Gaillimh le Gaeilge has announced this year’s finalists for Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh. At a meeting which was held over Zoom, there was much discussion between the moltóirí as to who would be selected to go through to the next stage of the Gradam and move one step closer to becoming The New Tribe of Galway.
The Gradam is organised by Gaillimh le Gaeilge in association with the Galway Advertiser, TG4 and with support from the Galway Chamber. The following businesses and organisations were selected for the Gradam Gearrliosta 2020:
Retail category, sponsored by Galway Bay FM the finalists are:
Corrib Shopping Centre, Siopa Leabhar Charlie Byrne
Tourism & Hospitality category, sponsored by Fáilte Ireland, the finalists are:
Galway Greyhound Stadium, The Galmont Hotel & Spa, The Hardiman Hotel, The King’s Head.
Services category, sponsored by Video Sherpa, the finalists are:
Big O Taxis, Morgan Creative.
Other Companies category, sponsored by Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, OÉ Gaillimh
the finalists are: Bród na Gaillimhe, Galway Traditional Orchestra, St. Nicholas’ Collegiate Church.
The winners will be announced by the Mayor of Galway City, Cllr Mike Cubbard LIVE on Galway Talks with Keith Finnegan, Galway Bay FM on November 5-6 to an audience of over 45,000 people - a great opportunity for all those involved to promote their bilingual endeavours, ní neart go cur le chéile.
Speaking about this year’s Gradam nominees, Cathaoirleach Ghaillimh le Gaeilge, Bernadette Mullarkey congratulated all of them and wished them well in the final.
“Míle buíochas do na heagraíochtaí agus do na gnólachtaí go léir a ghlac páirt sa Ghradam i mbliana. Despite the difficulties faced by businesses and organizations this year, the enthusiasm and commitment shown by the Gradam nomineees over the last few weeks is remarkable.
“Their bilingual work, the visibility and the promotion of the Irish language are always key ingredients to our success as a bilingual city. Comhghairdeas leo ar fad agus leis an nGearrliosta, go n-éirí go geal leo ar fad sa chéad chéim eile den phróiseas moltóireachta!”
Speaking on behalf of the Moltóirí, Freda Nic Giolla Chatháin, Translator and former CEO of Gnó Mhaigh Eo said “tá moladh mór tuillte ag na gnólachtaí go léir a chuir iarratas isteach.
“Bliain fhíordhúshlánach do gach duine is ea an bhliain seo, ach go háirithe do ghnólachtaí a raibh orthu go leor athruithe a dhéanamh chun na doirse a oscailt an athuair.
“In these, the strangest of times, when all the focus is on the global health crisis of Covid-19, and the business sector is under severe pressure to adhere to guidelines, to keep staff and customers safe, it lifts our hearts - tugann sé ardú croí dúinn - that these businesses of Galway didn’t lose sight of the importance of our heritage and our native tongue, agus tugann sé misneach dúinn don todhchaí.
“Tréaslaímid ó chroí le gach duine ar an ngearrliosta as an sár-obair atá ar bun acu chun a chinntiú go bhfuil an Ghaeilge le feiceáil agus le cloisteáil i gCathair dhátheangach na Gaillimhe. Go mba fada buan sibh,” she said.
Other members of the adjudication panel were Rónán Ó hÓgartaigh, son of the late Seosamh Ó hÓgartaigh, who the award is named after, and Fiona Ní Fhlaithearta, TG4. The Moltóirí will meet again via Zoom on Monday October 19 and Tuesday October 20 to interview all the 11 finalists and select the category winners and the overall winners.
Over the coming weeks, a short video will also be made of every business on the Gearrliosta highlighting their bilingual work. The videos will be produced by MOLSCÉAL, TG4. (adhering to public health guidelines ) They joined the impressive list of Gradam sponsors for the first time in 2019. The bilingual videos will be made available on their social media as well as Gaillimh le Gaeilge’s social media network.
Gaillimh le Gaeilge would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the local and national sponsors for their invaluable support to the Gradam over the years. We are especially grateful for their support this year, a year which continues to be challenging for all of us: Go raibh míle maith agaibh:
The Galway Advertiser, TG4, Fáilte Ireland, Galway Bay FM, Video Sherpa, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh, MOLSCÉAL, Údarás na Gaeltachta and the Galway Chamber. The total value of the sponsorship package for the Gradam is worth in excess of €25,000.
