In the News..

New research from University of Galway, Longford Women's Link and Teagasc has identified nine policy priorities to better support women-led innovation in Irish farming and rural areas.  The research is presented in a series of policy briefs, developed as part of the three-year FLIARA project- Female-Led Innovation in Agriculture and Rural Areas which was funded under Horizon Europe.  The research led to the development of recommendations across areas including finance, skills, digitalisation, gender inclusion, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), generational renewal, representation, women's empowerment and work-life balance – all of which are focused on supporting women-led innovation in Irish farming and rural areas.  The policy priorities come against a backdrop of persistent gender inequalities in agriculture. According to the European Commission, women account for 31% of beneficiaries of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) but receive just 15% of total CAP payments, while men, who account for 63% of beneficiaries, receive 69% of funding. Farm income statistics also show female-run farms earned an average of €18,700 per worker in 2023, 42% less than male-run farms, with the income gap widening that year.  Maria Walsh, Fine Gael MEP for Midlands North-West, launched the FLIARA Policy Briefs and said: "As the European Parliament's lead negotiator on generational renewal in farming, I see every day how much we need the evidence in front of us if we're serious about building a fairer future for Irish and European agriculture. These policy briefs put women's experience and innovation at the centre of that conversation, and I'm proud to launch a series that gives policymakers like me the tools to act, not just acknowledge the problem."  The policy briefs are published to coincide with the United Nations International Year of the Woman Farmer, a global initiative highlighting the contribution of women to agrifood systems and the need to address the barriers they face. They will be shared with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of Rural and Community Development, as well as Local Action Groups, the Irish Farmers’ Association, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association and women’s farming organisations  The Irish FLIARA team is led by University of Galway’s Professor Maura Farrell and includes Dr Aisling Murtagh and Louise Weir (University of Galway), Tara Farrell (Longford Women's Link) and Anne Kinsella (Teagasc).  Professor Maura Farrell, School of Geography, Archaeology and Irish Studies at University of Galway and lead on the FLIARA project, said: “In this year of the International Year of the Woman Farmer, we are delighted to produce a policy brief series that reflects not only the needs of women farmers in Ireland but also what is needed by women engaged in innovation both on and off farms. This series translates the lived experience of the women who took part in FLIARA into clear, actionable recommendations, and we hope it gives policymakers the evidence they need to make Irish and European agriculture a genuinely more inclusive place to work and innovate.” The nine policy issues identified are: Access to Finance at the right level and at the right time is important to the development of women-led rural and farm innovation. Education and Skills Training opportunities should be better tailored to the needs of women-led rural and farm innovation. Women's Empowerment: Greater policy focus is needed to address barriers to equality between men and women and support women's participation in rural and farm innovation. Better Leverage of Digitalisation: Policy should better support women in agriculture and rural areas and use digitalisation to empower them. Improved Gender Inclusion in Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS): Services should better recognise women's needs and the gender-related impacts of AKIS interventions. CAP and Gender: Women should be recognised as equal partners across each element of the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-27, to incentivise and recognise their current and future roles and potential. Generational Renewal: Addressing the gender gap is part of the wider challenge of generational renewal and the future sustainability of Irish farming. Strengthening the Voice of Rural and Farm Women: Better representation of women in governance and decision-making is needed to improve gender equality. Work-Life Balance: Policy action is needed to support women balancing work, family and wider life demands.  Dr Aisling Murtagh, co-researcher on the FLIARA project at University of Galway, said: "Women are already driving innovation across Irish farms and rural businesses, often without the recognition or support to let it flourish. These briefs give policymakers a concrete starting point for closing that gap."  The recommendations draw on research and engagement with women farmers, rural innovators and other stakeholders throughout the FLIARA project, including case studies, policy assessment and future foresight research.  Professor Farrell continued: "Combining foresight work, case studies and direct engagement with women farmers, we offer recommendations that are grounded and forward-looking, not a list of problems, but a roadmap for more inclusive agricultural policy.”  The full report and nine policy briefs are available at: Ireland's FLIARA Policy Briefs    Ends  

University of Galway’s Arts in Action 2026-2027 programme returns this week with free events, workshops and partnerships with arts organisations in the west. A flagship public arts, performance and creative engagement programme of the University of Galway, Arts in Action prides itself on the strong partnerships it has built from year to year. With a new home at the University of Galway’s Institute for Creativity, the upcoming programme spans arts forms from theatre to music, film to comedy, as well as conversation, talks and hands-on workshops. The programme includes 15 free events, 3 workshops and partnerships with TULCA Festival of Visual Arts, Theatre of the Oppressed Festival, Music for Galway, MusicConnects, Culture Night and Galway City Council. Highlight events include: Opening the programme on September 11th, writer Sam Fowley and poet and University of Galway alumna Laoighseach Ní Choistealbha will deliver readings of their works related to the theme of the associated research symposium ‘Water Ways: Water in Flux in Ireland and Beyond’. On Culture Night, September 18th, ‘What about M.E.?’, supported by Galway City Council, features four short plays that give an insight into the thousands of people in Ireland who live with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Long-Covid, written by people living with these illnesses. On November 5th, The Pale Blue Dot, a Music for Galway performance by Elevation Ensemble, will reimagine the extraordinary cultural time capsule of the Voyager Golden Records that were affixed to NASA’s Voyager spacecrafts launched in 1977 as humanity’s message to the cosmos. This unique multimedia performance includes new music by Irish composers Linda Buckley and Jonathan Nangle. In December, a MusicConnects event ‘3 Kinds of Music’ will feature Galway guitarist and composer Aengus Hackett, MusicConnects’ Ensemble in Residence, ConTempo Quartet and the In Flow Gamelan Group – an ensemble of talented adults with Intellectual Disabilities, facilitated by That’s Life and supported by Corlann Services, Galway. Throughout October and November, artist Maeve Curtis and author Mike McCormack will lead deep-listening workshops responding to MusicConnects’ season of music. In partnership with TULCA Festival of Visual Arts, internationally renowned artist, photographer, writer and cultural producer Del LaGrace Volcano will give a live artist talk and presentation on November 12th as part of TULCA 2026: Veruca Salt. In comedy, The Accidental Activist, is a quick-witted show about the Climate Crisis by Irish comedian Diane O’Connor. Róisín Stack’s No Woman is an Island will also display sharp humour and considers the relationship between productivity and identity. Talks include a lecture by Professor Helena Grehan (Edith Cowen University) on Theatre; a presentation by Uruguayan actress, educator, and social activist Sabrina Speranza; and an hour with Alfrun Rose, writer, actor, and producer of major productions including Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. Documentary film Monarca from North to South: Migrant Audiovisual Memory, gathers the memories, songs and experiences of Nicaraguan composers exiled in Costa Rica. The screening will be followed by a discussion with historian and executive producer Dr Antonio Monte Casablanca. Florian Schneider, Director of the Institute for Creativity, University of Galway, said: “Arts in Action has a formidable legacy within the University of Galway as a major cultural initiative of the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies.  “As the programme enters a new phase of development, we are delighted that Arts in Action will now reside under the institutional banner of the Institute for Creativity, the University’s recently established interdisciplinary hub for creative innovation, research, and societal engagement. “Our plan over the coming years is to position Arts in Action as a cross-disciplinary, strategic programme for the University, strengthening links with curriculum, teaching and learning. We also want to further develop existing and new partnerships with community, cultural and creative groups and organisations, and build national and international recognition for this fantastic cultural programme.” Marianne Ní Chinnéide, Lecturer in Drama and Theatre Studies at University of Galway and Artistic Director and Head of Production and Curation for Arts in Action, said: “The University is delighted to present this year’s Arts in Action. I have curated a programme of events, lectures, talks, showcases and workshops where creative practice meets research and teaching, that embodies University of Galway’s commitment to integrated, research-led, and socially engaged artistic practice and arts education.  “Looking back over Arts in Action programmes throughout the years, a rich legacy has been formed between the University and the artistic community of all art forms, throughout the Galway region and across Ireland. I would like to sincerely thank all of our strategic partners who co-fund the programme - our university colleagues and researcher community, and festival and arts organisations – making this programme accessible to all. The reach of this programme at the intersection of research disciplines and, art form development and the live art event, is a unique model nationally and I can’t wait to share it with you all.”  Founded by the late Mary McPartlan, the Arts in Action programme was established to create a space where artistic excellence, cultural dialogue and public participation could flourish. The programme provides opportunities for staff, students, artists, researchers, community and arts organisations as well as audiences to encounter innovative artistic work, artistic research and engage in critical conversations about contemporary society.  Arts in Action events will take place at the University’s O’Donoghue Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance, the Bank of Ireland Theatre and the Siobhán McKenna Theatre.  All events are free and open to staff, students and the wider community. Registration is required. The full programme with booking details is available here.  Ends

Scientific study reveals unexpected links between anti-cancer drugs and antibiotic effectiveness Scientists from University of Galway have uncovered a surprising link between commonly used anti-cancer drugs and antibiotics that could offer a potential new approach to tackling notorious superbug infections. The research team set out to find new ways to treat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus – better known as MRSA infections - using drugs that are currently ineffective due to antibiotic resistance – a growing challenge in healthcare. The study investigated whether a range of anti-cancer drugs could help penicillin-type antibiotics, which are among the most widely used antibiotics, to become effective again. The study was carried out by researchers Dr Aaron Nolan, Sarah Byrne, Dr Merve Zeden and Professor James O’Gara from the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences at University of Galway.   The team tested five anti-cancer drugs and revealed that four of them (5-fluorouracil; 5-fluororidine; gemcitabine; and mitomycin C) helped penicillin-type antibiotics to kill MRSA. These drugs interfere with the bacteria’s ability to make DNA, making the bacteria more vulnerable to the antibiotics. A fifth anti-cancer drug which was tested (6-thioguanine) had the opposite effect and reduced the effectiveness of the antibiotics. Although this drug also affects DNA production in MRSA, it works in a different way, which may explain the different effects. Dr Aaron Nolan, Postdoctoral Researcher and lecturer in Microbiology, explained: "We discovered several anti-cancer drugs that helped antibiotics to kill MRSA. But we also identified one anti-cancer drug that interfered with antibiotic effectiveness highlighting the importance of carefully prescribing the most appropriate antibiotic in patients undergoing chemotherapy."  Sarah Byrne, PhD Researcher in Microbiology, said: “The antibiotic resistance crisis is one of the world's most urgent health challenges. These findings are particularly important for patients with cancer who may need treatment for bacterial infections while also taking chemotherapy drugs.” MRSA is a type of S. aureus bacteria that has developed resistance to commonly used antibiotics, making infections more difficult to treat. The findings also suggest that drugs already used to treat cancer could potentially be used alongside antibiotics to help them work against resistant bacteria. Assistant Professor in Microbiology Dr Merve Zeden said: "Our findings suggest that certain drugs originally developed for cancer treatment may have the potential to be repurposed alongside antibiotics. This could offer a new strategy to re-sensitise bacteria that have become resistant to existing treatments." The findings build on the team's ongoing research, which has identified the process of DNA production as a vulnerability in MRSA. By interfering with this process, some of the anti-cancer drugs tested in the study appear to make the bacteria more vulnerable to antibiotics. The discovery opens new avenues for research into combination therapies that pair antibiotics with non-antibiotic drugs. Such approaches could help extend the lifespan of existing antibiotics and provide new options for infections caused by bacteria resistant to traditional antibiotic treatments. Professor of Microbiology at University of Galway, James O'Gara, said: “We are excited by this discovery, which advances our long-term goal of finding new ways to boost the effectiveness of existing antibiotics against superbugs like MRSA. Because this approach relies on existing medications rather than developing completely new drugs, it could provide a faster route towards developing new strategies to improve patient care." The paper is published in mBio, the flagship journal of the American Society for Microbiology, is available at https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mbio.01274-26. Ends