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National University Of Ireland - Galway

The National University of Ireland Galway (Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh) was founded as one of the three original colleges of the Queen's University, established in 1845. The College opened for students in October 1849.

By the Irish Universities Act (1908), Queen's College Galway became a constituent college of the new National University of Ireland (Ollscoil na hÉireann), and under a new charter the name of the College was changed to University College Galway.

In 1929, the College was given a special statutory responsibility in respect of the use of the Irish language as a working language in the College. Under the Universities Act, 1997, the status of UCG as a Constituent College has changed to that of a Constituent University and it is now National University of Ireland, Galway / Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh.

Since the 1960s the University has experienced significant and continuous growth, both in its stock of buildings, facilities and physical resources and also in the numbers of its students and staff. Its student body during the 1997/98 academic year is over 7000, with academically strong programmes of teaching and research throughout its seven Faculties.

The University is situated on the banks of the River Corrib, on one of the most attractive university sites in Europe. The original mid-nineteenth century buildings are in a Tudor architectural style. The old stone quadrangle at the heart of the campus is flanked by numerous new buildings, reflecting the steady growth, in quality, and in sheer numbers, of the University.

Playing fields, tennis courts, a running track, an indoor athletic centre, the University's teaching hospital, its library, an inter-denominational Church, research laboratories, lecture halls, academic offices and a student residence village all combine to form a compact, scenic campus close to Galway city centre.

Galway Bay and the Atlantic beyond are the breathtaking backdrop for one of Ireland's foremost centres of academic excellence