From The West Wing To The West Of Ireland

By George Thompson

Hollywood star and activist Martin Sheen was in Galway last week to register with 15,000 other under-graduates as an arts student at the National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway.

Sheen, who is taking a break from his acting career to study English Literature and Oceanography has close ties with Ireland - his mother came from Tipperary where he still has many relatives

As a documentary film producer, he has a particular interest in the oceans and the impact they have on today's environment - this is one of the reasons for achieving a scientific background at the Martin Ryan Marine Institute.

"I have been coming to Ireland since 1973 and fell in love with the place from the beginning. I have always wanted to go to college because I left school after high school and NUI Galway is the best for the courses I want to do", said the star.

Mr. Sheen has signed up for the semester and hopes to return after Christmas