The annual GiG: Groups in Galway

Abstract

The GiG (Groups in Galway) conference, and related activity, has been running annually since 1978 and is the longest running annual international mathematical conference on a special topic. It has its origin from the inaugural meeting of the IMS (Irish Mathematical Society) when Professor Martin Newell proposed that instructional conferences be organised in various topics in Mathematics; the first of these on Group Theory was held on May 12-13 1978 at UCG; this one has continued annually ever since. The term GiG, Groups in Galway, was penned in the Newsletter of the LMS (London Mathematical Society which is the main UK mathematical society) in 1982 and that title has stuck with it ever since. The conference and its resulting environment has attracted many international experts to Galway.