Events

2021/22 Events

Celebrating Pride in the West of Ireland

The NUI Galway LGBT+ Staff Network has a series of upcoming events to celebrate Pride in the West of Ireland:

• LGBT+ Staff Nework Membership -  We are updating our membership database so please join or renew your membership here. Our Network is open to all members of the LGBT+ community and allies.
• Sligo Pride - Saturday August 6^th  - we will take part in their march for the first time. This is an important time to show solidarity to the LGBT+ community in Sligo given the tragic events there this year. We have organised a bus for which there is limited availability. Book your space here.
• Galway Pride flag-raising event - Wednesday August 10^th from 11:30am, outside the Quadrangle. Following this, we will be hosting a discussion on supports for LGBT+ young people locally and nationally. For more details and to register your attendance, click here.
• Galway Pride’s Parade - meeting at City Hall from 12.00 on Saturday August 13^th.
• We would welcome new steering committee members. Please email us at lgbt@nuigalway.ie if you are interested in helping us.

Promoting LGBT+ Inclusion in Higher Education and AGM

The LGBT+ Staff Network hosted a webinar on Friday, February 4th, 2022 to discuss LGBT+ inclusion in higher education institutions. We were joined by two speakers: Helen Maher, Vice-President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, NUI Galway, and Dr Fiachra Ó Súilleabháin, Lecturer in Social Work and Social Policy, UCC.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the LGBT+ Staff Network took place immediately following the webinar, and members agreed on the work programmes to progress over the coming year.

First Friday Monthly Social Meet-ups

We continue to develop our First Friday Social Meet-ups each month for our members. In Oct, Nov, and Dec 2021 we held coffee mornings both outside and virtually to begin developing our social networking following Covid restrictions, and in Feb 2022 we held our first evening pub social event for members. These First Friday monthly events will continue throughout the 2021/22 academic year.

2020/21 Events

Festive Social Gathering 2020

As campus was still closed, and social engagement still impacted by Covid-19, the LGBT+ Staff Network held on online social gathering on Dec 11th, 2020 to mark the end of a difficult year. Network members were invited to join for quizzes, games, and a chance to catch-up with colleagues we hadn't seen for a while.

LGBT+ Thoughts and Lives Webinar 2021

In Feb 2021, the LGBT+ Staff Network hosted a webinar for the university community. Dr. Mary McAuliffe, historian and gender lecturer at UCD, spoke on the theme " 'Having no use at all for men' - same sex relationships among Irish women revolutionarys and feminist activists." NUI Galway research project "Mapping LGBT+ Lives at NUI Galway", led by Dr Declan Coogan and funded by the EDI Project Fund, was presented including finding on the involvement of NUI Galway in the development of LGBT+ community supports in Galway City.

Galway Pride 2021

The LGBT+ Staff Network hosted an online event on Aug 11th to mark Galway Pride 2021. The event, "Conversion Therapy in Ireland: Research and Awareness", covered the current status of conversion therapy in Ireland as well as what responsibility we have within higher education and research to address this issue and work toward banning this practice in Ireland. Network members were also encouraged to attend the socially-distances flag-raising in Eyre Square.

2019/20 Events

Universities as Vehicles for Change Seminar 2019

The LGBT+ Staff Network hosted our AGM on Dec 9th 2019. The Keynote Speaker for the AGM was Ailbhe Smyth, who spoke on the theme of "Queerness on Campus - Universities as Vehicles for Change". Many in attendance learned about the role that NUI Galway played in the historical developments of LGBT+ supports within Galway City.

International Women's Day 2020

To mark International Women's Day in March 2020, the LGBT+ Staff Network highlighted and celebrated the fact that women are leading the majority of our local and national LGBT+ organisations. We hosted a panel discussion on "Women and Leadership in the LGBT+ Community" in the James Hardiman Building. Guest panellists included: Lisa Connell (Managing Editor, Gay Community News), Aoibhinn Keighron (Chairperson, Galway Pride), and Sharon Nolan (Coordinator, Bi+ Ireland). 

Virtual Check-in April 2020

Following the shut-down on NUI Galway's campus, the LGBT+ Staff Network hosted a virtual coffee morning and check-in for it's membership. 

Galway Pride 2020

Executive Members of the LGBT+ Staff Network attended the Galway Pride flag-raising to mark the start of a very different Pride season in 2020. Network members also contributed to a Galway Pride event on "Wellbeing in the Workplace" held online on August 11th, 2020.

2018/19 Events

International Women's Week 2019

For International Women's Day celebrations on campus, on March 4th, 2019 the LGBT+ Staff Network hosted "Queer Women in Higher Education" an open forum for discussion of the issues and challenges in the intersection of gender and sexuality. 

LGBTSTEM Day 2019

The LGBT+ Staff Network joined groups worldwide in celebrating LGBT+ people in STEM on July 5th, 2019.  The Network held an informal coffee morning for the network and LGBT+ Allies, where LGBT+ STEM colleagues were able to discuss their research and interests.

Galway Pride 2019

To mark Galway Pride week 2019, the LGBT+ Staff Network joined Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, President of NUI Galway, Professor Anne Scott, VP for Equality & Diversity, and Nuala Ward, Galway Pride Grand Marshall, to raise the Pride flag in front of the Quadrangle on 13 August 2019. The LGBT+ Staff Network then hosted a talk on the history of LGBT+ Activism and Pride in Galway by Nuala Ward in the O'Donoghue Centre followed by a reception.  All students, staff, and members of the public were invited to attend.

2017/18 Events

Early Networking Meetings

The Office of the Vice-President for Equality and Diversity held several networking meetings in 2017 to engage staff and get responses on what type of developments would be welcome at NUI Galway. There was good engagement and the feedback at these events led to a strategy meeting and the subsequent development of the LGBT+ Staff Network.

Galway Pride 2017

NUI Galway staff had never before been involved in Galway Pride, so one of the first intiatives of the newly formed Staff Network was to mark Galway Pride on campus and march in the Pride parade. The Pride flag was raised by the President of NUI Galway in front of the Quadrangle on 8 August 2017 to mark Galway Pride and the launch of the LGBT+ Staff Network.

International Women's Week 2018

During 2018 International Women's Week at NUI Galway, the LGBT+ Staff Network invited Dr Mary McAuliffe to join us to celebrate by giving a talk titled " Same sex relationships among Irish revolutionary women". Dr McAuliffe is Assistant Professor in Gender Studies at UCD, specialising in Irish women's/gender history. The event was well attended and guests joined Dr McAuliffe for refreshments and discussion following the talk.

‌LGBTSTEM Day 2018

The LGBT+ Staff Network marked the first International LGBTSTEM day on 5 July 2018 by holding a coffee morning in the Human Biology Building, followed by an LGBT STEMinar in the Alice Perry Engineering Building. Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, President of NUI Galway, opened the LGBT+ STEMinar which had a fantastic line-up of current staff and alumni providing insight into their personal and professional experiences.  The day ended with a table quiz fundraiser benefiting Galway Pride 2018.

Galway Pride 2018

To mark Galway Pride week 2018, the LGBT+ Staff Network again invited the President of NUI Galway to raise the Pride flag in front of the Quadrangle on 14 August 2018. To coincide with Pride week the Network launched the Road to Equality Exhibit in the O'Donoghue Centre. The Road to Equality exhibition showcases 40 years of activism that reshaped Ireland culminating in the introduction of marriage equality and gender recognition. This exhibition was developed by the National LGBT Federation who generously loaned it to NUI Galway.