New Midterm Festival Announced as part of NUI Galway Societies Spring Programme

Launching NUI Galway’s Societies Office Spring Programme were the Addams Family. NUI Galway students and members of the Galway University Musical Society (GUMS) will perform the musical, ‘The Addams Family’, in the Black Box Theatre from 9-13 February.
Jan 26 2016 Posted: 09:15 GMT

NUI Galway’s Societies Office has launched their Spring Programme highlighting the number of major events which will take place on campus this semester. With 115 societies the programme is packed with a variety of theatre, music, dance, guest speakers, debates, workshops and classes.

As part of the Spring Programme, the Societies will present the Midterm Festival, from 8-12 February, to promote involvement in the social and cultural life of the campus. In this first year, the Festival will celebrate the arrival of spring with many of the events open to the public.

Festival highlights include:

  • Galway University Musical Society (GUMS) production of ‘The Addams Family’, at the Black Box Theatre.
  • The African Caribbean Society will be hosting their version of the hit TV programme “Take me Out”.
  • Dramsoc will host a workshop with the award-winning Blue Teapot Theatre Company, Performing Arts School and Outreach programme for people with intellectual disabilities.
  • The Literary and Debating Society’s annual Alumni Debate.
  • Witless Band Competition, organised by the Music Society and Rock Society.

Other events in the Spring Programme include:

  • Rainbow week, organised by GigSoc (LGBT).
  • Potterfest Galway, organised by Pottersoc, a family friendly weekend for Harry Potter fans.
  • Dramsoc will host the National Student Awards (ISDA) in five theatres across the city and on campus featuring over 25 productions from colleges all over Ireland.
  • The Choral Society will host the National Choral Intervarsity.
  • Dansoc will present ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.
  • Mental Health Week organised by Psychology Society.
  • Brain Awareness Week organised by Neuro Society.

A number of conventions and conferences will also feature including: Writers Convention; Fansci ‘Itzacon XII’ a Fantasy and Science Fiction Convention 2016 Convention; Cumann Staire Irish History Students Association, 66th Conference; the Association of Celtic Students of Ireland and Britain; and JugglingCon Galway 2016.

Throughout the year the societies engage in numerous outreach and schools programmes, such as schools debating competition, organised by the Literary and Debating Society, the annual Schools Musical Awards, organised by the Musical Society, Suas Society facilitate homework clubs in local schools and the Bike Gang Society promote cycling and sustainable transport with schools and youth groups. Societies work with community groups through the world and fundraise extensively for charity, raising over €224,000 last year, and a number of charity events will also feature in this year’s programme.

According to Ríona Hughes, NUI Galway Societies Officer and Chairperson of The Board of Irish College Societies, said: “In addition to significantly contributing to the social, cultural and community life of the campus and Galway’s wider community, the societies also play a vital role in educating and preparing their members and in particular their committee members to fully realise their potential as engaged contributing members of society, ensuring they receive a holistic education and graduate as skilled leaders with integrity, creativity, vision and passion for life.”

Last year the Societies Office launched their new leadership programme which aims to instil positive leadership qualities and train the society committee members in the necessary skills to run successful societies, which deliver a quality experience for their members and target communities. The programme also aims to explore how people learn and the role of experimental learning through student led extra-curricular activities. The outcomes of the initial pilot programme have been very positive showing a clear correlation between skill ‘shortfalls’ as identified by employers and the skills the committee members identified they had learnt such as communication, problem solving, confidence and team work.

A full list of events taking place is available at www.socs.nuigalway.ie, where you can also subscribe to the mailing list, or call the SocsBox, Áras na Mac Léinn on 091 492852. In addition to the box office at the SocsBox, which is open 10am – 7pm weekdays and until 5pm on Fridays, the Societies Office has also launched their new on-line webstore at www.socsbox.nuigalway.ie.

-Ends-

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