Gaillimh le Gaeilge was delighted to be announced as the winner of the Irish Language Category at the National Lottery Good Causes Awards 2022 in Killashee Hotel in Co. Kildare last week. The award recognises the efforts of the organisation to promote an Ghaeilge in Galway city and, as a result they will receive a €10,000 prize as category winners.
Gaillimh le Gaeilge is a non-profit organisation established in Galway city with the objective of promoting the Irish language, particularly as an economic resource. Working with Galway City Council, Galway Chamber, and other groups, the organisation that promotes the Irish language in order to enhance Galway’s official bilingual status.
The National Lottery team commented, ‘a great deal of the work carried out by Gaillimh le Gaeilge is to bring the love of the Irish language back to families, businesses and the city of Galway.’
“B’fhéidir nach bhfuil ach na cúpla focal ag go leor againn, ach is féidir linn a aontú go bhfuil an obair atá á déanamh ag Gaillimh le Gaeilge chun ár dteanga ársa a chaomhnú agus a chosaint thar a bheith tábhachtach dúinne mar phobal agus mar dhaoine. Is mór an onóir do Dhea-Chúiseanna an Chrannchuir Náisiúnta deis a bheith acu obair Ghaillimh le Gaeilge a roinnt le lucht féachana níos leithne, agus i ndáiríre rud amháin a thaitin go mór leis na moltóirí is ea an teimpléad a d’fhéadfaí a chur i bhfeidhm go náisiúnta.” (Many of us may only have the few words, but we can agree that the work Gaillimh le Gaeilge is doing with Irish to preserve and protect our ancient language is extremely important to us as a community and as people. It is a great honor for the Good Causes of the National Lottery to have the opportunity to share the work of Gaillimh le Gaeilge with a wider audience, and actually one thing that the judges really liked was the template that could be implemented nationally.”)
Presented by Gráinne Seoige, the annual National Lottery awards celebrate Good Causes across the country and across seven different categories: Irish Language, Sport, Health & Wellbeing, Heritage, Arts & Culture, Community and Youth. This year the Irish Language category was presented by RTÉ Radio Broadcaster and TV Presenter Bláthnaid Treacy.
Upon receiving the award at the gala event, Oifigeach Tograí Ghaillimh le Gaeilge, Ciara O’Connor said:
“An sprioc is mó atá againn i nGaillimh le Gaeilge ná an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn i gcathair na Gaillimhe. Déanaimid é seo trínár seirbhísí a thairiscint saor in aisce agus tionscadail agus imeachtaí dátheangacha a reáchtáil i rith na bliana chun daoine eile a spreagadh agus a mhealladh le triail a bhaint as an teanga. Ceann de na tograí is mó atá againn ná Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh – Gradam Gnó Dátheangach na Gaillimhe – cuireann gnólachtaí na cathrach isteach ar an nGradam agus cabhraíonn muid leo an Ghaeilge a shní isteach ina gcuid gnóthaí. Chomh maith leis sin, tá muid lonnaithe in aice le ceann de na Gaeltachtaí is mó sa tír, mar sin, tá sé an-tábhachtach dúinn go bhfuil muid in ann freastal ar na Gaeilgeoirí seo ionas go bhfuil siad in ann a ngnó a dhéanamh i nGaeilge agus go deimhin a saol a chaitheamh ina dteanga féin. It was a great honour for Gaillimh le Gaeilge to be included in such a great initiative, surrounded by such remarkable organisations doing amazing work in their communities she concluded”.
Speaking on behalf of Bord Stiúrtha Ghaillimh le Gaeilge, Cathaoirleach Ghaillimh le Gaeilge, Bernadette Mullarkey says:
“Is mór an onóir dúinn an t-aitheantas náisiúnta seo a fháil ón gCrannchur Náisiúnta. Tá muid thar a bheith sásta le agus fíorbhuíoch as an tacaíocht riachtanach a chuireann an Crannchur Náisiunta ar fáil dúinn tríd an Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán. This is a fantastic recognition for all the work that has gone into developing and strengthening the Irish language in Ireland’s Bilingual city. Taking into account Galway’s new first language plan and the organisation’s new strategy launched last week, we will be able to do even more as we look forward to a new era for the Irish language in the city”.
The overall winner of the National Lottery Good Causes of the Year 2022 and €35,000 top prize was Cú Chulainn Blood Bikes in Monaghan, a voluntary organisation who transport blood samples, covid samples, breast milk for premature babies, medical supplies, and bloods for terminally ill children throughout local hospitals in Monaghan, Louth, Cavan, and Meath.
Other finalists in the Irish Language Category were: Conradh na Gaeilge (Dublin), Muintearas Teoranta (Galway), Na Gaeil Óga (Dublin) and Raidió na Life (Dublin).
Gaillimh le Gaeilge provide ongoing support to the business community who wish to use An Ghaeilge in their business, work has started on the first ever Irish language Plan for Galway city, regular networking opportunities ‘trí Ghaeilge’ take place every month and plans are underway for Galway’s Bilingual Awards, Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh 2023. For more information about Gaillimh le Gaeilge and to find out how you can get involved, visit www.gleg.ie. You can also follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
