Yesterday, as part of Maynooth University Research Week 2026, we held our Research Achievement Awards and Graduate Research Academy Awards, recognising the outstanding contributions of our researchers and research students. These awards showcase the wonderful research taking place across Maynooth University, and recognised the enormous amounts of hard work that lie behind every achievement. Research requires not only curiosity and creativity, but also dedication, persistence and resilience, often over many years. It is particularly rewarding to recognise excellence at different stages of the research journey, and to see the many ways in which our research is making a difference. Warmest congratulations to all our award recipients and nominees! 2026 staff awardees: Ian Marder, Conor Cahalane, Katriona O'Sullivan, Sadhbh Byrne, Máire Nic an Bhaird, and Rafael de Andrade Moral. A special thank you to the Research Development Office and the Graduate Research Academy, Maynooth University for organising these events, and to everyone involved in supporting and recognising the achievements of our research community. #MaynoothUniversity #ResearchWeek2026 #ResearchExcellence #ResearchImpact #GraduateResearch

It was a privilege to be at the Central Criminal Court today for the launch of important new research by my Maynooth University colleague Dr Sinéad Ring, from the School of Law and Criminology Maynooth University. Sinéad's research, funded by Research Ireland, examines the use of sexual experience evidence in rape trials and asks an important question: how do the legal safeguards governing the admission of this evidence actually operate in practice? Drawing on interviews with 21 key stakeholders, the research examines the operation of Section 3 applications, including questions of relevance and credibility and the potential for assumptions and rape myths to influence how sexual experience evidence is approached. The report was launched by Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh, Judge of the European Court of Human Rights, with a response from Professor Vanessa Munro of the University of Warwick and a fascinating panel discussion. One message particularly stayed with me: changing legislation is only part of the story. We also need research that examines how law is understood, interpreted and applied in practice. This report provides a powerful example of Maynooth University's Society & Public Policy Research Beacon in action – rigorous research engaging directly with practitioners and civil society on an issue of significant public importance. Congratulations to Sinéad on this important work, and to Rape Crisis Ireland for supporting the research and organising todays symposium which brought together such a rich range of perspectives on evidence, justice and survivors rights. The QR code on the report provides access to the full research report. #MaynoothUniversity #MUResearch #ResearchIreland #ResearchBeacons #PublicPolicy

Graduation week is one of my favourite times of the year at Maynooth University! Walking across campus today, what struck me was the sense of joy everywhere. Graduates dressed for one of the biggest days of their lives; families and friends gathered around them; handshakes, hugs and photographs; and some truly enormous bouquets of flowers being carried across campus! A graduation ceremony marks an academic achievement, of course, but seeing everyone together shows that there is so much more wrapped up in that moment. Behind every graduate is a story of hard work, resilience, learning and growing. So many other people are part of the story too: parents, partners, children, friends, lecturers, supervisors and colleagues who have encouraged, supported and celebrated them along the way. Warmest congratulations to all of our Maynooth University graduates, and to the families and friends celebrating with them. I hope you enjoy every minute of it — including the flowers! 🎓💐 #MaynoothUniversity #Graduation #MUGraduation

In celebration of the one and only Seamus, the @MaynoothUni @MULibraryCat he has his own documentary! youtu.be/TEKk52K2ads?si=WVzy… via @YouTube

It's hard to capture in just a few photographs what an extraordinary week it was at Maynooth University. Over the course of last week, we had the privilege of hosting both the Arqus European University Alliance Annual Conference and the European Universities Initiative (EUI) Forum, welcoming colleagues from across Europe to our campus. The week was filled with conversations, connections, ideas and reflections on the future of higher education, research and innovation. Whether discussing European university alliances, research collaboration, student mobility, international partnerships or the role of universities in addressing society's most pressing challenges, there was a real sense of shared purpose and optimism. Universities are truly at their best when they bring people together. For me, one of the highlights was seeing so many visitors experience Maynooth for the first time. I hope they leave with lasting memories not only of our beautiful campus and rich cultural heritage, but also of the warmth of our community, the strength of our partnerships, and the ambition and creativity that define Maynooth University. A huge congratulations and thank you to everyone who worked so hard behind the scenes to make these events such a success. Hosting one major international conference is no small undertaking; hosting two in the same week was an extraordinary achievement. Thank you to everyone who contributed to such an inspiring week. I look forward to seeing the conversations, collaborations and friendships that began here continue to flourish across Europe. #ArqusAlliance #EuropeanUniversities #HigherEducation #Research #Innovation #Internationalisation #MaynoothUniversity

It was great to attend part of the Hamilton Institute's 25th Anniversary event at Maynooth University last week. Over the past 25 years, the Hamilton Institute has established itself as one of Ireland's leading interdisciplinary research institutes, bringing together expertise across mathematics, computer science, communications networks, artificial intelligence, data science and complex systems. I particularly enjoyed hearing Professor Ken Duffy's keynote, "A Random Walk at the Hamilton Institute". As one of the Institute's original members and a former Director, he talked about its evolution over the past quarter century. He spoke about the people, ideas and continuing connections that have shaped the Hamilton community over time. He also spoke about the importance of "creating serendipity" in "an institute of tame mathematicians", and how those unexpected interactions and collaborations have enabled significant advances. It was fascinating to see some of the original plans for the Institute and to reflect on how that vision has been realised over time. Congratulations to Professor David Malone and colleagues in the Hamilton Institute, and to all those who have contributed to its remarkable journey over the last 25 years. I look forward to seeing its continued impact in the years ahead. #MaynoothUniversity #MUResearch #ResearchBeacons #DataScience #DigitalTransformation #ArtificialIntelligence #ResearchExcellence #HamiltonInstitute

I really enjoyed attending some of the the Intellectual Property & MedTech Workshop at Maynooth University last week, organised by Professor Aisling McMahon, Professor Jessica Lai and Professor Leanne Wiseman. The workshop brought together leading international researchers to explore the complex relationship between intellectual property, medical technologies, access, and disability rights. I particularly enjoyed listening to two thought-provoking presentations. Professor Mac MacLachlan highlighted the importance of viewing assistive technologies not simply as products, but as part of wider systems that enable participation, independence and inclusion. I was especially interested to hear him discuss themes that resonate with his recently published book, Human Rights and Wrongs in Psychology and Psychiatry, which examines how professionals navigate complex situations where values, ethics, rights and institutional expectations can sometimes be in tension. His remarks emphasised the importance of ensuring that innovation, policy and support systems work together to empower people and enable meaningful participation in society. Dr Louise Hatherhall's presentation on the Everyday Cyborgs project offered a fascinating perspective on how the law conceptualises medical devices. As technologies become increasingly integrated with the human body, traditional distinctions between "person" and "object" are being challenged, raising important questions about regulation, responsibility, and how we recognise the lived experiences of those who rely on assistive and implanted technologies. Thank you to Professor Aisling McMahon and the ERC PatentsInHumans Project for organising such a thought-provoking event! #MaynoothUniversity #MUResearch #ResearchBeacons #HealthAndWellbeing #HealthcareInnovation #DisabilityRights #MedTech #PublicPolicy

A pleasure to formally open the 17th Annual DiGRA Conference at Maynooth University this week. My congratulations and thanks to Dr Jeneen Naji, Conference Chair, and colleagues in the Department of Media Studies, as well as the Arts and Humanities Institute, whose support helped make this impressive international gathering possible. Bringing together researchers, practitioners and creative professionals from around the world, DiGRA 2026 showcased the remarkable breadth and depth of contemporary games research. It was also a privilege to introduce our keynote speaker, Reine Abbas, game designer, educator, entrepreneur and one of the pioneers of the games industry in Lebanon. Her keynote, When Games Shape Minds: Manipulation or Impact?, was insightful, thought-provoking and deeply relevant, receiving a standing ovation! Many thanks to everyone involved in organising, presenting at and participating in what has been a stimulating and successful conference. #MaynoothUniversity #MUResearch #ResearchBeacons #DiGRA2026 #GameStudies #DigitalCulture #ArtsAndHumanities #CulturalStudies #DigitalTransformation

Fantastic to attend today’s launch of the new Research Ireland Rinn Research Centres! Congratulations to Research Ireland, the centre leadership teams, institutional partners, industry collaborators, and so many researchers whose work, vision, and commitment have brought these ambitious initiatives to the launch point. And now the hard work begins! It's great to see Team Maynooth so well represented across the Rinn network including: 🔹 Rinn Pharma & Biopharma 🔹 Rinn Energy 🔹 Rinn Artificial Intelligence 🔹 Rinn Quantum 🔹 Rinn Advanced Therapies A special congratulations to all my colleagues leading and contributing to Maynooth University’s involvement in these centres. #MaynoothUniversity #MUResearch #ResearchIreland #ResearchImpact #Innovation #ArtificialIntelligence #HealthInnovation #DataScience #HealthAndWellbeing #Sustainability

Delighted to attend today’s launch of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s 2025 Thematic Research Call Awards at the State Laboratory campus in Backweston. A great day for Maynooth University, with funding awarded to: • Prof Fiona Walsh – antimicrobial resistance in environmental systems • Prof Emmanuelle Graciet – plant health and crop resilience in oilseed Congratulations to both on this well-deserved recognition! This is important work and reflects the strength and impact of our research community. Continued investment in research like this is critical to addressing complex challenges across the bioeconomy.