Nelson Mandela

NUI Galway Remembers Nelson Mandela

STATEMENT FROM DR JIM BROWNE, PRESIDENT, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND GALWAY

ON THE PASSING OF NELSON MANDELA

December 2013

On behalf of NUI Galway, I join with the global community in expressing our sadness at the passing of one of the world’s most beloved leaders.

Nelson Mandela was - and will remain -one of the most highly respected statesmen in history.  His capacity to endure political persecution and imprisonment and, most remarkably, to move beyond personal injustice to become the embodiment of reconciliation in post-apartheid South Africa has made him a lasting and powerful global symbol of goodness and integrity.

As an honorary graduate of NUI Galway, Madiba has a special place in the affections of NUI Galway staff, alumni and students.

Following the tenth anniversary of his honorary conferring, on 20 June 2003, we still cherish vivid memories of the day of his visit.  That day counts amongst the most memorable occasions in the history of our University. 

With a strong academic tradition in human rights law and public policy, we in NUI Galway are especially proud to count Nelson Mandela amongst the ranks of our alumni and for our university to be forever associated with his name.

TEACHTAIREACHT CHOMHBHRÓIN ÓN DR. JIM BROWNE, UACHTARÁN, OLLSCOIL NA HÉIREANN, GAILLIMH

Nollaig 2013

Thar ceann Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh, ba mhaith liom comhbhrón a dhéanamh le pobal na cruinne ar bhás duine de mhórcheannairí an domhain a raibh an-chion ag an saol mór air.

Bhí Nelson Mandela ar dhuine de na státairí ba mheasúla riamh, teist a mhairfeas go deo. Ainneoin gur céasadh é agus gur chaith sé blianta fada i ngéibheann de bharr a chuid barúlacha polaitiúla, bhí de mhianach agus de mhisneach ann gur éirigh  a bheag a dhéanamh dár fhulaing sé féin go pearsanta agus gur spreag agus gur chothaigh sé athmhuintearas  san Afraic Theas  tar éis na cinedheighilte. An dea-shampla  seo a thug sé ar ionracas agus ar mhaitheas ina shaol, mairfidh sé go buan mar spreagadh do chiníocha an domhain.

Ó tharla é ina chéimí oinigh de chuid Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh, bhí cion ar leith air ag foireann, alumni agus mic léinn na hOllscoile.

Tar éis an deichiú comóradh ar bhronnadh a chéime oinigh ar 20 Meitheamh 2003, maireann eachtraí an lae thábhachtaigh sin go glé inár gcuimhne. Tá an lá céanna ar na laethanta is tábhachtaí i stair fhada na hOllscoile.

Ó tharla go ndéanaimid cúram ar leith de chearta daonna agus den bheartas poiblí i dtéarmaí acadúla anseo in Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh, táimid fíorbhródúil as go bhfuil Nelson Mandela ar dhuine dár n-alumni agus go mbeidh a ainm luaite leis an Ollscoil seo go deo.