The Mayor of Galway, Cllr Terry O’Flaherty, will announce the finalists of Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh next week as part of the city’s Seachtain na Gaeilge celebrations.
The winners will be announced at 12 noon on Tuesday March 12 at an event on the ground floor in the Eyre Square Centre.
Gaillimh le Gaeilge organises this annual award in association with the Galway Advertiser, to recognise, honour, and celebrate the great bilingual work done in Galway in order to gain bilingual status for the city.
A total of 21 businesses and organisations from a variety of sectors have put their names forward as businesses who use and promote the Irish language in Galway city. These include 13 new businesses which have entered the Gradam for the first time this year, highlighting the growing importance and interest in the Irish language.
Gaillimh le Gaeilge has announced that the moltóirí of Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh this year are Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, dean of UCD School of Business; Siubhán Nic Grianna, Údarás na Gaeltachta; Áine Ní Chiaráin, freelance journalist and a board member of Foras an Gaeilge; and Aindriú D’Arcy, stiúrthóir Ghaillimh le Gaeilge.
The panel met earlier this week to review and evaluate all the nominees and to select the finalists. In the coming weeks the panel will visit all of the finalists’ premises to view first hand and appraise all of their bilingual work.
The Gradam will retain the new structure launched last year, with four categories: retail, hospitality and tourism, services, and other companies. A winner will be chosen in each category and the overall winner will be selected from the four category winners.
Gaillimh le Gaeilge also welcomed a new sponsor this year, ARÓ Internet Business Development, which will provide a series of four web strategy workshops for the overall winner. Additional prizes and benefits are also provided by the Galway Advertiser, D’Arcy Marketing and PR, Fáilte Ireland, Galway Bay FM, Snap Galway, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh, Údarás na Gaeltachta, and the Galway Chamber. The total value of the prizes and benefits provided by these local businesses is in excess of €17,000.
The list of this year's nominees are as follows.
Retail/Miondíol sponsored by Galway Bay FM
GalMac Computers
Great Outdoors
Joyce’s Supermarket
McCambrigde’s of Galway
Tourism & Hospitality/Turasóireacht & Fáilteachas, sponsored by Fáilte Ireland
Ardilaun Hotel
Corrib Princess
The Galleon
Viña Mara
Woodhaven Lodge
Services/Seirbhísí sponsored by Snap Galway
Brendan James Financial Services
Colette Kelly Optometrist
Kemple Gormley Solicitors
Sew n’ Sew
TaxAssist Accountants
The Organic Gardner
Tí Tighe Fascinators & Fáiscín
Other Companies/Comhlachtaí Eile sponsored by Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge
Eyre Square Centre
Galway Rape Crisis Centre
Macnas
Oxfam
