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We are delighted to share the June 2026 edition of the School of English, Media & Creative Arts Newsletter: June 2026 SEMCA Newsletter A sincere thank you to everyone who contributed to this edition. Your thoughtful submissions and updates have helped create a vibrant snapshot of the School’s recent achievements, events, and activities.

We are delighted to announce that the Lady Gregory - Yeats Autumn Gathering 2026 would like to offer 4 full scholarships to postgraduate students for this year's literary festival from 25th - 27th September at Coole Park and Thoor Ballylee, Co. Galway. The four 'Lady Gregory Scholarships' include access to the full weekend's program of events, accommodation, all meals, and local transport between the venues and accommodation at Gort. Upcoming highlights of this year's program are the wonderful Patrick Lonergan at Coole Park and Belinda McKeon at Thoor Ballylee amongst others! The theme of this year's event is Lady Gregory and Nature. This scholarship opportunity is open to students from any discipline in the University of Galway, who may be interested. The scholarships are sponsored by Lady Gregory's nephew James Persse. Our new website will go live very soon. Interested applicants for the scholarships could submit (max) 200 words about why they would like to attend the event and/or their interest in Lady Gregory/ Yeats/ their own research. Applicants should send expressions of interest by email to Dr. Melissa Sihra at msihra@tcd.ie by the 30th June 2026. 

'Aniar Aneas, Aniar Aduaidh': Ceolchoirm agus Ceardlanna le Taibheoirí Proifisiúnta do Dhaoine Óga Gaeltachta 15-17 bliana, maoinithe ag Clár Cuisle agus Ealaín na Gaeltachta 22-23 Meitheamh 2026 Is cúis mhór áthais dúinn a fhógairt go n-osclóidh ceolchoirm speisialta dar teideal 'Aniar Aneas, Aniar Aduaidh' an chéad oíche de chomhdháil SAR 2026 in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe ar an 23 Meitheamh https://sar2026.ie/. Ár mbuíochas ó chroí le Clár Cuisle/Ealaín na Gaeltachta https://ealain.ie/cuisle/ atá á mhaoiniú. Tabharfaidh an cheolchoirm speisialta seo ealaíontóirí den scoth le chéile ar an oíche, ar a n-áirítear: Orla Ní Fhinneadha (amhránaíocht), Becky Ní Éallaithe (damhsa/consairtín), Cathal Ó Curráin (veidhlín/bazouki/amhránaíocht), Éanna Ó Cróinín (píob), agus Seamus Hyland (bosca ceoil/rince seite), d'oíche spleodrach amhránaíochta, damhsa, agus ceoil le cuid des na healaíontóirí óga Gaeltachta is fearr sa tír. Beidh chomh maith deis ag daoine óga lúibín nua-cheaptha de chuid an bhanfhile iomráitigh ó Ghaeltacht Mhúscraí, Siobhán Ní Mhuimhneacháin, a fhoghlaim mar chuid den togra. Deis iontach is ea 'Aniar Aneas, Aniar Aduaidh' do thaibheoirí óga atá cheana féin dochreidte ag an gceol/amhránaíocht/damhsa ardán a roinnt leis na taibheoirí proifisiúnta thuasluaite. Tá gairm ar oscailt anois do thuismitheoirí ar mian leo iarratas a chur isteach thar ceann a bpáistí: Aniar Aneas Aniar Aduaidh - Eolas do Rannpháirtithe Sprioclá 29 Bealtaine.docx   Tá an fhoirm ar líne a bheidh le líonadh isteach ag tuismitheoirí le fáil anseo: 'Aniar Aneas, Aniar Aduaidh': Sprioclá d'iarrataisí Dé hAoine 29 Bealtaine 2026 – Fill out form Tá imeachtaí 'Aniar Aneas, Aniar Aduaidh' á reachtáil ag coiste Thaighde Dána, gur fo-choiste í de chuid IMBAS https://imbas.ie/. Is iad stiúrthóirí ealaíonta an togra ná: Tríona Ní Shíocháin, Síle Denvir, Nada Ní Chuirrín, agus Marianne Ní Chinnéide. Meitheal scoláirí ealaíonta is ea Taighde Dána a chuireann rompu cleachtas cruthaitheach agus taighde ealaíonta na Gaeilge a chothú, a spreagadh, agus a chur chun cinn. Tuilleadh eolais: taighdedana@ollscoilnagaillimhe.ie    Aniar Aneas, Aniar Aduaidh: Ealaín na Gaeltachta funded Irish-language Youth Arts initiative for SAR 2026 - Call for Applications now open - Deadline 29 May 2026 'Aniar Aneas, Aniar Aduaidh' brings together leading Irish-language artists from all of the major Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking regions) of Ireland for the opening performance of SAR 2026. The title of the concert plays on concepts of westerliness, while leaning into a parallel meaning of 'Aniar Aduaidh' (literally from the NorthWest), which means 'to be taken by surprise'! It showcases the engaged arts practice research of Taighde Dána (= Bold/Artistic Research), a collective of Irish-language artistic researchers dedicated to fostering arts practice and artistic research through the medium of Irish, in all its forms, from the traditional to the experimental. Taighde Dána is a subcommittee of IMBAS: an Irish Forum for Arts Practice Researchers and Artists. Join us for an evening of Gaeltacht traditional music and dance, and most especially a showcasing of the sean-nós singing tradition - a highly ornate free-rhythmic style of vernacular song practice of the Irish oral tradition. This performance will see established Gaeltacht artists - Orla Ní Fhinneadha (sean-nós singing), Becky Ní Éallaithe (sean-nós dance/concertina), Cathal Ó Curráin (fiddle/bazouki/sean-nós singing), Éanna Ó Cróinín (uileann pipes/sean-nós singing), and Seamas Hyland (accordion/melodeon/set-dancing/singing) -  collaborate with young Gaeltacht performers, fostering a space of intergenerational collective creativity from within a vibrant, though minoritised, arts practice culture. This concert celebrates the power of vernacular arts practice in contesting coloniality and enabling the articulation of contemporary Gaeltacht selfhoods from within the sonic world of an endangered language practice. The 'Aniar Aneas, Aniar Aduaidh' project is funded by the youth arts division of Ealaín na Gaeltachta, Clár Cuisle https://ealain.ie/en/cuisle-project/, who engage in pioneering work in Gaeltacht regions in fostering and promoting Irish-language arts among young people. 'Aniar Aneas, Aniar Aduaidh' is co-directed by Tríona Ní Shíocháin, Síle Denvir, Nada Ní Chuirrín, and Marianne Ní Chinnéide of Taighde Dána/IMBAS. Further information: taighdedana@universityofgalway.ie

We are pleased to present the latest edition of the School of English, Media & Creative Arts Newsletter: December 2025 SEMCA Newsletter Many thanks to everyone who contributed to this issue. Your excellent submissions and updates have helped make the newsletter a vibrant showcase of the School’s recent achievements, events, and activities.

Our Summer Newsletter is now available.  We have been busy!  Enjoy reading all about it! June 2025 SEMCA Newsletter