Tá Ospidéal na mBéiríní, a bhfuil gradaim buaite aige, á eagrú arís ag mic léinn in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe don 21ú bliain as a chéile. Bhí breis is 1,200 páiste bunscoile i láthair don imeacht dhá lá seo, áit ar cuireadh ‘cóir leighis’ san ospidéal ar a mbeiríní a bhí ‘tinn’ nó ‘gortaithe’. An Cumann Sláinte a d’eagraigh an t-ospidéal, arb é cumann cothaithe sláinte Ollscoil na Gaillimhe é a fhéachann le gach gné den tsláinte, idir fhisiciúil agus mheabhrach, a chur chun cinn. Bhí isteach is amach le 200 mac léinn leighis, cúraim sláinte agus eolaíochta i láthair ar bhonn deonach agus iad ag feidhmiú mar oibrithe cúraim sláinte chun béiríní na Gaillimhe a dhiagnóisiú agus cóir leighis a chur orthu. Tá súil acu go gcuideoidh an ócáid le páistí a bheith ar a suaimhneas le dochtúirí nó i dtimpeallacht ospidéil.             Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag Aoibhe Treacy, mac léinn leighis sa chúigiú bliain in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe agus comh-iniúchóir an Chumainn Sláinte: “Cumann a fhéachann leis an tsláinte a chur chun cinn atá ionainn, agus an aidhm atá againn an faitíos agus an imní a bhíonn ar roinnt leanaí nuair a bhíonn orthu dul chuig an ospidéal nó ag an dochtúir a laghdú.             “Tionscnamh é seo atá go hiomlán faoi stiúir oibrithe deonacha, idir bhaill an choiste agus dochtúirí na mBéiríní, agus fáilte á cur againn roimh isteach is amach le 1,200 páiste ó mhórcheantar na Gaillimhe. Táimid bródúil as imeacht atá go hiomlán cuimsitheach agus inrochtana a bheith á chur ar fáil againn.” Tá béiríní á dtabhairt chuig an ospidéal ag páistí i gcaitheamh na mblianta agus iad ag samhlú go raibh réimse leathan tinnis ag gabháil dóibh, leithéidí cluasa tinne, boilg bhreoite, lámha nó cosa briste agus gach cineál easláinte neamhghnách agus dúshlánach eile faoin spéir. Labhróidh na páistí le duine de na dochtúirí béiríní tar éis dóibh a theacht i láthair ag Ospidéal na mBéiríní ar an gcampas. Déanann na dochtúirí na ‘hothair’ a scrúdú, tugtar oideas dóibh nó cuirtear ar aghaidh iad le haghaidh obráide nó X-gha. Tá trealamh saincheaptha X-gha agus MRI ar fáil do bhéirín ar bith a dteastaíonn sé uathu.  Beidh na béiríní atá ag teacht chucu féin in ann ábhair leighis a fháil i gCógaslann na mBéiríní, áit a mbeidh torthaí sláintiúla le fáil a bhuíochas le Total Produce agus Fyffes, mar aon le hábhair leighis urraithe ag Cógaslann Matt O’Flaherty. Is iad urraitheoirí an imeachta an Medical Protection Society, Boston Scientific, KSG, Vernon Medical agus Apache Pizza.             Seo mar a labhair Ríona Hughes, Oifigeach na gCumann in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe: “Ceann dár n-imeachtaí for-rochtana móra is ea Ospidéal na mBéiríní arna reáchtáil ag an gCumann Sláinte trína gcothaítear caidreamh leis an bpobal níos leithne agus sonas ar an gcampas. Deis iontach atá ann do mhic léinn, go háirithe mic léinn leighis agus sna heolaíochtaí sláinte, bualadh le páistí agus iad a chur ar a suaimhneas go bhfuil an chóir leighis a theastaíonn óna mbéiríní á fáil acu le go mbeidh siad in ann teacht chucu féin ó na tinnis éagsúla atá ag cur as dóibh. Tarraingíonn imeachtaí cosúil leis an gceann seo aird ar shamhlaíocht, diongbháilteacht agus spiorad comhpháirteachais ár gcuid cumann, agus ar thiomantas na hOllscoile naisc dhaingne a chothú leis an bpobal níos leithne. Comhghairdeas leo siúd ar fad a bhfuil baint acu leis.”

For the 21st year running, University of Galway has opened its doors for its award-winning, student-led, Teddy Bear Hospital. The two-day event saw more than 1,200 “sick and injured” teddy bears admitted to the hospital, accompanied by their minders - 1,200 primary school children. Organised by the Sláinte Society, University of Galway’s health promotion society that focuses on promoting all aspects of physical and mental health, up to 200 medical, healthcare and science students volunteered as front-line healthcare workers to diagnose and treat teddy bears from across Galway. In the process, they hope to help children feel more comfortable around doctors and hospitals.             Aoibhe Treacy, a fifth-year medicine student at University of Galway and co-auditor of Sláinte Society, said: “We are a health promotion society, so we hope to reduce the fear and anxiety experienced by some children when visiting the hospital or going to the doctors.             “We are a fully volunteer-led initiative, both committee and Teddy Doctors, welcoming about 1,200 children from around Galway, and we pride ourselves on ensuring a fully inclusive and accessible event.” Over the years, children have been bringing their teddy bears suffering from an imaginative range of ailments, including sore ears, sick tummies, broken limbs, and all kinds of other weird, wonderful and challenging conditions. Upon arrival at the Teddy Bear Hospital on campus, each child is given an individual consultation with one of the teddy doctors on call. The ‘patients’ are examined by the doctors and receive a ‘pawscription’ and referral to surgery or x-ray, with specially designed X-ray and MRI machines available for any teddy bears that need them. Recuperating teddy bears could avail of medical supplies from the Teddy Bear Pharmacy, stocked with healthy fruit from Total Produce and Fyffes, along with medical supplies sponsored by Matt O’Flaherty Chemist. Sponsorship for the event is provided by the Medical Protection Society, Boston Scientific, KSG, Vernon Medical and Apache Pizza.             Ríona Hughes, University of Galway’s Societies Officer, said: “Teddy Bear Hospital organised by Sláinte Society is one of our flagship society outreach events, which engages with the wider community and brings joy to the campus. It is a wonderful opportunity for students, particularly in medicine and health sciences, to meet children and reassure them that their teddies are getting the treatment they need to recover from their various illnesses. Events like this highlight the imagination, determination and civic spirit of our societies and the University's commitment to forging solid links with the wider community, Congratulations to all involved.” Ends

Award-winning 2025-26 Sean-Nós Singer-in-Residence at University of Galway Orla Ní Fhinneadha will lead a second series of sean-nós singing workshops.  The workshops begin on Thursday January 29th at 6pm, and will continue on 5, 12, 19, and 26 February in the Seminar Room at the Centre for Irish Studies, Distillery Road, University of Galway.  All sessions are free and open to everyone. Hailing from An Chloich Mhór, Baile na hAbhann, Co Galway, Orla Ní Fhinneadha began singing as a child, inspired by sean-nós classes with Máire Pheitir Uí Dhroighneáin, a former University of Galway singer-in-residence, and her father, Jimi Ó Fhinneadha.  Orla’s teaching skills gained widespread recognition during the Covid pandemic through a series of videos for Cúla 4 ar Scoil, which continue to help children learn traditional Irish songs today.  Dr Méabh Ní Fhuartháin, Head of Irish Studies at University of Galway, said: “Orla is one of the singers of our generation who is focused on the tradition. The richness of her place and her family can be heard in every note.”  This project is funded by Ealaín na Gaeltachta, Údarás na Gaeltachta and An Chomhairle Ealaíon in association with the Centre for Irish Studies at the University of Galway.  Further information available from Samantha Williams at 091 492051 or [email protected].     Ends