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Notes and Queries
- Éire-Ireland
- Irish-American Cultural Institute
- Volume 32, Number 1, Earrach / Spring 1997
- pp. 156-157
- 10.1353/eir.1997.0010
- Article
- Additional Information
NOTES AND QUERIES INSTITUTE PRESENTS 1997 AWARDS AT THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE GALWAY Members of the board of directors of the Irish American Cultural Institute (IACI) presented the 32nd annual awards for the promotion of Irish culture at the National University of Ireland, University College Galway, on 22 September 1997. The IACI distributed more than $22,000 in awards to this year’s recipients. The $5,000 O’Malley Art Award was presented to Belfast-based visual artists Ian Joyce and Oona Hyland, who have worked both individually and collaboratively since meeting in 1992. Their “Art of Navigation” is one of the most outstanding projects to emerge recently in contemporary Irish art. The $5,000 Butler Literary Award for Poetry went to Biddy Jenkinson, who has won prizes both for poetry and drama. She has published three volumes of poetry—Baiste Gintlí (1989), Uiscí Beatha (1992), and Dán na hUidre (1994)—and her books will be included in an exhibition entitled “Celebration of Irish Poetry” sponsored by Princeton University. The $5,000 Butler Literary Award for Prose was presented to Micheál Ó Conghaile. Founder of Cló lar-Chonnachta, Ó Conghaile has edited several collections of songs from Connemara and has written a social history of the area, as well as a volume of poetry and two collections of short stories , Mac an tSagairt (1986) and An Fear a Phléasc (1997). The $5,000 Heritage Award went to Galway Crystal Heritage Centre in recognition of its extensive exhibition area that interprets the history and culture of the west of Ireland. The work of the center illustrates how private enterprise can develop employment and promote local history. This year, for the first time, the Heritage Council of Ireland participated in this award. NOTES AND QUERIES 156 The $1,000 Bernard Croke Memorial Award—in memory of Bernard Croke, founder of the IACI’s Philadelphia chapter—was presented to Na Piobaire Uileann (NPU) to provide assistance to promising young musicians . Each year, NPU selects candidates to participate in the Willie Clancy Traditional Music Summer School. The $1,000 Muriel Gahan–RDS Crafts Grant Award was given to the Royal Dublin Society to fund a stipend for the winner of an annual competition open to Irish crafts workers and designers. The award is presented in memory of Dr. Muriel Gahan. In closing the ceremony, IACI Chairman John Walsh thanked Professor Matthew MacCarthy, Registrar of the National University of Ireland, University College Galway, and presented a special plaque to the university for its participation in the jointly funded IACI/NUI Galway Annual Visiting Fellowship in Irish Studies. The plaque, which will be displayed at the university, will list fellowship winners from 1992 to date. This year’s fellow, Adrian Frazier, accepted a personal citation at the ceremony. NOTES AND QUERIES 157 ...