irish fulbright alumni association number newsletter newsletter 36 for web_.pdf · for global...

Our annual Scholars’ Dinner is,perhaps, the most important event inthe IFAA calendar, where we ack-nowledge and celebrate the comingyear’s Fulbright awardees. Thedinner took place on 13 July thisyear, once again in the elegant sur-roundings of the state rooms inDublin Castle which bestowed uponit a fitting setting for the occasion.

As board members allocated tableplaces to the attendees, IFAAPresident Sarah Ingle and Vice-President Jimmy O’Brien Moran

greeted the guests, welcoming themto the magnificent venue which hashosted visiting heads of state downthrough the years. In the ThroneRoom, Siobhán Armstrong enter-tained guests with a selection ofpieces on her copy of the wire-strungTrinity harp, the same instrument onwhich she performed for the visit ofQueen Elizabeth of England.

As the guests gathered in thehistoric Portrait Gallery, they wereoffered pre-prandial libations to helpthem relax and socialise and,

following a group photo of the newFulbright awardees, they wereinvited to find their seats in the greatSt Patrick’s Hall. The huge room wasglittering with light from crystalchandeliers and candlelight, catchingthe stunning colours of the heraldicbanners that hung from the walls.

Our special guests for the eveningincluded Minister of State for Tradeand Development, Joe Costello, T.D.,and Susan Cleary, Director of PublicAffairs at the US Embassy, Dublin.Our MC on the night was IFAA

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IRISH FULBRIGHT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NUMBER 36 AUTUMN 2014

NEWSLETTER

IFAA 19TH SCHOLARS’ DINNER 2014By Jimmy O’Brien Moran

2014/2015 Fulbright Awardees at the IFAA Scholars’ Dinner in Dublin Castle with Minister Joe Costello, Board members andinvited guests

Treasurer Anne Cleary who per-formed the task with ease, creating arelaxed atmosphere while keeping theproceedings running smoothly.

Having delivered a very warm andengaging speech, Minister Costelloproposed a toast to the AmericanPresident, Barack Obama. This wasfollowed by a toast from SusanCleary to the President of Ireland,Michael D. Higgins.

IFAA President Sarah Ingledelivered a welcome speech, con-gratulating the new awardees andacknowledging the work undertakenby the Irish Fulbright Commissionled by Director Colleen Dube and theCommission Board of which Sarah isa recently appointed member. Sarahalso highlighted the important role ofthe IFAA in keeping alumni andawardees (both Irish and US) con-nected. Following her address, theIFAA President and Vice-Presidentread out citations for the awardeesand gift bags were presented to themby Board members and other IFAAmembers. This was followed with atoast to the 2014 Fulbright Awardeesby Membership Secretary SinéadMurnane.

After the wonderful meal, JimmyO’Brien Moran performed a selectionof Irish music from the nineteenthcentury on the uilleann pipes, afterwhich the proceedings were broughtto a close by Anne Cleary.

The evening was an outstandingsuccess due in no small part to thehard work and meticulous planningof our President Sarah Ingle. Ourthanks are also due to the boardmembers and other IFAA memberswho carried out various tasksthroughout the evening to ensure thateverything ran according to plan. Thevenue was salubrious and the cateringexcellent. The event was a mostfitting occasion to mark the success ofthis year’s Irish Fulbright awardees.Comhghairdeas leo go léir!

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Harpist Siobhán Armstrong entertained the guests as they arrived at the ThroneRoom in Dublin Castle.

Board members Jimmy O’Brien Moran, Sinéad Murnane, and Sarah Ingle, awaitingguests for the Scholars’ Dinner, Dublin Castle.

In attempting to write this article Itake out the diary my daughter gaveme before I left for America. Theinscription on the first page (of themostly unwritten diary) reads:“

Dear Mum,Please document your travelsin America in great depth sothat we can sell this journal one-bay when you’re rich andfamous. Ta. x Claire”

And therein lies the difficulty. Howdoes one encapsulate a Fulbrightexperience and the community ofFulbrighters in a few short sentences?I have had the great privilege ofmeeting and working with Fulbrightscholars from all over the world andwas struck by several core character-istics they had in common: they allshared a strong academic background,many of them significant contributorsto their discipline and community ofpractice. They were all were passion-ate about meeting and relating toothers from different nations andcultures. Many were leaders in theircommunities or within their academicinstitutions. They were fun to be withand excited to be part of the Fulbrightnetwork of scholars. They were adapt-able and flexible in pursuing theirproposed Fulbright research projecteven when it didn’t go to plan. Caring,inclusive, compassionate and fun to bearound.

Situated in the south-east ofFlorida, the University of SouthFlorida (USF) is in Tampa. I arrivedthere at the end of January 2014 aftera journey of 900 miles driving fromNorth Carolina. The car I had on loan(from my brother) was a necessity Iwas told, because ‘without a caryou’re nobody in the South’. Takingthe advice but thinking that it was abit exaggerated I quickly realized thatI would have to significantly show my

appreciation to my nephew for givingup his turn at the family ‘castoff ‘ car.Luckily my nephew had yet to get hisfull driving license so loaning it to mefor the six months of my stay in theStates wasn’t quite the disaster forhim that it could have been!

Public transport in Florida is verypoor and non-existent to speak of inTampa itself. Outside city limits in anydirection you are dependent on gettingto your destination by car. While inFlorida I had to successfully pass myAmerican driving license as my Irishand International one would not coverme for my total stay in the USA. Smallissues like overtaking traffic on theright- AND the left-hand side becamea ‘normal’ event rather than the hair-raising experiences prior to my real-ization that those manoeuvers wereactually LEGAL!

I spent the first half of my Fulbrightterm at USF’s School of AdultEducation getting to meet staff andfaculty, directors of research, visitingscholars, and other members of theacademic community. Being aFulbright Scholar opened doors forme across the university and I wasinvited to attend seminars, deliverworkshops, join faculty in pairedteaching sessions on their doctoralprograms. Toward the end of my timein Florida I delivered a keynoteaddress at the USF FulbrightSymposium held at the Patel Centrefor Global Solutions at USF World.

Visits were arranged at USF out-reach centres at Ybor City andHillsborough Community College(HCC) where there are 48,000 stu-dents. HCC acts as a feeder college forseveral of the universities in Florida.The Fulbright Alumni Association in South Florida is very inclusive andproactive in bringing Scholarstogether during their time in Florida.One social event included a ‘behind

the scenes’ tour of Disneyworld.My research project discusses a

new way to understand teaching andlearning in higher education whichaddresses the perspectives and needsof both the institution and student.

In the USA, there has been greaterattention paid in recent years on aconstellation of issues related tostudent success by State legislatures,federal agencies, and accreditationagencies. The specific hot topics ofconcern include undergraduate reten-tion rates, graduation rates, and totalnumber of credits per student. Variousstakeholders in this discussion havediverse expectations, needs, demands,perspectives, and even terms toexpress their investment in improvingmetric results of student success.

A metaphor of a “leaky pipeline” canhelp explain the situation. One mightconsider higher education institutions(HEIs), their curriculum and pro-cedures of undergraduate education asa pipeline, and the students are thewater flowing through it. Furthermore,consider that each molecule of waterwithin the pipeline represents astudent. In this analogy, the studentsmust successfully navigate the entirepathway of the pipeline during theirundergraduate studies to reachgraduation.

Conversely, students who discon-tinue their journey prior to graduationcould be referred to as “leaking water”in our analogy. They are students wholeave their higher education institutionprior to completing their degree. Theywould be students who had tointerrupt or end their undergraduatelearning journey prematurely. Thecollective group of students who leavethe steady flow towards graduationillustrate the hotly contested phen-omenon of a “leaky pipeline.”

Dr Anne Graham Cagney, WIT, &Dr Kathleen P. King, USF.

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WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A FULBRIGHTERBy Anne Graham Cagney

Friday, April 4th, 2014 saw the IrishFulbright Alumni Association, inconjunction with the Office of PublicAffairs of the US Embassy, presentFulbright Fringe! at the Ambassador’sResidence in the Phoenix Park. ThePublic Affairs Office had approachedthe IFAA’s Board to see if they couldwork together in hosting a social-cultural event to open and com-plement the TEDxFulbright eventthat was to take place the followingday.

The resulting outcome was amemorable evening of poetry andmusical performances delivered byboth Irish and US Fulbright awardeesto a packed audience in the Residencedrawing room. After a brief welcomefrom both Angie Smith of the USEmbassy Public Affairs Office andSarah Ingle, President of the IFAA,the MC for the evening, Prof. CliveLee, introduced each of the performersin turn.

Nerys Williams, the award-winningWelsh-born poet, based in UCD,recited three of her poems, Occupy,Scan and In Which. The first of themusical offerings came from therenowned solo cellist GeraldPeregrine who played JS Bach’sSaraband from Suite No. 1 in G,followed later by Saint-Saens’ TheSwan. Nell Regan, Artistic Director of the West Cork Literary Festival,was the second poet on the prog-ramme and treated the audience to sixof her own works. The evening wasrounded off by internationallyacclaimed pianist, Peter Tuite, whoplayed two of Haydn’s piano sonatasfollowed by a sparkling and exhilar-ating encore of his own.

Settings, surroundings, and soloists,all made for both a memorable

and contrasting start to theTEDxFulbright that was to follow; thefact that it was an ‘in-house’ Fulbrightproduction made it all the more so.’

Excerpts from these performances can be accessed on Youtube throughlinks on the IFAA websitewww.irishfulbrightalumni.com

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FULBRIGHT FRINGE! AT THE

AMBASSADOR’S RESIDENCEBy Darach Turley

IFAA President Sarah Ingle (centre) with the musicians and poets who performed atthe IFAA Fulbright Fringe! event in the US Ambassador’s Residence, Phoenix Park:(from left) Peter Tuite, Nell Regan, Nerys Williams, and Gerald Peregrine.

Colleen Dube, Executive Director of the Fulbright Commission, Ireland, SusanCleary, Director of Public Affairs, US Embassy, Dublin, Clive Lee of the Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland, and Angie Smith, Assistant Director of Public Affairs, US Embassy, Dublin at the IFAA Fulbright Fringe! event in the US Ambassador’s Residence, Phoenix Park.

The 2014 IFAA AGM took place inBoston College, St Stephen’s Green,Dublin on 8 May 2014. Following around of introductions and welcome,the minutes of the 2013 AGM werereviewed and approved. Reportswere delivered by the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary andMembership Secretary, providingdetails of activities undertaken by theBoard over the past year as well asupdates on current finances andmembership. Anne Cleary’s sterlingwork on moving the IFAA’s accountto online banking was particularlywelcomed as this will make it mucheasier in the future to review member-ship subscriptions and trackpayments for events. In regard tostudent/unemployed members, it wasagreed to introduce a reduced annual

subscription following a proposal bySinéad Murnane.

Elections to the IFAA ExecutiveBoard were then undertaken. AnneCleary was proposed as Treasurer foranother term and was duly elected.Peter Lonergan stepped down asWeb-Editor but was re-elected as anordinary Board member. Also electedas ordinary members were newrecruits Nóirín Ní Laighin and OisínÓ Doinn. Nóirín and Oisín areparticularly welcome as they are thefirst representatives from theFulbright Foreign Language TeachingAssistant (FLTA) programme. TheBoard looks forward to their input,especially in relation to the promotionof Irish where possible.

Róisín Tiernan stepped down fromthe Board and her major contributions,

in particular regard to the organisationof Comhluadair outside of Dublin,were gratefully acknowledged. NellRegan also stepped down and wasthanked for her work. It was noted thatPaul Donnelly’s ex-officio membershipis now ended. Sincere appreciationwas registered by the meetingparticipants to Paul, in particular byhis predecessor, Frank McGoldrick.

Finally a discussion took place onthe proposed activities for the comingyear and many IFAA membersprovided input and suggestions whichwere very welcome. Following themeeting all adjourned for a socialevent in Boston College. Our sincerethanks are due to Thea Gilien andClaire McGowan for making thiswonderful venue available to us andfor their hospitality on the day.

Alas, my time in Taiwan is drawing toa close; it has been a truly wonderfulyear. While here, I have taken theopportunity to connect with both theFoundation for Scholarly Exchange(the Fulbright Commission) and theTaiwan Fulbright Alumni Association(TFAA). This connection led to aninvitation to participate as a panellistin an Alumni Engagement InnovationFund-sponsored TFAA forum inSeptember. Before I get on to that, Ithought some background onFulbright in Taiwan and the TFAAwould be of interest.

Fulbright in TaiwanThe history of Fulbright in Taiwanmirrors the country’s evolving history.

The world’s first FulbrightCommission (the “USEducational Foundationin China”) was estab-lished in 1947 in Nanjing,which was then thecapital of the Republic ofChina. However, theresumption of China’scivil war in the aftermathof WW2, which eventu-ally saw the Kuomintang-led government of theRepublic of China moveto Taiwan, resulted in the Foundation ceasingoperations.

In 1957, the Foundation re-commenced activities in Taiwan as the

“US Educational Foundation in theRepublic of China”. The Foundation’s

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IFAA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2014 By Sarah Ingle

精彩的台灣！/WONDERFUL TAIWAN!By 唐保羅/ Paul Donnelly

(l to r) Dr Paul Donnelly (President Emeritus, IFAA),Dr Paul Chiu (President Emeritus, TFAA) and DrWilliam Vocke (Executive Director, Foundation forScholarly Exchange - Fulbright Taiwan).

responsibility for the FulbrightProgram was made permanent in1964, following the signing of a newagreement between the US andTaiwan. 1979 saw the Foundationchange to its current name, the“Foundation for Scholarly Exchange”(FSE).

The FSE’s Board of Directorscomprises five Taiwanese and fiveAmericans, while the Director of theAmerican Institute in Taiwan (whichfunctions as the US representation inTaiwan) serves as the Foundation’sHonorary Chairman and Dr WilliamVocke serves as its ExecutiveDirector.

Over the course of its history,Fulbright in Taiwan has evolved from an emphasis on science andtechnology in the 1960s, incorpor-ating the social sciences andhumanities in the 1970s, andincluding the arts and foreignlanguage teaching from the 1990s.

Since 1958, some 1,600Taiwan Fulbrighters andsome 1,300 US Ful-brighters have benefitedfrom the exchange be-tween the two countries.Taiwan’s Fulbrightersinclude prime ministers,ministers, chief execu-tives, university presi-dents, academics, pro-fessionals, artists andsocial activists.

TFAAEstablished in 1992, theTFAA aims to maintain an activealumni network, promote friendship,and enhance international academicand cultural exchanges. The currentBoard of Directors, which comprises15 members, is chaired by the PrimeMinister, Dr Jiang Yi-huah, who isserving his second two-year term.

Day-to-day, the TFAA is in the

hands of a dynamic SecretaryGeneral, Prof. Hans Tung, who is aPolitical Scientist at National TaiwanUniversity (NTU). Hans, with sup-port from FSE staff, organises allTFAA events, which in recent yearshave included an annual conference,workshops, policy fora, thought leaderlectures, a book club, and concerts.

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Island v. Empire: Prof. Jieh-min Wu (Institute ofSociology, Academia Sinica) and Dr Paul Donnelly.

A Sinéad a chara,

I hope this email finds you well. I am a ‘Fulbrighter’ from

last year (2013–14). I have just finished my Master’s

degree at NYU in Educational Leadership, Politics,

Policy and Advocacy.

During the degree, last January, I began an internship

in the New York Department of Education in the Office

of the Senior Deputy Chancellor, and they have since hired me.

So I am going to stay in NYC until June, 2015.

My role is to build capacity in programs which promote educational

equity, and expand access opportunities in traditionally underserved

communities. At the moment I am working on the NYC DOE Advanced

Placement Initiative, which supports more than 4,000 students!

Le gach dea-ghuí, Ruth O’Grady

Sinéad

Irish Fulbright Alumni

Association

Dublin

TFAA ForumHaving secured AEIF funding for aproject titled “Engaging TaiwanAlumni”, Hans invited me to partici-pate in an International ExperiencePanel and share the IFAA and IUSAmodels of organising. The audiencecomprised TFAA alumni and boardmembers, alumni of the InternationalVisitor Leadership Program andStudy of the US Institutes (SUSI)Program, and AIT representatives, allof whom were keenly interested inlearning from the Irish experience.

I was then invited to attend adinner, at which the TFAA launcheda video celebrating the history ofFulbright in Taiwan, including theTFAA, along with honouring TFAAPresident Emeritus, Dr Paul Chiu.Dr Chiu, who is credited withdeveloping Taiwan’s Monetary andForeign Exchange Market, is aformer Deputy Governor of Taiwan’sCentral Bank, a former Minister forFinance, a former Deputy PM, andcurrent Chairman of Bank SinoPac.

I was honoured by the TFAA inbeing seated at the top table for thedinner, along with TFAA and FSEBoard members. As a result, I had anengaging chat with Dr Chiu. He toldme that one of his professors at NTUwas an Irish Jesuit, who relatedstories about Ireland amidst lecturesabout mathematics.

Island v. EmpireAside from Fulbright, I was invited toparticipate in a number of otheractivities, including presenting apaper linked to my work here at aninternational conference – Island v.Empire: Taiwan, Hong Kong, andIreland in Comparative Perspective –jointly organised by AcademiaSinica’s Institutes of Taiwan Historyand Sociology.

Also invited to attend from Irelandwere Professors Marianne Elliott(Blair Chair and Director of the

Institute of Irish Studies, Universityof Liverpool), Diane Urquhart(Institute of Irish Studies, Universityof Liverpool), and Bryan Fanning(UCD). It was great getting to knowthem all while they were here.

In addition to continuing thepersonal connection, the conferenceparticipants have agreed to continueefforts to develop a joint Ireland-Taiwan research programme.

Double Tenth DayThe 10th of October – Double TenthDay – marks Taiwan’s national day.To mark the occasion, I was invitedby the Minister for Foreign Affairs,Ambassador David Lin, to the statereception in Taipei Guest House.Though the rain poured, the weather

was still warm enough (equivalent toan Irish summer) for guests to minglein the gardens beneath sturdycanopies, while enjoying the wonder-ful food, drink and entertainment. Ifthere’s one thing I’ve learned aboutTaiwan, it’s that the Taiwanese arereal foodies!

Taiwan FellowshipBased on my own wonderful experi-ence, I very much encourage anyonewith an interest in Taiwan, cross-strait relations, sinology or the Asia-Pacific region, and wishing to conductadvanced research at universities oracademic institutions in Taiwan, toavail of the opportunity afforded bythe Taiwan Fellowship. You won’tregret it!

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Double Tenth Day (l to r): Ambassador Larry Tseng (Director General, Protocol,Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Prof. Adina Zemanek (Taiwan Fellow fromJagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland), Mrs Tseng and Dr Paul Donnelly.

Ruairí McKiernan

TechImpact Fulbright Award recipient RuairíMcKiernan recently completed his Fulbright researchat the pioneering Citizen Engagement Lab in Berkeley,California. During his time there he worked with socialmovements who are creatively harnessing the web forcampaigning, advocacy, and democratic engagement.You can read more about his time in Berkeley on hisblog at www.ruairimckiernan.com and in his recentHuffington Post article ‘Berkeley’s Freedom FlameKept Alive By New Generation Of Activists’

Le bliain anuas tá dochtúireacht áscríobh agam bunaithe ar anbhfoghlaim ríomhchuidithe teang-acha. Le linn an ama seo táim tar éisteacht ar an oiread sin aipeanna agusclár a chuidíonn le daoine teangachaa fhoghlaim go neamhspleách agus achuidíonn le múinteoirí cumas a gcuidmac léinn a fhorbairt sa teanga sinchomh maith. Faraor, is annamh athagaim ar phíosa teicneolaíochta achuidíonn le duine feabhas a chur ara c(h)uid Gaeilge. Is trua mór é seo imo thuairim mar is minic a chloisteardaoine ag rá gur bhreá leo tabhairtfaoin nGaeilge a fhoghlaim arís, igceart (n’fheadar cad is brí leis sin),ach nach bhfuil an deis acu. Ar andea-uair, lainseáladh cúrsa ar-líne donGhaeilge an tseachtain seo caite chunan bhfadhb sin a réiteach arDuolingo.com

Is ardán foghlama ar-líne den chéadscoth é Duolingo a chuireann cúrsaíteangacha saor in aisce ar fáil. D’éirighle Duolingo an chéad áit a bhaintamach san AppStore ar iTunesanuraidh i measc na n-aipeanna saor inaisce is fearr ar an margadh. Thosaighmé ag obair leis an dream in Duolingoi gcaitheamh na bliana i gcomhar leceathrar eile chun cúrsa Gaeilge a churar fáil don phobal. Lainseáil muid ancúrsa in Beta i lár Mheán Fómhair. Iséard a chiallaíonn Beta nach bhfuil séfoirfe go fóill agus go bhfuil sé áfhorbairt againn fós. Faoi láthair tá 45 míle duine cláraithe ar an gcúrsa,agus tá an figiúr seo ag dul in airde inaghaidh an lae. Freisin, is gá a rá nachas Éirinn na húsáideoirí seo uilig.

Tá a fhios agam cé chomh luach-mhar is atá teicneolaíocht mar seodóibh siúd atá ag iarraidh a sprioc-

theanga a chleachtadh ó m’am agteagasc sna Stáit Aontaithe. Oireannan cúrsa seo do thosaitheoirí agusd’fhoghlaimeoirí idirmheánacha. Tig leduine scrúdú iontrála a dhéanamh nótús a chur leis an teanga a fhoghlaim óntús. Pléitear le buntús na teanga agusle nithe casta sa chúrsa, cosúil le clásalcoibhneasta na copaile mar shampla.D’fhéadfadh sé a bheith ina chúnamhollmhór dóibh siúd atá ag tabhairt faoiscrúduithe stáit an bhliain seochugainn nó dóibh siúd a theastaíonnuathu a c(h)uid Gaeilge a chleachtadh.

Ní réiteoidh an cúrsa seo nafadhbanna nó na dúshláin go léir abhaineann leis an nGaeilge afhoghlaim, ná aon teanga leoga, achtá súil againn go réiteoidh sé roinntacu. I ndeireadh na dála ní thig leduine teanga a fhoghlaim i gceart ganí a úsáid agus a labhairt go sóisialta.

For the past year I have been pursuinga doctorate in techno-pedagogyfocusing on computer-aided languagelearning. During this time I have comeacross numerous apps and computerprogrammes designed to help peoplelearn a language independently, andalso apps which help teachers helptheir students to progress in thelanguage. Unfortunately, it is rare thatI come across such technologies whichare designed to help people improvetheir Irish. This is a shame as I oftenhear people say that they would loveto learn the language again properly(whatever ‘properly’ means), but thatthey do not have the opportunity.This prompted me to becomeinvolved in a project to help build anonline Irish language course which

was recently launched by Duolingo.com.

Duolingo is a high quality onlinelanguage-learning platform whichprovides all of its language-learningcourses for free. The website wasawarded the title of best free app ofthe year on both the iTunes AppStoreand on Google play in 2013. At thebeginning of this year I beganworking as part of a team of fivecontributors with Duolingo.com tohelp build the Irish course. Thecourse was launched in Beta in mid-September and it already has over45,000 registered learners, a figurewhich is rising daily. The course hasdrawn both national and alsointernational attention.

I know from my time teaching the

Irish language in the US how valuablea system like this is for enhancingstudent interaction with the language.This course is designed for beginnersand intermediate learners. One canstart with the basics of the language ordo a placement exam to jump into thecourse at a level that suits them. Thebasics and the trickier parts of Irishgrammar are covered, such as thedreaded Modh Coinníollach. I believethis course has major potential to helpthose who have to do a state exam inthe coming year or those who simplywant to brush on their Irish.

This online platform does not solveall of the problems and challengesassociated with learning Irish, orindeed any language, but we hope itwill solve some of them.

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CÚRSA GAEILGE DUOLINGOle Oisín Ó Doinn

DUOLINGO IRISH COURSEBy Oisín Ó Doinn

My nana could often be heard singing“If you’re Oirrrrrrish, come into theparrrrrrlour, there’s a welcome therefor you”. She was a great woman for aparty, or “a bit of an oul’ hooley” as shecalled it, and was a big fan of the “partypiece”. I think, even by her exactingstandards, we would have done hervery proud with this year’s Welcome!event in the Oak Room of Buswell’sHotel in Dublin.

It was a particularly miserable Fridayevening in October, but twenty five

hardy souls came together in the nameof their Fulbright connection to meetand greet each other. We weredelighted to welcome six of this year’sUS visiting Fulbright Scholars and twovisiting spouses, as well as three formerUS Fulbrighters that are back inIreland to continue their work here. Wealso had the opportunity to introduceJen McAndrew, the newly appointedDeputy Public Affairs Officer from theUS Embassy who came along to meetus. And of course there was the Irish

Fulbright contingent, represented bymembers from across the years as wellas one from Germany. A trulyinternational exchange!

Party pieces were provided by wayof a round of brief introductions and afew stories from all, which seeded alively evening of conversation andconnection. The atmosphere of warmthand high spirits chased away allthoughts of the wet and windy nightoutside. Looking forward to seeingeveryone in the next few months again!

Dr Colm Browning is a post-doctoral researcher at the Radio andOptical Communications laboratoryin Dublin City University where herecently completed his Ph.D. Colmwill be travelling to ColumbiaUniversity, New York, to undertakeresearch focused on the introductionof high speed optical communicationsystems to data centres.

Mr Richard Butler is a Ph.D.candidate in Architectural History atthe University of Cambridge. While

on his Fulbright Student AwardRichard will research the history ofIrish public architecture from 1800 –1850s, while collaborating with one ofthe leading scholars in Irish history atthe University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Mr Jay Calvert is a Fulbright -Marine Institute Student Awardeecurrently undertaking a Ph.D. inMarine Benthic Ecology at theUniversity of Ulster, Coleraine. Jaywill investigate geostatistical appli-cations for assessing variation of

seabed habitats and commercial stockdensities, while based at AlaskaPacific University and NortheasternUniversity.

Mr Daniel Caulfield-Srikladrecently completed an M.A. inFashion Curation at the University ofthe Arts, London. While on hisFulbright Student Award at DrexelUniversity, Daniel will explore theuse of innovative digital technologywithin the field of museum curationto enhance communication and

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IFAA WELCOME! EVENING 2014By Sinéad Murnane

FULBRIGHT AWARDEES 2014–2015

At the October Welcome Event in Buswell’s Hotel were JohnO’Loughlin Kennedy, Séamus Ó Cinnéide, and John Hurley.

Also at the October Welcome Event were Thérèse Fahy,Sinéad Murnane and Nóirín Ní Laighin.

accessibility within both the physicaland digital exhibition space.

Dr Gavin Collins is a lecturer inmicrobiology and European ResearchCouncil Fellow at NUI Galway, anda British Science Association MediaFellow at The Irish Times. As aFulbright Scholar at the University ofCalifornia, Berkeley, Gavin willinvestigate microbial genomics inbioenergy production and enhancedoil recovery processes.

Dr Patricia Coughlan is ProfessorEmerita at the School of English,University College Cork. As aFulbright Scholar she will be

researching the work of Irish-American novelist Elizabeth Cullinanand her cultural contexts, at FordhamUniversity.

Dr Selena Daly is a postdoctoralfellow of the School of History andArchives at University CollegeDublin. While at the University ofCalifornia, Santa Barbara, as aFulbright Scholar, Selena will com-plete the first comprehensive study ofthe Futurist movement during theFirst World War, while also teachinga course on Italian literature.

Ms Treasa De Loughry is a Ph.D.candidate in English literature atUniversity College Dublin. While onher Fulbright–National University ofIreland Student Award at theUniversity of California, Los Angeles,Treasa will undertake research inenvironmental humanities andexplore how contemporary globaland postcolonial novels have regis-tered world-systemic crises.

Ms Claire M. Dunne is a lecturer inIrish in Marino Institute ofEducation. She is currently a Ph.D.candidate in the Centre for Languageand Communication Studies, TrinityCollege Dublin. She will be aFulbright Foreign LanguageTeaching Assistant at the Universityof Notre Dame, Indiana.

Professor Fidelma Dunne, School ofMedicine, NUI Galway is a FulbrightScholar Awardee. Fidelma willresearch alongside Professor MaryD’Alton, Columbia University NewYork. She will compare and contrastthe screening for and clinicaloutcomes for women with GestationalDiabetes in both states to include acost benefit analysis.

Ms Niamh Fox is a Ph.D. candidatein Chemistry at Trinity CollegeDublin. As a Fulbright StudentAwardee, Niamh will conductresearch into the optical properties of

conjugated polymers with a view tocreating new commercially viablesensor devices, at MassachusettsInstitute of Technology.

Ms Laura Frey is a FulbrightStudent Awardee currently under-taking a Ph.D. in Bio-engineering atTrinity College Dublin. While at theKhademhosseini Lab in MassachusettsInstitute of Technology, Laura willresearch the effects of incorporationof anti-inflammatory drugs and stemcells into materials on neuronal cellcultures.

Dr Claire Hamilton is a Lecturer inCriminology in Queen’s UniversityBelfast. As part of her FulbrightSchuman Scholar Award she willconduct comparative research oncounter-terrorism while at John JayCollege of Criminal Justice, CUNY.

Ms Marie Hyland is a FulbrightSchuman Student Awardee. As aPh.D. candidate in EnergyEconomics at Trinity College Dublin,Marie will research electricity marketdesign and explore how regulatorychanges can facilitate increased levelsof renewable energy sources, while atthe University of Maryland.

Ms Clár Johnston works asLegislative and Planning Executivewith Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilgeand holds a degree in Early andModern Irish from Trinity College.Clár will be a Fulbright ForeignLanguage Teaching Assistant at the University of St. Thomas inMinnesota.

Dr Felicity Kelliher is a seniorlecturer in Management Studies andis co-chair of the Rikon ResearchGroup at the Waterford Institute ofTechnology. As a Fulbright Scholar,Felicity will examine the role of trustin building rural tourism networkengagement, while based at theUniversity of Missouri.

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IFAA BOARD The following are the 2014/2015Board members:

President: Dr Sarah [email protected]

Vice-President: Dr Jimmy O’Brien Moran [email protected]

Hon. Secretary:Prof. Darach [email protected]

Membership Secretary: Sinéad [email protected]

Treasurer: Dr Anne [email protected]

Member:Gráinne Cuffe

Member:Dr Peter Lonergan

Member:Mary McPartlan

Member:Nóirín Ní Laighin

Member:Oisín Ó Doinn

Dr Ailbhe Kenny is a lecturer inmusic education at Mary ImmaculateCollege, University of Limerick. As aFulbright Scholar, Ailbhe willinvestigate the potential forpedagogical transformation throughmusician-teacher partnerships inschools to inform emerging models inIreland. Ailbhe is hosted by NewYork University and TeachersCollege, Columbia University.

Ms Teresa Lynn is a FulbrightEnterprise Ireland Awardee currentlyundertaking a Ph.D. in ComputationalLinguistics at Dublin City Universityand Macquarie University, Sydney.While at Saint Louis University,Teresa will research natural languageprocessing techniques for thedevelopment of linguistic resourcesand technology for the Irish language.

Mr Colm Mac Fhionnghaile is anM.A. candidate in Modern Irish atthe National University of Ireland,Galway. Colm will be a FulbrightForeign Language Teaching Assistantin the University of Connecticut.

Ms Roe McDermott holds a Masters in Journalism from DublinCity University. Roe is a sexcolumnist, features writer, and artcritic for a number of publicationsand media platforms in Ireland. As a

Fulbright Student Awardee, Roe willundertake a Masters degree inSexuality Studies at San FranciscoState University.

Mr Eoin Mc Evoy is an Irish-language tutor at University CollegeDublin and the founder of the firstGerman branch of the Gaelic League.He will be a Fulbright ForeignLanguage Teaching Assistant atVillanova University, Philadelphia.

Mr Ruairí McKiernan is a socialentrepreneur, a technology-for-change innovator, and a Member ofthe Council of State. As a FulbrightTechImpact Scholar, Ruairí willspend time at the Citizen EngagementLaboratory in Berkeley, California.Ruairí will explore the areas of onlinecivic engagement, digital democracydevelopment, and web-based citizenactivism.

Dr Ian McLoughlin lectures inComputing and Mathematics at theInstitute of Technology, Sligo. As aTechImpact Fulbright Scholar, Ianwill travel to Stanford University toresearch the provision of onlinelaboratory environments.

Dr David Monaghan is a post-doctoral researcher at the Insightcentre for data analytics in Dublin

PAGE 11


Reading out the citations of the Fulbright Awardees at the Scholars’ Dinner inDublin Castle.

SPONSORS OF THE

IRISH FULBRIGHT

ALUMNI

ASSOCIATION

IFAA gratefully acknowledges thegenerous sponsorship/assistance of:

Athlone Institute of Technology

Department of ForeignAffairs and Trade

Dublin City University

Dublin Institute of Technology

Galway-Mayo Institute ofTechnology

Institute of Technology Sligo

Irish Fulbright Commission

Limerick Institute ofTechnology

National University ofIreland Galway

Maynooth University

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

St Patrick’s College,Drumcondra

Trinity College Dublin

U.S. Embassy Dublin

University of Limerick

University College Cork

University College Dublin

City University. During hisFulbright, as a TechImpact Scholar,David will travel to Arizona StateUniversity to research computergaming technology and its applicationto physical rehabilitation adherencewith particular focus on humancomputer interaction technology.

Dr Cal Muckley is a senior lecturerin Banking and Finance at UniversityCollege Dublin. As the FulbrightCRH Scholar at Yale University, Calwill be researching the implications offirm risks for asset pricing, whileassessing the wider implications forsociety.

Dr Emer Mulligan is Head of theSchool of Business and Economics atNUI Galway. As a Fulbright-CRHScholar at the Harvard KennedySchool of Government, Emer’sresearch activities will focus on (i)taxation in practice in US

multinational corporations and (ii)US tax policy and administration.

Dr Enda Murphy is a SeniorLecturer in the School of Geography,Planning and Environmental Policyat University College Dublin. As aFulbright – EPA Scholar Awardee,Enda will focus on the transferabilityof EU best-practice approaches forstrategic noise mapping andmitigation within a US context.

Ms Julanne Murphy is a secondaryschool teacher at Ardscoil Rís,Limerick. Julanne will be a FulbrightForeign Language Teaching Assistantat the Catholic University of America,Washington D.C.

Dr Mary C. Murphy is a FulbrightSchuman Scholar from UniversityCollege Cork. Mary will be based atGeorge Mason University, Virginia,and will research US processes of

Congressional capacity-building. Shewill determine if such forms ofdedicated training for national parlia-mentarians across Europe cancontribute to a more legitimate anddemocratic EU legislative process.

Dr Orla Murphy is a Lecturer in theSchool of English, and in Digital Artsand Humanities at University CollegeCork. As a Fulbright TechImpactScholar, Orla will focus on DigitalCultural Heritage, 3D modelcreation, immersive, interactive andaugmented exhibition environmentsat Boston College, digitally enhancingaccess to the Centenary 2016Celebration of the Irish Arts andCrafts Movement in Boston.

Ms Niamh Murray is a FulbrightTeagasc Student Awardee currentlyundertaking a Ph.D. in Food Scienceat University College Dublin. While atthe University of California, Davis,

PAGE 12


Dear Sinéad,

Many thanks for the update on IFAA events. All is well in New York.

Enjoying life here so far.

I’m attaching a photo of three NY-based Fulbrighters (Ailbhe

Kenny, Colm Browning and myself) with the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny,

on his visit here

recently.

All the best,

Claire

HamiltonSinéad

Irish Fulbright Alumni

Association

Dublin

Claire Hamilton (second from left) with NY FulbrightersColm Browning, Ailbhe Kenny, and Taoiseach Enda Kennyin New York recently.

Niamh will investigate the causes ofbitterness in dairy protein hydrolysates.

Dr Jeneen Naji is the Digital MediaProgram Coordinator in theDepartment of Media Studies,Maynooth University. As a FulbrightTechImpact Scholar, Jeneen will bevisiting Brown University’sdepartment of Literary Arts in orderto make a multicultural digital poemin their immersive 3D CAVE.

Ms Síne Nic an Ailí graduated fromthe University of Limerick with adegree in Irish Studies and Spanish,and currently works as a DevelopmentExecutive with Conradh na Gaeilge.Síne will be a Fulbright ForeignLanguage Teaching Assistant in theUniversity of Montana.

Ms Éilis Nic Aodhagáin is an M.A.candidate in Modern Irish atUniversity College Dublin, where shehas worked as a tutor for the pastyear. She will be a Fulbright ForeignLanguage Teaching Assistant atUniversity of Montana.

Ms Vikki Ní Bhréin graduated fromNUIG in 2009 with a degree in Irishand geography. She is a secondaryschool teacher in Notre DameSchool, Churchtown. She will be aFulbright Foreign LanguageTeaching Assistant at Elms College,Chicopee, MA.

Mr Cian Ó Concubhair is aFulbright Student Awardee whorecently completed his LL.B. in Lawat Trinity College Dublin. While inthe US, Cian will undertake anLL.M. at Harvard University,specialising in the role of the mediaand criminal law in democracy.

Mr Shane Ó Ruairc is a secondaryschool teacher in Coláiste Eoin,Booterstown, Co. Dublin. Shaneholds a Masters in Modern IrishHistory and in Irish LanguageJournalism and Communicationsfrom University College Dublin.Shane will be a Fulbright ForeignLanguage Teaching Assistant at Drew University and New YorkUniversity.

Ms Christine Ryan holds a degree inLaw and Irish from UniversityCollege Cork and an LL.M. degree inInternational Law from UniversityCollege London. As FulbrightStudent Awardee, Christine willundertake a Ph.D. in JudicialScience, specialising in equality lawand reproductive rights.

Dr Caroline Wynne is a FulbrightEPA Scholar Awardee. While basedat Michigan State University,Caroline will conduct researcharound landscape limnology andscale, in order to better predict theeffect of anthropogenic disturbanceon ecosystems.

Ms Alena Yuryna Connolly is aFulbright NUI Student Awardeecurrently undertaking a Ph.D. inInformation Systems Security at NUIGalway. While at the University ofCalifornia, Berkeley, Alena willresearch socio-cultural measures thatpromote security-cautious behaviourof employees in organisationalsettings.

Recently I travelled to Moldova toattend a very interesting and enjoyableevent on behalf of the IFAA. On 9–10October 2014, ‘Globally Connected,Locally Engaged: Promoting activecitizenship through international co-operation’, the jointly hosted confer-ence by the European Network for American Alumni (ENAM) andthe Creative Development Association(CDA – Moldovan AlumniAssociation) was held in Chisinau.

The conference was a greatopportunity to connect with otherENAM members from aroundEurope as well as American alumni

from Moldova. Along with Moldovadelegates I got to meet Americanprogramme alumni from 20 countriesaround Europe including Macedonia,Azerbaijan, Cyprus and Estonia.

Getting there was an adventure initself as the first flight on the journeyleft Dublin airport at twenty pastmidnight! It was good that I wastravelling with IUSA Treasurer, JohnKearns, so that we could look out foreach other and make sure we got onthe next plane to Bucharest safely,arriving in Chisinau at 9am local time.As the Irish contingent John and Iacquitted ourselves well, John even

accompanying the ENAM Secretary-General, Massimo Cugusi in arousing rendition of O Sole Mio duringthe closing dinner!

Following a welcome and intro-duction by Fulbright Alumna AlionaCara, CDA President, the first day ofthe event was taken up with pres-entations from Moldovan governmentrepresentatives and CDA memberswhich provided a fascinating insightinto the country and its citizens. Inthe evening we were honoured to beinvited to attend a reception hostedby the U.S. Ambassador to Moldova,William H. Moser and his wife Marie.

PAGE 13


ENAM CONFERENCE MOLDOVABy Sarah Ingle

Anticipating a request to write anarticle for the next IFAA newsletteron the trip to Limerick, I have pulledinto the side of the road on my wayhome to Clonmel to put ‘pen to paper’while the day is fresh in my memory.At times like this I wish I were a poetas I look out of the car window to anamazing rainbow stretching over thesnow-capped Galtee mountains, raincoming down pretty heavily while atthe same time the sun is shiningbrightly. How can one describe that scene aptly other than a typicalIrish day with many seasons rolledinto one.

Anyway, back to the task in hand.We had a most enjoyable day inLimerick on 22 March 2014. TheDublin contingent had an early 8 amstart to be at the Hunt Museum intime for a very informative tour of thepersonal collection of Gertrude andJohn Hunt. Now housed in thehistoric eighteenth-century CustomHouse building, the collection includesa range of objects from the Stone Ageup to the twentieth century, reflectingthe disparate interests of the Huntswho were antique dealers and advisorsto collectors.

Also on show were thirty-nine

There we had the opportunity tothank the Ambassador for hisgenerous sponsorship of the ENAMconference and delegates’ travel, aswell as meet with the participants ofthe Peace Building in Eastern Europe 2.0U.S. International Exchange AlumniConference.

The next day was given over toENAM business and welcomingremarks at the beginning were pro-vided by Kate Bartlett, US EmbassyAssistant Public Affairs Officer. TheCDA Executive Director, Mariana

Turcan introduced all ENAMmembers present at a round-tableevent, where each of us gave a shortpresentation about our associationsand our Board and member activities.This provided a very interestinginsight into both the similarities anddifferences of American alumniorganisations around Europe. In theafternoon, Secretary-General MassimoCugusi moderated a discussion on thechallenges and opportunities for thenew ENAM leadership as electionsare due to take place soon. Twin

challenges of identity and funding forENAM were addressed and delegateswere asked to discuss these with theirmembers and Boards.

The day concluded with a visit tothe famous Mileştii Miciunderground winery and dinner in alocal restaurant. Overall it was a greattrip and wonderful to connect with somany American alumni from aroundEurope. IFAA will continue itsmembership of ENAM and we willkeep you informed of futurediscussions and activities.

PAGE 14


IFAA President Sarah Ingle with U.S. Ambassador toMuldova, William H. Moser, and his wife Marie at hisResidence in Muldova.

Sarah Ingle with Aliona Cara, CDA President, Liuba Ceban,CDA Board Member and Mariana Țurcan, CDA ExecutiveDirector

LIMERICK COMHLUADAR 2014 By Róisín Tiernan

Br Colmán Ó Clabaigh OSB, MedievalistHistorian at Glenstal Abbey, who gave anenlightening and entertaining tour ofGlenstal, part of the Limerick Comhluadarexcursion in March.

paintings from the National Galleryof Ireland which were donated byChester Beatty in 1950. We weregiven the challenge of choosing thetop five paintings which we wouldsave if the gallery flooded! This isobviously a major consideration forthe museum’s staff, given themuseum’s riverside location and thefact that the River Shannon broke itsbanks in recent times.

A delicious lunch was enjoyed atthe museum restaurant, followed by atrip to Glenstal Abbey in Murroe forthe afternoon. We were given theRolls Royce tour of Glenstal byBrother Colmán Ó Clabaigh OSB,one of Ireland’s foremost scholars ofIrish medieval history. The tourincluded the castle, a NormanRevivalist construction built for theBarrington family in the 1830s, the

new wing, the ‘new new’ wing, andthe very impressive new school whichopened its doors in September 2013.This was then followed by a visit tothe church and a tour of the Iconchapel, located in the crypt below thechurch, where a collection ofOrthodox icons are housed. BrotherColmán gave us a most informativetalk on the icons on display.

An uilleann pipe recital wasoriginally scheduled to follow the tourbut our piper had unfortunately lefthis pipes with the security staff in theHunt Museum earlier in the day. Theday ended with tea and scones in theformer coach house which is now themonastery. Cold weather and a trainto catch meant we had to leave thegarden tour for another day.

A quick dash was made to LimerickJunction to meet the Dublin train toenable the Dubliners to return to thebig schmoke! A special mention goesto our two youngest participants,Mella and Rossa Ruadh and also toGerman Fulbrighter, Sebastian Reher,who joined us for the day. Lookingforward to seeing you at future events!

A special Comhluadar was organised by IFAA Boardmember Mary McPartlan on 26 March 2014 to coincidewith the culmination of the Arts in Action programme atNUI Galway. This event was a performance of the NUIMedical Orchestra, with special guest Frankie Gavin, atthe Aula Maxima in the heart of the campus.

The evening’s proceedings began with a reception at theSpanish Arch Hotel in Quay Street hosted by Arts inAction. This was attended by Galway based IFAAmembers along with a number of current US FulbrightScholars. Also in attendance were our very special guestson the night, Sarah Ingle, President of the Irish FulbrightAlumni Association, and her husband Willo Roe. Thereception was followed by dinner at the Vina MaraRestaurant in Middle Street and then we headed over tothe university campus for the concert.

PAGE 15


GALWAY COMHLUADARBy Mary McPartlan

The hardy Comhluadar group outside the Hunt Museum in Limerick

IFAA Board member Mary McPartlan introducing the NUIMedical Orchestra at the Arts in Action concert in Galway in March.

The Aula Maxima was packed to capacity and theorchestra gave a very eclectic mix of musical pieces allarranged by conductor Carl Hession. The NUI GalwayChoral Scholars of the St. Nicholas Schola Cantorum alsoperformed under the direction of Mark Duley andFrankie Gavin on fiddle provided several rousing tunes togreat acclaim.

Sarah and Willo’s presence was acknowledged and very much appreciated as our guest attendees on the nightThe medical staff who attended were delighted that the medical students had worked so hard to present anoriginal folk orchestra sound. The event was an enjoyableexperience for everyone and thanks are due to allconcerned.

Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) alumni, and particularly those who spent their Fulbright atthe University of Notre Dame, Indiana, had a busy month in June catching up at the American Conference for IrishStudies (hosted by UCD) and the IFAA Annual Scholars’ Dinner at Dublin Castle.

Go Irish!

PAGE 16


IFAA members Sarah Ingle, Mary McPartlan, Felix Ó Murchadhaand Bill Richardson and friends relaxing before the Arts in Actionevent in Galway

TEACHT LE CHÉILE MUINTIR NOTRE DAME AG

ACIS AGUS CAISLÉAN BHAILE ÁTHA CLIATHBy Nóirín Ní Laighin

ACIS – l to r: Brian Ó Conchubhair (Associate Professor ofIrish Language & Literature, Notre Dame, Indiana, & Vice-President ACIS), Claire Marie Dunne, Aeidín Clements (Irish Studies Librarian, Notre Dame), Nóirín Ní Laighin,Marie Darmody, Gráinne Ní Mhuirí, Rónan Doherty.

IFAA Scholars’ Dinner – l to r: Rónan Doherty, Claire MarieDunne, Marie Darmody, Nóirín Ní Laighin, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin.

TELL US YOUR NEWSAs a member-focused and driven association, we want to hear your Fulbright-related news and stories. Our newsletterand web editor, Dr Jimmy O’Brien Moran, is always interested in receiving stories for possible publication.

The IFAA sends a Céad Míle Fáilteto the new U.S. Ambassador KevinO’Malley recently appointed byPresident Barack Obama. Thebeautiful Deerfield in the PhoenixPark is now occupied again withAmbassador O’Malley and Mrs DenaO’Malley in residence and we hopethat their sons Brendan and Ryan willalso be able to visit soon.

Kevin F. O’Malley was sworn in asU.S. Ambassador to Ireland onSeptember 30, 2014 and presented hiscredentials to President Michael D.Higgins on October 8, 2014.Ambassador O’Malley has strongIrish roots. Both of his parents wereIrish and his paternal grandparentsemigrated from Westport in CountyMayo about a hundred years ago. Heheld dual citizenship with Ireland andthe United States until theconfirmation process for this position.

Ambassador O’Malley, an attorney,was a partner at Greensfelder, Hemker& Gale, P.C., in St. Louis, Missouriand has also been an adjunct professorboth at Washington University Schoolof Law and St. Louis UniversitySchool of Law. He is a nationallyrecognized author of a treatise on juryinstructions that is used in federal jurytrials throughout the United States.

Before entering private practiceAmbassador O’Malley was anAssistant U.S. Attorney in St. Louis,Missouri and a Special Attorney of theOrganized Crime Section of the U.S.Department of Justice in Washington,D.C., Los Angeles, California andPhoenix, Arizona.

We sincerely welcome AmbassadorO’Malley to his new role in Irelandand hope he will be able to acceptinvitations to IFAA events in thecoming year.

PAGE 17


IFAA Events Calendar2014/15:

The IFAA Board invites you tojoin us and your fellow alumni for

a number of events that areplanned for the coming year. Our

Membership Secretary, SinéadMurnane, will keep you

electronically posted on eachevent as the date approaches.

November 28th 2014Thanksgiving Dinner

IFAA Thanksgiving Dinner will take place in the Lewis

Glucksman Gallery at UniversityCollege Cork on Friday

November 28.Booking can be made with

Nóirín Ní Laighin at [email protected]

no later than Thursday 20th November.

March 2015Collaborative event with the Irish Fulbright Commission.

April 2015National Concert Hall

Comhluadar

May 2015IFAA Annual General Meeting

June 2015IFAA Annual Scholars’ Dinner

Don’t forget to check out our website

(www.irishfulbrightalumni.com) and facebook page.

IFAA WELCOME TO USAMBASSADOR KEVIN O’MALLEY

by Sarah Ingle

IFAA President Sarah Ingle presents the IFAA Directory and Jubilee SymposiumProceedings to the U.S. Ambassador Kevin O’Malley and Mrs Dena O’Malley(Photo courtesy of the US Embassy)

I hope the new academic year isgoing well for you all. We haveanother bumper newsletter thisautumn, edited by IFAA Vice-President Jimmy O’BrienMoran. It has been a busy yearso far with our Fulbright Fringe!and Welcome! Events and I also had the privilege ofattending a European Networkof American Alumni (ENAM)event in Moldova. You can readall about these in this issue,along with updates from someother regular IFAA events.

The IFAA Fulbright Fringe!:

Creativity in the Literary and SonicArts, held at the U.S. Ambassador’sResidence with the support of theU.S. Embassy, was a very specialevening, one which I was hon-oured to facilitate and assist incurating. The performances of theFulbright poets and musicianswere the highlight of the event andwe very much appreciated theirparticipation along with theguidance of our M.C. for theevening, former IFAA PresidentClive Lee.

At this time of year we con-gratulate and profile 2014/2015

PAGE 18


US Fulbrighter Jim Freemyer travelled toIreland with his wife Patricia to take up hisFulbright Award. Jim is a professor in theDoctorate of Leadership Program at IndianaWesleyan University and is conducting researchat the University of Limerick. His work focuseson best methods for secondary educators toencourage their students to choose careers inscience, technology, engineering, and mathematics(STEM). Jim writes:

For my Fulbright experience I am located

at the University of Limerick. The

faculty at the University have proven

to be of invaluable assistance as I

conduct my research on what Ireland’s

best mathematics teachers call ‘best

practice’. I am enjoying the academic

dialogue in individual interactions as

well as academic seminars. My

research is going very well.

Warm Regards, Jim

Professor Jim Freemyer with Prof John O’Donoghue, former Presidentof the National Centre for Excellence in Mathematics and ScienceTeaching and Learning (NCE-MSTL).

Jim Freemyer at NCE-MSTL in Limerick.

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENTBy Sarah Ingle

Marisa Denker, IFAA President Sarah Ingle, Lisa Saladin & Erin O’Sullivan at the US FulbrightOrientation Day

Fulbright Awardees heading to theUnited States, as well as welcome newU.S. Fulbright Scholars and Studentsto Ireland. I was delighted to meet withthe U.S. Fulbright awardees and speakat their orientation organised by theFulbright Commission earlier in theyear. It was also a pleasure to meet thenew U.S. Ambassador Kevin O’Malleyand his wife Dena at his residence inthe Phoenix Park recently.

Coming up we have our annualIFAA Thanksgiving Dinner, this yearto be held on 28 November in theLewis Glucksman Gallery on thegrounds of UCC. I look forward tomeeting many of you there and at otherIFAA events in 2015.

Fulbright Scholar, violinist SéamusConroy passed away unexpectedly athome in Co. Clare, in August 2014. Aformer student of Una Kindlon andAdrian Petcu at the Cork School ofMusic, Séamus later studied at theJuilliard School with the renownedDorothy DeLay, thanks to both aJulliard Scholarship and a FulbrightScholarship (1990).

As a student, Séamus won many ofthe major music awards in Ireland,including the String Section of theRTÉ Musician of the Future, theString Section of the Lombard andUlster Music Foundation, andnumerous prizes for solo violin andsolo piano at the Dublin Feis Ceoil.He was also awarded the FitzwiltonTrust Award for Exceptional YoungTalent and the IBM MusicalInstrument Award.

From his first concerto perform-ance in Cork at the age of 11, of theMozart Violin Concerto No. 3,Séamus went on to perform many ofthe major violin concerti and virtuoso

showpieces with orchestras bothnationally and internationally. Herepresented Ireland at the EurovisionMusician of the Year competition,performing the TchaikovskyConcerto in D major with the DanishRadio Symphony Orchestra. As arecitalist, he performed regularlyfrom a young age at arts festivalsthroughout Ireland, and also in Spain,France, the UK, and in Pittsburgh atthe American Ireland Fund Gala.

As an orchestral player, Séamuswas one of the youngest membersever (aged 14) of the EuropeanCommunity Youth Orchestra, withwhich he toured Europe and Japanextensively, under the baton ofeminent conductors includingLeonard Bernstein, Claudio Abbado,and Antál Dorati. Numerous TVappearances in Ireland include theRTE series Music for Me and, as astudent in New York, he featured onthe Adrian Flannelly Show.

In more recent years, Séamusincluded Irish music in his repertoire,

performing as the resident violinist inBunratty Castle, and producing a CDof his own classical arrangements ofIrish airs. In his short life, Séamusbrought great joy to a wide range ofaudiences with his extraordinarytalent, musicality and virtuosity.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

PAGE 19


TRIBUTE TO SÉAMUS CONROY

US Fulbrighters gather during Orientation Day as Oscar Wilde smiles upon them

The late Séamus Conroy


Jimmy O’Brien Moran playing for the guests at the Scholars’ Dinner, Dublin Castle.

Greeting the 2014 Fulbright Awardees,IFAA members, and guests as they arrive at Dublin Castle.

Minister of State for Trade and Development, Joe Costello,T.D., with IFAA President Sarah Ingle at the IFAA Scholars’Dinner at Dublin Castle.

Guests enjoying a pre-prandial libation in thesalubrious surroundings of the Portrait Gallery atDublin Castle.

The magnificent St Patrick’s Hall at Dublin Castle

IFAA Treasurer AnneCleary, our charming MC for the evening.

irish fulbright alumni association number newsletter newsletter 36 for web_.pdf · for global...

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