September

D’fhógair Ollscoil na Gaillimhe go bhfuil bronntanas suntasach daonchairdiúil faighte aici ó Dheirdre agus Irial Uí Fhionnáin, chun tacú le tógáil Leabharlann agus Ionad Foghlama nua na hOllscoile. Mar aitheantas ar fhlaithiúlacht mhuintir Uí Fhionnáin, tá Seomra Léitheoireachta na gCartlann agus na mBailiúchán Speisialta athainmnithe ag an Ollscoil agus tabharfar Seomra Léitheoireachta Cartlann agus Bailiúchán Speisialta Dheirdre agus Irial Uí Fhionnáin air feasta. Is áis agus seirbhís ríthábhachtach i Leabharlann na hOllscoile an spás tiomnaithe seo, áit a bhfuil cosaint á déanamh ar lámhscríbhinní uathúla, leabhair neamhchoitianta agus bailiúcháin chultúrtha, agus san am céanna áit a dtugtar rochtain do mhic léinn, do thaighdeoirí agus don phobal i gcoitinne ar an ábhar seo. Bhain Irial Ó Fionnáin céim amach ón Ollscoil in 1977, agus i gcomhar lena bhean chéile Deirdre, tá siad ag cur chun cinn an oideachais agus an chultúir trína ndaonchairdeas agus a rannpháirtíocht le hOllscoil na Gaillimhe, in Éirinn agus sna Stáit Aontaithe araon. Is léiriú é a dtiomantas go gcreideann siad gur cheart an fhoghlaim agus an léann a chothú ar mhaithe leis na glúnta atá le teacht.  Bhí an méid seo le rá ag Uachtarán Eatramhach Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, an tOllamh Peter McHugh: “Táimid thar a bheith buíoch de Dheirdre agus Irial as a bhfís agus a bhflaithiúlacht. Neartóidh a ndaonchairdeas misean na hOllscoile chun eolas a chaomhnú, fionnachtana a spreagadh agus ár mbailiúcháin a dhéanamh inrochtana do chách. Is tionscadal nach dtarlóidh ach uair amháin lenár linn é an Leabharlann agus Ionad Foghlama nua a bhfuil tacaíocht agus tiomantas alumni agus chairde na hOllscoile ag teastáil lena chur i gcrích, agus táimid buíoch as an tacaíocht atá curtha ar fáil ag Irial agus ag Deirdre chomh luath seo sa phróiseas.” Dúirt Leabharlannaí Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, Monica Crump: “Is údar áthais agus bróid dúinn gur cheadaigh Irial agus Deirdre Uí Fhionnáin dúinn an Seomra Léitheoireachta Cartlann agus Bailiúchán Speisialta a athaimniú mar aitheantas ar a dtacaíocht dár Leabharlann agus Ionad Foghlama nua.”  Mar chartlannaí, tuigeann Deirdre go maith an tábhacht a bhaineann lenár seomra léitheoireachta chun spás a chur ar fáil inar féidir le mic léinn, taighdeoirí agus an pobal i gcoitinne cur ar a gcumas spéis a chothú san oidhreacht, sa chultúr agus sa stair trínár gcartlanna agus bailiúcháin speisialta. Agus an t-am a caitheadh á chaomhnú agus á roinnt sa seomra léitheoireachta, cumasaíonn tacaíocht fhlaithiúil Dheirdre agus Irial an todhchaí, trí eispéiris foghlama níos comhoibríche, níos cruthaithí agus níos digití dár mic léinn sa Leabharlann agus Ionad Foghlama.” Tá Leabharlann agus Ionad Foghlama nua Ollscoil na Gaillimhe á thógáil faoi láthair i lár champas chathair na Gaillimhe agus beidh sé ina mhol lárnach do chomhoibriú, taighde agus pobal. Tá tacaíocht Rialtais ag an tionscadal trí dheontas caipitil €15 mhilliún tríd an Roinn Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta faoin gCiste Bonneagair Straitéisigh um Ardoideachas (HESIF) agus an tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas. Meastar go mbeidh an tógáil tugtha chun críche go luath sa bhliain 2027. Críoch

University of Galway has announced a significant philanthropic gift from Deirdre and Irial Finan, in support of the construction of the University’s new Library and Learning Commons. In recognition of the Finan’s generosity, the University has renamed the Archives and Special Collections Reading Room as the Deirdre and Irial Finan Archives and Special Collections Reading Room. The dedicated space is a key facility and service in the University Library, safeguarding unique manuscripts, rare books and cultural collections, while opening access to students, researchers and the wider community. Irial Finan graduated from the University in 1977, and together with his wife Deirdre, they have championed education and culture through their philanthropy and engagement with University of Galway, both in Ireland and the US. Their commitment reflects a belief in nurturing learning and scholarship for generations to come.  Interim President of University of Galway, Professor Peter McHugh, said: “We are deeply grateful to Deirdre and Irial for their vision and generosity. Their philanthropy will strengthen the University’s mission to preserve knowledge, inspire discovery and make our collections accessible to all. Our new Library and Leaning Commons is a once-in-a-generation project that requires the support and commitment of alumni and friends of the University, we are grateful for Irial and Deirdre’s early support.” University of Galway Librarian Monica Crump said: “We are delighted and honoured that Deirdre and Irial Finan have allowed us to name our Archives and Special Collections Reading Room in acknowledgement of their support for our new Library and Learning Commons. As an archivist, Deirdre understands very well the importance of our reading room in providing a space where students, researchers and the wider public can engage with heritage, culture and history through our archives and special collections.  As the reading room preserves and provides access to our past, Deirdre and Irial's generous support enables the future, through more collaborative, more creative and more digital learning experiences for our students in the Library and Learning Commons." University of Galway’s new Library and Learning Commons is currently under construction in the centre of the Galway city campus and will be a central hub for collaboration, research and community. The project is being supported by Government with a €15 million capital grant through the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science under the Higher Education Strategic Infrastructure Fund (HESIF) and the Higher Education Authority. Construction is expected to be completed in early 2027. Ends