Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh, Galway’s bilingual business award, was officially launched by the Mayor of the City of Galway, Cllr Mike Cubbard, live on Galway Talks on Galway Bay FM as part of Seachtain na Gaeilge. Due to the ongoing global pandemic, Gaillimh le Gaeilge is unable to host an in-person event to officially launch Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh 2021. Following on from the success of the presentation of Gradam 2020 on Galway Bay FM last November, Gaillimh le Gaeilge was delighted to launch the Gradam live on Galway Bay FM.
Gradam Sponsors:
The Mayor announced the sponsors for the year ahead and introduced a new category for Gradam 2021 – ‘Online Business’ sponsored by the Galway Technology Centre.
2020 saw a substantial increase in the number of businesses who moved online or who have increased their online presence due to the pandemic. This category reflects this new trend and is for businesses and organisations registered in Galway city and county and who are connecting primarily online with their customers and key stakeholders (certain restrictions apply, please see www.gleg.ie). Adjudication for this Gradam entry will be based on their efforts using the Irish language online, which will include website, social media, apps, video, email.
This year, the main media sponsor is once again the Galway Advertiser, TG4 and MOLSCÉAL are also on board, as well as all the category sponsors and they are as follows: Galway Bay FM who are sponsoring the ‘Retail’ Category; Fáilte Ireland who are sponsoring the ‘Tourism and Hospitality’ Category, Video Sherpa who are sponsoring the ‘Services’ Category and Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh who are sponsoring the ‘Nonprofit & Other Companies’ Category.
Údarás Na Gaeltachta have also renewed their 3 year sponsorship of the miniature Gradam sculptures that each category winner will receive especially designed by the renowned artist Pádraic Reaney and the Galway Chamber are also providing sponsorship to the overall winner. The total value of the sponsorship for Gradam 2021 has increased to over €26,000. Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh is now open for nominations until Friday the 30th April 2021, visit www.gleg.ie for more information and to enter online.
Speaking about the new Category, Gearóidín Hynes, Projects Manager, Gaillimh le Gaeilge said:
“As this is a new category, we are looking forward to working with new businesses who may not have used the Irish language previously. We do not expect businesses to have a fully bilingual website, we would like to encourage them to sprinkle the language throughout their online communications so that customers will get a flavour of the language and understand that you are a business that is based in Galway, appreciates the language, and wishes to support it. Gaillimh le Gaeilge will provide translations, suggestions and proofing to every business that enters.”
Frank Greene, Chairperson of the Galway Technology Centre, spoke about their association with Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh:
“Galway Technology Centre is delighted to sponsor the new Category of Online Business in Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh 2021 and we look forward to working with the Gaillimh le Gaeilge team as well as the winner in this category! We were category winners ourselves in Gradam 2016 and so we have seen the positive impact of the Irish language and look forward to promoting it further among businesses operating online.”
Bernadette Mullarkey, Cathaoirleach of Gaillimh le Gaeilge, thanked all the sponsors supporting the Gradam and said:
“Tá an rath agus an cáil atá ar an nGradam ag brath ar an tacaíocht a fhaigheann sé ó urraitheoirí áitiúla agus náisiúnta, go háirithe príomhurraitheoir an Ghradaim an Galway Advertiser. We’re also delighted to launch a new category this year; ‘Online Business’ with the support of the Galway Technology Centre. Gaillimh le Gaeilge continued to provide a translation and consultancy service to those businesses who moved online because of COVID-19 – helping them to increase their use of Irish online and showing the world that Galway business is bilingual business, standing out from the crowd in a global online market.”
Now Open for nominations:
You have 6 months to prepare as the first round of adjudication will take place in September. Gaillimh le Gaeilge is currently putting a schedule together and would love to meet with businesses and organisations who are interested in using the Irish language to create a bilingual business. You don’t need to be a fluent speaker to participate as Gaillimh le Gaeilge will help you every step of the way. They will offer you the ‘Gaeilge sa Ghnó/Irish in Business’ service free of charge. This service is a bespoke package in which you are guided through the process of adapting some or all of your business to bilingualism. Foireann Ghaillimh le Gaeilge will arrange a meeting with you and review your business in terms of its visual image – signage, marketing material, social media, advertising etc. They will examine various possibilities in terms of the use of Irish in your business or organisation.
The closing date for Gradam entries is Friday the 30th of April 2021. All that is required at this stage of the Gradam process is to fill in a short application form and Foireann Ghaillimh le Gaeilge will be in touch to prepare you for the Gradam awards. Log onto www.gleg.ie for more information and to enter online free of charge or contact 091 568876. You can nominate your own business/organisation or another business/organisation that is based in Galway City. To keep up to date with all the latest Gradam news, follow Gaillimh le Gaeilge on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
