Alumni Events

Dublin Alumni Club

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‌The Dublin Alumni Club hosted a debate on the recent referendum on Tuesday, 12 May 2015 in the Aviva Stadium, debating on the topic of ‘Should Ireland have same sex marriage?’. Two of NUI Galway’s alumni, Lorraine Higgins and Rónán Mullen, took part and argued for the yes and no side respectively. The debate was chaired by fellow alumni and Irish Times journalist Harry McGee.

Pictured above: Alumni and debaters, Senator Lorraine Higgins (BA 2001), Harry McGee (BA 1987, Dip Journalism 1989) and Senator Rónán Mullen (BA 1991)

Biotechnology reunion

On 3 May 2015, a special reunion event took place at NUI Galway when the inaugural class of Biotechnology assembled in the Department of Biochemistry after 20 years. Following a welcome address by the then Programme Director and now Vice- President for the Student Experience, Dr Pat Morgan, the current Programme Director, Dr Andrew Flaus, gave an overview of the degree programme today. Dr Eric Mortimer and Dr Aideen O’Doherty, both members of this first class of Biotechs and now NUI Galway staff, gave participants a tour of infrastructural developments on campus in the decades since graduation before hosting the group with a reception in the quadrangle. Pictured opposite: Biotechnology class of 1995 taking a selfie in the Quadrangle

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Pictured above: President Browne presents the Cumann Caoga Bliain certificate to the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, who accepted the certificate on behalf of his class.

Alumni Gathering in Toronto

On Thursday, 12 March 2015, Alumni Relations held the first alumni gathering in Toronto in 25 years, an event which saw over 50 graduates and friends of NUI Galway gather together to reconnect and share memories of their time spent in Galway. Pictured opposite: Dr Jim Browne with 1961 graduate Dr Kenneth Fung.

A night at the Abbey Theatre

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In January 2015, a night for Dublin-based graduates was held in the Abbey Theatre for a performance of ‘She Stoops to Conquer’, a play by Oliver Goldsmith. During the pre-show reception, alumni were treated to a presentation on the relationship between NUI Galway and the Abbey Theatre, displaying some key pieces from its archives which are being digitized at NUI Galway. Alumni Association Board Chair Sean O’Rourke welcomed everyone and emphasised the importance of the relationship between the two institutions and the work being done in preserving the history of the Abbey.

Pictured above: Alumni Association Chair Dr Sean O’Rourke with NUI Galway alumni at the Abbey Theatre

Book launch

NUI Galway, in association with the RIA, launched Tim Robinson's book ‘Connemara and Elsewhere’ in the Irish Embassy in Paris on Wednesday, 17 June 2015. A discussion at the event was chaired by the Irish Times journalist, Lara Marlow, and included Tim Robinson, photographer Nicholas Féve and book editor Professor Jane Conroy.

Pictured above: Nicolas Féve, Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason and Tim Robinson in the Irish Embassy in Paris.

Alumni Golf Outing

The alumni annual golf outing took place in Galway Golf Club, Salthill, on Friday, 17 July. 28 teams of alumni and friends all played the 18 holes of golf, and the overall winner with 84 points was team Ó Muircheartaigh, followed by team Val McNicolas on 79 points and the third team Peter Crampton, also with 79 points.

Above: First place with 84 points Team Ó Muircheartaigh with Alumni Association Chair Sean O’Rourke receiving their new golf shoes each as the winner’s prize

Medical Class of 1975 40th Reunion

Forty members of the medical class of 1975 came back to campus on 13 June 2015 to celebrate 40 years since their graduation. After reminiscing over a lunch in the Quadrangle, the group were brought on a campus tour and visited the University’s new medical building. Pictured opposite: Dr Barbara Ó’Beirne and Dr Kathleen Faller from the class of 1975.

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President Browne is pictured with members of the class of 1965, President Michael D. Higgins and medical graduates Dr Clara D’Cruz, who travelled from Kenya, Dr Krystina Melichar, who travelled from the United Kingdom, and Dr Tora O’ Dowd from Salthill. The ladies have remained firm friends since their University days.

NUI Galway hosted its ninth annual Gala Dinner in New York City in November. This year’s honoree was Dómhnal Slattery, NUI Galway graduate and founding CEO of Avolon, a global leader in the aircraft leasing industry.

Pictured at the New York event from left: Dómhnal Slattery, CEO Avolon with Maureen O'Dowd, New York Times and honorary graduate NUI Galway, and President of NUI Galway, Dr Jim Browne.