Many people engage in some form of energy citizenship, sometimes unknown to themselves. Communities on the Aran Islands are enthusiastically embracing the concept of energy citizenship through a civil society organisation that brings together the residents of the three islands with the aim of becoming self-sufficient in clean, locally owned energy from sun and wind, as well as helping to build the local economy of the islands. Their vision can pave the way for local economies globally.

Larry Donnelly, an American attorney, University of Galway lecturer and writer, has a foot in both the Irish and US camps, so to speak. Here he offers his views on the complex electoral process that is the US Presidential election, and the “unknowns” that could derail either candidate. Donnelly argues that despite their critical differences, most Americans agree on one point – America first. For Ireland, given our critical and treasured connections with the US, this means being aware of, and not naïve about, what is occurring across the Atlantic. 

The legacy of the wonderful Siobhán McKenna, actor and University of Galway alumnus, lives on in many ways, not least in the recent theatre award created by her family in her honour. Its first recipient, multitalented Nouf Rafea, speaks openly about her journey to date, her affinity with languages, and her fellow feeling with Siobhán McKenna as a theatremaker, linguist and activist.

With breaches of humanitarian law in Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan now documented in real-time, the public are placing inter-governmental human rights organisations under intense scrutiny. Here, Dr Andrew Forde explores the agency and authority of such organisations in protecting human rights in areas of conflict.   “ [a]ll human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights” In 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed that “ [a]ll human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”. These rights are often described as being universal, in other words, applicable to everyone, everywhere, without distinction. Yet, every day we see armed conflicts contradicting this principle despite it being codified in international law, including in regional instruments such as the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

Tom Felle, Associate Professor in Journalism and Media at the University of Galway, has spent three years leading the development of an UN-funded global media literacy programme to respond to the growing threats posed by disinformation targeting refugees and migrants. Here, he writes that the Global Media Migration Academy chimes well with the University’s core value of openness and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics at the University of Galway, in partnership with itag, Galway Chamber and Data 2 Sustain, convened 300+ business leaders and policymakers to the University of Galway’s Regional Business Summit (RBS) 2024. This pivotal event served as a platform for discussions on the pressing global challenges confronting businesses in our contemporary landscape.

Known respectively as the gateway to Latin America and the European Union, Miami and Ireland have historically thrived on global partnerships and the exchange of industry insights across borders. Here, Cois Coiribe follows the trajectory of a burgeoning partnership between University of Galway’s J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics and Miami’s FIU College of Business, following an interwoven thread of successful projects and student exchanges.