Mayor of Galway, Cllr Frank Fahy, will announce the finalists of Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh 2016 at 11.30 am, today, Thursday at a press event which will take place on the ground floor in the Eyre Square Centre, Galway.
Gaillimh le Gaeilge has been running Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh, Galway’s own bilingual business award, for the past 14 years in association with the Galway Advertiser and Gradam 2016 is shaping up to be one of the best yet, with 20 top-quality Galway businesses nominated for the prestigious award.
This year’s Gradam features a wide variety of businesses from a small antique shop to a national home heating oil supplier, who all have one thing in common – they have all embraced bilingualism into their business! They also deserve a special mention in 2016 due to the role Galway’s vibrant bilingual atmosphere played in securing Galway’s status as Ireland’s first bilingual city and her place on the shortlist for the European Capital of Culture 2020.
11 of the 20 nominees are entering the Gradam for the very first time. Gaillimh le Gaeilge feels that this strongly reflects the growing interest in as well as the consistent support for the Irish language in Galway city, not only by Galwegians, but also by the other communities living and working in our city.
This year, two businesses run by members of the Polish community have put themselves forward for the Gradam as businesses that are proud to use the Irish language. Two new sponsors have also joined the Gradam this year; The Sunday Business Post and TG4. They join the main sponsor of the Gradam, the Galway Advertiser as well as Fáilte Ireland, Galway Bay FM, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh, Snap Galway, ARÓ, Galway Chamber, The Solution Guys and Údarás na Gaeltachta. Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir!
Gaillimh le Gaeilge would like to thank all of their valued sponsors for providing fantastic prizes and benefits worth €25,000 in total, as well as offering extensive publicity and acclaim to the Gradam’s overall winner. The Moltóirí of Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh met this week and selected the Gearrliosta.
On the panel this year is; Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, Dean of UCD School of Business, Siubhán Nic Grianna, Údarás na Gaeltachta and Bernadette Mullarkey, of Bane Mullarkey and Stiúrthóir of Gaillimh le Gaeilge.
The nominees for Gradam 2016 are as follows:
Retail Category sponsored by Galway Bay FM: Áil Rúin, An Gailearaí Beag, Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop, Eyre Square Centre and Faherty Paints.
Tourism & Hospitality sponsored by Fáilte Ireland: Brasserie on the Corner, Clayton Hotel Galway, Connacht Hotel, Lally Coaches, Péarla na Mara, Teach na Céibhe, The House Hotel.
Services sponsored by Snap Galway: C-SideSound, Newcastle Medical Centre, Richard Hughes Optician and Top Oil
Other Companies sponsored by Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, OÉ Gaillimh: COPE Galway, Galway Technology Centre, Mór Public Relations and OLYART
