education Archives | Page 3 of 4

Celebrating Local Heroes at Bonham Quay

July 18, 2023

Great people of Galway take centre stage at the docks

People make the place and within Galway there are many people who are doing what may seem like ordinary things but with extraordinary affects. This summer as part of an initiative by Edward Capital at Bonham Quay, Serve The City Galway, Claddagh Watch and Tony McDonagh who looks after Fonthill Cemetery are being honoured.

Each of these people and the organisations they help with have massive impacts on why Galway is such a safe, welcoming, and kind place to live and visit.

A Lifesize picture board installation has been installed at Bonham Quay so that every motorist, cyclist, and person passing through the Galway Docks will get to know who these unsung heroes are.

Arthur Carr from Claddagh Watch is pictured at Bonham Quay. Claddagh Watch Patrol was formed in 2019 with a mission to prevent accidental deaths and suicides on the waterways and bridges of Galway City. Teams of volunteer’s patrol from late evening until the early hours, approaching anyone near the water distressed, disorientated or vulnerable.

Tony McDonagh, Fonthill Cemetery commented, “I have been volunteering since 1972, minding this beautiful space. Following in the footsteps of my father John, and my sons and grandsons will continue this tradition.”

Serve the City is a worldwide movement of volunteers connecting with local charities and opportunities. In Galway city, it is led by Tim O’Toole, Mary Reardon and Kristina O’Toole. “We volunteer to serve the practical needs of marginalised and vulnerable people within the community,” explained Mary Reardon.

To find out more, simply head to Bonham Quay where the large-scale pictorial exhibition by Pat Cantwell is on display 24/7 for everyone to see. Or go to www.edward.ie.

Featured In the Media Love

National sexual consent education and research initiative set for a new five-year cycle

June 19, 2023

Active* Consent marks scale of work since 2013 and outlines expansion plans using multidisciplinary approach to promote healthy relationships and foster a culture of respect

Minister for Further & Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris T.D. has today officially launched University of Galway’s Active* Consent programme 2023-27.

Active* Consent is an innovative sexual consent education and research initiative, which began at University of Galway. Now a national programme, it has been at the forefront of promoting healthy relationships and fostering a culture of respect since its inception in 2013.

Repro Free: Thursday 15th June 2023. Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris T.D. has officially launched University of Galways Active* Consent programme 2023-27. Active* Consent is an innovative sexual consent education and research initiative, which began at University of Galway in 2013. Now a national programme, it has been at the forefront of promoting healthy relationships and fostering a culture of respect. Pictured was Alex Black campaign lead, Active*Consent. Picture Jason Clarke.

Active* Consent marked the launch of the 2023-27 programme with the publication of a report reviewing the scale of work undertaken during its first large scale programme 2019-2022 and an outline of goals to expand the work over the next five years.

More than 70,000 first year college students took part in consent workshops between 2019-2022, and more than 1,500 staff member and student leaders have been trained in delivering workshops.
More than 4,000 post-primary pupils took part in consent workshops during the first 12 months of the Active* Consent for School Communities programme in 2021-2022, while 750 teachers have been trained in delivering these workshops and 1,000 parents have attended online seminars.
The new programme sets goal to take Active* Consent international by engaging with universities, forming partnerships with practitioners and researchers, and adapting programming to meet the needs of students outside of Ireland
Partnered with Rugby Players Ireland on the delivery of consent programming in the organisation’s Academy Programme since 2019, with ambitions to build on that by offering the Active* Consent model of awareness raising, skills development, and culture change to other sporting bodies.
Plans to initiate new research that focuses on how ideas and roles concerning consent evolve for teenagers and young men.

Minister Harris expressed Government support for the programme and Active* Consent’s commitment to addressing the issue of sexual consent in Ireland: “It is essential we equip the next generation with the skillset and the knowledge needed on consent. This programme has already been incredibly successful in schools and further and higher education institutions across the country. The launch of this Active* Consent Programme is another step towards tackling an extremely serious issue that can have lifelong consequences for the victims. It is one of my top priorities to ensure that we create campus cultures which are safe, respectful, and supportive for all staff and students.”

President of University of Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “The past decade has brought considerable learning on consent for all of us. Now there is an active national conversation on consent, which our history teaches us is healthier, preferable to silence. This is pioneering work, led by University of Galway. It is symbolic not only of the focus we place here on our university being here for the public good, but also symbolic of our core value of respect. All of us at University of Galway look forward to the expansion of the work of Active* Consent and in continuing to make a difference in and for society.”

Dr Siobhán O’Higgins, University of Galway senior researcher and Co-Lead on Active* Consent, said: “Our programming promotes the ethos that consent is ongoing, mutual, and freely given – that consent is for everyone, in all relationships, across genders and sexual orientations, and for all types of intimacy, if someone ever chooses to engage with a partner.”

Active* Consent is supported through funding and philanthropy by Lifes2good Foundation; Rethink Ireland; University of Galway, Government of Ireland; and the Dormant Accounts Fund. The 2019-2022 programme was led by Dr Pádraig MacNeela, Dr Charlotte McIvor, and Dr Siobhán O’Higgins.

Active* Consent developed a novel initiative to bring the topics of sex and consent to wider youth audiences, with Dr Charlotte McIvor working with more than 40 drama students and graduates since 2014 to write and produce four successive versions of the play ‘The Kinds of Sex You Might Have at College’. It toured 19 Irish college campuses in 2022, reaching 2,300 students and staff.

The play allows audiences to see what positive, active consent and non-consent look like, how they impact individuals and peer groups, and what can be done to respond to scenarios that young people might experience.

Of the 850 college students who completed the post-show survey, 87% agreed that the play improved their understanding of sexual consent.
82% agreed that it increased their confidence negotiating sexual boundaries.
81% agreed that after the performance they knew where to find information on how to report sexual assault.

A grant from the Community Foundation of Ireland enabled Active* Consent to adapt the drama to post-primary school audiences. ‘How I Learned About Consent’ was performed to 1,300 pupils from 16 schools in 2022.

Of the 800 school pupils who completed the post-show survey, 83% of pupils agreed that the play represented the range of sexual issues and situations that young people face.
79% of pupils agreed that they felt more confident responding as an active bystander to help a friend or family member.
85% of pupils agreed that the play delivered important messages.

Featured In the Media Love

Award winning entrepreneurial program kicks off at University of Galway

June 14, 2023

IdeasLab Start100 to show impact that can happen in just 100 days

University of Galway IdeasLab has taken home gold for their Start100 Program in the Entrepreneurship at universities category at the University Industry Innovation Network (UIIN) Conference held earlier this month in Budapest. IdeasLab’s Start100 Program which supports entrepreneurial students to take their idea to impact in 100 days was acknowledged for its great emphasis on peer-to-peer learning and support, and showcases stories from across the entrepreneurial spectrum to create relatable and achievable role models.

Based in the heart of University of Galway campus, IdeasLab are back with their six-week student incubator programme, Start100. Now in its second year, this year there are 12 teams who are embarking on an entrepreneurial journey with the aim of taking their innovative idea to the next step.

‘Within a year Start100 has been embraced by our entire ecosystem and the support we are receiving from mentors, judges and our community is a testament to the importance of nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship in Universities. This year we have increased our number of projects to 12 based on the huge demand for Start100 from our incredible students. We have ideas that span digital health and sports, skincare, AI, agriculture and sustainability. We are looking forward to showcasing our entrepreneurs at our demo day on the 29^th of June’ Dr Natalie Walsh, Director of Entrepreneurial Development, University of Galway.

Throughout the programme Start100 teams will have the chance to hone their business model and connect into a vibrant startup ecosystem. Start100 will link students with a bank of University of Galway Alumni, mentors, and speakers to inspire, advise and support the next generation of entrepreneurs.

This programme also connects students into a thriving community of innovators and entrepreneurs across Ireland. This year, the varied group of student entrepreneurs have ideas ranging- from an app designed to improve your rowing capabilities to beauty and skincare products.

The programme began in May, and will culminate on June 29th, 2023, where the participants will showcase and pitch their business ideas to a panel of expert judges. Each team participating will receive funding of €4,000 to aid them in the development of their innovative idea. The overall winning team of the Start100 programme will receive a further €5,000, and the runners-up will receive a further €1,000. AskPaul.ie is sponsoring the overall prize fund of €6,000 for the final event this year.

Within Start100 the judges play a crucial role in selecting the overall winner and runners-up of the Start100 programme. The judges are experts in their respective fields, with a wealth of experience in entrepreneurship, innovation, and venture capital.

The Judges for IdeasLab’s Start100 Summer Accelerator programme include VP for Engagement with the University of Galway Paul Dodd, CEO of Complete Laboratory Solutions (CLS) and scientist, Evelyn O’Toole, One of Ireland’s leading financial advisors and internationally recognised CFP® (Certified Financial Planner), Paul Merriman CFP®, One of the Top 100 Women in STEM in Ireland, Partner at Atlantic Bridge – Kauffman Fellow Helen McBreen and Aerogen CEO and founder John Power.

Start100 is funded by the Government of Ireland Human Capital initiative

For more on IdeasLab and Start100 teams for 2023 check out https://www.universityofgalway.ie/ideaslab/.

-ends-

More on Start100:

Start100 supports entrepreneurial teams to take their idea to impact in 100 days. The program revolves around five key pillars:

• Networking (peer-to-peer and external)

• Matched mentorship

• Workshops (pitching, financial literacy, introduction to local ecosystem)

• Support (from program hosts and one another)

• Storytelling (from existing entrepreneurial role models).

Featured In the Media Love

West of Ireland Digital Marketing Agency become Google Premier Partner

May 4, 2023

Adhere Digital Nominated for three international marketing awards

Data driven Digital Marketing Agency, Adhere Digital located in Galway Westend have secured the only west of Ireland Premier Partner Agency with Google, further cementing its position as one of the top digital marketing agencies in Ireland & UK.

Adhere Digital, the Galway-London outfit, are a fast-growing digital marketing agency with an impressive rise in the last few years, specialising in Search Engine Marketing and now The European Search Awards have nominated Adhere Digital for three Awards. The nominations include Best Small PPC Agency, Best Use of Search – Retail/E-commerce (PPC) (Small), and a Rising Star Award for Gráinne Harte. Founded four and a half years ago, Adhere Digital has quickly established itself as a leading player in the digital marketing space for Ecommerce and lead generation clients.

The company has managed over €5 million worth of media Spending across Google, Meta & Tik Tok and generated over €23 Million in revenue for their Ecommerce clients alone. They are well versed in where to spend their client money to get a positive Rate of Investment. The European Search Awards are among the most respected awards in the industry, recognising excellence in digital marketing across Europe.

The European Search Awards will announce winners at a gala ceremony in Lisbon on May 25th, “We’re excited to be in the running for these awards,” said Paul Walsh Managing Director at Adhere Digital. “It’s great to see our team’s hard work and commitment to delivering results being recognised on a European stage. We’re looking forward to the awards ceremony in June and wish all the other nominees the best of luck.”

The agency’s focus on results-driven strategies and exceptional customer service has earned them a reputation as a top performer in the industry. “We’re thrilled to have been nominated for these awards; I think it’s a testament to our team, who had always embraced the data-first approach, which was our mission when we started in 2018. We all have opinions in advertising of what works and does not work, but we always let the data do the talking. When you take modern digital marketing strategies using data and machine learning and apply age-old human behavioural biases, the results can be incredible. We are very grateful for the type of clients we have, and putting their trust in us, means a great deal to us.” said Paul.

For more information check out https://adheredigital.com/.

Featured In the Media Love

SALT

May 4, 2023

An exploration of our connection to the sea, through the power of personal story, collective song, poetry, and light art

Over 2,000 people attended two multidisciplinary ritual beach performances that celebrated our ocean took place in Kinvara on Trácht Beach and Ladies Beach in Salthill, Galway City on April 30th and May 1st as part of Galway Theatre Festival 2023.

A Community Choir of 60 voluntary participants sung alongside a performing ensemble cast made up of professional performers Daniel Guinnane, Johanne Webb, and Sophie Hutchinson who performed with artist and vocalist Ceara Conway.

The Salt Community Choir consists of members of the community in Kinvara and its surroundings, most of them sea swimmers themselves. Over an extended period of three months, the choir rehearsed with composer Robbie Blake and Vanessa Earl exploring together soundscapes of the sea and Ode.

An exploration of our connection to the sea, through the power of personal story, collective song, poetry, and light art.

SALT, a collaboration between a community of sea-swimmers based in Kinvara, composer Robbie Blake, poet Mary Madec, and marine scientists, led and directed by theatre-maker Vanessa Earl and produced by Culture Works will celebrate our connection to the sea as a coastal community.

SALT, inspired by the powerful personal stories of local swimmers gathered during the pandemic, is about belonging, authentic connection, healing and empowerment. To belong, to be part of, and to be connected with ourselves, each other and the sea. These themes have informed the creation of a 30-minute site-responsive, outdoor performance.

In this collective positive action of celebration, we will foster an understanding of our common humanity; reconnect to our natural home, foster conscious living through our love and respect for our ocean. This is Positive Intrinsic Cultural Activism. (PICA)

The long-term ambition for SALT is to perform on beaches at all four cardinal points in Ireland and ultimately, to share the ode and music with community choirs in coastal communities across the world to raise awareness of our intrinsic relationship to the ocean and the vital need to protect it and take positive action in order to do so.

SALT champions the work of FairSeas who are working to fully protect 30% of Ireland’s ocean territory by 2030, thus making Ireland a world leader in marine protection. Galway Bay has been identified as an area of special interest due to its’ high density of bottlenose dolphins, harbour porpoise and the 65,000 birds who breed here every year.

This project is funded by The Arts Council’s Arts Participation Project Award, Creative Ireland, Galway County Arts Office, Galway and City Council.

For more information get social on Instagram @saltprojectgalway and @cultureworks.ie

Featured In the Media Love

Two strategic milestones for Galway’s Blue Teapot

April 3, 2023

An impressive week for Blue Teapot who welcomed Walter Balfe, QQI Head of Quality Assurance and colleagues Marie Cotter and Yvonne Agnew to join the celebrations of Blue Teapot Theatre Company in their successful re-engaging with QQI as a provider of quality assurance programme delivery.

Prior to this, Blue Teapot was a legacy provider under the FETAC umbrella on the national frameworks of qualifications. It is a significant milestone for the company which provides performing arts training at QQI Levels 2 & 3 to adults with intellectual disabilities.

The rigorous process by Quality and Qualifications Ireland recognises the high-quality work in developing, enhancing and implementing quality assurance processes. It is a benchmark that has to be achieved by all institutional and independent providers of QQI programmes, and Blue Teapot has met that threshold at first time of re-engagement.

Last year Blue Teapot shared the news they had bought their building on Munster Avenue. This was enabled by Clann Credo the Social Finance Foundation, a non-profit body that provides loan finance for community organisations around Ireland. The foundation reported a 29% increase in loans to the sector in 2022. The €26.6 million lent to 265 organisations from all 26 counties included a loan to Blue Teapot Theatre Company in Galway.

Commenting on how social finance made a difference to its operation, Blue Teapot Director, Petal Pilley, said: ‘’It has been a long-held aim to secure a permanent cultural home for Blue Teapot. Our vision is to be a centre of excellence for Disability Arts in the Western Region, this goal would not have been possible to achieve without the social finance provided through Clan Credo and facilitated by the Social Finance Foundation.’’

For more information check out www.blueteapot.ie.

testimonial

Communication Strategy for IdeasLab University of Galway

March 27, 2023

Building our community within and outside the University of Galway has been priority for IdeasLab over the past 12months. Lisa has supported us in understanding how important our mission, vison and communications are in this process. Understanding these elements from the unit perspective but also how our personal profiles impact on our community has been insightful. Lisa has successfully helped us grow and connect with a broad community in Galway city and beyond and we are now equipped to nurture and grow this community even further in the next 12 months.

Jenny Mullery University of Galway IdeasLab

testimonial

MC and Moderator for IdeasLab IWD CreateHER event 2023

March 27, 2023

Lisa Regan recently MC’d our CreateHER finale in the Druid Theatre in Galway city. Her commitment to the event from the outset was evident and she supported us in the venue selection to ensure the right atmosphere, worked with us on running order, theme and stage set up. Lisa captured the essence and feel of the event we were trying hold. Through her research, thoughtful questions and inclusive style she brought our vision to life, for what was a night us and the audience will remember for a long time. Although Lisa had one role on the night she gave so much more to the entire event than we could have asked for.

Jenny Mullery University of Galway IdeasLab

Featured In the Media Love

CreateHer with University of Galway IdeasLab International Women’s Day event

March 10, 2023

CreateHer with University of Galway IdeasLab International Women’s Day event at Druid Theatre Company

This year through my ongoing work with IdeasLab I was asked to moderate, MC and hold a panel discussion for International Women’s Day. As always my recommendation for this was The Mick Lally Theatre which is ran by the wonderful Siomha and is one of my favourite spaces in Galway.

We have talked alot about equality over the years and now we are looking at how we can move towards a more equitable society.

Simply put: Equality means everyone gets a shoe.
Equity means everyone gets a shoe that fits.

The passionate, captivating, and creative tour de force, Noeline Kavanagh who has brought so much joy and our imaginations to life through her work with the internationally acclaimed Galway-based theatre spectacle company Macnas – Spectacle Theatre Company agreed to be our keynote speaker.

She was the first female and the youngest person at 23 to ever direct the Macnas parade which happened in 2008. It was one of the largest parades ever – with over 500 community participants in it.

Driven by love, imagination, friendship, possibility, chance, choice, challenge, Noeline Kavanagh is a person that offers and delivers so much. Her words on the night lifted the roof and everyone in the room, it was in her vulnerability and honesty we saw her true character and what an incredible person she is. A true leader.

On the panel was Vanessa Creaven
Co-Founder + CEO Spotlight Oral Care
Dr. Natalie Walsh
Director of Entrepreneurial Development University of Galway
Mary Ryan
Deputy CEO WestBIC

These conversations began with defining personal success and how that is ever changing, how we can practically support each other throughout our careers, why being amped up and super charged on busy mode is so 2018 and what we have changed our minds about and why that is a very good thing. Nothing is as enjoyable as good conversation and connection with other people in real life.

This night was all of that.

Thank you Tribe Hospitality Group for the refreshments and WestBIC for sponsoring.

Martina Regan was on hand to capture the ,magic.

Lisa Regan Public Relations (Me) handled all pre and post communications and the MC’ing duties on the evening to which I take very seriously as I love nothing more than researching and being invested in those I am talking and listening to.

Thank you Lisa.

Featured In the Media Love

ITWD CreateHer at The Druid

March 6, 2023

IdeasLab at University of Galway are amplifying the female voice and action this International Women’s Day and you are invited to be part of the conversation.

The awe inspiring Noeline Kavanagh former Artistic Director at Macnas will deliver a Keynote speech that will lift you from your seat! Then a panel discussion with Dr Natalie Walsh, Dr Vanessa Creaven and Mary Ryan will give a real insight into career progression and how success looks and feels very differently to us all.

Featured testimonial

Effective Commination Workshop in Review by Jigsaw

February 14, 2023

‘Lisa delivered a workshop on effective communication to our Youth Advocates (YAs). Lisa has worked with Jigsaw in the past, and having recruited some new YAs we wanted them to have the Lisa experience! Our YAs are working on a number of projects and Lisa gave really good advice on interviewing techniques, delivering a radio show and using social media effectively. She really highlighted the importance of relationship building ,and how when it comes down to it each of us just wants to be seen, heard and validated. Lisa practices what she preaches. She tuned into the needs of the group and was a knowledgeable, engaging and funny facilitator. I would highly recommend her but most importantly the YAs loved it! A little snippet of what they had to say;

‘She is incredibly passionate about what she does and I learnt so much from the training!’

‘She brought a really great energy to the room and lots of great lessons on communication’

Laura Herlihy, Youth and Community Engagement Worker with Jigsaw Galway

Featured In the Media Love

Galway Street Art Walking Tour

February 2, 2023

How community development can contribute to and influence social change?

Today I began my working day talking with Anna Daly a 4th year Social Sciences at University of Galway who for her final year dissertation, wants to look at how community development can contribute to and influence social change. In particular she’s interested in how communities can promote positive climate action?

We have been working on being a dynamic, inclusive and progressive community in Galway’s Westend through the businesses, through creativity, with the wonderful residents who are the heart and soul and with ensuring we are respecting our environment.

Anna nailed all of this in her words below and its so wonderful to get validation for all the work and in terms of driving our message through PR and Marketing this was such great feedback to get.

“I think that Galway’s Westend has huge potential to be one of these dynamic communities. It’s already one of the most proactive and eclectic neighbourhoods in the city. When you walk around the Westend it’s easy to pick up a vibe which is pro local businesses, pro creativity and pro sustainability and the collective marketing of the Westend through its website and social media has explicitly identified itself as a community that really values these principles.”

Today I joined the Galway Street Art Walking Tour with Finbar247 Shane O Malley Galway City Council to explore the city and how bringing artists and local government to work together to ensure Street Art is part of our street scape. The value to society through colour, creativity and the economy is only positive.

Older Posts

Newer Posts