Two Galway organisations which promote the Irish language have been announced as finalists in this year’s National Lottery Good Causes Awards.
Gaillimh le Gaeilge and Muintearas Teoranta are among 35 shortlisted community groups, sports clubs and organisations that will each receive €1,000 and a hand-crafted trophy.
The groups will now proceed to the grand final, which has seven categories: Arts & Culture, Community, Health & Wellbeing, Heritage, Irish language, Sport and Youth.
The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony which takes place on Saturday, 1 October in the Kilashee House Hotel, Co. Kildare, where each of the seven category winners will receive €10,000 and the overall Good Cause of the Year will take home an additional €25,000.
The Awards honour the inspiring work and achievements of thousands of projects, clubs and individuals from all over Ireland who, with the help of National Lottery Good Causes funding, have had an extraordinary impact on their local communities.
Gaillimh le Gaeilge
Gaillimh le Gaeilge was established with the aim of promoting the Irish language, particularly as an economic resource, in the Galway area.
Gaillimh le Gaeilge works in association with Galway City Council, Galway Chamber and other groups to develop and strengthen Galway’s official Bilingual Status.
Good Causes funding through the Irish Language Support Scheme goes towards the hosting of ‘Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh’, which is the longest established bilingual awards of its kind in Ireland.
Muintearas Teoranta
Muintearas Teoranta is a national community-based education and training centre that promotes the Irish language from their hubs in the Gaeltacht regions of Galway, Cork and Donegal.
The Good Causes Irish Language support grant that they received went towards a Youth Project that focuses on encouraging a group of secondary school students to develop new artistic ideas through the medium of music.
The programme started with a group of young artists who came together to rearrange three traditional songs. An organisation, which is engaged in filmmaking, expressed an interest in the song and it will now be accompanied by a video which has since been released.
Gráinne Seoige, who will host the awards for the third consecutive year, said she is looking forward to meeting this year’s fantastic finalists in person.
“Hearing stories of triumph, strength and endurance have stood out as highlights from my previous two experiences of presenting the Awards, and I am certain that this year will be no different,” she said.
“Seeing how communities from all over Ireland help and look out for each other is a truly inspiring part of the night and one that I am looking forward to playing a part in.”
