| NETWORK NEWS |
| Galway Supplement April 2005 |
| EDITORIAL |
by Iain Mac Labhrainn, National University of Ireland, Galway Dear Partners, It was founded in 1845 as Queen’s College, Galway, a title which changed with the politics of the times. It has seven faculties (Law, Arts, Science, Engineering, Celtic, Commerce & Medicine) and over 14,500 students in undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. In recent years, in particular, it has grown dramatically with many new buildings being constructed across the campus and the development of ‘outreach’ centres across the whole west coast of Ireland which support programmes taught through the Irish Language. It is a bilingual institution and you are very welcome to practice your Irish whilst here. The most important expressions are ‘sláinte’ and ‘aon deoch eile, más é do thoil é’. Andrew can provide translations. Seriously, though, this is Europe's oldest living language and traces its roots back through history to a common Celtic family. The university's research income has soared in recent times thanks to funding from the Irish government and the benefits of the so-called "Irish Tiger" economy. Grants worth tens of millions of Euros have been obtained in areas such as the Digital Enterprise Research Institute (DERI - linked with Austria); the National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science & REMEDI (adult stem cell research and biomaterials); the Centre for Human Settlement & Historical Change; Applied Optics; etc. This, coupled with the growth in student numbers (from about 4,000 to 14,500 in ten years or so), has put pressure on buildings and space, but the university owns some 110 hectares of land along the river (which flows from Lough Corrib through the city and into the sea at Galway bay) and is currently building along this stretch. CELT itself is still somewhat understaffed, but we hope soon to
fill a number of posts to get us up to our fully operational level.
Our areas of interest include academic staff development, eLearning,
audio-visual technologies, teaching and learning methods, higher
education research and civic engagement (exploring the university's
role in society) and we are funded from a variety of sources in
Ireland, Europe and the US. Best regards, |
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LOCAL TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
By Andrew Hamilton, National University of Ireland, Galway For those who intend an extended stay in Galway there is much to see and do in the City and surrounding areas. The city itself is a bohemian spot, with lively streets (in good weather!) and atmospheric nightlife. The nightlife centres on the pub where the traditional music and ‘cráic’ is not to be missed.
Those wishing to explore the countryside around Galway would do well to pay a visit to Connemara, with its picturesque little villages, castles and spectacular scenery (see above). Connemara is also the centre of the Irish speaking area or Gaeltacht and a perfect spot to immerse yourself in traditional Ireland.
Just south of Galway lies the Burren in County Clare. This area is famous for its unique limestone formations (see above) which form the unlikely home for some of the world’s rarest flowers, moths and butterflies. The Burren is also famous as a historic preserve for the first inhabitants of Ireland and many ancient burial sites (below) are visible to this day.
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