2010 press releases
Posted 23 February 2010
Visit of Saudi Ambassador to AIT a Great Success
The first visit of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) today has been hailed as a great success by the organisers.
Ambassador Abdulaziz A. Aldriss met with senior management and faculty from the institute, as well as with local and national politicians and officials from the midlands. The ambassador was accompanied by Prince Turki Bin Nawaf Al Saud, a grandson of King Abdullah.
The purpose of the visit was to introduce the ambassador to the teaching, innovation and research facilities at AIT and to strengthen relationships with the Middle Eastern country. As part of his visit, the ambassador also met with the 25 Saudi students who are currently studying at AIT.
Institute president, Prof. Ciarán Ó Catháin, said that “AIT is very committed to strengthening the relationship with Saudi Arabia and to exploring ways of growing together our teaching and research activities and capacity.”
He said that he was looking forward to continuing the discussions with the ambassador and hoped that “both our countries will benefit from this exchange of ideas and learning between Ireland and the Middle East.”
Also speaking at the gala lunch held in his honour, the ambassador said that he had been very impressed with the institute’s facilities. Referring to the Goldsmith Library at AIT, he said that one of the poet’s most famous works was “She Stoops to Conquer” and like Oliver Goldsmith, he too had been conquered by the beauty of the midlands.
Amongst the dignitaries at the official reception were Minister for Housing and Local Services, Michael Finneran TD; Mary O’Rourke TD; Frank Feighan TD; Denis Naughton; Mayor of Athlone, Cllr Mark Cooney; Mayor of Roscommon, Cllr Tony Ward; Cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council, Cllr Fintan Cooney; Longford County Manager, Tim Caffrey; Frank Dawson, Roscommon County Manager; Pat Gallagher, Offaly County Manager; Cllr Sheila Buckley Byrne, Athlone Town Council; John Walsh, Athlone Town Clerk; Gillian Maunsell, IDA; and Brian McEvoy, Isotron.
