Special screening of feature film ‘That They May Face The Rising Sun’ ahead of cinema release  Director Pat Collins and producer Philip King announced as Adjunct Professors   New photographic exhibition showcases McGahern country landscapes and everyday inspirations  University of Galway has announced a special celebration of links to revered writer John McGahern with a special screening of the feature film That They May Face The Rising Sun, a unique photographic exhibition and new adjunct professorships.  The film screening took place at Pálás Cinema, Galway on Wednesday April 24th, ahead of the UK and Ireland cinema release.  To coincide with the film production and its partnership with University of Galway, director Pat Collins has been announced as Adjunct Professor of Film with the Huston School of Film and Digital Media for a period of three years and producer Philip King has been named Adjunct Professor of Cultural Entrepreneurship for a period of three years.  The exhibition – A Deep Well of Want: Photographs and Archives of McGahern Country – featuring photographs by Paul Butler and new material from the John McGahern archive at University of Galway Library is being launched on the same day as the screening as part of Cúirt Festival of Literature.  President of University of Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “Our University has a strong tradition of links to the arts, creativity and of archives – both in their preservation and in making them accessible to the public. Our work on this front is true to our values of openness, excellence, respect and sustainability and our support for the film, for the adjunct professorships for Pat Collins and Philip King and for the exhibition, demonstrates our ambition to bring John McGahern and his contribution to Ireland’s literary heritage to audiences where we can. I would like to congratulate all those involved in the feature film That They May Face The Rising Sun and also to those who delved into the archives to shine a light on the everyday inspirations for one of the finest writers this country has ever produced.”   Dr Barry Houlihan, Archivist at University of Galway Library and curator of the exhibition, said: “Our exhibition presents a visual and documentary journey through the sites, places, words and ideas that formed a wellspring for the literary imagination of John McGahern. We are delighted to have created and host this evocative trove of imagery, alongside manuscripts and materials from the McGahern archive, as a superb addition to the Cúirt Festival of Literature. Combined with the beautifully captured and evocative photographs by Paul Butler, the exhibition is a unique opportunity to explore the visual and the written landscapes of McGahern and of Co Leitrim.”   That They May Face The Rising Sun is the third feature from Irish director, Pat Collins (Song of Granite, Silence), and had it is Irish premiere as the closing gala for Dublin International Film Festival on March 2nd.  It was produced by Tina O’Reilly and Brendan J. Byrne and Executive Produced by Philip King with backing from Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and the support of University of Galway.   That They May Face The Rising Sun was McGahern’s final book, published in 2002, capturing a year in the life of a rural, lakeside community in Ireland in the 1970s after Joe and Kate Ruttledge return from London to live and work among the small, close-knit community near to where Joe grew up.  Directed by renowned director Pat Collins, the film stars Barry Ward (Jimmy’s Hall, Bad Sisters) and Anna Bederke (Soul Kitchen, Sterben) in the lead roles. Lalor Roddy (Grabbers, God’s Creatures), Sean McGinley (Michael Collins, Braveheart), Ruth McCabe (Philomena, Joy Ride) and first-time actor Phillip Dolan are part of a rich cast of supporting characters.  Speaking on the upcoming release, Nell Roddy from Break Out Pictures said: “That They May Face The Rising Sun is a beautifully observed and emotionally charged film from one of Ireland's most prolific directors. We hope audiences across the UK and Ireland will embrace the film as much as we did when we bring it to the big screen this April.”  University of Galway is home to the John McGahern Archive, which was acquired in 2003 and runs to more than 50 boxes of literary papers, drafts, manuscripts, letters and photographs documenting his life and writing.   The exhibition draws on Butler’s recently published photo-memoir book, A Deep Well of Want: Visualising the World of John McGahern (Peter Lang Press, 2023), as well as the archive. The images and written materials bring the viewer and the reader into a unique visualisation of the world of McGahern Country through words, photographs and manuscripts.  Ends

University of Galway has announced a reduction to the fee for repeat examinations. Following collaboration between the University’s Students’ Union and Dean of Students Professor Ciara Meehan, a joint proposal has been approved to reduce the cost of resitting examinations by one third – bringing the rate from €295, down to €195. The lower rate will be in effect for students who are repeating exams in summer 2024. It will be a flat rate, regardless of how many exams a student is required to retake, and a special waiver scheme is available for those in need of financial support. University of Galway’s Dean of Students, Professor Ciara Meehan, said: “The reduction in repeat exam fees comes following collaboration the University and the Students’ Union. We are conscious of the costs associated with education and the cost-of-living pressures on young people nowadays. Everyone involved in education wants our students to excel and to achieve their best, and while we do not want to see any student have to repeat their exams, we also know that the fee reduction will have a meaningful impact.” Students’ Union President Dean Kenny said: “We're absolutely delighted with this decision, which comes off the back of a significant amount of effort from multiple Student Union executives. Our repeat fee has long been a contentious issue for our students, particularly through the Covid-19 pandemic, and while this €100 reduction is not a silver bullet, it's going to help a lot of students out this year and into the future. I'd particularly like to commend University management and the Dean of Students for working with us on this, and to the student body for continually making their feelings known. Comhaltas na Mac Léinn, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe will always support eventual abolishment, and it's now over to the incoming SU executive to keep the pressure on University management and ensure that further reductions remain a top priority."   Ends

Tá an Teanglann seolta go hoifigiúil ag Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. Seomraí ateangaireachta comhdhála agus áis teagaisc í an Teanglann agus léiríonn sí seasamh na hOllscoile mar phríomhinstitiúid na hÉireann chun oideachas a chur ar ateangairí. Is léiriú iad na háiseanna ar an éacht atá déanta i ndáil le hoiliúint, oideachas agus taighde ar an ateangaireacht in Éirinn agus ní fhéadfaí iad a fhorbairt murach an comhoibriú leis an gCoimisiún Eorpach, an Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán agus Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. D’oscail Ard-Stiúrthóir Ateangaireachta an Choimisiúin Eorpaigh (DG SCIC), Genoveva Ruiz Calvera, An Teanglann go hoifigiúil. Dúirt Genoveva Calvera: “Is mór an onóir freastal ar shearmanas oscailte na teanglainne ateangaireachta agus a fheiceáil go bhfuil toradh ag teacht ar an gcomhoibriú atá le fada an lá idir an Ard-Stiúrthóireacht SCIC agus Ollscoil na Gaillimhe agus céimithe óga ateangaireachta i mbun ateangaireacht Ghaeilge d’Institiúidí an AE cheana féin.” Dúirt Thomas Byrne T.D., an tAire Stáit le freagracht as an nGaeltacht: “Is cúis áthais dom go raibh sé ar chumas mo Roinne, i gcomhar leis an gCoimisiún Eorpach, an maoiniú a chur ar fáil do na seomraí oiliúna ateangaireachta comhdhála seo in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. Is mór an t-éacht é áiseanna den scoth a bheith ar fáil do mhic léinn chun ceird na hateangaireachta comhdhála a fhoghlaim agus níl aon amhras orm ach go meallfaidh na seomraí oiliúna ateangaireachta seo go leor mic léinn chuig an MA san Ateangaireacht Chomhdhála; dá thoradh sin beidh soláthar de chéimithe oilte ateangaireachta a bhfuil líofacht acu sa Ghaeilge agus i dteangacha eile ar fáil le dul i mbun róil thábhachtacha san Eoraip.” Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag an Ollamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, Uachtarán Ollscoil na Gaillimhe: “Is ócáid thar a bheith tábhachtach é seoladh na Teanglainne Ateangaireachta Comhdhála seo don Ollscoil agus d’Éirinn trí chéile agus is léiriú maith iad ar luach an bhairr feabhais agus ar an deis atá againn na caighdeáin is airde san oideachas a chur ar fáil. “Ba mhaith liom aitheantas a thabhairt don tacaíocht fhíorluachmhar ón gCoimisiún Eorpach agus ón Rialtas don tionscadal seo chun na chéad ateangairí eile a oiliúint don Eoraip agus níos faide i gcéin. Leis an deis seo is féidir ár gcuid mac léinn a chumasú mar cheannairí na todhchaí i réimse na hateangaireachta comhdhála agus cuireann sé béim ar thiomantas an ilteangachais agus na caighdeáin is airde ateangaireachta a chur chun cinn san AE agus níos faide i gcéin.  “Cuirimid fáilte mhór roimh an Ard-Stiúrthóir Genoveva Ruiz Calvera chuig an Ollscoil. Ó tharla í a bheith anseo linn is léiriú é ar an tábhacht a bhaineann lenár gcomhoibriú agus an tiomantas atá againn araon oideachas agus cleachtas ateangaireachta teanga a chur chun cinn.”  Dúirt an tOllamh Rebecca Braun, Déan Choláiste na nDán, na nEolaíochtaí Sóisialta agus an Léinn Cheiltigh: “Trí iarrachtaí comhoibríocha agus tionscnaimh nuálacha, tá Ollscoil na Gaillimhe tiomanta i gcónaí do thodhchaí an oideachais ateangaireachta teanga a mhúnlú agus cumarsáid thraschultúrtha a chur chun cinn ar scála domhanda. Tá ríméad orainn na deiseanna a chuireann na háiseanna ateangaireachta comhdhála ar fáil dár gcuid mac léinn a fheiceáil, chomh maith le caidrimh a fhorbairt agus a chothú le heagraíochtaí ar nós an tAE agus na NA agus le daoine gairmiúla san earnáil.” Dúirt Susan Folan, Ateangaire Gairmiúil Comhdhála agus Stiúrthóir Cláir an MA san Ateangaireacht Chomhdhála: "Deimhníonn an áis nua seasamh Ollscoil na Gaillimhe mar an t-aon institiúid in Éirinn a thairgeann sainoiliúint d’ateangairí comhdhála. Trí na seomraí nua seo beimid in ann cruinnithe ilteangacha a reáchtáil le hateangaireacht i 6 theanga dhifriúla ag an am céanna. Nascann an teicneolaíocht ár gcuid mac léinn le hoiliúnóirí gairmiúla agus le taighdeoirí ateangaireachta ar fud an domhain as croílár an champais. Tá gairm fhuinniúil dhomhanda roimh chéimithe tar éis taithí a fháil ar sheomra ranga fuinniúil agus cuimsitheach.” Tá trí sheomra ateangaireachta sa Teanglann agus sé bhoth san iomlán. Tá dhá chonsól chaighdeánacha ateangaire i ngach both agus tá siad feistithe leis an teicneolaíocht is nuaí. Is féidir na trí sheomra a nascadh le chéile do chruinnithe móra, le clúdach teanga níos fearr, agus freisin bíonn oiliúint chianda chomhuaineach (RSI), atá tagtha chun cinn sa mhargadh ó aimsir Covid níos éasca dá bharr. Tá an Teanglann deartha ar mhaithe leis an eispéireas tumfhoghlama, chun oideachas ateangaireachta agus an teagasc hibrideach a chur chun cinn. Tá idir oiliúnóirí na hOllscoile, ar gairmithe cleachtacha iad go léir, agus ateangairí atá ag obair in institiúidí comhpháirtíochta idirnáisiúnta amhail an Coimisiún Eorpach, Parlaimint na hEorpa, Cúirt Bhreithiúnais na hEorpa agus na Náisiúin Aontaithe ag obair sa Teanglann, rud a chuireann leis an eispéireas foghlama agus a chinntíonn go bhfuil sé ábhartha do chásanna i saol an lae inniu.  Tá an áis á húsáid acu siúd atá i mbun an MA san Ateangaireacht Chomhdhála, ar a mbíonn 15 mhac léinn in aghaidh na bliana faoi láthair. Is as Éirinn, Ceanada, an Spáinn, an Cholóim, an Iodáil agus an Fhrainc na mic léinn ar an gclár Máistreachta i mbliana, le raon teangacha dúchasacha na dtíortha sin, chomh maith le Gearmáinis agus Béarla. Is féidir freastal ar theangacha eile ar an gclár freisin, ag brath ar éileamh. Críoch