SETU Podcast

This episode of the SETU Podcast series is all about the inaugural Alumni Awards at Fathlegg House Hotel, County Waterford. The awards, which were presented by SETU President Professor Veronica Campbell, represent the University’s first formal occasion to celebrate the achievements and impact of its alumni.The 2026 SETU Alumni Award recipients are:Liam Kenny, CEO of John Paul Construction Group; James O’ConnorCorporate Vice President, Microsoft Global Operations Service Centre and Site Leader for Microsoft IrelandCathal Quinlan, Founder of Better@Work Management Consulting and host of the Better@Work PodcastOrlaith Ryan, COO and Co-founder of Shorla OncologyDonna Tilson, AVP, IT Integration Strategy and Ireland Lead at Sun Life.Mary O'Neill attended the event for SETU and spoke to the award recipients, as well as to Professor Campbell, and Fiona Garvan of the Alumni Office. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode focuses on the partnership between SETU and the University of Rovuma in Mozambique as part of its Global South Partnership programme. The Pathway Moz partnership focused on empowering women and youth through agri-entrepreneurship, food science, and technology, with a strong emphasis on community engagement and capacity building.This project, which took place over a number of years resulted in extensive research from both cohorts and highly valuable knowledge exchange. In September 2026, a PHD student started at at SETU co-supervised by researchers from both universities. To discuss the project, Mary O'Neill from the Marketing Office at SETU, and host of this episode, was joined by: Dr Sheila Long, lecturer, and East and Southern Africa Engagement Lead at SETUDr Adriana Cunha Neves, lecturer and researcher from the Faculty of Science and Computing at SETU Mariana Calheiros Lobo, Nutrition ResearcherEdgar Ussene, provincial representative for the Embassy of Ireland in MozambiqueUniversidade Rovuma researcher Sonia Nido You'll also find out more here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode goes behind the lens with Waterford Crystal photographer, Terry Murphy, capturing snapshots of the Glass Factory’s rich social history.Terry joined Waterford Crystal in the early 1960s and went on to become an official photographer at the company. In this episode, Terry returns to Glassworks, a flagship innovation campus being developed on the former Waterford Crystal site, to share the stories behind some of the remarkable images he captured during his career.The podcast, in conversation with SETU’s Mary O’Neill, explores the intergenerational threads that form the story of Glassworks and its social history. Terry and Mary discuss a selection of photos that highlight the people who made Waterford Crystal what it was, the factory itself, and the high-profile collaborations and partnerships that reflect its global status. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 This episode focuses on an initiative by SETU, which has enabled family carers to access higher education.   The Higher Education Authority funded project in partnership with Family Carers Ireland has seen over 790 family carers enrol in a range of accredited programmes at SETU free of charge over the past three years.  In December the initiative culminated in an event in Carlow town that was attended by President of Ireland Catherine Connolly.  Since then additional funding was secured to extent the project to the end of 2026.  On this podcast you hear from Nicola McEntee, SETU Project Lead; Dr Jerry Dixon, lecturer on the Level 6 Certificate in Introduction to Psychology; and Nicky, a former family carer who recently completed the Level 6 Introduction to Psychology. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

SETU formally bestowed the 2026 Michael Cooley Award on former President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins in recognition of his exemplary contributions to enhancing access to, and promoting a deeper understanding of, the scholarly work and enduring legacy of Professor Mike Cooley.Michael D. Higgins, accompanied by his wife Sabina, graciously accepted the accolade from President of SETU, Professor Veronica Campbell on Tuesday, 26 May, in the presence of special guests and political representatives. This podcast is a flavour of that event. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.