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Tá sé fógartha ag Ollscoil na Gaillimhe go bhfuil triúr léachtóirí nua ceaptha i Roinn na Gaeilge. Tá saineolas ar leith tugtha ag an Dr Ailbhe Nic Giolla Chomhaill, an Dr Colm Ó Cuaig agus an Dr Oisín Ó Muirthile chuig an Ollscoil sna réimsí seo a leanas: an béaloideas, an Nua-Ghaeilge Mhoch, an Léann Ceilteach agus an teangeolaíocht stairiúil. Cuirfidh na léachtóirí nua leis an teagasc agus leis an taighde i Roinn na Gaeilge agus leis an bpleanáil le haghaidh MA nua sa Ghaeilge, a thabharfaidh deis do mhic léinn ardstaidéar a dhéanamh ar theanga, ar litríocht agus ar chultúr na Gaeilge. Tá tuilleadh eolais faoin MA sa Ghaeilge atá beartaithe ar fáil anseo. Tá an Dr Ailbhe Nic Giolla Chomhaill ceaptha i Roinn na Gaeilge mar Léachtóir le Béaloideas. Bhí sí i gceannas ar Léann na Gaeilge in Ollscoil Luimnigh roimhe seo. Chuir sí PhD i gcrích in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe in 2018. Bronnadh Gradam Scoláireachta Fulbright uirthi in 2023-24 chun taighde béaloidis a dhéanamh in Ollscoil Indiana Bloomington sna Stáit Aontaithe. Is í an Dr Nic Giolla Chomhaill údar An Chaora Ghlas agus Scéalta Eile as Seanadh Farracháin (2016). I measc a cuid spéiseanna taighde tá scéalta iontais arna n-insint ag scéalaithe ban in Éirinn agus in Albain le linn an 20ú haois, béaloideas agus éiceolaíocht, imirce agus an traidisiún béil. Tá an Dr Colm Ó Cuaig ina shaineolaí ar an Nua-Ghaeilge Mhoch (1200-1650 CE). Chuir sé PhD sa Nua-Ghaeilge i gcrích in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe in 2017 sular thosaigh sé ag obair le hAcadamh Ríoga na hÉireann, áit ar oibrigh sé ar Foclóir Stairiúil na Gaeilge. Tá sé ina chomheagarthóir ar Dúchan: Blúirí ó Fhoclóir Mháirtín Uí Chadhain (2025). I measc a chuid spéiseanna taighde tá digitiú acmhainní Gaeilge agus úsáid na hintleachta saorga i múineadh agus i dtraidisiún lámhscríbhinní na hÉireann. Is saineolaí é an Dr Oisín Ó Muirthile ar na teangacha Ceilteacha agus an teangeolaíocht stairiúil. Bhronn Ollscoil Harvard PhD air as a chuid taighde ar fhorbairt theangeolaíoch na Gaimise-na Caintise (Seiltis), teanga Thaistealaithe na hÉireann. Tá sé ina chomheagarthóir ar Proceedings of the Harvard Celtic Colloquium (2022 agus 2023). Tá sé ceaptha mar Léachtóir leis an Léann Ceilteach. Beidh múineadh agus taighde ar litríocht na Sean-Ghaeilge (700-900 CE) agus na meánaoise mar chúram air. Dúirt an tOllamh Rióna Ní Fhrighil, Ceann Roinn na Gaeilge in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe: “Cuirfidh na ceapacháin nua seo le leithne ár gcuid taighde agus teagaisc i Roinn na Gaeilge. Leagann an t-earcú seo béim ar thiomantas Ollscoil na Gaillimhe do léann na Gaeilge, idir theanga, litríocht agus chultúr. Cuirimid fáilte ó chroí roimh ár gcomhghleacaithe nua agus táimid ag tnúth le bheith ag obair leo ar thionscadail teagaisc agus taighde a bheas nuálach agus spreagúil.” Cuir aithne ar an triúr léachtóirí nua agus faigh amach faoin taighde agus teagasc atá ar bun acu anseo. Críoch

University of Galway has announced the appointment of three new lecturers to Roinn na Gaeilge. Dr Ailbhe Nic Giolla Chomhaill, Dr Colm Ó Cuaig and Dr Oisín Ó Muirthile have joined the University, bringing their highly-regarded expertise across folklore, Early Modern Irish, Celtic Studies and historical linguistics. The new lecturers will contribute to teaching and research in Roinn na Gaeilge, including planning for a new MA sa Ghaeilge offering advanced study in Irish language, literature and culture. Further information on the MA sa Ghaeilge is available here. Dr Ailbhe Nic Giolla Chomhaill joins Roinn na Gaeilge as Lecturer in Folklore, having previously served as Head of the Discipline of Irish at University of Limerick. She completed her PhD in Modern Irish at University of Galway in 2018. She was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Irish Scholar Award in 2023-24 to conduct folklore research at Indiana University Bloomington in the US. Dr Nic Giolla Chomhaill is the author of An Chaora Ghlas agus Scéalta Eile as Seanadh Farracháin (2016). Her research interests include wonder tales narrated by female storytellers in Ireland and Scotland during the 20th century, folklore and ecology, emigration and the oral tradition. Dr Colm Ó Cuaig joins as a specialist in Early Modern Irish (1200-1650 CE). He completed his PhD in Modern Irish at University of Galway in 2017 before joining the Royal Irish Academy, where he worked on the Historical Dictionary of Irish. He is co-editor of Dúchan: Bluirí ó Fhoclóir Mháirtín Uí Chadhain (2025). His research interests include the digitisation of Irish-language resources and the use of artificial intelligence in the exploration and teaching of the Irish manuscript tradition. Dr Oisín Ó Muirthile is a specialist in Celtic languages and historical linguistics. He was awarded a PhD from Harvard University for his research on the linguistic development of Irish Traveller Gammon-Cant (Shelta). He has co-edited the Proceedings of the Harvard Celtic Colloquium (2022 and 2023). He joins as Lecturer in Celtic Studies, where he will teach and research Old Irish (700-900 CE) and medieval Irish literature. Professor Rióna Ní Fhrighil, Head of Roinn na Gaeilge at University of Galway, said: “This recruitment exercise presents exciting opportunities to expand the intellectual reach and impact of our research and teaching activities. These new appointments to Roinn na Gaeilge underline University of Galway’s commitment to top-class scholarship and teaching in Irish language, literature and culture. We welcome our new colleagues and look forward to working with them on innovative and dynamic teaching and research projects.” Watch the three new lecturers introduce themselves and discuss their research and teaching interests here. Ends

Ireland's first dedicated national rural seminar series enters a new phase as a joint initiative, supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht University of Galway and Atlantic Technological University (ATU) have joined forces to revive Rural Voices – a nationwide seminar series bringing together research, policy and practice to explore the issues shaping rural and regional development. Supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, the monthly series provides a platform for researchers, policymakers and rural stakeholders to share research, exchange ideas and contribute to rural development thinking. The relaunch marks a new chapter for the series, which originally ran from January 2022 to May 2025, and was established as Ireland's first dedicated national rural seminar initiative. The new series was formally launched by University of Galway President Professor David Burns and President of Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Dr Orla Flynn at an event chaired and organised by the series' co-organisers, Professor Maura Farrell of the School of Geography, Archaeology and Irish Studies at University of Galway, and Dr Shane Conway, Research Coordinator at ATU. Professor Maura Farrell, University of Galway, said: "The Rural Voices seminar series connects rural development practitioners and those working in agriculture with key research they wouldn't otherwise access, and gives policymakers a direct line to recognised research and practice in rural development and farming, helping them make evidence-based decisions." Dr Shane Conway, ATU, said: “Rural Voices allows us to explore the many different issues shaping rural life from regional, national, European and international perspectives. It is also a practical example of how we can communicate and share research more widely, making it visible, understandable and relevant, while creating opportunities for rural stakeholders to connect and exchange ideas.” The first seminar under the new joint initiative will take place on September 30th, with John Daly, Economist with the Northern and Western Regional Assembly. Rural Voices provides a monthly, open platform for academics, policymakers and rural stakeholders to come together to discuss rural issues, share research and contribute to rural development thinking at national level. The series grew from the Higher Education and Research Network for Rural Development, established as a commitment under Our Rural Future, Ireland's national rural development policy for 2021 to 2025. The network brings together academics from 16 higher education institutions and three research institutes nationally. The seminars are open to the public, policymakers and rural stakeholders at home and from overseas. The renewed partnership brings together research, practitioner and stakeholder networks across the West and North-West, strengthening connections between research, policy and practice on rural and regional development while maintaining the series' national focus. The core structure and ethos of Rural Voices remains unchanged. The series will continue as monthly online seminars combining policy, research and practice-based perspectives, open to all sectors, and will continue to operate on a self-funded basis, with the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht providing strategic support and ensuring alignment with national rural development priorities. The seminars will take place on the last Wednesday of every month from 3 to 4pm. Ends