Artistic Director for the Abbey Theatre Caitríona McLaughlin has presented the 2024-2025 Siobhán McKenna Scholarship to University of Galway MA in Drama and Theatre Studies student Chen Rui (Daphne).   Siobhán McKenna was born in Belfast and went on to be a world-renowned actress of stage and screen, starring in Dr Zhivago, King of Kings and Of Human Bondage.   The Award and Lecture Series in her name was established by her family in celebration of the 100th year of her birth in 1922, to support the next generation of student creatives in drama and theatre in University of Galway.   The 2024-2025 Siobhán McKenna Scholarship has been awarded to student Chen Rui (Daphne), originally from China, who has a particular interest in intercultural and transcultural performance.   Donnacha O’Dea, Siobhán McKenna’s son who initiated the lecture series and scholarship award, said: "As we enter into the second year of this lecture series and award, the power of this initiative to further my mother’s legacy has become even clearer to me as the skills and national origins of both of our winners to date have challenged the limits of my own imagination in ways that I know my mother would have found exciting and energising.”   Dr Charlotte McIvor, head of Postgraduate Programmes in Drama and Theatre Studies in the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies, University of Galway said: “Chen Rui (Daphne)’s journey from China to Ireland to pursue this scholarship and further her theatre and performance skills at the intersection of theory and practice would make McKenna proud.  Chen’s particular interest in intercultural and transcultural performance epitomizes the hope of this scholarship as a continuation of and furthering of McKenna’s legacy through theatre practices yet to be even imagined.”               Caitríona McLaughlin, Artistic Director of the Abbey Theatre, the National Theatre of Ireland said: “McKenna had a profound impact on Irish theatre and her celebrated performances in English and Irish on stage at the Abbey Theatre are part of theatre lore. Not only did she star in many significant productions at the National Theatre of Ireland, it was pivotal to her life, as she met her husband Denis O’Dea at the Abbey in the 1940s. Her extraordinary international career on stage and screen led the way for many Irish actors who came after her. This scholarship award is a worthy way to honour her life, her family and future generations of theatre makers.”   The 2025 Siobhán McKenna Lecture’s celebration of the past, present and future of Irish theatre and performance through gathering leading practitioners, scholars and exceptional students at University of Galway epitomises the ongoing achievements of Drama and Theatre Studies at University of Galway which was recognised for the second year running in the top 100 QS World University rankings for Performing Arts.   Caitríona McLaughlin is an award-winning theatre and opera director. As part of the lecture, she also launched a new book by University of Galway academics, Dr Charlotte McIvor and Dr Ian R. Walsh, Contemporary Irish Theatre: Histories and Theories. It is the first contemporary Irish theatre history survey in 20 years covering both the Republic and Northern Ireland.    Siobhán McKenna’s career started in An Taibhdhearc Theatre in Galway and she went on to appear in Abbey Theatre productions in the 1940s before making her London debut in 1947 in The White Steed. She was also a theatre director, translator and activist, as well as an alumna of University of Galway.   The University of Galway Library is the custodian of the Siobhán McKenna’s archive. Donated to the University in 2012 and made accessible to the public in 2019, the collection consists of material in paper and audio-visuals, covering all aspects of her life and career, as well as material relating to her family and friends.   Born in Belfast in 1922, Siobhán McKenna’s career started in An Taibhdhearc Theatre, the National Theatre of the Irish Language in Galway and she went on to appear in Abbey Theatre productions in the 1940s before making her London debut in 1947 in The White Steed and continuing on to Broadway where she was the first Irish actor to win a Tony Award in 1956.  She was also a theatre director, translator and activist.     The event is co-presented by Galway University Foundation, University of Galway’s College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies; Drama and Theatre Studies; and Arts in Action.   Ends  

Political figures and distinguished academic experts gathered at Boston College to explore past, present and future contributions of the US to peacebuilding and reconciliation on the island of Ireland. The conference, ‘Peace, Prosperity, and Future Relations: The U.S. and Ireland North and South’, also focused on the unique relationship between the United States and both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. A collaboration between the Boston College Irish Institute, University of Galway, and Queen's University Belfast, the event featured discussions from key political and governmental figures, as well as renowned academics of Irish and Northern Irish politics and history. 2025 marks the 180th anniversary since the Queen’s Colleges in Belfast, Galway and Cork were founded in 1845. The conference examined critical issues such as the role of the US in fostering peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland, the ongoing political developments in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, and the shifting dynamics of US-Ireland relations in light of changing political landscapes. Topics ranged from the historical contributions of US diplomacy to the future of US involvement in Northern Ireland’s peace process. Professor Niall Ó Dochartaigh, Professor of Political Science at University of Galway, a 2024-25 Fulbright fellow researching US civil society peace-making efforts during the Troubles at NYU, said: “At a time of huge uncertainty about the role of the United States on the International stage, the country's contribution to the ending of the Northern Ireland conflict demonstrates the potential for the US to play a positive and significant role in peacemaking when it takes a balanced and principled approach and sustains engagement over the long-term.” Notable speakers included U.S. Representative Richard E. Neal, an advocate for Irish-American relations, Simon Coveney, former Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mark Durkan, former leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), Lee Reynolds, former Director of Policy for the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), and former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, Claire Cronin. The conference, which represents a benchmark in the Boston College-University of Galway-Queen’s University Belfast partnership launch in 2024, also featured a number of distinguished academics including Dr Helen Maher, University of Galway Vice President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion; Professor Ó Dochartaigh, University of Galway; David Quigley, Boston College; Professor Mary Murphy; Boston College Irish Institute; and Dr Peter McLoughlin from Queen's University Belfast. Ends

Graduates from five continents return to Ireland for conferring ceremony University of Galway’s Shannon College of Hotel Management welcomed more than 70 graduates from around the world today for its 2025 graduation ceremony.  Representing some of the top hospitality organisations on five continents, each graduate in attendance has already secured employment, continuing the College’s unbroken 100% employment record since its founding in 1951.   Graduates traveled from the UK, Australia, the Netherlands, Canada, China, the US, United Arab Emirates, Seychelles and beyond, showcasing the global reach of Shannon College’s alumni network. This year’s graduates join an esteemed alumni network holding leadership positions in hospitality organisations worldwide, from Michelin-starred restaurants to five-star hotels and global tourism hubs.    The event also celebrated student excellence, with over €30,000 in scholarships and prizes awarded, including the prestigious Banfi Scholarship, valued at $10,000, jointly awarded to Grace O’Toole and Megan O’Sullivan for their dedication and active participation while studying at Shannon College.   Professor Becky Whay, Interim Deputy President and Registrar at University of Galway said: “On behalf of University of Galway and our colleagues in Shannon College of Hotel Management, we send a huge congratulations to the class of 2025. The celebrations they enjoy today are a testament to their determination and desire to succeed and achieve. This year’s graduates of Shannon College follow a long line of alumni with reputations for providing the best in hospitality management with careers around the world. We wish everyone graduating today a great success in the future – wherever their journey takes them.”   Delivering the keynote address, David Fitzgerald, General Manager of Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel & Spa and Patron of Shannon College, shared insights from a distinguished career in hospitality. His leadership spans decades, including overseeing operations at Tipperary and Cork racecourses as Director of Woodlands Catering since 2004 and serving on the Board of Original Irish Hotels.               Sharing advice with students, David Fitzgerald said: “Graduation is funny word; it signifies the end of the last five years of your life but more importantly, it signifies the beginning of a whole life of adventure – as much or a little as you want. Remember, wherever your adventures take you, ‘Bloom where you are planted’, as St Francis de Sales said.”             Adrian Sylver, Head of Shannon College of Hotel Management said: “We are immensely proud of the David Fitzgerald Class of 2020–2025 as they graduate from Shannon College of Hotel Management. Their journey has been one of resilience, adaptability, and excellence, and today marks the beginning of an exciting global career path. With 100% employment secured, our graduates are now stepping into leadership roles in world-renowned hotels and hospitality businesses across continents—from Europe to North America, the Middle East to Asia. As they join our prestigious alumni network, they carry with them not only the skills and knowledge gained at Shannon but also a deep-rooted commitment to excellence that will shape the future of hospitality worldwide. We congratulate them on this incredible achievement and look forward to seeing them thrive on the global stage.”   Ends