Meet the 2023 IdeasLab Interns

The internship programme brings together students from all backgrounds and fields of study to join diverse teams that support our campus activities.

Riain

Riain O'Donoghue |   Film and Digital Media, IdeasLab Intern 2022

Meet Ríain O' Donoghue, a third year Film and Digital Media student, returning to the IdeasLab internship this semester. In the past Ríain has worked extensively across all medias, including photography, videography, podcasting and graphic design, and hopes to put these skills to use to aid in promoting the IdeasLab. The Irish Language is also incredibly important to Ríain and hopes to help the IdeasLab run events that promote the language and encourage the integration of Irish into more of the day-to-day at the IdeasLab. As a returning intern, Ríain looks forward to another semester back in the saddle with the IdeasLab.
in Connect with Riain
Éabha

Éabha Gaughan |   Arts, IdeasLab Intern 2022

Meet Éabha Gaughan, a third-year student in the University of Galway studying a BA with Law and English. Whilst coming from a background in humanities, she has great experience with supporting innovation, both through the ReelLife Science project here in University of Galway and through her bursary at the Marine Institute. She is also a traditional musician with involvement with University of Galway’s Trad Society.
in Connect with Éabha
Beatrice

Beatrice Stringa |   Commerce International with Spanish, IdeasLab Intern 2023

Meet Beatrice Stringa, an ambitious second year Commerce International with Spanish student with an international background; she was born and raised in the beautiful city of Milan, Italy. When she was just 15 years old, she was the youngest winner of WEP Italian selections 2018 for the annual exchange program that allowed her to attend her third year of high school in the United States. In 2021, Bea made the decision to further her education in Ireland, enrolling in a bachelor’s degree program at the University of Galway, and next academic year she will be going on Erasmus to Spain. Bea is a determined individual, with a strong work ethic, who loves to challenge herself, learn new things and step out of her comfort zone. She is thrilled about the opportunity to take part in the IdeasLab internship program that will provide her with valuable professional experience while being surrounded by a supportive community that encourages collaboration. In her free time, Bea enjoys staying active by running, swimming, spending time outside, and meeting new people from all around the world.
in Connect with Beatrice
Jack

Jack Casey |   Law & Business, IdeasLab Intern 2023

Meet Jack Casey from Ballina, County Mayo. A second year Law & Business student who has a keen interest in the consulting world. Jack is currently the Head of Competition in the Consultants & Entrepreneurs Society. He is also a previous consultant with the Irish Student Consulting Group, working with a high growth Irish company to develop their reach into the American and European markets. Jack also has experience working in industrial, manufacturing and customer facing roles where he operated as a team and on his own initiative. Jack enjoys working with teams to achieve tangible results and develop skills along the way. Jack has also recently secured a position as a taxation intern in PwC for the 2023 / 2024 academic year. Jack was first introduced to the IdeasLab through his position on the society where he gained an insight into the resources and the brilliant people that work there. Since his introduction to the IdeasLab, Jack signed up for various programmes in the 2023 semester. As a part of the new IdeasLab Intern team, Jack is really looking forward to the organisation and development of workshops and seminars to benefit the students across campus.
in Connect with Jack
Karen

Karen Gillooly |   Financial Maths and Economics, IdeasLab Intern 2023

Meet Karen Gillooly, 3rd year Financial Maths and Economics student, a past Johnson and Johnson Women in STEM2D Scholar in the University of Galway and former IdeasLab Intern. Previous experience as the Maths Officer in the WiSTEM Society inspiring females students to lead in their fields.
 Rachel

Rachel Cahill |   MA Publishing & Literature, IdeasLab Intern 2023

Meet Rachel Cahill, a University of Galway student from Wexford. She is studying a Masters in Publishing & Literature and is on the sales and marketing team for the 2023 edition of the ROPES Literary Journal. She has an undergraduate in English Literature and a professional certificate in Digital Methods & Data Literacy and Editorial, Commercial and Media Fashion Styling. Rachel is the creative director of self-published online magazine, Vapid; a digital magazine that pushes against the stigma that women interested in fashion are not interested in worldly issues. This project combines her passion for creative control, presentation, and writing and provides an outlet for creativity outside the academic realm. Following an internship at the Irish Film Institute, in which she helped launched the F-Rated Project; a collection of short films written, directed and acted by Irish female creatives, she became even more intrigued by the future of digital humanities and the publishing sector. As an Ideaslab intern for semester 2, Rachel is excited to work and develop new methods of educating and raising student awareness of the various resources provided by Ideaslab on campus.
in Connect with Rachel
Alan

Alan Donnelly |   Financial Mathematics & Economics, IdeasLab Intern 2023

Meet Alan Donnelly, a highly motivated and dedicated student, currently pursuing a degree in Financial Mathematics & Economics at University of Galway. He is the inaugural recipient of the Dr Séamus McDermott Entrepreneurial Scholarship, which recognizes his exceptional talent and potential in the field of entrepreneurship. This achievement is further evidenced by his inclusion in the top 100 STEM students in Ireland by Huawei Technologies, a distinction that highlights his outstanding academic performance and leadership abilities. Alan has been actively involved in various consulting and entrepreneurship initiatives both on and off campus. He has gained valuable experience as a strategy consultant with the Irish Student Consulting Group, where he worked on projects for real-world clients and honed his analytical and problem-solving skills. He is also the vice president of the Consultants & Entrepreneurs Society University of Galway. As an ambassador for the Irish Student Entrepreneurship Forum (ISEF) for the west of Ireland. Alan is eager to apply his skills and contribute to IdeasLab’s mission of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship among students.
in Connect with Alan
Courtney

Courtney Hefferon |   Commerce, IdeasLab Intern 2022

Meet Courtney, a final year commerce student who is currently specializing in the Finance Stream. She has previously taken part in some of IdeasLabs programs in past years and is interested in all things innovative and entrepreneurial.
in Connect with Courtney
Aaron

Aaron Ganley |   Commerce, IdeasLab Intern 2023

Aaron has worked as a professional Irish Dancer since the age of 14 touring the World with some of the biggest Dance productions ever created including Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance and Riverdance. He has also been a Competitive and Performative choreographer for the past five years, notably leading a troupe of dancers to Kunming, China to perform a showcase on Christmas, 2017. Aaron has also had a successful competitive dance career claiming numerous Major Titles through the years including being crowned World Champion on two occasions. Following the Pandemic, Aaron transferred from studying Business in Birmingham, UK, to Commerce in the University of Galway, where he is currently in Final Year, specializing in Marketing. Within the University, Aaron is currently co-choreographer of the Dance Society. He is also thrilled to be interning with IdeasLab this semester and also working closely with them on an exciting project in the Golf Industry. Aaron has other interests and passions which include golf which he competes in at +8 handicap, and has also worked as a Golf Supervisor in Glasson Lakehouse.
in Connect with Aaron