Gaillimh le Gaeilge hosted their annual ‘Cóisir na Nollag’ in the Harbour Hotel last week. At the event, Cathaoirleach Ghaillimh le Gaeilge, Bernadette Mullarkey welcomed the Mayor of the City of Galway, Cllr Noel Larkin and thanked Galway City Council for their funding of €50,000 for 2017.
Bernadette Mullarkey also thanked An Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta for their support and reflected on the year. The highlight for Gaillimh le Gaeilge was when Uachtarán na hÉireann, Micheál D. Ó hUigínn officiated at a ceremony in Galway City Council to announce ‘Cathair na Gaillimhe/The City of Galway’ as the first Bilingual City in Ireland as part of Galway’s centenery celebrations for 2016. Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh, Galway’s bilingual business award was a great success with Top Oil, Galway scooping the overall prize and 2016 saw an increase of 22% in the demand for Gaillimh le Gaeilge service – Gaeilge sa Ghnó.
This year, Gaillimh le Gaeilge hosted an ‘Aonach beag na Nollag’, which gave Cairde an opportunity to purchase Christmas gifts with ‘an Ghaeilge’ as part of their branding. An Spailpín Fánach, Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop, Joyce’s Supermarket, Judy Greene Pottery and Standún had stands at the event selling their wide range of Irish language products to all the guests.
Gaillimh le Gaeilge also organized a raffle in aid of COPE Galway. All of the businesses exhibiting on the night generously donated a prize as well as McCambridge’s of Galway. Bríd Ní Chonghóile, Ardfheidhmeannach Ghaillimh le Gaeilge took part in the COPE Galway Sleepout recently to raise funds for the homeless in Galway and the raffle raised €290 on the night.
Among the Cairde in attendance were: Steve Ó Cúláin, Príomhfheidhmeannach Údarás na Gaeltachta, Maeve Joyce, Bainisteoir Chumann Tráchtála na Gaillimhe, Seán MacEoin, An Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, Galway City Councillors as well as Stiúrthóirí and Cairde Ghaillimh le Gaeilge.
There is another busy year in store for Gaillimh le Gaeilge in 2017 as the organisation will celebrate 30 years in business. The year will get underway with a press event in January to launch Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh, Galway’s Bilingual Business Awards in association with the Galway Advertiser, Galway’s most effective advertising media partner. This prestigious award is now open to businesses and organisations based in Galway not involved primarily in the promotion of the Irish language or subject to the Official Languages Act 2003.
Gaillimh le Gaeilge provides a ‘Gaeilge sa Ghnó’ service, free of charge to help businesses/organisations prepare for the Gradam.
If you would like more information about Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh, please contact Gaillimh le Gaeilge on 091 568876, [email protected] or visit www.gleg.ie You can follow Gaillimh le Gaeilge on Facebook and Twitter.
