NUI Newsletter

Issue 7: October 2025

As the new academic year kicks off, we're sharing our latest news and give you a look back at the last few months at NUI.

If you would like to keep up with us in real time, follow us on LinkedIn, X, BlueSky, Facebook and Vimeo. We have events coming up and we would love to see you there, so stay tuned to our social media.

Events 

Dublin Festival of History International Viking Event
New Research in Viking Studies: Women, Weapons, and Burials

10am to 12pm Friday 10 October 2025
Wood Quay Venue, Dublin City Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 3

For the eighth year running, the National University of Ireland, Dublin City Council Archaeology Section, and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Ireland are pleased to collaborate once more and contribute a Viking-studies event to the Dublin Festival of History Programme. This year, we are honoured to host two distinguished scholars from Norway who will present papers as part of a seminar entitled New Research in Viking Studies: Women, Weapons, and Ships.

10:00   The Gjellestad ship burial – a royal burial site and its surroundings
Christian Løchsen Rødsrud

The Gjellestad ship attracted wide international attention when discovered by Ground Penetrating Radar in 2018, followed by a trial excavation in 2019 and a full excavation in 2020-21. This paper will both present results from the excavation of the ship burial as well as contextualizing the find in its surroundings and comparing it to similar sites.

Christian Løchsen Rødsrud is an archaeologist based at the Directorate for Cultural Heritage where he currently works with managing Norwegian World Heritage and international affairs related to the EEA grants.

11:00   What’s in a grave? Gender and identity in Viking Age burials
Marianne Moen

Burials can be described as the archaeologist’s best friend when it comes to understanding how identities were constructed and communicated in the past. By interpreting the combinations of material objects in the grave, the interior and exterior construction of the grave itself, the presence of animals, and by studying the human remains and their treatment, we draw information on social identities and lived lives. From this information, we craft narratives of social hierarchies and more in a given time period.

Marianne Moen is currently Head of Department of Archaeology at the Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo

The Dublin Festival of History takes place from 26 September to 12 October 2025. This is always a very popular collaboration, so book your place today! The event will also be livestreamed so be sure to keep an eye out for that. 

NUI Seminar Series: Higher Education, Today and Tomorrow

Save the Date

On 21 October 2025, NUI, alongside its Education and Society Committee, will host a thought-provoking seminar titled Neurodiverse Learners Transitioning to Higher Education at 49 Merrion Square.

The seminar will feature insightful contributions from a range of expert speakers:

• Dara Ryder, CEO at AHEAD

• Marina Carlin, Post-primary special education teacher

• Linda Doran, Manager Disability Support, University College Cork

• Daisy Garde, 2023 UCC graduate

There will be a light lunch to follow. This event will be recorded and available to view shortly after. We would love to see you there.

Tony Ó Floinn , Nollaig Ó Muraíle, Máire Nic an Bhaird , Máire Nic Mhaoláin, and Liam Mac Mathúna

ÉIGSE: A Journal of Irish Studies Volume XLII Launch 

Sheol Cláraitheoir OÉ an t-imleabhar nua den iris Éigse go hoifigiúil Déardaoin 10 Meitheamh. Agus mhol an Dr Ó Laoghaire an t-eagarthóir, an tOllamh Mac Mathúna, as a chuid oibre. Rinne sé comhghairdeas leis an eagarthóir, leis na húdair, leis na léirmheastóirí agus leis an mbord comhairleach as an bhfoilseachán.

ÉIGSE: A Journal of Irish Studies, Volume XLII, edited by Professor Liam Mac Mathúna, was officially launched in NUI, 49 Merrion Square, on Monday 10 July 2025 by Dr Nollaig Ó Muraíle.

Professor Mac Mathúna has been editor of Éigse since 2011 and volume XLII is his last one as editor. Dr Patrick O’Leary, Registrar of NUI, expressed how NUI were sorry to lose his expertise at the helm of Éigse, and were very grateful for the work Prof Mac Mathúna had put in to editing each volume for so many years. Dr O’Leary, on behalf of NUI, commended and thanked Professor Mac Mathúna for his scholarship and skill in guiding the journal over the last fourteen years. He noted that Professor Mac Mathúna leaves the journal in good stead and highly regarded in the field of Irish Studies. He remarked that NUI would now commence the difficult task of finding a new editor/editors for the journal. He then welcomed Dr Nollaig Ó Muraíle to officially launch volume XLII, who gave a meticulously detailed account of each article in the volume, including review articles and reviews.

A memorable night was shared by all in celebration of the latest volume of Éigse and Prof. Mac Mathúna’s extraordinary contributions.

Éigse has been published by the University since 1939 with the aid of the Adam Boyd Simpson Bequest and is now funded by the NUI Publications Fund. Éigse is devoted to the cultivation of a wide range of research in the field of Irish language and literature. Contributions, which may be in Irish or English, are particularly welcome from younger scholars and those working in newer and emerging research areas such as the interaction of manuscript and print, the revival period, and sociolinguistics.

Culture Night 19 September

The twentieth edition of Culture Night / Oíche Chultúir took place on Friday 19 September 2025. NUI was delighted to open our doors to the public for the second year running. We are always so glad of the opportunity to welcome visitors to No. 49 Merrion Square, our Georgian jewel in Dublin’s most historic square, where heritage, architecture, and scholarship meet. Culture Night is a national moment, celebrating our everyday surroundings and promoting our rich and varied culture which surrounds us even in our everyday lives. It is delivered nationwide in cities, towns, villages and rural locations as well as online and through media partners. We were delighted to support Culture Night once again and welcomed over two hundred revellers through our front door to admire our archives and Georgian architecture. 

SeanadVoter.ie - Now Open for Applications

You can apply now to be entered on the Register of Electors 2026 for the Seanad Éireann Higher Education constituency.

The deadline for applications is 26 February 2026. This Register of Electors will be published on 1 June 2026.

To register:

1. Visit our website: www.SeanadVoter.ie
2. Complete the online form with:

• Your full name
• Your address
• Details of your degree(s)
• Your PPS Number or a completed Witness Form
• Proof of citizenship (either a photo of your passport or Certificate of Naturalisation)

Paper application forms are also available for download here on SeanadVoter.ie.

Academic Services and Registry

Dr Mari Cahalane, Dr Mohamed Ali Fadhil Al-Rubeai, Dr Clair Wills and Dr Michael Lillis who received NUI honorary degrees in 2023

It’s been a busy year for the Conferrings and Graduate Services team, an integral part of the wider Academic Services and Registry team. The conferring schedule runs right through to December 2025, and already 16,307 graduates have been conferred across 10 institutions. With over 68 conferring ceremonies scheduled, more than 25,000 graduands are set to celebrate their achievements before the year’s end.

The Graduate Services team also marked a key milestone this summer with the launch of a new online application form on July 15. Since going live, the service has processed 629 applications spanning 25 countries, generating revenue and making the process more accessible to all. This is among some of the various ongoing projects to make NUI’s online facilities more accessible for all.

NUI Awards

NUI Award recipient at the 2024 Awards Ceremony in Croke Park.

NUI 2025 Awards Ceremony

Each year, we proudly host the NUI Awards Ceremony, celebrating the outstanding achievements of awardees. From undergraduate students to established academics, the NUI Awards are designed to recognise excellence and provide support throughout every stage of the academic and professional journey.

This year’s ceremony will take place at the RDS on 2 December. For any queries about the event, please contact awards@nui.ie.

NUI Denis Donoghue Award

Created in memory of Denis Donoghue, distinguished literary scholar and former UCD professor, this annual award is dedicated to supporting students from underrepresented groups in Irish higher education. The award is generously funded through a donation from his daughter, acclaimed author Emma Donoghue.

Details of the call for applications will be available soon on the NUI Awards webpage.

News from our Member Institutions

European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grants

Huge congratulations to the five NUI early-career researchers who will receive funding from the €761m European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant.

They are Graham Benham, Kevin Daly, Mary O’Keefe and Lucia Tiscornia from University College Dublin and Gillian Murphy of University College Cork.

• Graham Benham from University College Dublin received funding for his project titled SurFSUP: Surfing on Free Surfaces by Undulating Propulsion 
• Kevin Daly from University College Dublin received funding for his project titled HERDPATH: The genomic consequences of domestication for ruminant pathogen evolution and herd diversity across ten millennia 
• Gillian Murphy from University College Cork received funding for her project titled FRAME: Functional, Reliable and Adaptive Memory Errors  
• Mary O'Keefe from University College Dublin received funding for her project titled PainSupportLink: New frontiers in chronic pain management: A personalised support package targeting the mechanistic links between social disadvantage and pain sensitisation 
• Lucia Tiscornia from University College Dublin received funding for her project Criminal Governance in Unexpected Contexts: the Role of the Welfare State in Latin America

Incredible innovative work by all. NUI commends these researchers and their departments for their ground-breaking contributions, and expresses gratitude to the ERC for its support of these projects. 

Landmark study on symptom dismissal and diagnostic delays in women’s health launched

University College Cork (UCC) has launched a study exploring how women in Ireland experience seeking diagnosis for chronic health conditions such as endometriosis, migraine, POTS, PMDD, and MCAS.

The research will look at delays, medical gaslighting, positive patient-doctor interactions, and the use of symptom-tracking apps. Many of these conditions remain under-recognised, with diagnoses often taking years.

Funded by Lero, the SFI Research Centre for Software.

University of Galway adopts ALTITUDE Charter to advance inclusive education

The University of Galway has adopted the ALTITUDE Charter, a national initiative promoting universal design and inclusive education across higher and further education.

Funded by the Higher Education Authority, ALTITUDE involves six national agencies, 15 higher education institutions and six Education and Training Boards. By signing up, the University is building on its Universal Design and Accessibility Policy, placing student voices at the centre of efforts to create a more inclusive campus.

University leaders welcomed the move, highlighting universal design as key to equity of opportunity and enhancing the student experience. The Students’ Union also praised the Charter as a step forward in ensuring all students can access the education they deserve.

30 Maynooth University researchers ranked among world’s top 2% scientists

Thirty Maynooth University (MU) researchers feature in the 2025 World’s Top 2% Scientists list, produced by Stanford University in partnership with Elsevier and SciTech Strategies, based on Scopus citation data.

The rankings identify the most cited and influential researchers globally across disciplines including social sciences, science, engineering, law, and languages.

Prof Rachel Msetfi, Vice President for Research and Innovation, said the recognition reflects “the breadth and depth of Maynooth’s research excellence, from psychology to physics, law to languages, engineering to education - and the impact it has on addressing complex global challenges.”

The full list of 30 MU researchers spans departments from Biology and Psychology to Engineering, Law, Business, and Languages.

The Stanford/Elsevier rankings draw on 2024 citation data and use metrics such as the h-index and a composite citation score to measure scientific influence.

Over 4,100 students conferred at UCD September ceremonies

More than 4,100 students graduated at University College Dublin’s September conferring ceremonies, with 4,173 degrees, diplomas, and certificates awarded at O’Reilly Hall. These included 3,335 undergraduate, 497 master’s, 74 doctoral awards, and 267 diplomas and certificates.

Graduates came from across UCD’s Colleges and Schools, including Agriculture and Food Science, Law, Architecture, Business, and Arts and Humanities.

UCD’s global reach was also celebrated, with 802 students graduating from its three joint colleges in China: 309 at Beijing-Dublin International College, 345 at Chang’an-Dublin International College, and 148 at Guangzhou-Dublin International College.

The ceremonies also saw five honorary doctorates conferred on Michael Berkery, Laura Burke, Kevin O’Malley, Donal O’Donnell, and Michael McGlynn.

RCSI and HSE launch new Model of Care for emergency medicine

The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and the HSE have launched the 2025 National Clinical Programme for Emergency Medicine Model of Care - the first major update to Ireland’s emergency care strategy in over a decade.

The new framework aims to deliver more integrated, equitable, and patient-centred care, in line with Sláintecare. It focuses on four key pillars: organisation of care, patient pathways, infrastructure, and quality improvement.

Developed with input from patients and emergency medicine teams nationwide, the plan emphasises “right care, right place, right time,” with stronger community-based services, tailored supports for children and older patients, expanded multidisciplinary roles, and greater use of digital tools.

At the launch, Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said the Model of Care “reaffirms our commitment to dignity, safety and trust in emergency services.” RCSI President Professor Deborah McNamara described it as “a vision for sustainable and patient-focused emergency care across Ireland.”

Complementary initiatives include a Green Emergency Medicine Framework, a new national triage strategy, an Emergency Care Activity Profile dashboard, and the first Emergency Medicine Airway Registry report.