Madam, - I am grateful to Risteard Mulcahy (February 21st) for drawing it to the attention of readers that 2008 marks the centenary of the foundation of the National University of Ireland.
I am happy to assure him that the centenary is being celebrated. The centenary programme started in December 2007 with the re-launch by the NUI Chancellor, Dr Garret FitzGerald, of Éigse, a Journal of Irish Studies published by the NUI and now available on CD.
Other publications are also in preparation, notably a centenary volume of essays to be published in the autumn by UCD Press. The key role played by Augustine Birrell as chief secretary will be considered in a number of the contributions.
The centenary will also be celebrated in the academic awards to be made by NUI in 2008, with three special centennial fellowships in Irish studies to be awarded this year, together with other awards for academic publishing. Details of these additional awards will be announced shortly.
Other events planned for 2008 include a series of lectures (the first such was given in Milltown Institute on February 4th, when Prof Dr Luisa Leal de Faria, Vice-Rector of the Catholic University of Lisbon, gave a public lecture entitled "From Newman's Idea of a University to Universities in the Global Age"). There will be a commemorative stamp later in the year.
The NUI has very recently received confirmation from the Higher Education Authority of a generous contribution towards the centenary celebrations which should enable other planned activities to take place. When the details have been confirmed, the full programme for the centenary will be posted on the NUI website www.nui.ie.
The programme will build slowly throughout the year to reach its high point on December 2nd, the 100th anniversary of the granting of the NUI Charter.
Throughout the year the NUI will fly its centenary banner outside the university's buildings at 49 Merrion Square, Dublin, proudly proclaiming NUI as "Ireland's National University since 1908". - Yours, etc,
Dr ATTRACTA HALPIN,
Registrar,
National University of Ireland,
Merrion Square, Dublin 2.