Impact & Opinions | Tionchar & Tuairimí

Alumni

With over 110,000 graduates world wide, many of our NUI Galway alumni have gone on to do extraordinary things – changing the way we live, the way we work and the way we do business. In the 2022 Cois Coiribe Alumni Online Magazine, a magazine dedicated to our global University of Galway network delves into the achievements of the extraordinary alumni making waves in science, the arts, medicine and business, as well as our Alumni Award Winners. Meet them here…

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SDG Champion
18 December 2023
18  MINS

“Water is at the centre of the climate crisis.”

Rory Moses McKeown, WHO

As a fundamental human need affecting a range of SDGs, access to clean and safe drinking-water is essential to a sustainable future. Rory Moses McKeown, University of Galway alum and Senior Technical Consultant at WHO, shares his views on the challenges to water safety and access in a climate crisis, and the emerging role of water in global conflicts.

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SDG Champion
18 December 2023
16  MINS

Students for Climate Action: Cameron Noah Keighron

Cameron Noah Keighron

“Climate action can seem overwhelming; with all the media, reports and statistics, you might feel like you don’t know where to start.” University of Galway student Cameron Noah Keighron has joined 35 other students from 18 countries across the globe, to pave the way for a new generation of climate action. Through the Tallories Network, a cooperation for social responsibility in Higher Education, the group have devised a ten-year action plan to drive civic engagement and influence policy around education and meaningful research on the gendered impacts of climate change.

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SDG Champion
18 December 2023
12  MINS

In Conversation: Oliver Wall, Chief of Staff at Bank of Ireland

Oliver Wall

In University of Galway’s Literary & Debating Society, Oliver Wall first practiced the leadership skills that would stand to him throughout a rich career in politics and corporate affairs. A former adviser in the Department of an Taoiseach during Ireland’s Presidency of the EU Council, Oliver Wall is now Chief of Staff and Head of Corporate Affairs at Bank of Ireland. We caught up with Oliver to learn more about the impact of his work at Bank of Ireland, from wellbeing at work to greenhouse gasses and more.

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SDG Champion
18 December 2023
19  MINS

Alumni Spotlight: Sam  Murphy-Kerry, Accenture

Sam Murphy-Kerry

University of Galway graduate and business strategy leader, Sam Murphy-Kerry is the North America Director at the Sustainability Studio at Accenture Song, the tech-powered creative group of Accenture. Accenture Song’s Sustainability Studio is dedicated to making sustainability relevant and actionable for everyone. As the business world increasingly faces pressing calls for sustainable action, creativity and strategy have never been more important. Here, Sam explains to Cois Coiribe why sustainability and growth, by definition, “ought to go hand in hand.”

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SDG Champion
15 December 2023
23  MINS

Shaping MedTech’s Future: Gerry Kilcommins, Medtronic

Gerry Kilcommins

Medtronic’s Vice President of Global Platform Manufacturing & Medtronic Ireland Country Director, Gerry Kilcommins sits down with Cois Coiribe to discuss corporate responsibility in healthcare and sustainability, and the significance of the Medtronic–University of Galway partnership in cementing Galway’s place at the epicenter of one of top world MedTech hubs.

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SDG Champion
15 December 2023
33  MINS

Dr Martin Walsh OBE: Understanding Viruses at the Molecular Level

Dr Martin Walsh OBE

University of Galway alum, Dr Martin Walsh OBE has spent 30+ years studying the structure of biological molecules. In his work at Diamond Light Source, Oxfordshire, Dr Walsh uses X-ray crystallography to image a range of biological macromolecules from proteins and nucleic acids to viruses at the molecular level. The technique relies on generating crystals of the macromolecules which are then illuminated with X-rays to determine their atomic structures. At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the skills of Dr Walsh and his team were diverted towards early drug discovery in the race to address the worldwide health crisis. Now in 2023, he has been named an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to Science during COVID-19.

Past Events


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Resilient Innovation
28 June 2023
20  MINS

Propelling Innovation: University of Galway Spinouts

Today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving business landscape requires constant innovation. Founded in 2006, University of Galway’s Innovation Office is a hub for entrepreneurs, startups and established companies alike to propel their ventures to new heights in a supported environment.

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Resilient Innovation
26 June 2023
8  MINS

Regional Business Summit: Engaging People and Leading on Sustainability

In partnership with ITAG and Galway Chamber, J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics’ Regional Business Summit: Engaging People and Leading on Sustainability was a highly anticipated event at University of Galway, drawing over 150 business leaders, policymakers and sustainability advocates from regional industries and sectors. The summit, held on 31 March 2023, aimed to foster dialogue, collaboration and innovation to address pressing environmental and social challenges while promoting sustainable economic growth in the West of Ireland.

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Resilient Innovation
23 June 2023
9  MINS

50 Years of Excellence: MBA Anniversary Marks a Milestone in Business Education

2023 marks a significant occasion for J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, University of Galway as it celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.

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Resilient Innovation
22 June 2023
19  MINS

An Mheitheal Rothar: Pioneering a New Model for the Circular Economy

Dr Sinéad Mitchell, Lecturer, Sustainability and Strategy, College of Business, Public Policy and Law; , Catherine  Coote, Co-Founder,  An Mheitheal Rothar,

Today’s economy, defined by in-built obsolescence, relies on the extraction of over 90% virgin materials from the earth. Pioneering a new model for the ‘social startup’ based at University of Galway, An Mheitheal Rothar (AMR) is determined to show us that a circular economy is possible in the West of Ireland. Lecturer in Sustainability and Strategy, Dr Sinéad Mitchell and AMR cofounder, Catherine Coote tells us exactly what makes this unique model a success.  

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Resilient Innovation
22 June 2023
17  MINS

Lua Health: How Algorithms Can Help Detect Mental Health Issues at Work

Mihael Arcan, Fionn Delahunty

With support from the University of Galway, Lua Health is working to overcome the stigma around mental health in the workplace. Using machine-learning algorithms – this research-led start-up interprets how we speak and write at work to detect early signs of poor mental wellbeing – combining expertise in both natural language processing and clinical psychology.

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Resilient Innovation
22 June 2023
20  MINS

Jack O’Meara: Developing New RNA Therapies to Treat Liver Disease 

Jack O'Meara

University of Galway alum, Jack O’Meara is the co–founder and CEO of Ochre Bio, the cutting-edge startup that is developing new RNA therapies to treat liver disease. In 2023, O’Meara was named one of Forbes’ ‘30 Under 30’ star entrepreneurs in Science & Healthcare for breakthroughs in genomics empowering scientists to swap unreliable animal testing for studies on discarded human donor livers. 

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Creative Galway
15 December 2022
24  MINS

In Conversation: Ikenna Anyabuike

Meadhbh McNutt

University of Galway student, Ikenna Anyabuike, is an actor, writer, assistant dramaturg and one half of the musical duo, ARMCANDY. Ikenna was awarded the ‘Baptiste Programme’ with Smock Alley in 2022, the ‘Axis Assemble 2022’ with Axis Ballymun and the ‘Irish Seed Grant’ by the Irish Hospice Foundation for an upcoming collaboration with visual artist Maclaine Black (2023). He also performs as part of an ensemble for the play ‘The Kinds of Sex You Might Have in College’ with Active* Consent. A graduate of Drama and Theatre Studies, Ikenna is continuing his studies in 2023 with a postgraduate programme in Creative Arts Management at University of Galway. We sat down with the artist to talk through his creative process and his thoughts on education.

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Creative Galway
15 December 2022
16  MINS

In Conversation: Stephen Dooley

Meadhbh McNutt

Spotify is the world’s largest music streaming platform, serving 456 million users with access to songs and podcasts from artists across the globe.   Alum Stephen Dooley is both an independent musician and an Engineering Manager at Spotify. He recently played at Éalú Le Grá Festival as one half of London-based house duo, Delac. We sat down to ask Stephen about his thoughts on making music, studying at University of Galway and the influence of Spotify on the music industry today.   Image: Original photograph by Alex Waespi (alexandrawaespi.com), design by Unthink.

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15 December 2022
22  MINS

Spinout Success  

Ours is a thriving region, renowned for its culture, creativity, technology and innovation. Our research-driven university is at the heart of this distinctive region and the efforts of the Innovation Office underpins our impact and innovation ecosystem.

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15 December 2022
23  MINS

Honouring Galway’s Changemakers  

University of Galway recently announced the recipients of Honorary Degrees at the 2022 Winter Conferring ceremonies – Margaretta D’Arcy, Lelia Doolan, Dr Jerry Cowley and Ronan Scully.    

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15 December 2022
14  MINS

A Sustainable Future for University of Galway 

Sustainability has been gathering momentum as a core value at our university for a number of years now. Most recently, sustainability was enshrined in our University of Galway Strategic Plan 2020-2025 as one of four key values. Alongside and linked to – respect, openness and excellence – sustainability is now at the heart of everything we do.

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15 December 2022
6  MINS

College of Arts Graduate Focus: Aoife Geraghty

Aoife Geraghty

As part of our focus on University of Galway College of Arts, we chat to Aoife Geraghty, Brand PR & Corporate Communications team at Irish Distillers who undertook a Bachelor of Arts (English Language and Literature), 2018.

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15 December 2022
6  MINS

Spotlight on: Dr Odharna Ní Dhomhnalláin, Specialist Registrar

Dr Odharna Ní Dhomhnalláin, a native of Ennistymon, Co Clare, was the inaugural recipient of the McGinty Scholarship for Female Physicians. A graduate of Trinity College Dublin, Odharna obtained a Medical Degree and an MSc in Biomedical Sciences, followed by an internship in University Hospital Limerick, as part of the inaugural cohort of Academic Track Interns. She subsequently undertook her Basic Specialist Training in Medicine in Galway University Hospital (GUH), and spent two years working as a medical registrar in the Acute Medical Unit (AMU) in GUH while completing the MBA. 

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15 December 2022
9  MINS

Our Future: The College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences 

Professor Martin O'Donnell

As part of our focus on University of Galway College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Executive Dean Professor Martin O’Donnell discusses the FutureCare strategy, which focuses on the development of new educational healthcare programmes and a new research institute. 

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15 December 2022
10  MINS

Our Future: The College of Science and Engineering 

Professor Walter K. Gear

As part of our focus on University of Galway College of Science & Engineering, Executive Dean Walter Gear discusses the exciting plans afoot for the college. 

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15 December 2022
20  MINS

Celebrating Excellence in our Alumni Community: Alumni Awards 2022

The Alumni Awards recognise individual excellence and achievements among our graduates, celebrating those who have demonstrated impact in their fields on a local, national and international level. 

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15 December 2022
25  MINS

Dr Helen Maher, Vice President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, University of Galway   

Bríd Seoige

Whose identity, experience and knowledge matters and how are we accountable for including diverse perspectives and characteristics? These are questions that Dr Helen Maher, Vice President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), addresses on a daily basis at University of Galway. We sat down with Helen to reflect on our progress to date, the steps still to take and the vital difference that EDI makes to a university community.

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15 December 2022
12  MINS

Spotlight on: Anna Rafferty, Johnson & Johnson 

“Authenticity, self-awareness and resilience …the key to successful leadership, lies not only in knowledge, but in how we encourage and mentor our teams to successfully navigate the  workplace,” says Anna Rafferty, Director of Strategy at Johnson & Johnson.

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15 December 2022
13  MINS

Spotlight On: Hannah Douglas, OWUSS Scholar

Marine Science graduate Hannah Douglas is half way through a year-long experience of a lifetime – a whirlwind trip around the world to visit and experience up-close some of most remarkable sea life in existence as a 2022 European Our World-Underwater Scholarship Recipient.

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13 December 2022
9  MINS

Investing in our Students  

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13 December 2022
9  MINS

Spotlight on: Corina Cunningham, Lawyer, Vice President, Macquarie Group 

With a passion for law, Corina’s journey has taken her to some of the top financial and legal organisations in the world. Now a lawyer for Macquarie Group, Corina highlights the richness that working internationally affords to graduates.

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13 December 2022
20  MINS

In Conversation: Professor Pól Ó Dochartaigh, MRIA, Deputy President and Registrar, University of Galway 

Professor Pól Ó Dochartaigh

“We have one of the highest participation rates in the world in third-level education, but we are a long way off being one of the highest investors in that education. For the sake of this country and its young people we need to stop trying to do this on the cheap,”  says Deputy President and Registrar of University of Galway, Professor Pól Ó Dochartaigh.

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13 December 2022
9  MINS

Our Future: The College of Business, Public Policy and Law    

Prof Geraint Howells

Prof Geraint Howells, Executive Dean of the College of Business, Public Policy and Law   discusses the college’s ambitious plans for the years ahead.

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13 December 2022
10  MINS

Spotlight on: Arts Student, Katelyn Hayes

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06 December 2022
12  MINS

Spotlight on: Aoibhín Sheedy, Bioengineer

Founder of University of Galway’s WiSTEM (Women in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) Society, Aoibhín Sheedy’s passion for creating change in society through her research and outreach work is having a very real impact. Currently undertaking a PhD on developing an immunotherapy for ovarian cancer, Bioengineer Aoibhín talks to Cois Coiribe about her passion for celebrating women in STEM and how her mentors influenced her career.    

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Sustainability
28 June 2022
15  MINS

Empowering Youth to Create Change

Elaine Nevin

ECO-UNESCO is an environmental education and youth organisation aimed at channeling the creativity of our youth into positive environmental change. NUI Galway Alum, Elaine Nevin, is ECO-UNESCO’s National Director. Here, she talks about her own journey into environmentalism and how young people today are demanding change.

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Sustainability
15 June 2022
13  MINS

‘Sustainability is a smart business strategy’

Joanne Sheahan

Joanne Sheahan, Senior Executive for Climate Action & Sustainability with Enterprise Ireland talks about sustainability and business in Ireland.

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Sustainability
13 May 2022
13  MINS

In Conversation: Dr Matt Kennedy, Arup

Dr Matt Kennedy, A. Director of Carbon, Climate & Sustainability, Arup

Design engineering firm, Arup count buildings such as the Sydney Opera House and the Centre Pompidou among their innovative projects. As Associate Director of Carbon and Climate Change, Dr Matt Kennedy leads climate change services for Arup in infrastructure, buildings and cities. Across his 20 years of sustainability leadership spanning government, industry and academia, the NUI Galway alumnus has seen major changes in the way we think about climate change.

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05 May 2022
6  MINS

Meet Cara…a new approach to engagement

Cara, NUI Galway’s pilot digital assistant, helps the university to serve and encourage its students through every step of their university experience.   John Clancy, a 1996 graduate of Commerce, Law and Human Resources at NUI Galway and founder and CEO of Chatspace, the Galway-based AI start-up that developed Cara, talks about how AI can benefit the educational experience.   

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26 April 2022
8  MINS

Alumni Book Awards

NUI Galway has a rich literary history and many of our graduates from the MA in Writing have published books nationally and internationally and have successfully gone on to win or be short-listed for literary prizes.

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26 April 2022
12  MINS

Alumni Awards 2021 

NUI Galway Alumni in the worlds of the Arts, Sport, Public Service, Irish Language and Academia were among the distinguished recipients of the NUI Galway Alumni Awards 2021.  Image: Nicola Coughlan

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26 April 2022
9  MINS

If you can’t stand up, stand out

Isabel Keane

Isabel Keane, co-founder of Izzy Wheels, talks about her positive experience of studying at NUI Galway as a person with a disability.

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26 April 2022
12  MINS

Want a Seat at the Table? Then make your own Chair… 

Karen Conway, Director of Technology, Fidelity Investments, Ireland talks to Cois Coiribe about her career in technology, and co-designing the AI for Managers Post-Grad course.

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26 April 2022
12  MINS

Mike Stenson, Head of Innovation at Kingspan Group 

Originally from Curry, Co Sligo, Mike Stenson (BSc 1987), now Head of Innovation at Kingspan Group, the global leader in high-performance insulation and building envelopes, talks to Head of Journalism and Communication at NUI Galway, Tom Felle about tackling climate change, the importance of a STEM education and his guiding principles to leading a world-class team. 

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26 April 2022
8  MINS

NUI Galway News Recap 2021

A roundup of some of the top university stories from 2011

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26 April 2022
11  MINS

Recent Graduate Profile – Amanie Issa – LLM, 2021 

LLM graduate Amanie Issa shares her experience of moving from Bethlehem to Galway to study at NUI Galway in the middle of a pandemic.

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26 April 2022
47  MINS

Where an NUI Galway Degree can take you

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26 April 2022
24  MINS

Spin Out Success Stories 2021

Led from NUI Galway, BioInnovate Ireland is a national fellowship programme designed to facilitate innovation and entrepreneurship in the medical device sector in Ireland. Meet some of its 2021’s success stories.

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26 April 2022
19  MINS

Breaking down Barriers at NUI Galway 

Donors to NUI Galway Scholarship programmes join with the university to break down barriers to a university education, to recognise and celebrate excellence and to ensure that our university continues to be a diverse and vibrant community. Scholarships help shape the vision for NUI Galway supporting us to attract and retain the best and most deserving students.

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26 April 2022
17  MINS

Cybercrime – the ‘High Seas’ of the 21st Century? 

University of Galway graduate, Sean Morris, looks to the history of piracy on the high seas for pointers to the future of cybercrime.

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26 January 2022
23  MINS

A Humanitarian Catastrophe – on the Ground in Afghanistan 

Tom Felle

NUI Galway graduates are at the forefront of the humanitarian responses to some of the world’s most difficult global crises. From Defence Forces officers serving on dangerous posts in Lebanon, to Irish diplomats at the top table at the United Nations (UN) Security Council this year, the university’s global footprint in global peace and security is ever growing. Here, Tom Felle talks to two alumni of NUI Galway who are currently working in Afghanistan.

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