Aptly being launched during one of the week’s festivities of Seachtain na Gaeilge, which honours the Irish language, Westport based Gnó Mhaigh Eo — which offers advice, support, and translation services for businesses that are interested in using the Irish language in the promotion of their product or organisation — will be officially launched at lunchtime today (Friday ), by the Minister for Community, Rural, and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív.
Gnó Mhaigh Eo, which has been in operation since 2007, is funded by An Roinn Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe, agus Gaeltachta, Mayo County Council, Fáilte Ireland, and Westport Town Council. The group promotes and assists businesses in the region through illustrating the economic benefit of using the Irish language as well as supporting groups in organising cultural events in the county.
According to development officer with Gnó Mhaigh Eo, Laura Ní Eanacháin, more than 100 businesses and organisations throughout Mayo have so far benefited from Gnó Mhaigh Eo’s assistance, with Ms Ní Eanacháin giving some examples of how Irish can easily be incorporated into businesses through the introduction of bilingual signs or website translation. The development officer said that there has been a positive reaction from those who have been assisted, with “some businesses noticing an increase in sales”.
An innovative new feature on the Gnó Mhaigh Eo website — a comprehensive directory, which lists businesses, services, or organisations where Irish is being used by them on a daily basis — is something which Gnó Mhaigh Eo hopes will continue to expand as more businesses become involved. Along with this, Gnó Mhaigh Eo hopes to focus on promoting tourism, particularly in Gaeltacht areas, and upcoming events include the An Flóta is Fearr St Patrick’s Day parade competition and the networking event, Club Caife.
Following the launch at the Mill Times Hotel, Minister Ó Cuív will later launch the Croagh Patrick new heritage trail.
