News Archive

 IdeasLab, the entrepreneurial and innovation hub at University of Galway, has announced the winners of its student entrepreneur Start100 competition.    Damien Delaney, a first-year Psychology student from Birr, Co Offaly and the owner of Hology Photography secured the top prize and a €5,000 award for his visual-based app called FocusZen which enables individuals to use photography as a form of meditation and a way of enhancing their wellbeing.    Final year Bachelor of Commerce student David Garvey from Glenamaddy, Co Galway, received the One to Watch award and a prize fund of €1,000 for Arclo, an innovative clothing brand bringing t-shirts to life using augmented reality technology.     Most Engaging Pitch went to Claudine Mulihano, a first-year Podiatric Medicine student from Dundalk, Co Louth, and her idea StepWise, a smart insole designed to tackle the foot condition plantar fasciitis using Bluetooth technology to transmit real-time biomechanics data to healthcare practitioners.    Alongside the three main prize winners, one of the Start100 judging panel, Paul Merriman, chief executive of Fairstone, pledged to give student Emily Donellan from Maree, Co Galway €2,000 in funding for her podcast Start Right, a by-student, for-student podcast that offers tailored advice and guidance to young people transitioning from secondary school to college.    Start100 offers students an intensive six-week programme, where ten teams refine their business model and present at a special showcase, bringing their innovative business ideas to a panel of judges from the worlds of academia, research, and enterprise.     The competitions is designed to empower early-stage student startups. During the process the teams are introduced to speakers from different industries, experts in entrepreneurial development both regionally and nationally, and Start100 alumni who have successfully started their own businesses.    Each team is matched with a mentor in a relevant field, ensuring they receive the advice and the support they need to take their idea to the next level.     Professor Peter McHugh, University of Galway’s Deputy President and Registrar, said: “University of Galway plays an important role in nurturing innovation and growth within our region and beyond. Start100 is an example of how the connections we foster with industry cultivate innovative leadership skills in our students, and provides them with the space and supports to develop ideas with the potential for broader societal impact.”    Méabh Conaghan, Regional Director for the West and North-West Regions, Enterprise Ireland, said: "Programmes that encourage and support student entrepreneurship at all levels are crucial to a vibrant start-up ecosystem. The Start100 series of incubation supports is to be applauded as it helps students to explore, develop and validate their ideas in a structured and safe environment. Enterprise Ireland West region is delighted to collaborate with Ollscoil na Gaillimhe and its IdeasLab team on Start100 2024. Enterprise Ireland warmly welcomes Start100, recognizing it as an avenue for future enterprise success and is happy to support this worthwhile initiative."    Throughout the programme students visited CREW, ComWorks in Loughrea, Platfrom 94 and the Portershed and had guest speakers from Enterprise Ireland, Westbic, the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) and Start100 alumni. They were given workshops on intellectual property, tax, presentation skills and more, and speakers from successful enterprises such as Mbryonics and Tribe Hospitality.    The judging panel for the final event were Dr Helen McBreen, Partner Atlantic Bridge; Paul Merriman, CEO Fairstone; Méabh Conaghan, Regional Director for the West and North-West Regions, Enterprise Ireland; and John Brennan, CEO WestBic, and the prize fund sponsored by AskPaul for the second year in a row.    Dr Natalie Walsh, Director of Entrepreneurial Development at University of Galway, said: "Start100 is more than a programme it is a bridge that connects our student entrepreneurs with our vibrant regional ecosystem and beyond. By fostering these connections, we empower our students to leverage the wealth of knowledge, expertise, and resources available right here in our region. The collaboration with local industry leaders, visits to innovation hubs, and insights from successful Start100 alumni, all contribute to a rich network of supports that helps our young entrepreneurs turn their innovative ideas into viable businesses with global impact.”    Ends   

J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics at University of Galway has announced the significant milestone of a 100th Study Abroad partnership.   Students on the B Comm (Global Experience) programme will be able to apply for an opportunity to learn at the Venice School of Management, part of the renowned Ca’Foscari University of Venice.   The Study Abroad partnerships now run in 22 destinations around the world, including 15 European locations, as well as the US, Australia, Canada, China and Hong Kong, Japan and Korea.   Dr Murray Scott, Vice Dean of Internationalisation for the College of Business, Public Policy and Law at University of Galway, said: "We are thrilled to welcome Venice School of Management as our 100th study abroad partner. This milestone is a testament to our ongoing dedication to broadening the horizons of our students, providing them with unique opportunities to immerse themselves in different cultures and business environments. Our excellent network of global partnerships spanning Australia, Asia, Europe and North America are instrumental in shaping our students into well-rounded, globally-minded business leaders."   Professor Alma McCarthy, Dean of J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, said: "Reaching this milestone of 100 study abroad partners is a remarkable achievement for our School. The partnership reflects our commitment to providing a world-class education that prepares our students to succeed in a global marketplace. The addition of Venice School of Management will provide our students with yet another opportunity to learn and grow in a unique cultural and academic environment - not only enhancing their academic journey but also providing them with a deeper understanding of European business practices and cultural landscape.”   Over the past seven years since the launch of the B Comm (Global Experience), more than 800 students have experienced the benefits of two key components of the degree programme: a semester of study at one of the University’s global partner institutions and a work placement offering hands-on experience in a real-world business setting.   Venice School of Management is EQUIS accredited and noted for its strong emphasis on research, innovation and global business strategies.   Ends  

University of Galway’s School of Law has won Law School of the Year at the Dye and Durham Irish Law Awards 2024 - the second time it has won the prestigious accolade.   This award recognises University of Galway School of Law’s academic excellence and innovative teaching methods along with its commitment to provide high quality student support and engagement.   Dean of University of Galway School of Law, Professor Martin Hogg, said: “I’m thrilled at this public recognition of all the hard work that colleagues consistently put in to make our law school such a great place to work and study. It’s testimony also to the quality of our students, who are a pleasure to teach and who go on as alumni to give us a real sense of pride as they establish themselves in the world.”   University of Galway’s School of Law was previously named Law School of the Year in 2019. In addition to taking home the top award, the School had a number of staff and students who were finalists across three different categories at the Dye and Durham Irish Law Awards 2024.   Five students made the final shortlist for Law Student of the Year: Katie Cunningham, Law (BCL) and Business; Diarmuid Kilgallen, Law (BCL); Fiachra McInerney, Law (BCL) and Human Rights; Tom O'Connor, Law (BCL) and Human Rights; and Eric Ehigie, Law (BCL) and Business.   Three staff members made the final shortlist for Legal Educator of the Year: Deirdre Callanan, Dr Conor Hanly and Dr Brian Tobin, while Dr Andrew Forde was nominated for Law Book of the Year for his book European Human Rights Grey Zones: The Council of Europe and Areas of Conflict.   University of Galway School of Law is ranked in the top 150 Law Schools in the world, according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024. It is also internationally recognised for its research-led work in other areas, including the renowned Irish Centre for Human Rights, the Centre for Disability Law and Policy and Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy.   Ends

University of Galway-hosted centre celebrates 10 years of significant economic impact for Ireland   Benefits to the medtech sector include collaborative projects with 47 innovative companies and 2,547 jobs supported    CÚRAM, the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) research centre for medical devices based at the University of Galway, today launched an economic report that puts its value to the Irish economy at €756 million, building on 10 years of public investment.  CÚRAM was established in 2015 with an initial commitment of Government investment of €64.8 million through Science Foundation Ireland.  Economic impact analysis carried out by Mazars shows that investment in CÚRAM, to the end of 2023, has led to direct spending of €210 million in the Irish economy and the generation of a further €546 million in economic activity in Ireland - putting its economic value at €756 million and a more than 10-fold return on government funding.   CÚRAM has helped to expand Ireland’s attractiveness as a global hub for the medtech sector - one of only a handful of locations in the world - by establishing partnerships and by fully funding or co-funding collaborative projects with 47 innovative companies in the sector.  Investment in CÚRAM has also supported a total of 2,547 jobs in the Irish economy.   In addition, more than €80 million of EU grant funding has been committed to research projects at CÚRAM.  Welcoming the report, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O’Donovan, T.D., said: “I congratulate CÚRAM for its significant impact on the Irish economy and society. This report demonstrates the importance of the Government’s policy of continuing to invest in research and innovation and supporting excellence and scale through the world-leading SFI Research Centre Network, in areas of strategic national importance.    "CÚRAM provides innovative solutions for industry and society, which enable better quality of life for patients. As our population ages, this is helping us to create a better tomorrow for all citizens.”  Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, President of University of Galway, said: “I would like to congratulate CÚRAM as they mark ten impactful years of research. The centre epitomises what it means to be for the public good. The real value of CÚRAM remains its people and its key strength lies in building collaborations and networks that generate impactful research.”  Dr Siobhan Roche, Director of Science for the Economy at Science Foundation Ireland, joined in the celebration of the Centre’s success, said: “CÚRAM has a strong track record of generating high quality research and training the next generation of medical device researchers. The Centre’s deep commitment to education and public engagement is not only inspiring younger generations to pursue a career in STEM but is also promoting new approaches in the management of chronic illness. Amplifying its impact, CÚRAM has attracted over €225.7 million in additional investment from industry and EU sources, further highlighting the value of publicly funded research to the Irish taxpayer.”    CÚRAM Director, Professor Abhay Pandit, said: “Addressing chronic disease to support healthy aging is one of the most pressing public health and economic challenges of our time. Our research programme is developing solutions to help us all live well as we age, with conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes and neurological disorders.”  CÚRAM has a further three years of operation left in its current Government funding period to build even further on its impact. By connecting the patient voice with the combined expertise and technologies of Ireland’s leading scientists, clinicians and engineers from 10 universities, alongside international industry partners, the Centre ensures that its research is shaped and guided by the invaluable perspectives of people with lived experience of chronic illness.   Dr Eoghan Ó Faoláin, Director of Irish MedTech: “Ireland is one of the top employers of MedTech professionals in Europe and it is in no small part due to our rich talent pool of third level graduates and dynamic supports for upskilling. By fostering collaboration between higher education and MedTech industry, CÚRAM’s training programmes equip the workforce with the skills most in demand now and into the future. These programmes are an incredibly valuable component of Ireland’s drive to develop the diverse and best in class talent needed to support the future success and competitiveness of the global MedTech hub in Ireland.”  Ends 

University of Galway Professor Pat Dolan has been presented with the Medal of the Maria Grzegorzewska University in Warsaw for life-long work and achievements in the field of children’s rights.    The event coincided with the 11th biennial UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre conference.    Professor Dolan’s extensive body of work is highly relevant to the lived lives of children, youth and families in particular those experiencing social exclusion, adversity and mental health challenges. He has pioneered youth research by placing young people at the heart of his work and also by promoting a fresh outlook on the importance of empathy in education.     The UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre was established at University of Galway in 2007 by Professor Pat Dolan and Professor John Canavan, and the following year the UNESCO Chair in Children, Youth and Civic Engagement was awarded.     For more than 10 years, Professor Dolan has worked with Oscar-winning actor Cillian Murphy, who won this year’s Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of the eponymous father of the atomic bomb in the movie Oppenheimer.    In 2022, Ionbhá: The Empathy Book of Ireland, edited by Cillian Murphy, Professor Pat Dolan, Gillian Browne and Professor Mark Brennan, was published, featuring dozens of reflections on empathy from a wide variety of contributors in different walks of life including President Michael D Higgins, jockey Rachael Blackmore and Mary Coughlan, among many other well-known names.      The honour of the Medal of the Maria Grzegorzewska University in Warsaw was bestowed on Professor Dolan as part of celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the UNESCO Janusz Korczak Chair at the university in Poland – named in memory of the Polish-Jewish paediatrician, educator, author and children’s rights advocate who is believed to have perished in a Nazi death camp with almost 200 children from his orphanage.    The presentation was attended by Professor Dolan’s wife Mary and family, as well as Professor Anna Odrowaz-Coates, Chairholder of the UNESCO Janusz Korczak Chair and Vice-rector at the Maria Grzegorzewska University, and Professor Mark Brennan, UNESCO Chair on Global Citizenship Education for Sustainable Peace through Youth and Community Engagement at Pennsylvania State University, and colleagues from the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre.     University of Galway President, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “Professor Pat Dolan’s pioneering approach to research and working with young people - for their benefit - epitomises the spirit of our outlook at University of Galway and being here for the public good. Pat has made a strong and sustained contribution to children’s rights through his work as UNESCO Chair in Children, Youth and Civic Engagement and his associated work in teaching and research over a long career as well as in his support for other UNESCO Chairs around the world and I am delighted to see that he is being recognised with such a poignant honour from the Maria Grzegorzewska University.”    Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion and Government Chief Whip Hildegarde Naughton T.D. said: “Pat Dolan has been hugely instrumental in supporting policy development in education, particularly for young people. He is someone who I have worked and admire for his work in in relation to empathy and its inclusion in the school curriculum. Thanks to his research with and for young people, Pat knows that works and as policymakers that’s what we look to when we introduce legislation - we want to know it is going to have an impact. I want to thank Pat and congratulate him and the team at the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre for all the work that they have done.”    Professor John Canavan, Director of the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre at University of Galway, said: “The award of the Maria Grzegorzewska University medal to Professor Dolan brings great honour to University of Galway and the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre and reflects his immense contribution to the improving the lives of children in Ireland and globally. The timing of the presentation of the award is also perfect as 200 delegates gathered on campus at the Institute for Lifecourse and Society to reflect how to challenge inequality and discrimination in their day-to-day practice.”     Ends    

Partnership framework creates opportunity to jointly foster education, research and innovation for food systems transformations for zero hunger & climate resilient food systems    University of Galway has announced a partnership with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation to combat hunger and malnutrition.   Director General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation Qu Dongyu visited the University for the formal signing of the letter of intent with Deputy President and Registrar of Professor Peter McHugh.   The partnership provides the framework for University of Galway to partner more closely with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation on collaborative research, education, innovation and international development activities to support the 2030 Agenda and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by enabling transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems for better production, nutrition, environment and life.   Deputy President and Registrar Professor Peter McHugh said: “The signing of a letter of intent with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation is a strong symbol of our commitment both in relation to the SDGs but also our work for the public good in line with our values of respect and sustainability. We are now provided with the framework for our University and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation to pursue a vision of a world free from hunger and malnutrition, where food and agriculture contribute to improving the living standards of all, especially the poorest, in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable manner.”   Professor Charles Spillane, from the Ryan Institute at University of Galway who led engagement with the UN FAO, said: “Over the past decade, University of Galway has been working with FAO on a wide range of topics across its divisions and units, especially in relation to climate change, agriculture, food systems and food security. For instance, we have been engaging with FAO on policy processes, such as climate-resilient food systems transformation; research projects such as the EcoFoodSystems project; and through joint research projects with our Masters programmes on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security. Our university looks forward to further deepening of our interdisciplinary partnership activities in support of FAO's mandate and mission over the years ahead.”   Dr Qu served as China’s Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and also as Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, before being elected as the ninth Director-General of the FAO since its foundation in 1945.   On the visit to the University, Dr Qu also met Vice-President International Professor Becky Whay and Professor Frances Fahy, incoming Director of the Ryan Institute, along with academics who lead research groups within the Ryan Institute’s Agriculture, Food Systems and Bioeconomy Research Centre and took part in a Q&A with our agrifood systems postdoctoral researchers, research assistants, PhD and masters students from around the world.   Ends  

An academic of political science at University of Galway and a music teacher alumna have received prestigious Fulbright Awards to take up scholarships in the United States.    Professor Niall Ó Dochartaigh, Professor of Political Science and Director of the MA in Public Policy at University of Galway, will be based at New York University’s Glucksman Ireland House where he will carry out research on the peacemaking efforts in US civil society during the Troubles. Professor Ó Dochartaigh will examine the diverse social, political and cultural factors that shaped transatlantic civil society engagement during the conflict.    Áine Humphreys is an Irish and Music secondary school teacher and graduate of An Máistir Gairmiúil san Oideachas, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. She graduated with first-class honours and under her Fulbright award she will teach Irish at the University of Montana as a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistantship Awardee.    The recipients are among 21 awardees who were presented with their awards at a ceremony in Iveagh House, Dublin.     The Fulbright Programme in Ireland was established in 1957 and each year grants are awarded for Irish citizens to study, research, or teach in the US and for American citizens to do the same in Ireland.                Professor Becky Whay, Vice-President International at University of Galway, said: “The tradition of Fulbright is one which builds on the unique bonds between Ireland and the US, and allows us to deepen our transatlantic academic and cultural links.    “University of Galway is delighted to see Professor Ó Dochartaigh secure the scholarship award and bring his wealth of insight and knowledge to bear on our understanding of US-Ireland relations and we are also proud to see such a talented alumna as Áine Humphreys bring a rich variety of culture and music tradition to a new audience in the US.”    The University of Galway Fulbright Irish Awardees for 2024-2025 include:    Fulbright Scholar  Professor Niall Ó Dochartaigh’s publications include Civil Rights to Armalites: Derry and the birth of the Irish Troubles and the co-edited books Political Violence in Context and Dynamics of Political Change in Ireland. His most recent book, Deniable Contact: Back-channel Negotiation in Northern Ireland, relays the role of Derry businessman Brendan Duddy and his engagements with republicans and the British over many years as part of efforts to secure an end to the conflict. The book was awarded the Brian Farrell book prize of the Political Studies Association of Ireland and was shortlisted for the Christopher Ewart-Biggs Literary Prize. The Duddy archive is held in University of Galway Library.    Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant  Áine Humphreys is a native of Co Limerick where she works as a music teacher with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. Áine undertook a BA Music and Irish degree in University College Cork, where she was awarded scholarships to Gaeltacht Chorca Dhuibhne and was an active member of the Irish Traditional Music Society. She works as a Radio Presenter for Raidió RíRá and an Irish Translator with Star Translation Services. Áine fosters a love for the Irish language and culture amongst her students inside and outside the classroom.    The Fulbright Irish Awards will open on August 29th, 2024. Interested candidates should visit www.fulbright.ie for more information.     Ends 

Bronnadh céimeanna ar bhreis is 360 mac léinn fochéime, máistreachta agus PhD in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe inniu, á gcur leis an mbreis is 133,000 alumni atá ar fud an domhain.   Ina measc siúd a bhí ag ceiliúradh bhronnadh an tsamhraidh, bhí beagnach 80 duine ar bronnadh Dochtúireacht i bhFealsúnacht (PhD) orthu.   Ar an ngrúpa mac léinn is mó a bhí i láthair bronnadh Baitsiléir Onóracha sa Leigheas, Baitsiléir sa Mháinliacht agus Baitsiléir sa Chnáimhseachas (MB, BCh, BAO) ar bhreis is 166 dochtúir.  Le linn an tsearmanais, bhronn Ollscoil na Gaillimhe 14 Bhonn don Bhliain Deiridh Leighis ar naonúr céimithe, agus cúig cinn díobh siúd ag dul don Dr Margaret Mary Glazier as Michigan, SAM as a sárfheidhmíocht acadúil. Bronntar na boinn seo mar chuid den traidisiún ina dtugtar aitheantas d’fheabhas acadúil na gcéimithe i gColáiste an Leighis, an Altranais & na nEolaíochtaí Sláinte.  Bronnadh dámhachtain speisialta amháin as taighde forleathan le linn cheiliúradh na bliana seo – bronnadh Céim Dhochtúireachta le hEolaíocht (DSc) as Saothar Foilsithe ó Ollscoil na hÉireann ar an Ollamh Michael Kerin as a chuid taighde ar ailse chíche.   Tá an tOllamh Kerin ina Ollamh le Máinliacht, tá sé ina Stiúrthóir Cliniciúil ar an nGréasán Acadúil i dtaca le hAilse atá faoi stiúir Saolta, agus tá sé ina Leas-Uachtarán ar Choláiste Ríoga na Máinlia in Éirinn.    Mar mháinlia comhairleach, tá spéis ar leith ag an Ollamh Kerin i máinliacht ailse cíche agus inchríneach. Tá sé i gceannas ar chlár mór taighde ar ailse chíche in Institiúid Lambe don Taighde Aistritheach in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, agus tá sé ina Stiúrthóir Taighde ar an Institiúid Náisiúnta don Taighde ar Ailse Chíche. Lena chois sin, tá an tOllamh Kerin ina chomhthaighdeoir ar go leor tionscnaimh thaighde eile ar ailse, lena n-áirítear Precision Oncology Ireland agus Institiúid Taighde Uile-Oileáin ar Ailse (AICRI). Tá a ainm le breis is 450 páipéar piarmheasúnaithe agus le 25,000 lua, agus tugadh meantóireacht do bhreis is 50 mac léinn MD agus PhD a chuaigh tríd an gclár taighde ar ailse chíche.   Seo mar a labhair Uachtarán Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, an tOllamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh: “Thar ceann phobal iomlán Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, tréaslaím le gach duine dár gcéimithe. Leagann an Ollscoil béim ar leith ar ár luachanna, mar atá meas, oscailteacht, barr feabhais agus inbhuanaitheacht, agus tá sé ríthábhachtach go gcothaímid muintearas i measc ár mac léinn chun cur lena dtaithí acadúil agus chun pobal a chruthú inar féidir le gach duine barr a gcumais a bhaint amach. Molaim obair chrua, díograis agus buanseasmhacht ár gcéimithe go léir, agus guím gach rath orthu sa saol gairmiúil atá amach rompu.  “Ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas ó chroí a ghabháil leis an Ollamh Michael Kerin chomh maith. Is teist iontach é an DSc seo air mar dhuine agus ar a chuid taighde san Ollscoil seo thar na blianta, agus tugann sé aitheantas don chion céadach atá déanta aige i ndáil le hailse chíche.”  Críoch    

Over 360 degree, masters and PhD students graduated from University of Galway today, joining more than 133,000 alumni worldwide.     Among all of those at the summer conferring celebrations, almost 80 were conferred with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).   The largest cohort of students to graduate were the 166 doctors who received their Honours Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, and Bachelor of Obstetrics (MB, BCh, BAO) degree.    During the conferring ceremony, University of Galway presented 14 Final Medical Medals to 9 graduates, with Dr Margaret Mary Glazier from Michigan, USA receiving 5 medals for her outstanding academic performance as part of the tradition of presentation to graduates of the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences recognising academic excellence.    One special award was conferred at this year’s celebrations in recognition of extensive research - Professor Michael Kerin was conferred with a Degree of Doctor of Science (DSc) from the National University of Ireland for his published work in breast cancer research.     Professor Kerin is the Chair of Surgery, Clinical Director of the Saolta Managed Cancer Academic Network and Vice-President of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.     As a consultant surgeon, Professor Kerin has a special interest in breast cancer and endocrine surgery. He leads a large breast cancer research programme at the Lambe Institute for Translational Science at University of Galway and is the Research Director of the National Breast Cancer Research Institute. Professor Kerin is also co-investigator on numerous other cancer research initiatives including Precision Oncology Ireland and the All-Island Cancer Research Institute (AICRI). He has more than 450 peer reviewed papers and 25,000 citations, and more than 50 MD and PhD students have come through and been mentored as part of the breast cancer research programme.    President of University of Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “On behalf of the entire community of University of Galway, I congratulate every one of our graduates. The University places great emphasis on our values of respect, openness, excellence and sustainability, and it is so important that we create a sense of belonging for our students to enrich their academic experience and create a community where everyone can thrive. I commend each of our new graduates on their hard work, commitment and perseverance, and wish them every success in their future careers.    “I would also like to extend my warmest congratulations to Professor Michael Kerin. Being awarded the DSc is a wonderful testament to him and his research at the University over many decades, and an acknowledgment of the impact of his outstanding contribution to the field of breast cancer.”    Ends 

University of Galway has been named the number one university in Ireland for sustainable development for the third year in a row. The accolade has been awarded by Times Higher Education Impact rankings in recognition of the University’s progress in responding to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The rakings also places University of Galway in the world’s top 50 and recognised globally for significant contribution to progress on 11 of the 17 UN SDGs. This includes a world ranking of number 10 for Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12) and top 100 status for 6 of the 17 SDGs. President of University of Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “University of Galway being ranked again this year in the top 50 among the universities of the world is a huge achievement. It is also a remarkable recognition to be embedded as the number one, the leading university in Ireland, and in the top 5 in the EU, for the work and progress we have made on our core value of sustainability. “Huge credit goes to staff across our university for making this happen, in our teaching and learning, in our research and in our day-to-day operations. Equally, credit is due to our students who put sustainability to the forefront of our agenda as we developed our 2020-2025 strategy Shared Vision, Shaped by Values. This has happened because of the energy, passion, and enthusiasm of our empowered university community. “Sustainability and climate action are the urgencies of this moment. At this time and from this place, University of Galway is glad to lead, for the public good.” The 2024 edition of Times Higher Education’s Impact Rankings ranks the University 47th out of 1,963 institutions across the world, and in the top 5 in the EU. Assessments for THE Impact rankings are based on submissions from universities around the world in line with the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The report is a measure of the extent to which institutions are having a positive social and economic impact on the planet; from climate action and gender equality, to good health and well-being. Professor Peter McHugh, Deputy President and Registrar and Chair of the University Sustainability Advisory Board, said: “A huge congratulations to the team involved in bringing the University to where we are today. Through our community and university sustainability partnership, we are co-creating a more sustainable campus and embedding sustainability in all aspects of learning and research, culture, operations and governance. We have recently established a Sustainability Office to bolster these efforts and to empower the University’s diverse communities of staff, students and partners. “Today’s ranking follows the University’s success at the 2024 Education Awards in April, where we secured the top prize for Excellence in Sustainability. We are also very proud to be the first university to be designated a national Sustainable Development Goals Champion, recognising our leading role in achieving the SDGs. I would encourage visitors to take a walk along our SDG Trail and Biodiversity Trail to see first-hand how we have developed the campus as a living lab for the SDGs.” Dr Richard Manton, Director of Sustainability, said: “Looking to the future, our vision is that every student graduating from University of Galway will have confronted diverse aspects of sustainability and the UN SDGs in their degrees. We will continue to enhance the biodiversity of our campus and we will move ambitiously towards carbon neutrality. As recognised in SDG 17, partnership for the goals, we will only achieve our sustainability objectives by working closely with our partners in our city and region.” University of Galway is making significant progress on its sustainability ambitions:  Researchers have developed a global reputation for medtech, marine and environmental research, sustainable energy solutions, data analytics, culture, and creativity, all having an important role to play in the implementation of the SDGs. Lecturers are embedding sustainability across the curriculum and the University has developed a new tracking tool to determine the SDG content of our courses. University of Galway campus and buildings are testbeds for positive sustainable actions. Since 2006, the University has exceeded targets by decreasing its energy usage across campus by 50%. We have rolled out Solar PV panel across campus buildings and completed a demonstrator geothermal heat pump project to heat the swimming pool in the Sports Centre.   The University’s Park and Ride system is powered by electric buses and a network of internal and external drinking water fountain have been installed campus wide. University of Galway is home to the first lab in Europe to awarded Green Lab certification and all the labs in the Alice Perry Engineering Building are now certified as green. Our campus is one of the most biodiverse in Ireland: we hold An Taisce Green Campus Flag. We have introduced new wildflower enhancement schemes, bird boxes, bat boxes, insect hotels, beehives, a pollinator friendly pesticide code and a log tree hive. Ends

University of Galway has announced that renowned Irish singer Mary Coughlan will be the special guest at the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre conference. The 11th biennial international conference entitled ‘Promoting Equality Through Family Support’ takes place on campus on Thursday and Friday, June 13th and 14th, to examine how social exclusion, discrimination, poverty, migration, displacement and the accompanying trauma can impact parenting and family life. The critical role family support can play in contributing to the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals by confronting inequality and exclusion will also be discussed. Mary Coughlan will offer her own perspective on the conference themes, interweaving three songs into her special guest speaker slot. The UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre was established at University of Galway in 2007 by Professor Pat Dolan and Professor John Canavan, and the following year the UNESCO Chair in Children, Youth and Civic Engagement was awarded. Professor Dolan will be honoured this week with the formal presentation of the Medal of the Maria Grzegorzewska University in Warsaw for life-long achievements in the field of children’s rights. Professor John Canavan, Director of the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre at University of Galway, said: “The award of the Maria Grzegorzewska University medal to Professor Dolan brings great honour to University of Galway and the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre and reflects his immense contribution to the improving the lives of children in Ireland and globally. The timing of the award is perfect as 200 delegates gather on campus at the Institute for Lifecourse and Society to reflect how to challenge inequality and discrimination in their day-to-day practice. It is a great privilege to have the renowned singer Mary Coughlan with us to reflect on those themes.” Mary Coughlan said: “I am going to explore in words, and some songs, the way I felt when I was younger, and my experience around trauma and the way I was treated, and contrast that with children and teenagers experiences in 2024.” Born in Shantalla in Galway City, Mary Coughlan has made some of the most uncompromising, wholly personal, and universal music by any Irish artist. In May of this year, she released new music ‘More like Brigid’, a homage to Brigid of Kildare who was a pagan and a healer before she was canonized by the Catholic Church. Ends

University of Galway has announced its annual information evening for adult learners, with scores of opportunities for professionals, the unemployed and those returning to work to take short courses and longer-term studies. The Centre for Adult Learning and Professional Development hosts the annual event on campus on Thursday June 20, 2024, from 5.30-7.30pm, in the Human Biology Building. The part-time courses for 2024/25 include fully-funded Springboard+ and Human Capital Initiative courses for the unemployed and returners, and 90% funding for those in work but seeking to upskill. New this year are micro-credentials courses with special subsidies worth 50-80% of fees for courses addressing skills in key priority areas, including renewable energy, sustainability, construction and planning, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, ICT, and electronic engineering. This event creates an opportunity for would-be students to meet representatives from our part-time courses, including in the area of Business and Management, Science and Technology, Languages, Arts and Humanities, Community Education, and pre-university courses.             Nuala McGuinn, Director at the Centre for Adult Learning and Professional Development at University of Galway, said: “We have created flexible learning pathways from micro-credential to masters for learners seeking a short, accredited module or a longer-term course. This event allows would-be students to meet representatives from our part-time courses to learn more about the benefits of newly funded and flexible learning opportunities, while also getting a chance to hear from our graduates and students on how to maintain a healthy work-life-study balance.” Over the course of the evening prospective students will have an opportunity to join talks exploring part-time courses and micro-credentials, understanding NFQ Levels, and grasping the Recognition of Prior Learning process and how it can support eligibility for study. Students will get expert tips from our Multimedia Content Developer on online learning and the Career Development team will share advice and resources to support you in your next step. Springboard+ approved courses for 2024/25 available here and our current list of micro-credentials can be found here. Student support services will also be on hand on the night to answer any queries learners may have as they decide on course options. For further information on this event and to register for this event visit universityofgalway.ie/adultlearning/info_eve  Ends

 Researchers at University of Galway have created digital babies to better understand infants’ health in their critical first 180 days of life. The team created 360 advanced computer models that simulate the unique metabolic processes of each baby. The digital babies are the first sex-specific computational whole-body models representing newborn and infant metabolism with 26 organs, six cell types, and more than 80,000 metabolic reactions. Real-life data from 10,000 newborns, including sex, birth weight and metabolite concentrations, enabled the creation and validation of the models, which can be personalised - enabling scientists to investigate an individual infant’s metabolism for precision medicine applications. The work was conducted by a team of scientists at University of Galway’s Digital Metabolic Twin Centre and Heidelberg University, led by APC Microbiome Ireland principal investigator Professor Ines Thiele. The team’s research aims to advance precision medicine using computational modelling. They describe the computational modelling of babies as seminal, as it enhances understanding of infant metabolism and creates opportunities to improve the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions during the early days of a baby’s life, such as inherited metabolic diseases. Lead author Elaine Zaunseder, Heidelberg University, said: “Babies are not just small adults - they have unique metabolic features that allow them to develop and grow up healthy. For instance, babies need more energy for regulating body temperature due to, for example, their high surface-area-to-mass ratio, but they cannot shiver in the first six months of life, so metabolic processes must ensure the infant keeps warm. “Therefore, an essential part of this research work was to identify these metabolic processes and translate them into mathematical concepts that could be applied in the computational model. We captured metabolism in an organ-specific manner, which offers the unique opportunity to model organ-specific energy demands that are very different in infants compared to adults. “As nutrition is the fuel for metabolism, we can use breast milk data from real newborns in our models to simulate the associated metabolism throughout the baby’s entire body, including various organs. Based on their nutrition, we simulated the development of digital babies over six months and showed that they will grow at the same rate as real-world infants.” Professor Ines Thiele, study lead on the project, said: “New-born screening programmes are crucial for detecting metabolic diseases early on, enhancing infant survival rates and health outcomes. However, the variability observed in how these diseases manifest in babies underscores the urgent need for personalised approaches to disease management. “Our models allow researchers to investigate the metabolism of healthy infants as well as infants suffering from inherited metabolic diseases, including those investigated in newborn screening. When simulating the metabolism of infants with a disease, the models showed we can predict known biomarkers for these diseases. Furthermore, the models accurately predicted metabolic responses to various treatment strategies, showcasing their potential in clinical settings.” Elaine Zaunseder added: “This work is a first step towards establishing digital metabolic twins for infants, providing a detailed view of their metabolic processes. Such digital twins have the potential to revolutionise paediatric healthcare by enabling tailored disease management for each infant's unique metabolic needs.” The research was published this week in Cell Metabolism This work was led by University of Galway and completed as part of a collaboration with Heidelberg University, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies and Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany. Ends

University of Galway has announced the renewal of a special partnership with the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) to provide two full MBA Scholarships to prospective students.  The scholarships are open to professional and senior executive members of the Gaelic Players Association who meet the minimum application requirements for the MBA at J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics. GPA chief executive Tom Parsons said: “The two fully funded MBA scholarships provide a massive opportunity to the recipients. They have the potential to be transformational in their professional lives and help the GPA to stay true to our motto of ‘You See Players. We See People’. The development of our members away from the playing pitch is our priority, as it allows them to plan for their futures once their inter-county career comes to an end, be that by choice or by necessity. So, on behalf of players, it’s important for me to thank University of Galway for their ongoing support.”    GPA-MBA Scholar 2021 and former Galway Hurler, David Collins said: “It is critical for GAA players throughout Ireland to plan for life after sport. Completing my MBA has not only equipped me with valuable skills but also ignited my passion for leadership. I am extremely grateful to the GPA and University of Galway.”      Professor Kate Kenny, University of Galway MBA Programme Director said: “These scholarships provide transformative opportunities for GPA members. By investing in education, athletes gain valuable skills, knowledge and networks that can propel them into successful careers and prepare them for life after sport.”    The University of Galway-GPA scholarships for the MBA equip GPA members - both current and former players - with the knowledge, creativity and leadership skills needed to gain a competitive edge in the fast-evolving world of leadership and business. The MBA learning environment also offers unique opportunities to engage in active learning with programme participants and experts from leading enterprises, operating at regional, national and international level.    The scholarship recipients will join a network of MBA scholars that have gone on to excel in careers in sectors such as MedTech, Fintech, ICT, Financial Services, Healthcare, Sports Leadership, Defence Forces, Public Service, Third Sector and the European Commission.    For queries on GPA Scholarships, contact GPA’s Education Manager Brian Howard at brian.howard@gaelicplayers.com or visit universityofgalway.ie/mba.     Ends 

Tá sé fógartha ag Ollscoil na Gaillimhe go bhfuil saoráid teagaisc oscailte ar an gcampas, Seomra Galway John, atá ainmnithe in ómós don Taistealaí Éireannach iomráiteach John Ward, a rugadh agus a tógadh i gCathair na Gaillimhe. Rugadh ‘Galway John’ ar Lána an Uisce ar an mBóthar Mór, Gaillimh, an 18 Meitheamh 1913. Chreid sé go láidir i luach an oideachais. I gcomhairle le gaolta, d’oibrigh Jason Sherlock, arbh é Galway John a shin-seanathair agus alumnus de chuid Ollscoil na Gaillimhe i gcomhpháirt le foireann na hollscoile ar an tionscadal chun an seomra a ainmniú i ndiaidh Galway John.             Dúirt Jason Sherlock an méid seo a leanas: “Bhí aithne ar Galway John as a phearsantacht thaitneamhach. Bhí an-ómós ag an bpobal lonnaithe do John i gcónaí agus mheas siad gur nasc láidir a bhí ann idir na Taistealaithe agus an pobal lonnaithe. Sa lá atá inniu ann, tá an t-oideachas ríthábhachtach chun difríochtaí a chéile a thuiscint agus mar is eol do go leor Mincéirí, tá sé deacair dul chun cinn a dhéanamh in áit nach mothaíonn tú go bhfuil aon ghnó agat ann. Tá súil againn go léir, tríd an seomra ranga seo a ainmniú i ndiaidh Galway John agus scéal na Mincéirí a insint go n-aireoidh Taistealaithe na hÉireann go bhfuil áit acu ar an gcampas.”             Dúirt Uachtarán Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, an tOllamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh: “Tá tábhacht ar leith ag baint le Seomra Galway John mar is tráth stairiúil é seo i saol na hOllscoile. Den chéad uair riamh, tá seomra ranga buan á thiomnú againn in ómós do Thaistealaí Éireannach, ag tabhairt aitheantas do shaothar saibhir cultúrtha agus teacht aniar Thaistealaithe na hÉireann. Nuair a bhí mé ag fás aníos, shiúil mé tríd an gcampas amhail is dá mba liom féin é. Ba mhaith liom go mbraithfeadh gach duine mar an gcéanna, go bhfuil an Ollscoil seo mar dhlúthchuid dá saol. Tá an tionscnamh seo ag teacht leis an tiomantas sin chun cuimsiú, éagsúlacht agus tuiscint a chothú inár dtimpeallacht acadúil, áit a bhfuil fáilte roimh chách.” Mar Thaistealaí Éireannach, champáil John in go leor áiteanna ar champas na hOllscoile agus gar dó, in aice le hArd-Eaglais na Gaillimhe agus Ascaill na Naoscach ina measc, chomh maith le háiteanna eile sa chathair ar nós Loch an tSáile. Tá cuid d’fhoirgnimh na hOllscoile tógtha ar thailte ina mbíodh Taistealaithe na hÉireann ag cur fúthu. Bhí an-aithne ar Galway John agus ar a bhean Bridget Ward, nó Big Biddy Ward, ar fud iarthar na hÉireann as a macántacht agus a gcuid oibre crua, agus bhí Mícheál D agus Dolores Keane i measc an iliomad cairde a bhí acu. Thaistil siad ar fud na tíre mar lánúin, ag obair agus ag saothrú a gcuid ag dul go hiondúil ó Ghaillimh, Baile Átha an Rí, Creachmhaoil, an Gort, Luimneach, Cill Airne, Mórchuaird Chiarraí, Inis, Cill Rois, an Leithinse, Dúlainn, Baile Uí Bheacháin, Cinn Mhara, Cill Cholgáin agus ar ais arís. Bhí a n-iníon Anne Sherlock ina ball de Mincéir Misle, ceann de na chéad eagraíochtaí náisiúnta a bhunaigh Mincéirí ar son na Mincéirí. Bhí cúpla ceird ag Galway John idir a bheith ina ghabha stáin agus ina ghlantóir simléir. Bhí Caintis – teanga Thaistealaithe na hÉireann – Gaeilge agus Béarla ar a thoil aige. Seanchaí den scoth ba ea John, agus bhí an-chur amach aige ar fhinscéalta agus ar bhéaloideas na hÉireann, agus d’inseodh sé scéalta agus chanadh sé amhráin faoin saol ar an mbóthar. Nuair a bhásaigh Galway John an 7 Eanáir 1981, d’fhreastail na mílte ar a shochraid in Ard-Eaglais na Gaillimhe. D’fhoilsigh go leor nuachtán tuairiscí ar Aifreann na Sochraide, áit ar fhreastail gach cineál duine idir Mhincéirí, an pobal lonnaithe, cheannairí gnó agus cathartha agus ionadaithe poiblí. Críoch

University of Galway has announced the dedication of a teaching facility on campus as the Galway John Room, named after well-known Irish Traveller John Ward, who was born and raised in Galway city.     ‘Galway John’ was born on Water Lane, Bohermore, Galway, on June 18th, 1913. He was a firm believer in the value of education.     In consultation with relatives, Jason Sherlock, a great grandson of Galway John and alumnus of University of Galway, has worked with staff at the University on the project for the dedication of the Galway John Room.    Jason Sherlock said: “Galway John was known for his likeable persona. The settled community has always held John in high regard and seen him as a strong link between the Irish Traveller and Irish settled. In this current era, education is crucial to understanding each other’s differences and as many Mincéirs know, it is hard to progress in a place where you do not feel that you belong. We all hope that by naming this classroom after Galway John and telling the Mincéir story that it will empower Irish Travellers to build their sense of belonging on campus.”    University of Galway President Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said: “The Galway John Room holds particular significance as it marks a historic moment for our University. For the first time, we are dedicating a permanent classroom in honour of an Irish Traveller, recognising the rich cultural contributions and resilience of our Irish Traveller people. When I was growing up, I walked through our campus as if it was my own. I want everybody to feel the same, that our University is part of the furniture of their lives. This initiative is consistent with that commitment to fostering inclusivity, diversity, and understanding within our academic environment, where everyone belongs here.”    As an Irish Traveller, John camped in many spots on or near the University campus, including beside Galway Cathedral and Snipe Avenue, as well as other parts of the city such as Lough Atalia, with some of the University’s buildings now standing on places where Irish Travellers would have lived.     Galway John and his wife Bridget Ward, known as Big Biddy Ward, were Galway characters and were well known across the west of Ireland for their honesty and hard work, with Bridget, in particular, counting the likes of President Michael D Higgins and singer Dolores Keane among their circle of friends and associates.     As a couple they travelled throughout the country working and making a living, with a typical route being Galway, Athenry, Craughwell, Gort, Limerick, Killarney, the ring of Kerry, Ennis, Kilrush, Lahinch, Doolin, Ballyvaughan, Kinvara, Kilcolgan, and back. Their daughter Anne Sherlock was a member of Mincéir Misle, one of the first national organisations set up by Mincéirs, for Mincéirs.    Galway John was as a man of many trades, including being a tinsmith and a chimney sweep. He was a fluent speaker of Cant - Irish Traveller language, An Ghaeilge and English. John was a great storyteller and knew Ireland's ancient fables and stories, and would tell tales and sing songs about life on the road.    When Galway John died on January 7th, 1981, thousands attended his funeral in Galway Cathedral. Numerous newspapers published reports of the Requiem Mass, which was attended by all walks of life including Mincéirs, members of the wider settled community, business and civic leaders and public representatives.    Ends 

A research team led by University of Galway is investigating whether climate change is reducing the impact that some of tiniest organisms in the oceans have on CO2 levels in the atmosphere.    The researchers spent several weeks at sea on board the Marine Institute’s Celtic Explorer in the Labrador Sea between Canada and Greenland, to record levels of phytoplankton.  The expedition team are assessing the role of these tiny plants in carbon absorption from the atmosphere in the context of the threat from climate change on the seas from freshwater and meltwater in the Arctic regions.   Water samples and atmospheric measurements gathered by the researchers will help to assess how phytoplankton living on the sunlit ocean surface absorbs CO2 and nutrients, and in turn produces organic carbon, some of which sinks into the deep ocean, locking in the greenhouse gas for centuries.  The outstanding question is to quantify how much carbon is exported to the deep ocean.   This process of carbon transfer is known as the Biological Carbon Pump (BCP) and it plays a critical role in global climate regulation.   Professor Brian Ward, Professor of Oceanography at University of Galway, said: “The interplay between the physics and biology of phytoplankton and their role in the carbon cycle, and how climate change is affecting this, is not well understood. Our current ability to predict changes in the Biological Carbon Pump in the face of ongoing and future climate change is weak at best.”   The research expedition was funded by the Marine Institute, and led by Professor Brian Ward, School of Natural Sciences, University of Galway and involved researchers from Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada and the Ocean Frontier Institute; Memorial University Newfoundland; and the Science Foundation Ireland research centre for applied geosciences - iCRAG.   The Labrador Sea in the North Atlantic is home to the largest sustained phytoplankton bloom annually, but it is believed that rapid changes are occurring in this region, and there are very few assessments of the Biological Carbon Pump. Current estimates suggest that the BCP removes 5-12 gigatonnes of carbon from the atmosphere per year, roughly equal to anthropogenic CO2 emissions - the environmental change caused or influenced by people, either directly or indirectly.   The research project - Biological Carbon Export in the Labrador Sea (BELAS) – used a 10m mast on the bow of the Marine Institute research vessel Celtic Explorer to directly measure how much CO2 is being transferred from the atmosphere to the ocean.    Preliminary analysis indicates that an enormous flux of CO2 transfer occurred during the research expedition, driven by the abundance of phytoplankton photosynthesising in the surface waters.    The University of Galway team also measured the turbulence in the ocean down to 100m with their unique profiling instrument, as turbulence is a critical process for controlling phytoplankton behaviour, which is just gaining recognition within the international community. This places UGAL at the cutting edge of the interaction between ocean physics and biology.    The Canadian scientists involved in the research project took water samples during the two week expedition, with the aim that their analysis will bridge the knowledge gap over the role of phytoplantkon in the carbon cycle.   Professor Ward said: “Building on the successful international research expedition in 2022, our aim is to assess the functioning of the biological carbon pump in the Labrador Sea and improve our understanding of the mechanisms behind it so that we can make better predictions about its impact in the face of climate change.   “By transferring carbon into the deeper ocean, the BCP effectively removes CO2 from the atmosphere for centuries, slowing global warming. However, there is mounting evidence that climate warming is affecting the BCP, especially in higher latitudes, via increasing freshwater inputs, altered nutrient dynamics, and declines in phytoplankton growth.”    This research is very timely given the deepening interest in carbon dioxide removal (CDR), where one of the controversial methods proposed is to “fertilise” the ocean to stimulate phytoplankton with the aim of removing CO2 from the atmosphere. CDR is rapidly gaining momentum and several companies are already deploying methods to remove CO2 from the atmosphere.     According to Professor Ward: “There remains fundamental research to be carried out before we can scale up the removal of CO2 using the proposed fertilisation methods. There is no doubt the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere needs to be reduced by the end of this century, but CDR methods are unlikely to offset anthropogenic CO2 emissions, which is where the main focus needs to be.”    Ends   

 University of Galway has shared a message of congratulations and good luck to alumni on Team Ireland ahead of the Paris Olympics. Olympic medallists Aifric Keogh and Fiona Murtagh are to compete on the water in the Women’s Pair, with the heats commencing on July 28th. They will be supported at the Games by Heather Boyle, Head of Communications and Athletes Commission Support at the Olympic Federation of Ireland, an alumna of the University. Dean of Students Professor Ciara Meehan said: ”On behalf of the University of Galway community, I wish Aifric and Fiona every success, along with all the other rowers and athletes on Team Ireland. Everyone in the country, never mind the University, will be cheering them on. We know they have done it on the biggest of stages before and we hope that they can take another step or two up the podium in Paris.” Des Ryan, Director of Sport and Physical Wellbeing at University of Galway, said: “Our rowers are fantastic ambassadors for University of Galway, but also for the sport and for the country. We put huge effort into rowing at the University, in particular the coaching and mentoring of students who come through the University’s High Performance Unit. It is a great sense of pride for us to see our students go on to reach the Olympics, and we will be supporting them every step of the way.” Feargal O’Callaghan, High Performance Sports Lead, University of Galway, said: “All of us are 100% behind both Aifric and Fiona for the Olympics. They are among the world’s sporting elite and their success and achievements in representing Ireland are a testament to the talent and dedication that we saw first-hand here in the University.”  Aifric Keogh, from Furbo, Co Galway, and Fiona Murtagh, from Moycullen, Co Galway, have Olympic bronze medals to their names, having made history in Tokyo as one of Ireland’s first female rowers to make it to the podium as part of the Women’s Four. Aifric Keogh holds BSc from the University and regularly competes under the alumni club Gráinne Mhaol, having first learned to row while at Coláiste Iognáid before rowing on the University team.  Fiona Murtagh holds an MBA and competes under our University rowing club, having taken up the sport at Galway Rowing Club. Both rowers have competed at the World Championships and paired for the first time in 2023, narrowly missing out on a podium finish with a fourth place in Belgrade. They have made the podium in all three of this season’s World Cup regattas. Heather Boyle has represented Ireland in rowing and worked with Cycling Ireland for several years, before contributing to the media teams for the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Ends

First edition of James Joyce’s Ulysses and an edition illustrated and signed by Matisse among collection owned by founder of Galway Advertiser     A literary collection owned by the late entrepreneur, local historian and supporter of the arts, Ronnie O’Gorman, has been donated to University of Galway.  The bequest was finalised by Ronnie O'Gorman, the founder and publisher of the Galway Advertiser, before he died in May 2024. It will reside in the University's Library as part of its Special Collections.    The carefully curated collection features many rare and significant works of Irish literature, representing his deep appreciation of Irish writing, the history of publishing in the country and his lifelong passion for the collection and promotion of Irish literature and art.   The works also span three generations of the O’Gorman family and many of the volumes reflect the family’s long interest in the history of Galway, about which Ronnie wrote extensively.    The collection was presented at a special event at University of Galway Library earlier in the year, attended by Ronnie O’Gorman and family, as well as friends and associates.    It includes a first edition of James Joyce’s Ulysses; one of 250 signed copies of a New York Limited Editions Club first edition Ulysses, with illustrations by the French artist Henri Matisse, signed by both the artist and Joyce; and The Aran Islands, by John Millington Synge, with 12 hand-coloured illustrations by Jack B. Yeats, which was described by the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography as "the great prose manifesto of the Irish literary revival".   As well as more rare and beautiful volumes collected by Ronnie O’Gorman, his father Frank and also his grandfather Philip, who worked as Library Clerk in the University of Galway Library in the late 19th century, the collection also includes two 19th Century Walter Osborne paintings - Galway Fowl Market and Galway Fish Market.   Ben O’Gorman, son of Ronnie O’Gorman, said: “Our family is delighted that we were able to keep the collection together and for it to be donated to the University - somewhere that really appreciates it. Ronnie took such joy in curating his collection, it was in many ways his life’s work, so to be able to keep it in one place, for the future, for others to enjoy, is a great legacy.”     President of University of Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “The O’Gorman Collection is a tremendous gift to the University community and it is particularly poignant that the collection will reside in our Library where Ronnie O’Gorman’s grandfather Philip worked. Ronnie O’Gorman was a man of huge insight, huge foresight, in establishing the Advertiser and the sense of community that developed for Galway. As we celebrate the donation of such a beautiful gift, I also remember and cherish the day that we had with Ronnie on campus early in 2024, a day that had generosity, community, atmosphere - all of those things that characterised Ronnie O’Gorman.”     University of Galway Librarian Monica Crump said: “The O’Gorman collection represents the very best of Irish literature and culture. It was started by Philip O’Gorman, a former Library Clerk here in the Library, continued by his son Frank and then his grandson Dr Ronnie O’Gorman. We are grateful to all three generations of the O’Gorman family for their commitment to collecting these wonderful works and looking after them so well in the intervening years. And we are immensely grateful to Ronnie and the O’Gorman family for entrusting us with these volumes. We are committed to continuing the good work of the O’Gormans, of preserving them, keeping them safe, and making them available for students and researchers into the future.”    Catriona Cannon, Head of Heritage Collections and Digitisation at University of Galway Library, said: “Ronnie was a long-time friend of the Library and tireless champion of art and culture in the West of Ireland. He was always a welcome sight in our reading room, his combination of knowledge, passion and generosity of spirit was utterly unique and a joy to encounter. This legacy will ensure the continuity of Ronnie’s lifelong commitment to preserving and promoting Ireland’s literary culture - it is a gift to the city he loved and it will inspire and educate students and staff of the University and our researchers for generations to come.”    Ends

New research has revealed that peat soils which are vital for locking away greenhouse gases are much more abundant than previously thought. Data analysed by researchers now suggests that these soils cover 13% more of Ireland’s land mass than previous maps would have shown. The new map includes areas of shallow peat soils, which, crucially also contain large stocks of soil carbon. The maps are useful in land use planning - with peat soils being critical in absorbing greenhouse gases and helping to meet some of Ireland’s most pressing environmental challenges. As recommended by the United Nations Global Peatlands Initiative, the research team from University of Galway, Trinity College Dublin and Queen’s University Belfast, included these shallow peat soils in the new peat map of Ireland. In doing so, they adopted a broader definition of peat soils by including soil material containing 8.6% of organic matter or more that has accumulated to at least 10 cm. The research has been published in the journal Geoderma and can be read here. Dr Terry Morley, University of Galway, one of the co-authors of the research article, said: “Peat soils are important because they help the country meet national and international targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and also play a major role in regulating stream flow, water quality, or providing habitat for ecologically sensitive species.”   Dr Louis Gilet, Trinity College Dublin and lead author, said: “Our technique involves continually updating these peat soil maps as new data become available, and this new IPSM can now be used confidently and contribute to a more precise identification of the location of peat soils across Ireland.   “The IPSM can thus help to accurately implement regulations concerning carbon-rich soils and climate change mitigation, while informing management decisions related to other key sustainability issues such as land use planning, biodiversity management or water regulation.”  Historically, interest in peat soils primarily focused on economic productivity, via extraction, or conversion to agriculture or forestry, but in recent years there has been a growing appreciation of their role in regulating environmental processes as well as providing recreational, educational, scientific and cultural value. Dr Raymond Flynn, Queen’s University Belfast, is also co-author of the research article, and he said: “This map changes our approach to mapping peat soils from the traditional approach concerned with agronomy to one where we can now more reliably focus on the role of peat and peat soils in environmental processes.”  Dr John Connolly, Trinity College Dublin, geographer and one of the Global Peatlands Assessment authors, added: “Peatlands hold a significant percentage of Ireland’s total soil organic carbon stock, but they have been severely degraded over the past 200 years due to land use change and associated human activity, resulting in increased emissions from both deep and shallow peat. As a result, accurate identification, mapping and management of peat soils is essential for programmes that aim to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and to improve biodiversity in the Irish landscape.”  This research is part of the RePEAT project, which is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Ends

University of Galway academics Dr Kathy Reilly and Dr Conn Holohan have been awarded ENLIGHT Impact awards for their research endeavours. The awards were bestowed at a special event at the University of the Basque Country in Bilbao, where the academics were recognised for their impactful projects, highlighting the significant positive change their research brings to society. University of Galway secured two out of the six awards: Dr Kathy Reilly was awarded under the Climate Change category for her work with young people and empowerment to tackle policy. The research involved than 2,000 young people, including those in 11 post-primary schools, in the creation of research tools and educational toolkits, boosting their knowledge and confidence in climate issues. Entitled CCC-CATAPULT: Challenging the Climate Crisis: Children’s Agency to Tackle Policy Underpinned by Learning for Transformation, the work has fed into the development of Climate Action and Sustainable Development Curriculum for schools. Dr Conn Holohan was awarded under the Culture & Creativity theme for his Immersive Empathy project on homelessness. The project involved the production of a new virtual reality film Lost & Found which captures the experience of homelessness from the perspective of those who have lived it. The production adopted a 360-degree style of filming to show the viewer a fully immersive world that can be experienced by wearing a virtual reality headset. It was co-created out of the University’s Centre for Creative Technologies, in collaboration with clients from with Galway Simon Community, enabling people who have experienced homelessness to share their stories but also to enhance their lives through greater engagement in work, education, and volunteering. Three of the six people who took part have gone on to study at the University while the film has effectively fostered empathy and positive attitudes towards the homeless. Professor Becky Whay, University of Galway’s Vice President International and University of Galway Director within the ENLIGHT Alliance, said: “These ENLIGHT Impact awards represent thoroughly deserved recognition from across the ENLIGHT University Alliance for both Conn Holohan’s and Kathy Reilly’s research and the longstanding impact it will have on society. Their success is an inspiration for our research community and is a great example of how impact can be achieved.” The ENLIGHT Impact Award is given annually as part of the ENLIGHT European University Alliance, of which University of Galway is a partner, along with nine other universities across Europe. The awards recognise and give visibility to research endeavours that are exemplars in planning for and achieving impact.  ENLIGHT includes University of Galway; Comenius University, Bratislava (Slovakia); University of Groningen (Netherlands); University of Bern (Switzerland); University of Bordeaux (France); Ghent University (Belgium); University of Tartu (Estonia); University of Gottingen (Germany); University of the Basque Country (Spain); and Uppsala University (Sweden). The project is supported by the Government and the European Commission. The aim is for the alliance to develop as a platform for the creation of a new type of European university campus where students and staff have increased opportunities for international study, training, teaching, research and sharing of services. ENLIGHT aims to collaboratively transform higher education, addressing societal challenges and promoting equitable quality of life, sustainability and external engagement with the communities of the partner universities. Ends

University of Galway has been named as one of the top universities in Europe, according to the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2025. For the second year in a row, the Europe-wide rankings have placed University of Galway 98th out of almost 700 institutions in more than 40 locations. President of University of Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “Being ranked in the top 100 universities in Europe two years in a row, as well as being recognised as number one in Ireland and among the best in the world for sustainability, is a tremendous endorsement of our community of teaching, learning and research and the culture of the people who work at our university. “I would like to thank everyone across our University who continues to make the effort to be a university for the public good, true to our values of respect, excellence, openness and sustainability. We are a place of learning and research, that goes without saying. We are distinctive by being more than that. Our university community is built around our people whether you are a student, a member of staff, an academic, a researcher, a technician or among the many who keep our operations running every day of the year. We have made great strides in recent years to be more outward looking, creating a space and carving a place for our university and our work, from this place, at an international level. I wish everyone continued success on that journey.   “We are also delighted to see three Irish universities in the top 100 in Europe – with University of Galway alongside Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin. This is testament to the capacity of the academic and research community to achieve, despite challenges the sector faces in terms of funding.”   The QS World University Rankings: Europe 2025 recognition also builds on the reputation that University of Galway has earned in recent years for progress on sustainability, having retained the position in Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings as the number one university in Ireland; top 5 in the EU; and in the world’s top 50, for progress towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).   More information on the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024 is available at https://www.topuniversities.com/europe-university-rankings Ends

A University of Galway professor whose research focuses on the biology of stem cells has been elected a member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), Europe’s leading academy across the life sciences. Professor Uri Frank, who is based in the University’s Centre for Chromosome Biology, secured the membership in recognition of his research over the past 20 years. Professor Frank joins two other colleagues from the research centre who have been elected members of EMBO - Professor Brian McStay and Professor Noel Lowndes.             Speaking about his election, Professor Frank said: "I am delighted to join the international EMBO community, whose members perform basic, curiosity-driven research across the life sciences, contributing essential knowledge for future applications." Professor Frank's research addresses fundamental questions in the biology of stem cells, focusing on the role of these cells in development and regeneration. His team has established the jellyfish-related animal Hydractinia as a laboratory model organism for this purpose. These highly regenerative animals are unusual as they do not succumb to age-related deterioration, nor do they develop cancer. It is thought that understanding how Hydractinia's stem cells act in mediating these traits will provide insight into how stem cells function in other animals, including those of humans. Research in Professor Frank’s lab has been funded by Wellcome Trust, Science Foundation Ireland, the US National Science Foundation, the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), and by Human Frontiers Science Program. After completing his PhD at the University of Amsterdam, Professor Frank went on to train as a postdoctoral scientist at the National Institute of Oceanography in Israel, and continued for two additional postdoc periods, in Jena and Heidelberg in Germany, before joining University of Galway in 2005.             EMBO Director Fiona Watt said: “The new EMBO Members and Associate Members have made immense contributions to fundamental life science research, and, in many cases, their work has paved the way for innovations that have improved lives and livelihoods around the world. As EMBO marks its 60th anniversary, we celebrate the pivotal roles played by the EMBO Membership in strengthening international life science research and contributing to the EMBO Programmes and activities. I send my warmest congratulations to all those elected.” EMBO Members guide the execution of the EMBO Programmes and activities, for example by evaluating funding applications, serving on EMBO Council and committees, and contributing to initiatives such as training, policy, outreach and mentorship. New members are nominated and elected by the existing EMBO Membership. Ends

University of Galway has announced the appointment of leading environmental geographer Professor Frances Fahy as the new Director of the Ryan Institute. A Fulbright Scholar, Frances Fahy was previously Head of Geography at the University and is the past President of the Geographical Society of Ireland.   Professor Fahy currently leads several international research teams on sustainable consumption and energy citizenship research. President of University of Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said: “We are delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Fahy, an accomplished researcher in her field and an exemplary colleague, to lead the Ryan Institute at the University, building on the work of Professor Charles Spillane. University of Galway is ranked #1 in Ireland, top 5 in the EU and among the Top 50 in the world by the THE for our impact in support of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. This work carries a particular resonance in Galway, given our location and the Ryan Institute is a fulcrum of this work.  We look forward to a deepening of the interdisciplinary research that happens at the institute thanks to our academics and the postdoctoral fellows, PhD students and research assistants and the stories of their impact on the world.” Professor Frances Fahy, Director of the Ryan Institute, said: “It is a great privilege to lead the largest research institute at University of Galway, supporting all our colleagues from the natural and social sciences who pursue cutting edge interdisciplinary research that provides knowledge for transformations to environmental, social and economic sustainability for people and our planet." Professor Frances Fahy Bio Frances is a leading environmental geographer and has more than 100 publications to her name, including four books (Methods of Sustainability Research in the Social Sciences published by Sage, 2013, Challenging Consumption Routledge, 2014, Energy Demand Challenges in Europe Palgrave 2019 and Energy Citizenship across Europe, Palgrave Macmillan forthcoming in 2024). Professor Fahy has coordinated more than 20 funded research projects and obtained competitive research funding, totalling more than €36 million, including from Horizon Europe, H2020, JPI-Climate, Interreg, the Marine Institute, National Economic and Social Council and the Environmental Protection Agency.  She has supervised 10 PhD students to completion, 11 Postdoctoral Research Fellows and Master’s students, many of whom have gone on to hold key roles in policy and academia. Professor Fahy has also won numerous awards for her research and academic life, including the President’s Award for Research Excellence (2017); Societal Impact (2017); Teaching Excellence (Team Award 2020); and the Irish Research Council’s National Ally Award for Mentoring and Supervision (2023).  Professor Fahy joined University of Galway as a postdoctoral research fellow in 2005 and lives with her family in Corcullen. Ends

A PhD student whose research is developing a tool to score AI for trustworthiness has won University of Galway’s Threesis challenge showcasing the best research communications. Twelve postgraduates took part in the Threesis Grand Finale, sharing the story of their research in just three minutes, using just three slides, in front of three judges and a voting audience. Originally from Moate, Co Westmeath, Louise McCormack secured the top prize for her presentation - Scoring AI for Ethical Trustworthiness. She outlined how her research is helping to shape a future where AI is both powerful and ethical. Through her PhD, Louise McCormack is conducting research to develop a tool to score AI for trustworthiness in line with the Seven Ethical Principles for Trustworthy AI developed by the European Commission’s High-Level Expert Group on AI. She is supported in her research by ADAPT, the Science Foundation Ireland Centre for AI-Driven Digital Content Technology. Professor Jim Livesey, Vice-President Research and Innovation at University of Galway, said: “Threesis is one of the highlights of the year for our research community as it provides a snapshot of the ground-breaking research underway by our postgraduate research students. Our 12 finalists were outstanding in their ability to condense their complex and specialised research into just three minutes for a public audience. My congratulations to the winners and finalists, and also to the 80 students who participated in training and heats, and the many colleagues across campus who support this programme.” Threesis is fast-paced research communications competition, with presentations covering a range of topics including saffron farming, solar-hydrogen, bioprinting, contemporary horror and improving road safety. Second place went to PhD student Anastasija (Ana) Walsh, from Dublin, with her talk: ‘Extracellular Vesicles: Tiny but Mighty Messengers Suppressing Anti-Tumour Immunity’. Her research, at the University’s Lambe Institute for Translational Research, is funded by the Irish Cancer Society and focuses on extracellular vesicles - the tiny particles produced by all types of cells which help them communicate and influence each other. Her talk centred on how they may influence the field of cancer research. The audience vote and third place went to Sofiia Tretiak, PhD student based in the University’s Ryan Institute, with her talk on ‘Seaweed Super Solution: Using Ocean Power for Human and Planet Health’. Her research is funded by the European Commission, Cybercolloids Ltd and the Irish Research Council. It explores novel techniques to extract commercially valuable seaweed compounds useful for food, agriculture, medical and pharmaceutical industries. Ruth Hynes, Innovation and Engagement Officer at the University’s Research & Innovation Office and Threesis Programme Director, said: “Ultimately, we aim to maximize the societal benefits and impact of research at the University. Achieving this often requires our researchers to engage across disciplines, collaborate beyond traditional boundaries, and connect with a range of stakeholders. Effective communication skills are essential for researchers to succeed in these areas. The goal therefore of Threesis is to empower our postgraduate research students to make their research accessible and understandable." The Threesis Grand Finale is the culmination of training sessions and competition heats in which 80 postgraduate students took part, before being whittled down to a final shortlist of 12. The judges were John Crumlish, chief executive of Galway International Arts Festival, Sinéad Beacom, Head of the Researcher Development Centre at University of Galway, and Victoria Ward, the previous Threesis winner – with the university’s Dr Jessamyn Fairfield as MC. The Threesis competition was initiated at University of Galway in 2012 and is open to all research students and postdoctoral researchers at the University.   Videos of the winning presentations are available at www.universityofgalway.ie/threesis Ends

Tá ceapachán an Ollaimh Peter McHugh mar Uachtarán Eatramhach deimhnithe ag Údarás na hOllscoile in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. Tagann an deimhniú sna sála ar fhógra an 26 Meitheamh a thug le fios go raibh an cinneadh glactha ag an Ollamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh éirí as mar Uachtarán. Tá an tOllamh McHugh ag feidhmiú mar Uachtarán Ionaid agus Meabhránaí faoi láthair agus rachaidh sé i mbun ról an Uachtaráin Eatramhaigh i Meán Fómhair 2024. Dúirt Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Cathaoirleach Údarás na hOllscoile: “Thar ceann Údarás na hOllscoile, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh cheapachán an Ollaimh Peter McHugh mar Uachtarán Eatramhach agus guím gach rath air sa ról sin. Beidh an tOllamh McHugh i gceannas ar an Ollscoil ag am ina mbeidh an iomaí dúshlán roimh an earnáil, ach tá seasamh láidir againn chomh maith agus muid ag díriú ar an todhchaí.”             Dúirt an tOllamh McHugh: “Is mór an onóir domsa a bheith ceaptha mar Uachtarán Eatramhach ar Ollscoil na Gaillimhe agus ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil le baill Údarás na hOllscoile as a dtacaíocht. Ba mhaith liom freisin buíochas a ghabháil leis an Uachtarán atá ag dul as oifig, an tOllamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, as an tsárobair atá déanta aige, as a thiomantas do luachanna na hOllscoile mar atá meas, oscailteacht, barr feabhais agus inbhuanaitheacht le sé bliana anuas, agus as lámh a bheith aige in institiúid den scoth a dhéanamh d’Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. "Táim ag súil go mór le forbairt a dhéanamh ar an iliomad éachtaí de chuid na hOllscoile. Beidh mé ag díriú ar an gcáil idirnáisiúnta atá orainn as barr feabhais sa teagasc, san fhoghlaim, sa taighde agus sa nuálaíocht a neartú agus a fhorbairt, ar ár ndícheall a dhéanamh chun an t-eispéireas mac léinn is fearr a bhaint amach, agus ar an bhfoireann a chumasú le héachtaí a bhaint amach.” Thosaigh an tOllamh McHugh ag obair san Ollscoil in 1991 agus ceapadh é mar chéad Ollamh Bunaithe le hInnealtóireacht Bhithleighis in 2007. Tá tréimhsí caite aige roimhe seo mar Dhéan ar Choláiste na hInnealtóireachta agus na hIonformaitice, mar Cheann Scoile na hInnealtóireachta agus na hIonformaitice, agus mar Cheann Scoile na hInnealtóireachta. Faoina stiúir mar Cheann Scoile, d’fhorbair Scoil na hInnealtóireachta a plean gnímh don chomhionannas inscne, agus de bharr na réamhoibre seo, bhain an scoil Gradam Airgid Athena SWAN amach in 2022, arb í an chéad Scoil Innealtóireachta in Éirinn ar éirigh léi an t-aitheantas sin a bhaint amach. Ghlac an tOllamh McHugh le ról an Uachtaráin Ionaid agus Meabhránaí i mBealtaine 2024. Tá aitheantas idirnáisiúnta tuillte aige mar cheannaire taighde san innealtóireacht bhithleighis agus cuid mhór taighde déanta aige ar bhunfhorbairtí agus ar fheidhmeanna modhanna ríomhaireachtúla agus turgnamhacha sa bhithmheicnic, i meicnic fíochán agus in ionchlannáin agus feistí leighis. Bhí sé ina cheannródaí i bhforbairt na hinnealtóireachta bithleighis in Éirinn agus go hidirnáisiúnta, agus ba é Stiúrthóir bunaidh an Ionaid Taighde Bithmheicnice (BioMEC) in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe é. Tá lear mór dámhachtainí bronnta ar an Ollamh McHugh, agus san áireamh orthu sin tá ballraíocht in Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann (2011), Bonn Airgid Acadamh Ríoga an Leighis in Éirinn – an Rannóg Bithinnealtóireachta (2011), Ainmní an Uachtaráin do Chomhaltacht Innealtóirí na hÉireann (2009), Comhaltacht Acadamh Innealtóireachta na hÉireann (2019) agus Comhaltacht Alexander von Humboldt (1995). Tá tréimhsí caite aige chomh maith i róil oifigigh in Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann, arb é an ról is déanaí a bhí aige Rúnaí ar Pholasaí agus Caidrimh Idirnáisiúnta, áit a raibh sé ina ionadaí Éireannach do roinnt eagraíochtaí acadúla idirnáisiúnta, lena n-áirítear Comhairle Chomhairleach Eolaíochta Acadaimh na hEorpa (EASAC). Críoch

University of Galway’s Governing Authority - Údarás na hOllscoile has confirmed the appointment of Professor Peter McHugh as Interim President. The confirmation follows the announcement on June 26th that Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh had taken the decision to step down as President. Professor McHugh is currently serving as Deputy President and Registrar and will take up the role of Interim President in September 2024. Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Chair of the University’s Governing Authority, said: “On behalf of the University of Galway Governing Authority, I would like to welcome Professor Peter McHugh’s appointment as Interim President and wish him every success in the role. Professor McHugh will be leading the University at a time which is not without sectoral challenges, but while we are positioned strongly for the future.”             Professor McHugh said: “I am very honoured to be appointed Interim President of University of Galway and I wish to thank members of Údarás na hOllscoile for their support. I also want to thank the outgoing President, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, for his outstanding work, his commitment to the University’s values of respect, openness, excellence and sustainability over the past six years, and for helping to make University of Galway the world-class institution it is today. “I am very much looking forward to building on the University’s many achievements. My focus will be on strengthening and building upon our international reputation for excellence in teaching, learning, research and innovation, on striving for the very best student experience, and on empowering our staff to achieve.” Professor McHugh joined the University in 1991 and was appointed as the first Established Professor of Biomedical Engineering in 2007. He has previously served as Dean of College of Engineering and Informatics, Head of School of Engineering and Informatics, and Head of School of Engineering. Under his leadership as Head of School, the School of Engineering developed its gender equality action plan, and building on this groundwork, the school went on to achieve the Athena SWAN Silver Award in 2022, the first School of Engineering in Ireland to achieve the recognition. Professor McHugh took up the role of Deputy President and Registrar in May 2024. He is an internationally recognised research leader in biomedical engineering and his research is focused on fundamental developments and applications of computational and experimental methods in biomechanics, tissue mechanics and medical implants and devices. He has been a pioneer in the development of biomedical engineering in Ireland and internationally, and he was the founding Director of the Biomechanics Research Centre (BioMEC) at University of Galway. Professor McHugh has received numerous awards, including membership of the Royal Irish Academy (2011), the Silver Medal of the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland - Section of Bioengineering (2011), the Presidential Nominee Fellowship of Engineers Ireland (2009), Fellowship of the Irish Academy of Engineering (2019), and the Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship (1995). He has also served in officer roles in the Royal Irish Academy, most recently as Secretary for Policy and International Relations where he was the Irish representative to several international academy organisations, including the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC). Ends

University of Galway has heralded the achievement of student golfer Liam Nolan who has secured his place to play as an amateur in The Open. Liam Nolan has just completed his final year in Biomedical Engineering and is a University of Galway Sport Scholar, supported by the High Performance Unit. He will play in The Open at Royal Troon - one of the sport’s majors - from July 18, lining up against some of the world’s best golfers after securing qualification by finishing 5-under at Dundonald Links in Scotland. University of Galway Dean of Students, Professor Ciara Meehan, said: “On behalf of our University community, I’d like to send a message of congratulations and wish Liam Nolan the very best for The Open. Our University takes great delight and a deep sense of pride in celebrating the achievements of our students, as well as our staff, whether that’s in sporting success or studies, their research, their community or volunteering work or competing, as Liam is, at the top of their game on a world stage. We look forward to Liam being an inspiration for many more sporting achievements at the University in the year ahead.” Liam Nolan said: “I’m thrilled to have a golf game which is strong enough to book a place at The Open in Troon. I am looking forward to being on the course, to enjoying the whole experience of the major and to competing with some of the best golfers in the world. To be one of only a handful of amateurs to get a chance to compete in one of golf’s majors is an achievement in itself, and I am so looking forward to teeing it up.”  Des Ryan, Director of Sport and Physical Wellbeing at University of Galway, said: “Liam Nolan is a great role model and an ambassador for University of Galway, for Galway Golf Club and Ireland. We are delighted to see his hard work pay off and we are delighted to have been able to support Liam through the University’s High-Performance Unit led by Feargal O’Callaghan. We all wish him every success and every bit of luck that’s needed on the famous links. His sporting and academic achievements will inspire many other dual aspirational sports people to achieve great things and many others to participate in sport.” Liam Nolan is a Galway native and his home club is Galway Golf Club. He won the South American Amateur Open in January 2023 and in May of that year he went on to win the Brabazon Trophy. He was selected to play for Great Britain and Ireland against the US in the Walker Cup in September 2023 – a pinnacle of the sport for amateur players. He has also represented Ireland in the European Team Championships and Home Internationals.  Ends

€1.4m Government funding to progress pioneering collaboration for ‘Methane Abatement in Grazing Systems - MAGS’  Projects focus on innovations for feed, manure and slurry and targeted breeding programme  Studies build on research which shows potential for significant methane reduction for beef and dairy farming  Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for research and development, Martin Heydon T.D., and Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for Northern Ireland, Andrew Muir MLA, have announced funding of €1.4million for University of Galway to lead a research consortium to pioneer greenhouse gas reduction solutions for agriculture.  Teagasc, the Northern Ireland-based Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) and the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation will work with scientists at the University to expand testing and evaluation of a combination of cutting-edge technologies and farming innovations to lower methane emissions from cattle and sheep.  The research-based project, Methane Abatement in Grazing Systems (MAGS) focuses on evaluating solutions for feed, breeding and manure management.   It aims to apply the most effective feed additives, while improving their formulation for long-lasting effects, in combination with novel genomic breeding and manure management. Scientific analysis will identify the best combinations of strategies which can be delivered on farms in Northern Ireland and in the Republic, through the Teagasc Signpost programme.   Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for research and development, Martin Heydon T.D., said: “The €1.4m committed to the MAGS project (Methane Abatement in Grazing Systems) by my Department, along with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland, is an indication of our ambition and commitment to reduce methane emissions from agriculture. This project builds on the success of previously DAFM-funded projects in this area, such as ‘MethAbate’ and ‘GreenBreed’.   “The MAGS project will focus on further developing technologies, including methane inhibitors and breeding strategies, for application in beef and dairy pasture-based systems to mitigate animal and manure methane.  “Ireland has committed to reducing agricultural greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030. Research investment into novel methane reduction technologies through projects like MAGS is a central part of achieving these targets. An important aspect of the project is research collaboration, and I am pleased that the project coordinator, Dr Sinéad Waters, has brought together scientific partners from across the Island of Ireland to concentrate ideas, expertise and knowledge in a way that accelerates progress in these novel technologies.”  Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for Northern Ireland, Andrew Muir MLA, welcoming the funding, said: “I am pleased that my Department is co-funding this research project with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, bringing together leading scientists from across the Island of Ireland to address, through cutting-edge science, greenhouse gas emissions from grazing livestock systems. Collaborative research funding of this nature is key in helping to underpin the future sustainability of dairy, beef and sheep systems, through the provision of evidence and new innovations to contribute to the required reductions of net greenhouse gas emissions in Northern Ireland by at least 48% by 2030 under the Climate Change Act.”      Agriculture contributes about 37% of Irish greenhouse gas emissions. Government has committed to reducing these farming related emissions by 25% by 2030, including a recommended 10% reduction in agri-methane.  Methane accounts for about 70% of emissions associated with agriculture, predominantly from methane produced in the gut of the animal as feed ferments in the rumen, while methane from manure and slurry are the third largest contributor to emissions from farms.  Methane Abatement in Grazing Systems  MAGS is an all-island initiative, with funding of €1.437m through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s 2023 Research Stimulus Fund.   The project will develop, apply and validate a range of the most promising novel technologies, including breeding strategies, feed and manure additives to mitigate methane in beef and dairy farming.   Beef cattle in Teagasc Grange, Co Meath and Holstein Friesian dairy cows in AFBI, Hillsborough, Northern Ireland will be used to evaluate novel slow-release feed additives in combination with microbiome assisted genomic breeding values on animal performance, health and enteric methane emissions, while the effect of manure and slurry additives at farm-scale will also be monitored.  Feed  Various slow-release formats of an oxidising methane inhibitor, commercially known as RumenGlas and developed by Glasport Bio, will be evaluated, both on its own and in combination with a range of other promising feed additives for beef and dairy cattle. A trial in Teagasc Grange demonstrated that a pelleted format of the inhibitor reduced methane by 28% with no negative effects observed on animal performance or health.   Manure  The efficacy of a slurry additive, GasAbate, produced by GlasPort Bio, will be tested at farm-scale, with the aim of creating a blueprint for widespread agri-sector roll out.  Methane losses from stored manures account for c. 10% of Irish agricultural GHG emissions. No effective, widely implementable and commercially available mitigation solutions currently exist. But research has shown the GasAbate additive reduces methane losses from stored slurries by more than 80%.   Breeding  In conjunction with the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, the MAGS project will develop and validate a selection and breeding programme for beef and dairy cattle that emit less methane which is produced from the gut during grazing.  Research by the project partners has already shown that some beef cattle can emit up to 30% less methane, for the same level of performance.   While the critical role that the rumen microbial community plays in methane emissions is acknowledged, the integration of microbiome data to improve genomic selection breeding of animals emitting lower methane emissions has not yet been applied in Ireland or internationally.    Dr Sinéad Waters, MAGS Project Lead and Lecturer in host microbiome interactions in the Environment at University of Galway, said: “Agriculture is Ireland’s oldest and largest indigenous industry but now faces major challenges in meeting the 2030 targets of a 25% reduction for farming-related greenhouse gas emissions. Strategies to mitigate methane emissions related to cattle and sheep need to be rapidly developed and implemented on farm to comply with these targets. With research partners and colleagues, and the support of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine our aim is to develop and deliver important solutions for the agri-food-industry to reduce methane from pasture-based farms. We have brought together a unique team of excellent scientists and industry partners whose collaboration can support the Irish agri-food sector and align with international initiatives such as the EU Methane Strategy and Global Methane Pledge.”  Professor Vincent O'Flaherty, Established Professor of Microbiology, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of Galway, said: “Significant progress has been made in the development of real-world solutions to reduce Irish agricultural greenhouse gas emissions through DAFM-funded research. GasAbate slurry additive technology to reduce GHG emissions by more than 80% is now available for on-farm demonstration and the next phase of work through the MAGS project will provide additional evidence to support widespread adoption. Ireland’s pasture system provides unique challenges for the development of effective methane supressing feed additives, but the results from our work to date have been very encouraging, with greatly reduced enteric emissions demonstrated in beef cattle fed with commercially produced diets containing novel additives. The MAGS project will develop and refine slow-release feed additive formats that, in combination with advances in breeding strategies, can provide critical support to Ireland in meeting its agricultural GHG targets.”  Professor David Kenny, Head of Animal and Bioscience Research at Teagasc said: “We are excited to be involved in this hugely novel and multidisciplinary research project. The holistic combination of state-of-the-art genetic and dietary based methane mitigation strategies together with the focus on development of practical solutions for pasture-based beef and dairy production systems, bodes well for successful implementation of new technologies emanating from the project.”   Ends 

New Blood Pressure recommendations produced by international expert panel, including Professor Bill McEvoy, University of Galway Guidelines recommend intensified BP targets and a new category of Elevated Blood Pressure to better identify people at risk of heart attack and stroke  The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) has today released updated guidelines on the management of elevated blood pressure and hypertension to better identify people at risk of heart attack and stroke. The new guidelines include a new category of Elevated Blood Pressure, more ambitious and intensive treatment targets, and, for the first time, recommendations on the use of renal denervation to treat various forms of hypertension. The guidelines have been produced by an international panel of experts, including co-chairpersons, Professor Bill McEvoy of University of Galway, and Professor Rhian Touyz of McGill University, Canada. This is the first time that an Irish academic has led a major European clinical practice guideline on the treatment of elevated blood pressure and hypertension, which has potential implications for more than 700 million Europeans. Professor McEvoy is also first author on the principal results paper for the INTERASPIRE research study which is being published in the European Heart Journal and coincides with the ESC Congress in London today, Friday August 30th, the world’s largest gathering of cardiovascular professionals. In the INTERASPIRE global study, 61% of participants with heart disease did not have their blood pressure controlled. Professor McEvoy’s dual roles as co-Chair of the ESC Guidelines and co-principal investigator on INTERASPIRE are closely connected. His work in the creation of the guidelines establishes evidence-based care standards, while his leadership in INTERASPIRE provides real-world data on blood pressure management in coronary disease patients worldwide and his work on this study bridges the gap between ideal clinical practices and actual global outcomes. Key takeaways from the updated ESC guidelines on hypertension: A new systolic blood pressure (BP) treatment target range of 120-129 mmHg for most patients receiving BP lowering medication. By placing the emphasis on an intensive treatment target as the first step in managing most patients, and only opting out of this target in select circumstances or when treatment is not tolerated by the patient, these 2024 guidelines represent a paradigm shift from previous European guidelines. The guidelines also provide pragmatic recommendations to pursue a BP that is ‘as low as reasonably achievable’ in patients who are unable to tolerate or who opt out of the intensive treatment target. The definition of hypertension remains BP ≥140/90 mmHg, however, the guidelines introduce a new category of 'Elevated Blood Pressure' which is defined as a BP 120-139/70-89 mmHg. More patients at risk of heart attack and stroke will be identified by the new category. The new 'Elevated Blood Pressure' category is introduced to facilitate consideration of more intensive blood pressure treatment targets among people at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. The updated guidelines introduce recommendations for new lifestyle options to help lower BP, such as new guidance on exercise and potassium supplementation. For the first time the ESC Hypertension Guidelines provide recommendations of the use of renal denervation to treat hypertension. Elevated blood pressure and hypertension are by far the most common and important risk factors for heart attack and stroke (otherwise known as cardiovascular disease). As many as 45% of European adults have hypertension. The new 2024 ESC Guidelines are designed to get more patients to an evidence-based blood pressure treatment target and to increase the eligibility for blood pressure lowering medications to match the best current evidence from clinical trials. They also provide numerous pragmatic recommendations to avoid patients becoming symptomatic from overtreatment. Professor McEvoy, Professor of Preventive Cardiology at University of Galway and Medical and Research Director of NIPC, said: “The new category of Elevated Blood Pressure recognises that people do not go from normal BP to hypertensive overnight. “It is in most cases a steady gradient of change, and different subgroups of patients - for example those at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease such as people living with diabetes - could benefit from more intensive treatment before their blood pressure reaches the traditional threshold of hypertension.” Professor Rhian Touyz of McGill University, Canada, said: “The risks associated with increased blood pressure, start at systolic blood pressure levels even below 120 mmHg.” In another major change, the 2024 ESC Guidelines introduce a new systolic BP treatment target range of 120-129 mmHg for most patients receiving BP-lowering medication, with the important proviso that the new target requires that treatment is well tolerated. The 2024 ESC Guidelines also provide pragmatic recommendations on a systolic BP target 'as low as reasonably achievable' (known as the ALARA principle) in frail and older people and in those not tolerating the primary treatment target of 120-129 mmHg. The guidelines focus more on ‘frailty’ of individuals rather than chronological age. Professor McEvoy said: “This change is driven by new trial evidence confirming that more intensive BP treatment targets reduce CVD outcomes across a broad spectrum of eligible patients.” This new systolic BP treatment target of 120-129 represents a paradigm shift from prior European guidelines, including the 2018 ESC/ESH Hypertension guidelines, the 2021 ESC Prevention Guidelines, and the 2023 ESH Hypertension guidelines. Specifically, whereas prior guidelines generally recommended patients be treated to a BP <140/90 mmHg in the first instance and only thereafter be considered for treatment to <130/80 mmHg (a 2-step approach) the new 2024 guidelines recommend that most patients be treated to a systolic BP of 120-129 mmHg in the first instance (those who cannot tolerate this target can have it relaxed). In part to accommodate this new more intensive systolic blood pressure treatment target range, the 2024 ESC Guidelines provide stronger recommendations than prior guidelines for the use of out-of-office blood pressure measurements (including ambulatory BP monitors and validated home BP monitors). The 2024 Guidelines also, for the first time, make recommendations on the use of renal denervation for treatment of hypertension. Due to lack of evidence regarding cardiovascular outcomes benefit, the guidelines do not recommend this medical procedure as first line treatment, and nor is it recommended for patients with highly impaired renal function, (eGFR <40 mL/min/1.73 m2) or secondary causes of hypertension. On renal denervation, the guidelines say: “To reduce BP, and if performed at a medium-to-high volume centre, catheter-based renal denervation may be considered for patients with resistant hypertension who have BP that is uncontrolled despite a three BP-lowering drug combination (including a thiazide or thiazide-like diuretic), and who express a preference to undergo renal denervation after a shared risk-benefit discussion and multidisciplinary assessment.” Professor Touyz explained: “These evidence-based recommendations provide guidance for clinicians and their patients on the use of this important new technology. However, it must be stressed that this procedure needs to be undertaken in a centre where there is expertise and experience.” The ESC Guidelines also update dietary advice on sodium and potassium intake and further emphasise the importance of life-style modifications for patients in a range of different circumstances and stages of CVD and chronic kidney disease. The Guidelines also highlight the importance of sex and gender differences in hypertension and integrate this throughout the document, rather than as a separate section, as in most other guidelines.  The full study in the European Heart Journal is available here. Ends