Ná bí buartha, tá seans agaibh fós bhur gnó nó eagrúchán a ainmniú do Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh 2018, agus an leas is fear a bhaint as na buntáistí éagsúla mar aon leis na deiseanna iontach a bhaineann le cur chun cinn na Gaeilge i gCathair Dhátheangach na hÉireann.
Dé hAoine beag seo, amárach, an 3ú lá fichid do Mí na Feabhra, ab ea an spriocdháta le haghaidh iontrálacha agus ainmniúchán don Ghradam – Gradam Gnó Dátheangach na Gaillimhe.
Is féidir leat gnó nó eagraíocht a ainmniú don Ghradam agus ní gá Gaeilge líofa a bheith agat chun páirt a glacadh sa Ghradam mar beidh foireann Ghaillimh le Gaeilge ann le cúnamh a thabhairt duit ó thús go deireadh an phróisis.
Bunaíodh Gaillimh le Gaeilge chun a chinntiú go leanfadh an buntáiste mór geilleagrach don chathair a gabhann leis an nGaeilge. Ó bunaíodh í, tá ag éirí le Gaillimh le Gaeilge infheictheacht na Gaeilge a ardú, agus úsáid na Gaeilge ó lá go lá a chur chun cinn sa Chathair.
Tá ag éirí le scéimeanna ar nós ‘Cairde Ghaillimh le Gaeilge’ agus ‘Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh’ dul i bhfeidhm ar phobal leathan ar bealach cairdiúil oscailte.
Is féidir chur isteach ar an nGradam, saor in aisce, tríd an suíomh idirlín, www.gleg.ie.
Ainmníodh Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh in onóir an Uasail Seosaimh Ó hÓgartaigh (nach maireann), ball bunaithe agus rúnaí cuideachta Ghaillimh le Gaeilge, fear gnó cáiliúil, anseo i gCathair na Gaillimhe ab ea é.
Bhí sé ina Uachtarán ar an gCumann Tráchtála, ag obair don údarás agus bhíodh ana shuim aige i cúrsaí gnó, mar aon leis an Ghaeilge ar ndóigh.
Is iad Gaillimh le Gaeilge a eagraíonn an Gradam i gcomhar leis an Galway Advertiser agus le tacaíocht ó Chumann Tráchtála na Gaillimhe.
Tá Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh sé mbliana déag ar an bhfód i mbliana. Tugann sé seo aitheantas agus údar céiliúrtha do ghnólachtaí agus d’eagraíochtaí i gCathair na Gaillimhe.
Tá foireann Gaillimh le Gaeilge fíor gnóthach faoi láthair agus iad ag cur le chéile sceideal an Ghradaim.
Labahir Bríd Ní Chonghoíle, ó Gaillimh le Gaeilge faoi na sceitimíní agus an bís a bhíonn ag rith tríd an bhfoireann agus iad ag bualadh le gnólachtaí agus eagraíochtaí nua chuile bhliain sa phróisis Gradam.
“Táimid ag tnúth go mór casadh le gnónna agus le heagraíochtaí a bhfuil spéis acu an Ghaeilge a úsáid le gnó dátheangach a fhorbairt. Tá os cionn dhá mhí againn don ullmhúchán sula ndéanfar an mholtóireacht i lár mhí an Aibreáin, mar sin, tá am fíorghnóthach ach spreagúil amach romhainn go léir – táimid ag tnúth go mór leis!”
Labhair Avril Smith, Bainisteoir Ionad na Faiche Móire, buaiteoirí Ghradam 2017, ag preascócáid le déanaí inár sheol Méara Chathair na Gaillimhe, an Comhairleoir Pearce Flannery Gradam 2018.
Ag an ócáid, mhol sí do ghnólachtaí/d’eagraíochta cur isteach air:
“Is cinnte gur chuidigh an Gradam linn cur go mór le próifíl Ionad na Faiche Móire, fuair muid go leor leor poiblíochta go háitiúil agus go náisiúnta. Tá sé ar cheann de na rudaí is fear dá ndearnamar riamh páirt a glacadh sa Ghradam.”
Gan dabht, gan an teanga Gaeilge, ní bheadh an nGradam speisialta seo le bhronnadh, agus labhair Bríd Ní Chonghoíle faoin dearfacht a bhaineann leis an dátheangachas sa Cathair.
“Is ábhar bród do Ghaillimh le Gaeilge gur aontaigh Comhairleoirí Cathrach na Gaillimhe rún i bhfómhar na bliana 2015 le stádas dátheangach a bhronnadh ar an gcathair.Lá mór don Ghaeilge agus do Ghaillimh araon nuair a d’fhogair Uachtarán na hÉireann, Michéal D. Ó hUiginn, Cathair na Gaillimhe mar an chéad chathair in Éirinn le stádas dátheangach oifigiúil, ar an Luan, 7 Márta 2016.Dearbhú atá sa stádas speisialta seo do thodhcaí na Gaeilge sa chathair agus deimhníonn sé an tábhacht eacnamaíochta agus chultúrtha atá leis an teanga.”
Níl sé ró dhéanach fós do chuid gnó a ainmniú – b’fhéidir go spreagadh luach iomlán na dhuaiseanna sibh. €23,000 – Samhlaigh é sin agus féach, tá an oíche fós óg agus tá am agaibh cur isteach ar an nGradam, ag www.gleg.ie. Is féidir leat Gaillimh le Gaeilge a leanúint ar Facebook, Twitter agus Instagram
Don’t worry! You still have a little time to nominate your business or organisation for Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh 2018, and the opportunity to reap the advantages and various benefits associated with the promotions of the Irish language in Ireland’s Bilingual City.
This Friday, tomorrow, February 23rd, is the deadline for any entries and nominations for the Gradam – Galway’s Bilingual Buisness award!
You can nominate a business/organisation for the Gradam and you don’t need to be a fluent speaker because Gaillimh le Gaeilge will endeavour to help and work with you in every step along the way.
Gaillimh le Gaeilge was formed in order to ensure that the huge economic advantage of the city through the Irish language would continue. Since it’s establishment, Gaillimh le Gaeilge has seen the visibility of the Irish language and it’s daily usage has risen.
Schemes such as ‘Cairde Gaillimh le Gaeilge’ and ‘Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh have impacted the general public in an open and friendly way.
You can go to www.gleg.ie, in order to enter the Gradam online, free of charge.
Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh was named in honour of the late, Seosaimh Ó hÓgartaigh, founding member and company secretary of Gaillimh le Gaeilge, a very well-known business man, here in Galway City.
He was the President of the Galway Chamber, worked for the Údarás and always had an interest in business and the Irish language.
The Gradam is organised by Gaillimh le Gaeilge in association with the Galway Advertiser and with support from the Galway Chamber.
Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh, now in it’s 16th year, recognises and celebrates companies and organisations in Galway City that use the Irish language.
Currently the team of Gaillimh le Gaeilge are very busy putting together the schedule for the Gradam.
Bríd Ní Chonghoíle, of Gaillimh le Gaeilge spoke about the excitement that awaits them as they meet new companies and businesses each year during the Gradam process.
“We are very eager to meet with businesses and organisations who are interested in using the Irish language to create and develop a bilingual business. We have over two months to prepare as adjudication will take place in mid-April, so, a very busy and exciting time ahead for all – táimid ag tnúth go mór leis!”
Avril Smith, Manager of the Eyre Square Centre, winners of Gradam 2017, speaking at a press event recently where the Mayor of the City of Galway launched the Gradam, encouraged any business or organisation to enter:
“The Gradam undoubtedly helped us to raise the profile of the Eyre Square Centre, it generated massive publicity both locally and nationally. Participating in the Gradam is one of the best things that we have done.”
Of course without the Irish language there would be no presentation of this special Gradam, and Bríd Ní Chonghoíle spoke about the positivity that comes with having a bilingual city.
“Gaillimh le Gaeilge is so proud that Galway City County Councillors agreed with a motion in the Autumn of 2015, to present a bilingual status on the city. It was a huge day for the Irish Language and Galway itself when the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins announced Galway City as the first city in Ireland to have an official bilingual status, on Monday, 7th March 2016. The positivity this special status has for the future of Irish in the city confirms the importance of the economy and culture associated with the language.
It’s not too late to nominate your business – maybe the overall value of the prizes and benefits will entice you. €23,000 – imagine that and sure look the night is still young giving you plenty of time to fill out the application form, at www.gleg.ie. You can follow Gaillimh le Gaeilge on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.