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University of Galway has officially launched its 2025/26 Gaelic Games season at a special event celebrating its elite student-athletes and the future of the sport.  The event brought together players, sponsors, Gaelic Games committee members, and University staff to mark the start of Higher Education Championships and to showcase the University’s vision and ambitions for clubs and students involved in Gaelic Games.  The launch highlighted the University’s four codes - Senior Men’s Football, Senior Ladies Football, Hurling and Camogie - with a strong emphasis on working towards the development of the One Club Model, an innovative approach designed to strengthen unity, shared standards, and a collective identity across all clubs.  University of Galway’s Sport and Physical Activity Unit is working on a plan towards the One Club Model that will be sustainable and beneficial to all students interested in Gaelic Games. The event also highlighted the University’s dual aspirational ethos, creating opportunities for participants at every level, from beginners to high-performance athletes.               Des Ryan, Director of Sport and Physical Wellbeing at University of Galway, said: "The launch of our 2025/26 Gaelic Games championship season is an opportunity to bring everyone together and clearly communicate our vision for sport at University of Galway.  “We want to be the most progressive and caring university sports programme on the Island of Ireland. Our Gaelic Games clubs are a great example of this, and we look forward to going on a journey to a One Club Model that is built on firm foundations.  “The launch is also a great opportunity to thank our sponsors and celebrate an exciting period for student athletes. We want our players to feel fully supported as students and athletes, while enjoying their sport and striving for the highest standards across all four codes."  The event featured star players such as Eva Noone, Galway Ladies Footballer, Reitseal Kelly, Galway Senior Camogie player, Canice Mulligan, Sligo Senior Footballer, Matthew Thompson, Galway Senior Footballer, and Sam O’Farrell, Tipperary Senior Hurler.   Alongside these established names, the squads included a number of exciting young rising stars, including Shay McGlinchy and Aaron Niland, whose impressive performances at underage inter-county and club level highlight the depth of talent at University of Galway and its pivotal role in developing players across Men’s Football, Ladies Football, Hurling and Camogie.  The launch also acknowledged the continued commitment of the University’s Gaelic Games sponsors, club committees and volunteers, whose efforts remain central to the success, growth and sustainability of Gaelic Games across all four codes.  Ends

D’fhógair Ollscoil na Gaillimhe go n-ainmneofar a Leabharlann nua i gcuimhne ar an Dr Karen Guinee, céimí sa leigheas. Fuair an Dr Karen Guinee bás sa bhliain 2006, go gairid i ndiaidh di a cuid staidéir san Ollscoil a chríochnú. Cuimhnítear uirthi mar alumna cumasach agus tuisceanach a thug faoina cuid oideachais agus oiliúna mar dhochtúir le díograis agus dúthracht. Déantar an fógra faoi ainmniú Leabharlann an Dr Karen Guinee i ndiaidh dúinn bronntanas daonchairdiúil suntasach a fháil ó Fhondúireacht Charthanachta Michael Guinee, atá ag tacú freisin le bunú scoláireachta nua do mhic léinn leighis i gcuimhne ar an Dr Guinee. Gabhann Ollscoil na Gaillimhe buíochas ó chroí leis an bhFondúireacht agus déanaimid comhbhrón le muintir Guinee, agus beidh oidhreacht an Dr Karen Guinee beo i gcónaí de bharr an bhronntanais seo. Dúirt muintir Guinee: “Is cúis mhór bhróid dúinn, muintir Guinee, an fógra faoi ainmniú Leabharlann an Dr Karen Guinee in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. Sciobadh Karen uainn go tragóideach beagnach 20 bliain ó shin, seachtain sular bhain sí céim amach mar dhochtúir. D’fhág a bás folús inár saol agus bhain tráma dothuigthe dúinn go léir mar theaghlach. Bhí Karen thar a bheith gealgháireach, cineálta, grámhar agus comhbhách. Airímid uainn í gach lá agus tuigeann gach duine a raibh aithne acu uirthi an folús atá fágtha ina diaidh aici. Beidh Leabharlann an Dr Karen Guinee mar chomhartha leanúnach ómóis do Karen. Dúinn féin mar theaghlach, tabharfaidh sé brí níos doimhne dúinn de bheith dá huireasa. Sna sé bliana a chaith Karen ag déanamh staidéir ar an leigheas in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, is iomaí uair an chloig a chaith sí sa Leabharlann le cairde, ag roinnt eolais agus á saibhriú féin le smaointe agus pleananna don ghairm bheatha a bhí amach roimpi. Mar theaghlach, tá súil againn go gcoinneoidh gach mac léinn Karen ina gcuid cuimhní, san áis álainn den chéad scoth, áis a thabharfadh ardú croí do Karen gan dabht. Fuair Karen bás go hóg, ach maireann a hoidhreacht fós. Gabhaimid ár mbuíochas ó chroí le Michael Guinee, uncail agus athair baistí Karen, le Fondúireacht Charthanachta Michael Guinee, agus le gach duine in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe a raibh baint acu leis an ainmniú seo. Go mbeidh sólás againn agus fios againn nach ndéanfar dearmad ar dhuine thar a bheith speisialta choíche." Dúirt Uachtarán Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, an tOllamh David Burn: “Thar ceann phobal Ollscoil na Gaillimhe agus gach duine a bheidh mar chuid den phobal sin amach anseo, ba mhaith liom aitheantas a thabhairt do theaghlach Guinee, agus d’Fhondúireacht Charthanachta Michael Guinee. Ní mar gheall ar an tragóid a tharla a bhfuil meas á léiriú againn ar an Dr Karen Guinee, ach mar gheall ar an saol a chaith sí. Agus Leabharlann Ollscoil na Gaillimhe á hainmniú ina diaidh, aithnímid a mianta, a comhbhá agus a tiomantas domhain chun cabhrú le daoine eile. Agus é sin á dhéanamh againn, cuirimid i láthar an domhain mhóir go bhfuilimid ag iarraidh Ollscoil shábháilte, mheasúil agus chuimsitheach a bhaint amach agus tugaimid le fios an cineál pobail agus sochaí atá uainn. Tá i bhfad níos mó ná foirgneamh i gceist le Leabharlann an Dr Karen Guinee; is oidhreacht í. Áit staidéir agus fionnachtana a bheidh inti, chomh maith le háit ina léireofar teacht aniar agus dóchas.”             Dúirt an Dr Michael Guinee, Cathaoirleach Fhondúireacht Charthanachta Michael Guinee: “Mar an chéad duine ina teaghlach a chuaigh chuig an ollscoil, ba thuar dóchais í Karen agus an gealladh a bhí fúithi tabhairt faoi ghairm mar dhochtúir. Ba chailliúint mhór domsa mar a hathair baistí a bás agus dá teaghlach, dá cairde agus don phobal a raibh sí i ndiaidh freastal a dhéanamh air cheana féin le cúram agus le dúthracht. Trí Leabharlann nua Ollscoil na Gaillimhe a ainmniú ina diaidh, tá súil agam go mbeimid in ann ómós a thabhairt di, agus glúnta mac léinn amach anseo a spreagadh chun gairm bheatha ardchaighdeáin a bhaint amach ina léireoidh siad dúthracht.”  Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag Monica Crump, Leabharlannaí Ollscoil na Gaillimhe: “Beidh Leabharlann an Dr Karen Guinee mar spás foghlama agus taighde, inspioráide agus nuálaíochta, comhoibrithe agus machnaimh chiúin – ómós oiriúnach do bhean óg a raibh a saol, cé go raibh sí gearr, lán le cuspóir, croíúlacht agus gealladh. Is mór an onóir dúinn a bheith bainteach leis an gcuimhne sin.” Tá Leabharlann an Dr Karen Guinee in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe á tógáil faoi láthair i lár champas chathair na Gaillimhe agus beidh sí ina mol lárnach don fhoghlaim, taighde, comhoibriú, agus pobal. Tá radharc ón bhforbairt shuntasach ar Abhainn na Gaillimhe agus is féidir í a fheiceáil ó Bhóthar an Chaisleáin Nua agus ó Dhroichead na gCúig Céad. Gné shuntasach is ea go mbeidh urlár na talún oscailte don phobal i gcoitinne. Tá an foirgneamh nua thart ar 10,000m2 ar mhéid agus beidh idir 4 agus 6 urlár ann, le 2,244 spás staidéir (méadú suas le 400 ar na spásanna atá ar an gcampas faoi láthair). Tá sé deartha chun foghlaim agus taighde an 21ú haois a chumasú trí spásanna a chur ar fáil d'obair aonair agus d’obair chomhoibritheach agus tacóidh ionad scoláireachta digití agus cúinne cruthaitheachta níos fearr le nuálaíocht, cruthaitheacht agus táirgeadh eolais. Cuirfear “book-bot” i bhfearas, is é sin córas ard-dlúis stórála agus aisghabhála do bhailiúchán leabhar fisiciúil na Leabharlainne. Tacóidh foireann saineolaithe le haistear foghlama na mac léinn ag an deasc chabhrach, an Mol Rathúlachta Foghlama agus an limistéar Teicneolaíochta Cúnta. A bhuí le zón fáilte, ina mbeidh limistéar imeachtaí agus taispeántais, beidh Leabharlann an Dr Karen Guinee ina háit don phobal agus don rannpháirtíocht. Tá tacaíocht an Rialtais ag an tionscadal chun Leabharlann an Dr Karen Guinee in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe a thógáil freisin le deontas caipitil €15 mhilliún ón Roinn Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta faoin gCiste Bonneagair Straitéisigh um Ardoideachas (HESIF) agus an tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas. Meastar go mbeidh an tógáil tugtha chun críche sa bhliain 2027. Tá tacaíocht dhaonchairdiúil bhreise curtha ar fáil go fial do thógáil Leabharlann an Dr Karen Guinee ag grúpa ceannródaíoch alumni agus ag deontóirí aonair eile, agus ag lucht tacaíochta corparáide lena n-áirítear CBE agus Anthony Ryan Ltd. Críoch

University of Galway has announced its new Library is to be named in memory of Dr Karen Guinee, a medicine graduate.  Dr Karen Guinee died in 2006, shortly after completing her studies at the University. She is remembered as a gifted and compassionate alumna who completed her education and training as a doctor with distinction.  The announcement of the Dr Karen Guinee Library follows a significant philanthropic gift from the Michael Guinee Charitable Foundation, which is also supporting the establishment of a new scholarship for medical students in memory of Dr Guinee.  University of Galway extends heartfelt gratitude to the Foundation and ongoing sympathies to the Guinee family, as Dr Karen Guinee’s legacy lives on with us.  The Guinee family said: “We, the Guinee family, are so proud and honoured at the announcement of the naming of the Dr Karen Guinee Library at University of Galway.  “Karen was tragically taken from us almost 20 years ago, a week away from her graduation as a doctor. Her death has left a void and placed an unspeakable trauma on us all as a family.  “Karen was so terrifically bright, kind, loving and caring. We miss her everyday and her loss in this world is felt by everyone who knew her.  “The Dr Karen Guinee Library will serve as a living tribute to Karen. For us as a family, it will give a deeper meaning to her absence.  “During Karen’s six years studying medicine in University of Galway, the Library would have become a second home – one where she would have spent countless hours with friends, sharing knowledge and enriching herself with ideas and plans for her future career.  “As a family, we hope that every student will carry Karen’s memory forward, in a beautiful state-of-the-art facility that Karen undoubtedly would have loved.  “Karen’s life was cut short, but her legacy lives on. “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Michael Guinee, Karen’s uncle and godfather, the Michael Guinee Charitable Foundation, and all those involved at University of Galway.  “May there be comfort in knowing that someone so special will never be forgotten.”  President of University of Galway, Professor David Burn, said: “On behalf of the University of Galway community and all those who will come to be part of that community in the future, I would like to pay tribute to the Guinee family, and the Michael Guinee Charitable Foundation.  “We are honouring Dr Karen Guinee not because of the tragedy that occurred, but because of the life she lived. By naming the University of Galway Library after her, we acknowledge her aspirations, her compassion and her deep commitment to helping others. In doing so, we send a message about the safe, respectful and inclusive University we strive for and the type of community and society we work to uphold.  “The Dr Karen Guinee Library is more than a building; it is a legacy. It will be a place of study and discovery, but also a place of resilience, and hope.”            Dr Michael Guinee, Chairman of the Michael Guinee Charitable Foundation, said: “As the first person in her family to go to university, Karen carried with her the dreams and hopes of her family and the promise of her career as a doctor. Her passing was a profound loss to me as her godfather and to her family, friends, and the community she had already begun to serve with such care and dedication. By naming the new University of Galway Library in her name, it is my hope that we can honour her memory, and inspire future generations of students to a career of excellence, dedication and service.”  Monica Crump, University of Galway Librarian, said: “The Dr Karen Guinee Library will stand as a place of learning and research, inspiration and innovation, collaboration and quiet reflection - a fitting tribute to a young woman whose life, though brief, was filled with purpose, warmth, and promise. It is an honour for us to be associated with that memory.”  The Dr Karen Guinee Library at University of Galway is currently under construction in the centre of the Galway city campus and will be a central hub for learning, research, collaboration, and community. The landmark development overlooks the Corrib and is visible from the Newcastle Road area and the Quincentenary Bridge. A stand-out feature is that the ground floor will be open to the general public.  The new building spans approximately 10,000m2 and will range in height from 4-6 storeys, with 2,244 study spaces (an increase of up to 400 on the spaces currently on campus). It is designed to enable 21st century learning and research by providing spaces for individual and collaborative work while a digital scholarship centre and an enhanced makerspace will support innovation, creativity and knowledge production. A “book-bot” will be installed, offering a high-density storage and retrieval system for the Library’s physical book collection. Expert staff will support students’ learning journey through a Helpdesk, Learning Success Hub and Assistive Technology area. A welcome zone, incorporating an event and exhibition area, will make the Dr Karen Guinee Library a place of community and engagement.  The building of the Dr Karen Guinee Library at University of Galway is also supported by Government with a €15 million capital grant through the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science under the Higher Education Strategic Infrastructure Fund (HESIF) and the Higher Education Authority.  Additional philanthropic support for the building of the Dr Karen Guinee Library has been generously provided by a group of lead alumni and other individual donors, and by corporate supporters including CBE and Anthony Ryan Ltd.  Construction is expected to be completed in 2027.  Ends