nua, agus cuirfidh siad áiseanna teagaisc, foghlama agus taighde den scoth ar fáil don fhoireann, do mhic léinn agus don phobal.

Ainmníodh Áras Taighde Uí Argadáin mar Thionscadal Ailtireachta na Bliana 2014 ag Gradaim Foirgníochta agus Dearaidh na hÉireann, agus tá sé lonnaithe i gcroílár champas OÉ Gaillimh, in aice Leabharlann Shéamais Uí Argadáin. Is in Áras Taighde Uí Argadáin atá bailiúchán uathúil de bhreis is 350 cartlann litríochta, amharclannaíochta, polaitíochta agus stairiúil, agus is ann a bheidh Cartlann dhigitithe Amharclann na Mainistreach, an chartlann dhigiteach amharclannaíochta is mó ar domhan, atá á forbairt ón mbliain 2012.

Osclófar taispeántas de Chartlann dhigiteach Amharclann na Mainistreach don phobal den chéad uair inniu chun ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar sheoladh Áras Taighde Uí Argadáin. Tugann an taispeántas ‘Performing Ireland’ blaiseadh de bhreis is aon mhilliún mír atá i gCartlann Amharclann na Mainistreach, ag dul siar go dtí an bhliain 1894.

Tá Institiúid de Móra do Thaighde sna Daonnachtaí agus sna hEolaíochtaí Sóisialta agus Institiúid Whitaker don Nuálaíocht agus don Athrú Sóisialta anois lonnaithe in Áras Taighde Uí Argadáin. Tá Institiúid de Móra ina ceannródaí maidir leis na daonnachtaí digiteacha, stair mheánaoiseach agus nua-aoise luaithe agus litríocht agus taisteal agus cultúr. Is i gcuimhne ar an obair mhór a rinne T.K. Whitaker, fostaí sa tseirbhís phoiblí, a ainmníodh Institiúid Whitaker agus tá sí ar an institiúid náisiúnta ghnó agus eolaíochta sóisialta is mó ar an oileán. Ar an iomlán tá beagnach €30 milliún i maoiniú iomaíoch faighte ag na hinstitiúidí seo.

I bhfoirgneamh nua Síceolaíochta OÉ Gaillimh, a d’oscail an tAire Quinn inniu, tagann mic léinn agus comhaltaí foirne le chéile faoi aon díon amháin den chéad uair ó bunaíodh Scoil na Síceolaíochta 40 bliain ó shin. Cuirfidh saotharlann nua leictrea-fhiseolaíoch le seasamh na Scoile mar ionad sárchaighdeáin don Síceolaíocht Sláinte; tá beirt den seisear Ceannairí Boird Taighde Sláinte mar chuid dá foireann de scór duine. Chosain an foirgneamh Síceolaíochta €8m agus beidh níos mó ná 200 mac léinn in ann leas a bhaint as.

Fuarthas maoiniú don tionscadal seo ón HEA agus ón Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna, chomh maith le tacaíocht bhreise ó fhoinsí príobháideacha.

Ag labhairt dó ag an seoladh, dúirt an tAire Ruairí Quinn: “Is iontach an saibhriú ar áiseanna tacaíochta do na daonnachtaí agus na heolaíochtaí sóisialta in OÉ Gaillimh an infheistíocht seo atá á ceiliúradh againn inniu. Is ardán uathúil é Áras Taighde Uí Argadáin do thaighde sna heolaíochtaí sóisialta agus sna daonnachtaí digiteacha in Éirinn agus cuirfidh sé le cáil OÉ Gaillimh mar lárionad idirnáisiúnta taighde i réimse na ndaonnachtaí digiteacha.”

Dúirt Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh an Dr Jim Browne, “Is teist iad na foirgnimh nua, shuntasacha seo i gcroílár an champais ar fhairsinge na n-eolaíochtaí sóisialta; ó na healaíona cruthaitheacha go castacht na hintinne. Ionad oideachais agus taighde a bheidh iontu, áit a mbeidh scoláirí an todhchaí mar aon le bailiúchán uathúil OÉ Gaillimh ar chartlanna ón am atá caite.” 

Fuarthas roinnt den mhaoiniú €15 mhilliún d’Áras Taighde Uí Argadáin faoin gClár um Thaighde in Institiúidí Tríú Leibhéal (PRTLI) agus fuarthas cómhaoiniú faoi Chiste Forbraíochta Réigiúnaí na hEorpa.  Chuir an Roinn Post, Fiontar agus Nuálaíochta €10 milliún ar fáil trí PTRLI, Timthriall 5 agus fuarthas an chuid eile ó fhoinsí príobháideacha. 

Tá an taispeántas ‘Performing Ireland’ ag déanamh ceiliúradh ar oscailt Áras Taighde Uí Argadáin agus foirgneamh Síceolaíochta OÉ Gaillimh agus tá sé ar oscailt don phobal i bhforhalla Áras Taighde Uí Argadáin as seo go dtí mí Dheireadh Fómhair. Tá tuilleadh eolais ar fáil ar www.nuigalway.ie/AbbeyTheatre

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