As part of Seachtain na Gaeilge celebrations, the Mayor of Galway City, Cllr Michael Crowe will announce the finalists of Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh 2011 at 12.30 pm on Wednesday next March 16 at a press event on the ground floor in the Eyre Square Centre.
Gaillimh le Gaeilge organise this annual award in association with the Galway Advertiser, to recognise, honour and celebrate all the great bilingual work done in Galway in order to gain Bilingual Status for the city. This year, 19 businesses and organisations from a wide variety of sectors have entered the award.
On the judging panel this year were; Carmel Brennan, President of Galway Chamber, Jimmy Griffin, Griffin’s Bakery/Bácús Uí Ghríofa, last year’s winner of Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh, Sinéad Ní Neachtain, NUI Galway and Pádraic Ó Raighne, TG4. Each year, Gaillimh le Gaeilge assembles a panel of judges with a wide range of expertise to select the winner of Gradam Sheosaimh UÍ Ógartaigh. The panel met last week to review and evaluate all of the nominees and to select the finalists.
In the coming weeks, the panel will visit all of the finalists premises and businesses to view at first hand and appraise all of their bilingaul work. The overall winner of Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh will then be selected and announced at a special awards cermony in mid April in the Glenlo Abbey Hotel. Gaillimh le Gaeilge would like to sincerely thank all of their current and former judges for their commitment and time to the Gradam.
There is a fantastic business package on offer again this year worth €15,000 for the Winner! Gaillimh le Gaeilge are delighted that the locally based businesses and organisations; Galway Advertiser, Snap Galway, Galway Bay FM, Galway Airport, and Galway Chamber have continued with their valuable support to the Gradam for 2011. Ba mhaith le Gaillimh le Gaeilge buíochas a ghabháil agus céad míle fáilte a chur roimh urra nua an Ghradaim, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, OÉ, Gaillimh.
The winner also receives Séala Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh, developed by Galway County & City Enterprise Board as well as a beautiful piece of sculpture especially designed by Pádraic Reaney symbolising the 14 Tribes of Galway, with one “present day Tribe” representing the winner of Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh and future winners to come.
The Category Winner will receive a replica of the Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh in association with Údarás na Gaeltachta as well as a week long Irish language course for two with accommodation included, to the value of over €1,000, from Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUI Galway.
Following is the list of this year's nominees:
An Seomra Yoga, Candleworks, EmployAbility Services Galway, Eyre Square Shopping Centre, Food 4 Thought, Galway Bay Hotel, GBC Restaurant, Galway Fuji Centre, Ionad Scríbhneoirí Chaitlín Maude, Joyce’s 365 Supermarket, Jurys Inn, Maxwell’s Restaurant, McCambridge’s, Menlo Park Hotel, Monroe’s Tavern, Lynch’s Café, TK Maxx, Scoil Tumadóireachta na Gaillimhe, Viña Mara.
For more information on Gaillimh le Gaeilge and the work that they do in Galway city, please contact 091 568876 or [email protected] www.gleg.ie Lean muid ar Facebook agus Twitter
