a presidential encounter - National University of Ireland, Galway

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ALUMNI NEWS DUBLIN EVENTS DUBLIN AWARDED 2009 ALUMNI GROUP OF THE YEAR...DUBLIN AWARDED 2009 ALUMNI GROUP OF THE YEAR...DUBLIN AWARDED A Tour de force from Ó Tuathaigh A “tour de force” is how Dublin Alumni Chair Seán O’Rourke summed up the lecture given by Professor Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh in Dublin this May. Ó Tuathaigh, the celebrated academic and GAA enthusiast, was giving the lecture, ‘The GAA at 125 … The Challenges of Change’, as part of a popular series of events held by the Dublin Alumni group. His talk made the case that the secret of the GAA’s success as a social force in Ireland for 125 years lay in “its adaptability and its ability to manage change rather than any deep conservatism inherent in the organisation…” Lisbon debate makes headlines Another of the Dublin Alumni group’s events made the papers when debate participant Declan Ganley announced he would not lead an anti-Lisbon Treaty campaign unless he won a seat in the European elections. In April, 200 alumni and guests attended the controversial debate entitled “Lisbon 2: Rabbitte vs Ganley” to see NUI Galway alumnus Pat Rabitte of Labour debate with Declan Ganley of Libertas. David O’Leary in full voice at Dublin’s House of Lords Young tenor wakes the neighbours The House of Lords, Bank of Ireland, College Green was the very grand venue for the latest offering from the Dublin Alumni group. Led by RTÉ’s Seán O’Rourke BA 1977 and Alumni Awardee 2006, the group presented the young graduate tenor David O’Leary to a gathering of 120 Galway graduates on a night in March in the centre of Dublin city. It was the third University appointment in five months for David, an arts and law graduate of NUI Galway who has trained under tenor Ronan Tynan amongst others. He first performed for former US president Bill Clinton at Galway University Foundation Gala in New York City and headlined the 2009 University Gala Banquet and Alumni Awards. The Dublin event afforded David a more extensive and varied repertoire than the previous occasions and guests were treated to a programme of traditional, musical, classical and contemporary pieces. Well within earshot of fellow university Trinity College Dublin, the audience chorused for a rabble-rousing finale of The West’s Awake. On this occasion, no-one seemed to mind waking the neighbours! Mark Hannify BSc 2003, PhD 2008, Lorcán Price BA 2006, LLB 2007, and Patrick McCluskey BA 2007, LLB 2008 Husband and wife Ailbhe Ó Monacháin BA 1991, HDipEd 1992 and Siún Nic Gearailt BA 1994, HDipA 1995 with guests at the tenor reception Alumni, including former GAA president Joe McDonagh, travelled from Athlone and Galway to attend and to hear the Director General of the GAA, Paraic Duffy, respond to Ó Tuathaigh’s commentary. Duffy said he was privileged to have witnessed O’Tuathaigh’s extraordinarily astute insights into the GAA, its history and challenges. Attendees were also impressed by the candour of Duffy’s response which led to sustained commentary in the media in the days and weeks after. Professor Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh BA 1965, MA 1968 Joe McDonagh BA 1974, HDip in Ed 1978, Padraic Duffy, Director General, GAA, Sean O’Rourke BA 1977, Conor McMorrow MA 2003, Professor Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh BA 1965, MA 1968, Rónán Ó Domhnaill BA 1997 and Jonathan Mullin BCorpLaw 2000, HDipAppComms 2002 Declan Ganley and Pat Rabitte BA 1970, HDipEd 1972, LLB 1977 are pictured with Harry McGee BA 1987, Dip Comm Studies 1989, LLB 1993 (far left) and Cillian Fennell BSc 1988 (far right) Meltdown – a view from Wall Street Alumni Award winner and Chair of the Galway University Foundation US Board Declan Kelly presented a Wall Street view of the global financial crisis to a group of nearly 100 prominent alumni business leaders. Declan is Executive Vice President of FTI, a leading strategy consulting company which counts many governments, including several in Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East, amongst its impressive client list. The presentation ‘ The Perfect Storm Up Close’ was held in the Davenport Hotel, Dublin and was led by RTÉ’s Seán O’Rourke, chair of the Dublin Alumni group. Seán O’Rourke BA 1977, Declan Kelly BA 1989 and Dr James J Browne Brian O’Donnell BA 1974, LLB 1976, Brian Joyce BA 1962, BComm 1962, HDipEd 1963, and Seán O’Rourke BA 1977 Paul Hession and Colm Murray BA 1972 view a rerun of Paul’s Olympic semi-final in Beijing Sprinter meets match in fast-talking Murray Olympian and NUI Galway medical student Paul Hession was interviewed by RTÉ’s Colm Murray at an event hosted by the NUI Galway Arts and Media Branch in November 2008. The event, which took place at Buswell’s Hotel in central Dublin, saw the famously fast-talking Colm Murray interview the sprinter about his experience of running in the Beijing Olympics in 2008. He also asked him about his racing plans between now and the next Olympic Games, London 2012. Hession, a medical student at NUI Galway, is currently on a study break in order to devote himself fulltime to running and his goal of Alumni savour “A Taste of Dublin” 50 alumni and friends attended food festival A Taste of Dublin organised by the Dublin Alumni group. Graduates were offered greatly discounted VIP tickets which provided access to the Brown Thomas VIP Suite. A Taste of Dublin is a four-day celebration of fine food and drink, which takes place in the lovely setting of the Iveagh Gardens in June. This year’s event saw 20 of the capital’s top restaurants and their well known chefs serve sample-sized dishes to over 30,000 foodies. Neil Whoriskey BA 1986, Liz Burns BA 1986, HDip in Ed 1987, Laura Monaghan HDip Applied Communication 1995, MA 2006, Deirdre Veldon BA 1991, HDip Applied Communication 2006 competing in the London Olympics. See interview with Paul on p22. Conor McMorrow MA 2003, Paul Hession, Colm Murray BA 1972 and Neil Whoriskey BA 1986 In addition, several top-quality artisan producers showcased some of the best food the country has to offer, while live jazz and salsa bands added to the feel-good atmosphere. The occasion marked the end of the season for the Dublin Alumni club which has gone from strength to strength providing Dublin-based alumni with a wide-ranging programme of activities as featured above. Visit www.nuigalway.ie/alumni for information on future Dublin Alumni events. Madeleine Lyons, Laura Monaghan HDipA 1995, MA 2006 40 41
ALUMNI NEWS US EVENTS NEW ENGLAND New England Galway Grads (NEGGs), the New England Chapter of the NUI Galway Alumni Association, has been as active as ever over the last few months, gaining an average of two new members each month and organising several events for members. September: ICONS Irish Festival in Canton, Massachusetts. Met with dozens of graduates including Junior Year Abroad (JYA) graduates from around the area. NEW YORK Druid event a big hit INTERNATIONAL EVENTS BEIJING Chapter hosts Christmas reception November: NACAC College Recruitment Fair in Baltimore, Maryland, with representatives from NUI Galway Admissions Office. Galway Foundation dinner in NYC with special guest Bill Clinton. December: Wren Day reception on 26 December, where we raised a glass and a song (or two!) together and gathered several boxes of food donations for local food pantries. February: Lunch in Harvard Square, Cambridge, followed by the Bulmers Irish Film Festival showing of Rua and a visit with Winnie the Pooh in Harvard Yard. Members and guests enjoying the New England Galway Grads Volvo Race-viewing cruise in Boston Harbour: Lorcan O’Connor, Colm McGarry, Padraig Bradley, Enda O’Coineen, Sarah E Kelly, Ann Marie Joyce, Haluk Akbudak, Helen Gibbons and Frank Gibbons April: Palm Sunday Mass and Irish Breakfast at the ICC in Canton, Massachusetts. May: Volvo Race Green Dragon bon voyage reception and race-viewing cruise in Boston Harbor. President McAleese’s visit to MIT. July: Irish night at the Brockton Rox baseball field. August: Summer barbeque. September: ICONS Irish Festival. Dozens of alumni attended the Druid Theatre Company’s acclaimed production of The Cripple of Inishmaan in New York City on 26 February. Written by Martin McDonagh, and directed by NUI Galway alumna and Tony Award winner Garry Hynes, Cripple has received rave reviews and the graduate group was not to be disappointed. “Rollicking laughter – and gasps when that trademark McDonagh darkness reared its head!” commented one guest. Graduates including Ms Hynes met before the show for a drinks reception hosted by the New York Alumni group. After the show guests mingled with the stars of the play, NUI Galway graduate Marie Mullen and Aaron Monaghan. The Beijing group at the Christmas reception Nearly 30 Chinese alumni attended a Christmas Beijing Alumni Chapter reception in Tsinghua University. Guest of honour was Dr David O’Sullivan, Senior Lecturer, Industrial Engineering and Director of the Computer Integrated Manufacturing Research LONDON Alumni gather for club relaunch Unit (CIMRU). Dr O’Sullivan was visiting lecturer in Beijing’s Tsinghua University last December. This event was the third Beijing alumni event in the last year and it also celebrated the China launch of Cois Coiribe 2008. Tri-state alumni had attended another Druid night at the theatre earlier in year when the Galway company brought The Walworth Farce to town. Kevin Fitzgerald BComm 1994, Tom Joyce, Executive Director, Galway University Foundation and Kerry Fitzgerald Anthony Doherty BA 2007, Patrick Harte BCL 2003, Alys Harte BA 2005, Martina Callanan BA 2005 and David Russell BA 2004 at the relaunch of the NUI Club London Cripple of Inishmaan director Garry Hynes BA 1974, LLD (Honoris Causa) 1997 (left) is pictured with Seamus O’Grady, Director of Adult & Continuing Education and Druid Chairman, and Patricia Cullen Over 20 NUI Galway alumni met up with graduates from other Irish universities and colleges for the annual New Year’s party in London in January. The event was a great success and offered alumni the opportunity to meet new friends and catch up with old ones. Aedhmar Hynes BA 1986, Coilin Parsons, and brothers Patrick BComm 1987 and John Feeney MB, BCh, BAO 1998 attending the reception at the Metropolitan Club, New York Clodagh Finane BA 1999, Suzanne White BA 1999, LLB 2001 and Jennifer Scanlon MBS 2006 NEW YORK Reception at the Metropolitan Club On 6 May, the US Alumni Association of NUI Galway and Galway University Foundation hosted a cocktail reception at the Metropolitan Club in New York City to introduce Galway graduates to President James J Browne. The event attracted 60 graduates and friends of NUI Galway and included a brief talk by President Browne about developments and activities at NUI Galway. Liam Reidy BA 1994, H Dip Ed 1995 with Sarah Kelly, Galway University Foundation, and Mary Liddy BA 1992, LLB 1994 at the Irish Technology Leaders conference in Silicon Valley, San Francisco 30 NUI Galway London-based graduates also attended the NUI Club London relaunch in February 2009. This event took place in the recently refurbished Irish Club in Blackfriars with NUI Senator Joe O’Toole as the keynote speaker. The aim of the Club is to bring together Irish graduates in London through social and networking events. The Club is currently At the New Year event for London alumni were Claire Hall BA 1998 and Geraldine O’Flynn BA 1999 organising the National University of Ireland Club London Ball, which will take place later this year. See www.nuigalway.ie/alumni for updates. 42 43
Page 1 and 2: A PRESIDENTIAL ENCOUNTER President
Page 3 and 4: INTERVIEW UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE NUI
Page 5 and 6: GALWAY UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION Fundra
Page 7 and 8: UNIVERSITY NEWS Extensive coral ree
Page 9 and 10: STUDENT NEWS Sporting honours never
Page 11 and 12: FEATURE Maths makes its mark Tony B
Page 13 and 14: FEATURE One track mind One track mi
Page 15 and 16: COVER STORY Add a university educat
Page 17 and 18: PROFILE FEATURE Leading from the fr
Page 19 and 20: PROFILE AN ALUMNUS IN... Man of man
Page 21: ALUMNI NEWS GALWAY EVENTS NUI GALWA
Page 25 and 26: CLASS NOTES Ursula Bracken BA 1993,
Page 27: Exclusive to NUI Galway Graduates T

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