In the News..

The deepening partnership between GIAF and University of Galway has been a key factor in driving the festival’s remarkable development over the last number of years, enabling an unprecedented growth across art forms, venues and audiences. This year, the continued expansion of the festival onto the university campus has resulted in 21% of all GIAF venues located on campus, with close to 54,000 people expected to attend performances, exhibitions and talks across the university campus during the festival. At the heart of this collaboration is a shared commitment to the creation and presentation of new work, as well as public engagement through bold and contemporary programming. Thanks to the partnership, GIAF is proud to host its most expansive First Thought Talks series to date on campus, alongside world premieres and exhibits that speak to today’s cultural and environmental concerns. University of Galway is also home to GIAF’s largest venue - the Heineken Big Top - which will host 12 major live music performances this year, including The Stunning on 26 July, preceded by an exclusive alumni gathering on campus. Supporting New Work and Groundbreaking Theatre This year, the campus becomes a creative incubator, playing host to four new theatre productions — including two world premieres. These include: Why the Moon Travels, the world premiere of a new theatrical adaptation celebrating the richness of Irish Traveller heritage. The Baby’s Room, the latest immersive experience from Enda Walsh’s acclaimed Room Two productions in development: The House Must Win by Rosa Productions and Dating Amber, a co-production between Landmark Productions and GIAF. Hosting a Cross-Disciplinary Cultural Programme In addition to theatre and music, the university campus will showcase thought-provoking visual arts and interactive installations: Not Breaking. This Wave Drowns Hate by Kat Austen, a striking response to the global marine microplastics crisis. What Lies Beneath the Rubble, an urgent photographic exhibition by award-winning Palestinian photojournalist Eman Mohammed. Tactile Tunes, an interactive musical installation at the Aula Maxima. Expanding Public Discourse and Cultural Legacy This year’s First Thought Talks will feature a wide range of prominent thinkers, including Fintan O’Toole and five University of Galway faculty members, engaging with pressing contemporary themes. The talks - held entirely on campus - are a cornerstone of the festival’s ambition to foster critical public discourse. Beyond the stage and gallery, the partnership also strengthens the cultural legacy of the festival. The University continues to house and curate the GIAF Archive, including the Galway International Arts Festival Oral History Project, which documents the lived experiences of festival creators and participants. New recordings, developed in collaboration with Dr Barry Houlihan and the University’s Archives, are added annually and made fully accessible via the university’s digital repository. Empowering the Next Generation of Arts Leaders The festival also provides significant opportunities for student and alumni engagement. This year, the university-backed GIAF Volunteer Programme will welcome 536 volunteers, while 12 students from diverse disciplines will take part in SELECTED - GIAF’s academy offering behind-the-scenes access to festival-making and exclusive meetings with artists and producers. GIAF CEO John Crumlish said: “The relationship with the University of Galway is very important to us. It has played a significant role in our development, has facilitated our growth, played a major role in the expansion of the Festival footprint and provided valuable support in the development of new Irish work.” University of Galway Interim Deputy President & Registrar, Professor Becky Whay, said: “Our partnership with the Festival has community and opportunity at its heart - from the students on our SELECTED programme and their learning and experiences, to our colleagues on the ground who make all the events happen, to the volunteers and to the welcome we can afford to the audiences. We love the vibrancy and creativity that it offers the University and importantly the city.” Galway International Arts Festival would like to acknowledge the support of its principal funding agencies the Arts Council and Fáilte Ireland; its Drinks Partner Heineken®; Education Partner University of Galway.        

A PhD researcher who investigates the body’s own cannabis-like chemicals in response to pain has won University of Galway’s Threesis challenge.  Whittled down from an initial 80 participants, Kevin Murray earned top prize in competition with 12 postgraduate research students in the Threesis Grand Finale in the University’s O’Donoghue Theatre.   The finalists were tasked with sharing the story of their research in just 3 minutes, using three slides, in front of three judges and a voting audience, including members of the public.  Threesis is a fast-paced research communications competition, with presentations covering a range of topics including the future of medical research, ocean ecosystem accounting for Ireland and the lived experiences of female migrants in the Irish hotel sector.  Originally from Co Mayo, Kevin Murray is studying in the University’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and is affiliated with the Centre for Pain Research and the Galway Neuroscience Centre. His research is supported by the Canadian Institute of Health Research.   His presentation - The Endocannabinoid System and Pain: Ancient System, New Frontiers - described his research project, which investigates the relationships between the body’s own cannabis-like chemicals - endocannabinoids, genetics and mood in response to painful stimuli.  Second place went to student Maryam Arif for her presentation - Deadly cargo, Smart Delivery. Originally from India, she is pursuing a PhD in Cancer Biology in the School of Chemical and Biological Sciences. Her research is working to advance cancer treatment through nanomedicine. By developing targeted, drug-loaded liposomes designed to selectively kill cancer cells, particularly those resistant to conventional treatment, the aim is to improve therapeutic outcomes for cancer patients.  Third place went to student Eléa Thuilier for her presentation - Augmented Reality  Video Games for Osteoporosis. Originally from France, Eléa is pursuing a PhD based in the School of Computer Science. Her research is supported by the Research Ireland Centre for Research Training in Digitally Enhanced Reality (CRT-DREAL). Her research investigates the use of immersive technology and video games for patients with osteoporosis by proposing a novel and engaging technology-based training programme. Eléa also represented University of Galway in the national competition ‘Ma thèse en 180 secondes’ where she was runner-up in the competition to present a research project in 3 minutes in French.  The Public Choice Award went to Alison Hall for her presentation - High Steaks: Reducing Methane Emissions in Cattle Farming. Based in the School of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Alison’s research is being undertaken as part of the Methane Abatement in Grazing Systems project funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine.  The judges were: Louise McCormack, 2024 Threesis Winner; Deirdre Giblin, Vice President of Operations and Site Lead at Datavant Ireland; and Professor Dónal Leech, Dean of Graduate Studies at the University of Galway.  Professor Dónal Leech said: “Threesis is a highlight each year for our research community as it provides an accessible overview across the University of the ground-breaking research underway by our postgraduate researchers. Our 12 finalists were outstanding in their ability to condense their complex and specialised research into just three minutes for a public audience. My congratulations to the winners and finalists, and also to the 80 students who participated in training and heats, and the many colleagues across campus who support this programme.”  Organised by the Office of the Vice-President for Research and Innovation along with a campus-wide network of supporters, the Threesis competition was initiated at University of Galway in 2012 and is open to all postgraduate research students at the University.  Ends 

Minister of State with responsibility for Forestry, Farm Safety and Horticulture, Michael Healy-Rae T.D., has launched a new report on timber construction research needs at University of Galway. The publication of the new report - Research and Development Needs for Timber in Construction in Ireland - aims to support the promotion of greater use of timber in construction. It was published by the Government’s Interdepartmental & Industry Working Group on Timber in Construction in collaboration with the Timber Engineering Research Group at University of Galway. The Working Group aims to increase the use of wood in construction while maximising the use of Irish-grown timber. The report outlines the research and development needs to be addressed in Ireland to support promotion of greater use of timber in construction. It highlights the opportunities for further targeted research to advance the use of timber, particular mass engineered timber, whilst ensuring the highest possible degree of building safety and boosting the use of homegrown timber in construction. To mark the publication, the Minister visited the Timber Engineering Research Group facilities in the Alice Perry Engineering Building at the University of Galway and saw firsthand the research in timber currently taking place. The report presents the results of a survey conducted among members of the Research and Development group within the Timber in Construction Steering Group. It sets out priority research and development actions to support greater use of timber in construction, sustainable building and carbon reduction.  Key actions identified by the report include the development of a central online repository for timber in construction including case study demonstrator projects and new technologies. It also includes an assessment of incentives to promote an increase of timber in construction, collection of data on durability performance and whole lifecycle carbon assessments for Irish timber. Minister Healy-Rae said: “With the construction sector seeking more sustainable alternatives, it is vital we recognise the role our forests can play in shaping the future of our built environment. This Government is committed to supporting timber use in building projects, and I welcome the dedication of stakeholders in Ireland, researchers in particular, in identifying how innovation can help advance the use of timber in construction in Ireland.” The report was authored by Dr Patrick McGetrick, Chair of the Research and Development thematic group and Associate Professor in the College of Science and Engineering at University of Galway. Dr McGetrick said: “The publication of this report is very important for the advancement of timber construction in Ireland. Research plays a critical role in ensuring the safe and effective use of timber as a structural material. It provides scientific evidence that enhances confidence among engineers, architects, builders and the general public as end users. “There are still many questions to be answered in relation to the use of wood in construction, not only from a structural design point of view, but also to maximise its performance, and to better understand the environmental benefits of its use for carbon storage. Addressing these questions require academia, industry and policymakers to work together, and I am delighted to see the results and future potential of such collaboration reflected in this report.”  The Timber Engineering Research Group (TERG) was established at University of Galway in 2004 by Professor Annette Harte and is currently led by Dr Patrick McGetrick. It is an internationally recognised multi-disciplinary research group and the national leader in this area, linking academia with industry and developing international standardisation for wood products and timber construction. It aims to support the increased use of timber as a sustainable construction material by performing technical and scientific research to create a broader understanding of the basic material and develop added-value engineered wood products. Ends