The Mayor of the City of Galway, Cllr Mike Cubbard will announce the Category Winners of Galway’s bilingual business award – Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh, LIVE on Galway Talks with Keith Finnegan on Galway Bay FM on Thursday the 5th of November.
On Friday, (6th of November) he will announce which of the 4 Category Winners will receive the prestigious title as the 15th Tribe of Galway and overall winner of Gradam 2020. The announcements will also be streamed live on Gaillimh le Gaeilge’s and Galway Bay FM’s Facebook Live.
Speaking on Galway Bay FM’s media partnership with Gaillimh le Gaeilge, Keith Finnegan, CEO said:
“As a local radio station, we bring the news to the people of Galway. The work of these businesses and organisations who are embracing the Irish language and helping to make Galway one of Ireland’s favourite cultural cities should be celebrated and we look forward to doing this live on air.”
This year’s Gradam Gearrliosta features a wide variety of businesses and organisations across Galway city. All who are competing for the prestigious title include Ireland’s largest medieval parish church, a media company as well as some of Galway’s most renowned bars, hotels and venues.
Retail category, sponsored by Galway Bay FM the finalists are:
Corrib Shopping Centre, Siopa Leabhar Charlie Byrne
Tourism & Hospitality category, sponsored by Fáilte Ireland, the finalists are:
Galway Greyhound Stadium, The Galmont Hotel & Spa, The Hardiman Hotel, The Kings Head.
Services category, sponsored by Video Sherpa, the finalists are:
Big O Taxis, Morgan Creative.
Other Companies category, sponsored by Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, OÉ Gaillimh
the finalists are:
Bród na Gaillimhe, Galway Traditional Orchestra, St. Nicholas’ Collegiate Church.
Every year, Bord Stiúrtha Ghaillimh le Gaeilge assembles a panel of independent judges with a wide range of expertise to select the winners of Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh. On the judging panel this year are: Rónán Ó hÓgartaigh, son of the late Seosamh Ó hÓgartaigh, who the award is named after, founding member and company secretary of Gaillimh le Gaeilge, Freda Nic Giolla Chatháin, Translator and former CEO of Gnó Mhaigh Eo and Fiona Ní Fhlaithearta, TG4.
The Moltóirí met via Zoom with all 11 businesses and organisation on the Gearrliosta. Following the interviews, which were conducted over two days, they then faced the difficult task in selecting the category winners and overall winner.
Bríd Ní Chonghóile of Gaillimh le Gaeilge said: “Every year to select the category winners or the overall winner is no easy task as the standard continues to rise. This year, it was really hard to choose a winner with so many amazing and diverse group of businesses and organisations on the Gearrliosta. They also had more time to prepare this year because of the lockdown and many of them used it wisely to get more Gradam work done! Buíochas chomh maith to all the local and national sponsors for their invaluable support to the Gradam over the years. We are especially grateful for their support this year, a year which continues to be challenging for all of us – go raibh míle míle maith agaibh” she concluded.
The total value of the sponsorship package for the Gradam is worth in excess of €25,000. The main media sponsor is the Galway Advertiser; the company has proudly supported the Gradam since its inception in 2002. TG4 joined the Gradam in 2016, and both media organisations are providing an excellent advertising package for the overall winner. Údarás na Gaeltachta are sponsoring the replicas of Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh, specially designed by the renowned artist Pádraic Reaney. The Galway Chamber will also provide sponsorship to the overall winner. MOLSCÉAL are also sponsoring the Gradam again this year. They created videos of all of the Gradam finalists’ bilingual achievements which can be seen on Gaillimh le Gaeilge’s social media channels and on the MOLSCÉAL app.
Míle buíochas leo go léir!
Tune into Galway Talks with Keith Finnegan on Galway Bay FM at 11 am on Thursday the 5th of November and Friday the 6th of November to hear who will be announced as the Winner of Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh 2020. Follow Gaillimh le Gaeilge on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up to date with all of the announcements
