February NUI Galway to host Traveller Ethnicity Day

NUI Galway is to host a series of online events on Monday 1 March 2021 as part of Traveller Ethnicity Day.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris T.D., Senator Eileen Flynn, children’s author Richard O’Neill and US-based academic Professor Sharon Gmelch are among those taking part.

March 1 2021 marks five years since the Government officially recognised Irish Travellers as an ethnic group.

To mark the anniversary, the flag of the Mincéirs Whiden Society, the only university society for Irish Travellers, will fly above the Quad at NUI Galway and a series of films will be shown including a specially produced short documentary Travellers in Higher Education: Building a Sense of Belonging.

Other events planned for the day include panel discussions on pathways to education and a career in teaching and what the State’s recognition of Traveller ethnicity has meant for the community.

The full schedule of events and how to access them is available at https://www.eventbrite.ie/o/nui-galway-irish-traveller-ethnicity-day-2021-32639303919 

Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, President of NUI Galway, said: “Even with the limitations placed on the University because of COVID-19, the events planned for March 1st 2021 are both hugely symbolic and an important showcase and support for the Travelling community. They resonate with our values of openness and respect.

“I look forward to taking part on the day. Being able to highlight the opportunities in our University is central to the strategy we are pursuing at NUI Galway of Shared Vision, Shaped by Values. Our community, of which the Travelling community is a part, is proud to see initiatives like this, for the public good.” 

Imelda Byrne, Head of NUI Galway's Access Centre, said: “We are delighted to celebrate Traveller Ethnicity Day again this year, and to further embed the progress made by the Access Centre in supporting Travellers to access higher education and become a part of NUI Galway community.” 

Owen Ward, Programme Coordinator in NUI Galway’s Access Centre who is leading the day’s events, said: “We are highlighting the openness of NUI Galway, its commitment to showcasing the rich heritage of the Travelling community and the importance of building bridges between all communities. 

“NUI Galway are the only university in Ireland to officially celebrate Traveller Ethnicity Day annually through a day long series of events and there is a great commitment to widening the participation of Irish Travellers in third level education. Through a strong collaboration of numerous partners across the NUI Galway community, this event creates the opportunity for all students, including Irish Travellers, to start planning to study and build their sense of belonging at NUI Galway.”

Ends

Lá Eitneachais na dTaistealaithe á reáchtáil ag OÉ Gaillimh

Tá OÉ Gaillimh le sraith imeachtaí ar líne a reachtáil Dé Luain, an 1 Márta 2021 mar chuid de Lá Eitneachais na dTaistealaithe.

Tá an tAire Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta Simon Harris, an Seanadóir Eileen Flynn, an t-údar do leanaí Richard O'Neill agus an tOllamh acadúil atá lonnaithe i Meiriceá Sharon Gmelch ina measc siúd a bheas ag glacadh páirte.

Beidh sé cúig bliana an 1 Márta 2021 ó thug an stát aitheantas foirmiúil do Thaistealaithe na hÉireann mar ghrúpa mionlach eitneach.

Chun é a chomóradh, beidh bratach Chumann Mincéirs Whiden, an t-aon chumann ollscoile do Thaistealaithe na hÉireann, ar foluain os cionn na Cearnóige in OÉ Gaillimh agus taispeánfar sraith scannán lena n-áirítear clár faisnéise gairid Travellers in Higher Education: Building a Sense of Belonging a léiríodh go speisialta.

I measc na n-imeachtaí eile atá beartaithe don lá tá plé painéil ar chosáin chuig an oideachas agus chuig gairm sa mhúinteoireacht agus an méid a shíleann an pobal Taistealaithe faoi aitheantas an Stáit d’eitneacht na dTaistealaithe.

Tá sceideal iomlán na n-imeachtaí agus an bealach le rochtain a fháil orthu ar fáil anseo https://www.eventbrite.ie/o/nui-galway-irish-traveller-ethnicity-day-2021-32639303919

Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag an Ollamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh: “Fiú amháin leis na srianta  a cuireadh ar an Ollscoil mar gheall ar COVID-19, tá na himeachtaí atá beartaithe don 1 Márta 2021 an-siombalach agus is iontach an léiriú agus an tacaíocht iad don phobal Taistealaithe. Tá na himeachtaí ag teacht lenár luachanna a bhaineann le hoscailteacht agus le meas.

Táim ag súil go mór le páirt a ghlacadh sa lá. Is cuid lárnach den straitéis atá á saothrú againn in OÉ Gaillimh, Fís i gCoiteann, Múnlaithe ag Luachanna, é a bheith in ann aird a tharraingt ar na deiseanna inár nOllscoil. Is cúis bhróid é dár bpobal, a bhfuil an pobal taistealaithe ina chuid de, tionscnaimh mar seo a fheiceáil, ar mhaithe le leas an phobail. "

Dúirt Imelda Byrne, Ceann an Ionaid Rochtana in OÉ Gaillimh: “Tá an-áthas orainn Lá Eitneachais na dTaistealaithe a cheiliúradh arís i mbliana, agus forbairt a dhéanamh ar an dul chun cinn atá déanta ag an Ionad Rochtana maidir le tacú le Taistealaithe rochtain a fháil ar ardoideachas agus a bheith mar chuid de phobal OÉ Gaillimh.”

Dúirt Owen Ward, Comhordaitheoir Cláir in Ionad Rochtana OÉ Gaillimh atá i gceannas ar imeachtaí an lae: “Táimid ag cur béim ar oscailteacht OÉ Gaillimh, a tiomantas chun oidhreacht shaibhir an phobail Taistealaithe a thaispeáint agus an tábhacht a bhaineann le hathmhuintearas idir gach pobal.

“Is í OÉ Gaillimh an t-aon ollscoil in Éirinn a cheiliúrann Lá Eitneachais na dTaistealaithe go hoifigiúil gach bliain trí shraith imeachtaí lae agus tá sárthiomantas anseo chun rannpháirtíocht Thaistealaithe na hÉireann in oideachas tríú leibhéal a leathnú. Trí chomhoibriú láidir idir comhpháirtithe éagsúla ar fud phobal OÉ Gaillimh, tugann an ócáid seo an deis do gach mac léinn, lena n-áirítear Taistealaithe, tosú ag pleanáil don staidéar agus don mhothú muintearais in OÉ Gaillimh.”

Críoch