University Of Galway - SEMCA

21/02/2025

🎙️ Podcast Alert! 🎧

Our very own Prof. David O’Shaughnessy joins Melvyn Bragg and guests on BBC Radio 4’s In Our Time to discuss the life and legacy of the renowned Irish writer Oliver Goldsmith (1728–1774). ☘️

Goldsmith’s influence continues today, with The Collected Writings of Oliver Goldsmith—an 8-volume scholarly edition published by Cambridge University Press last year. Edited by Prof. O’Shaughnessy & Prof. Michael Griffin (University of Limerick), it’s the first edition of its kind since the 1960s. 📚

Don’t miss this fascinating discussion—link in bio! 🔗

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21/02/2025

🎓 Alumni Alert! 📚

Huge congratulations to Claire-Lise Kieffer, a graduate of our MA in Writing (2020-21), who launches her debut short story collection, Tenterhooks, this evening!

📖 Launch Details:
📍 Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop
📅 Tonight, Friday 21st
⏰ 6 PM

Described by Danielle McLaughlin as “an exhilarating read,” Tenterhooks will be launched by fellow writer Mike McCormack.

We’re delighted to introduce another stunning new voice in short fiction—all are welcome to join the celebration! ✨.

12/02/2025

The Discipline of Journalism and Media is delighted to welcome Ruadhán Mac Cormaic, Editor of The Irish Times, to deliver this year’s John Cunningham Journalism Lecture on campus. 📢✨

🗓 Thursday, 13 February
⏰ 3 PM
📍 Room THB-G010

Ruadhán’s talk will explore the vital role of independent journalism in a thriving democracy—an unmissable event for anyone passionate about media, politics, and the power of storytelling.

This annual lecture honors the legacy of John Cunningham, a renowned journalist and editor who dedicated his career to ethical, high-quality journalism and mentoring young reporters.

📖 About the speaker:
Ruadhán Mac Cormaic has been Editor of The Irish Times since 2022, previously serving as Foreign Editor, Legal Affairs Correspondent, and Paris Correspondent. He is also the author of The Supreme Court (Penguin Ireland).

All staff and students are welcome—see you there! 🎙

12/02/2025

The long-established and perennially popular MA Literature and Publioshing at University of Galway remains Ireland’s only postgraduate programme dedicated to literature and publishing.

It is a distinctive offering that explores the interfaces between writing and the marketplace, between literature and transmission, and between the aesthetic and material aspects of texts.

Join us on Monday 17th February along with Programme Director Dr Alexandra Peat to learn more.

📅 Monday, 17th February
🕐 12:00pm (Irish Standard Time)
🔗: Link in Bio


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10/02/2025

Big news! 🎬📚 Our very own Lecturer in Creative Writing, Lisa McInerney, is set to adapt her award-winning novel The Glorious Heresies for the screen! Galway-based film & TV production company have optioned the rights, with Lisa on board as the screenwriter. 👏✨

A little about Heresies: It won the 2016 Women’s Prize for Fiction & the Desmond Elliott Prize, has sold over 100,000 copies, and is published in 11 languages! Lisa, who teaches fiction and screenwriting at the University of Galway, will be bringing her expertise to the adaptation. 🎭✍️

CEO of Danú Media, John Brady, says:
"When we first read The Glorious Heresies, we were immediately captivated by Lisa’s lyrical narrative. It felt fresh, bold, and exactly what we were looking for... an unforgiving, raw, and sometimes comic love letter to Cork city. We’re incredibly excited to bring this story to the screen with Lisa!"

Check out for their announcement & follow for more updates! 🍿

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06/02/2025

Dr Tom Felle, Associate Professor in Journalism and Programme Director for the MA in Global Media and Communication at University of Galway will offer an overview of the programme at an upcoming webinar on Thursday 13th February.

The MA in Global Media and Communication prepares students to work as a professionals in the international media and communications industries, providing students with a critical understanding of the complex global media ecosystem of the 21st century.

📅 Thursday, 13th February
🕐 12:00 pm (Irish Standard Time)
🔗: https://tappage.theaccessplatform.com/1194/university-of-galway/live-streams/global-media-and-communication-ma-3a8d1518-3d0f-4688-a19e-47ed1ef9f2ac

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05/02/2025

📢 Calling All Arts Students! 🎓✨

Are you wondering where your Arts degree can take you? 🌍🚀

Join us for Career Insights: Arts, Humanities & Social Impact and connect with employers and alumni who have walked this path before you!

📅 Wednesday, 5th February
⏰ 12:00–2:00 PM
📍 Bank of Ireland Foyer, Concourse, Arts/Science Building

🔹 Discover career opportunities
🔹 Meet employers & alumni
🔹 Get inspired for your future

Don’t miss this chance to explore the possibilities! See you there.

04/02/2025

📚✨ Irish Literature Goes Global! ✨📚

Our very own Lisa McInerney from Creative Writing has curated something truly special! Last month, she edited the annual "Storie" issue of Italian news-magazine Internazionale, bringing Italian readers a stunning selection of contemporary Irish short stories, essays, extracts, and graphic fiction from contemporary Irish writers.

Among the featured writers is our very own Elaine Feeney, whose celebrated short story "Same, Same" appears in Italian as "Uguale, uguale!" Also included are incredible talents like Nicole Flattery (a University of Galway Alumni), Danielle McLaughlin, Stephen Sexton, and emerging voices Liadan Ní Chuinn, Rere Ukponu, and William Keohane.

Check out the issue and celebrate Irish literature making waves internationally! 🌍✨

03/02/2025

📢 The Discipline of Journalism and Media at was honored to host Dr. Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid, Ambassador of Palestine to Ireland, on January 30th.

Held in the Aula Maxima, the event brought together students and the campus community for an engaging discussion on Palestine-Ireland relations, media bias in reporting on Palestine, and Dr. Jilan’s vision for a free Palestine.

A huge thank you to Dr. Rounwah Bseiso for organizing and leading an insightful interview, creating space for meaningful dialogue and reflection on these important issues. 🎙️✨

31/01/2025

🚀 Join Our "Meet the Programme Director" Webinar! 🎓

Our webinar series continues our very own Dr. Fiona Bateman, who will provide an overview of the MA in Public Advocacy and Activism and answer your questions.

This unique interdisciplinary programme blends practical advocacy and activism skills with key theoretical insights—offering training across communications, human rights, sociology, and more. No other postgraduate programme in Ireland provides such a broad skill set!

📅 Tuesday, 11th February
🕐 12:00 PM (Irish Standard Time)
🔗 Link in Bio



Don't miss out—see you there!

30/01/2025

Check out our English students in action! 🎤✨ Last semester, First-Year students hosted a vibrant Poetry Slam as part of their Reading Poetry class. From original works to beloved poets, their performances brought the room to life—met with well-earned thunderous applause! 👏📖

29/01/2025

Join us for the first CAMPS Lab of the year! 🎉
✨ Speaker: Millie Randall
📖 Topic: Flirting and Predicting the Future in Late Seventeenth-Century Miscellanies
📅 Date: Friday, 31st January
⏰ Time: 12 noon
📍 Location: THB G010
Millie, a PhD researcher on Prof. Erin McCarthy’s STEMMA project, is an engaging and insightful speaker—this is one you won’t want to miss!
☕ Refreshments will be served after the talk. See you there!

28/01/2025

🎶✨ We are delighted to share some exciting news! ✨🎶
Our Head of School, Tríona Ní Shíocháin, will be performing as part of Na Píobairí Uilleann’s ‘Session with the Pipers’ in The Cobblestone on Tuesday, 4th February at 9:30pm (doors open at 9pm).
📍 Don’t miss this special evening of traditional Irish music!
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27/01/2025

🌟 We’re thrilled to announce Molly Hennigan as the 2025 Writer-in-Residence at the School of English, Media, and Creative Arts! 🌟

Molly will be teaching across our undergraduate and postgraduate creative writing programmes, sharing her expertise and inspiring the next generation of writers.

📚 Molly’s work has been featured in The Stinging Fly, Banshee, Tolka, and The Pig’s Back. Her debut essay collection, The Celestial Realm, explores her grandmother’s mental health journey and her great-grandmother’s time in Irish mental hospitals. This extraordinary work was shortlisted for the Sunday Independent Newcomer of the Year 2023.

27/01/2025

📢 Join us for an exclusive public interview with the newly appointed Ambassador to Palestine, Dr. Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid!

🗓 Date: Thursday, January 30th
⏰ Time: 3 PM
📍 Location: Aula Maxima

Hosted by the Journalism and Media Discipline at the University of Galway, this event is an incredible opportunity to hear firsthand from Dr. Jilan about her remarkable career in the Palestinian diplomatic service.

🌍 Starting in 1995 as Assistant Chief of Protocol at the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Jilan later served in Cyprus, where she earned her doctorate in Political Marketing.

🇮🇪 In May 2024, Ireland formally recognized Palestine as a sovereign and independent state, and in December 2024, Dr. Jilan officially presented her credentials to President Michael D. Higgins as Ambassador to the State of Palestine.

🎟 This event is free and open to the university community and the general public, but registration is required via Eventbrite as seating is limited.

🔗 Register now – link in bio!

Don’t miss this fascinating discussion with Dr. Jilan!

27/01/2025

🎭 Our third-year BA Drama, Theatre, and Performance students are in full swing with rehearsals for The Beaux' Stratagem!

Adapted by Thornton Wilder and Ken Ludwig from George Farquhar's classic play, this hilarious tale follows two charming rogues who, broke from their extravagant ways, set out to the countryside in search of love and fortune. Chaos and comedy guaranteed!

📅 The Beaux' Stratagem runs from March 6th to 13th at the O'Donoghue Theatre, ODC. Tickets will be on sale soon—don’t miss it!


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01/02/2024

At a US Senate hearing yesterday our colleague Dr Mei-Ling McNamara's work was referenced. At the hearing regarding Online Harms for Children all the 5 CEOs of the major tech companies were questioned before Congress about their failure to protect children online. Mei-Ling co-authored an article about how tech giant Meta is struggling to prevent criminals from using its platforms to buy and sell children for s*x which was the result of two years investigative work.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/jan/31/tiktok-meta-x-congress-hearing-child-s*xual-exploitation

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2023/apr/27/how-facebook-and-instagram-became-marketplaces-for-child-s*x-trafficking

The long read: Our two-year investigation suggests that the tech giant Meta is struggling to prevent criminals from using its platforms to buy and sell children for s*x