Micil Distillery, Plámás, Thrive with Marian and Club Seoltóireachta Húicéir na Gaillimhe were announced as proud category winners.
There was a strong sense of occasion and celebration at this year’s Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh Awards as Uachtarán na hÉireann, Catherine Connolly, attended as Guest of Honour at the event, which drew a strong turnout from Galway’s diverse community to celebrate excellence in bilingual business, culture and community.
The President received a Céad Míle Fáilte from all those present and, during her visit, met with, among others, the Gradam Gearrliosta, members of the Bord Stiúrtha and Foireann Ghaillimh le Gaeilge, the Deputy Mayor of the City of Galway, local Teachtaí Dála, representatives of Galway Chamber, Galway City Councillors, the Chief Executive of Galway City Council and Cairde Ghaillimh le Gaeilge.
As part of the evening, she attended the awards ceremony where Cathaoirleach Ghaillimh le Gaeilge, An tOllamh John Breslin presented her with a beautifully prepared basket of bilingual products from the Gradam Gearrliosta.
Addressing guests at the event, Minister for the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, reaffirmed his Department’s continued support for Gaillimh le Gaeilge and Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh, stating:
“Tá áthas orm go bhfuil ar chumas mo Roinne leanúint ar aghaidh leis an tacaíocht a thugann muid do Ghaillimh le Gaeilge agus do Ghradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh.
The Gradam has now been running for 24 years and is a very important element of the bilingual identity of Galway city. This year there is great diversity among the shortlisted competitors; all should be recognised for their use of the language in their business, which reflects the vitality of the Irish language in the life of the city.”
As the Minister had to depart before the awards presentation, the category and overall awards were presented on his behalf by Principal Officer Eoin Ó Droighneáin, Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.
There was great excitement throughout the evening as Just Art It was announced as the overall winner of Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh 2026, earning the distinction of becoming the newest 15th Tribe of Galway.
Just Art It is an artist-run, independent art shop, studio, and gallery in Galway’s Westend, where art, culture, and community come together. An Ghaeilge is central to their identity and features across their creative work, retail, and new e-commerce site.
Elena Santos, owner of Just Art It, gave her reaction to winning the Gradam:
“To win the overall Gradam award is a great honour and we are so happy for this amazing recognition for our work in contributing to our bilingual community.We hope that our story will inspire other businesses to support our bilingual city and Gaillimh le Gaeilge in their extraordinary work supporting business like ours! Congratulations to all the winners and everyone who participated. And a special thank you to all the sponsors for making this possible.”
The category award recipients were announced as follows:
• Micil Distillery: Winner of the Tourism Category, sponsored by Fáilte Ireland
• Plámás: Winner of the Customer Service Category, sponsored by Computer Troubleshooters
• Thrive with Marian: Winner of the Digital Category, sponsored by Platform 94
• Club Seoltóireachta Húicéir na Gaillimhe: Winner of the Community & Culture Category, sponsored by Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe
As overall winners, Just Art It received a specially commissioned sculpture by renowned artist Pádraic Reaney, depicting the 14 Tribes of Galway with one additional tribe representing the Gradam winner — the newest Tribe of Galway. Their prize also includes an advertising package from the Galway Advertiser, a publicity package with TG4, and one year’s membership with Galway Chamber and Gaillimh le Gaeilge.
All category winners received a business support package valued at €2,000, together with a replica of the Gradam sponsored by Údarás na Gaeltachta.
This year’s Gradam Speisialta na Moltóirí, sponsored by Judy Greene Pottery, was presented to Smart Medical, in recognition of the development of the world’s first bilingual AED (Irish/English) and standardised bilingual cabinets, transforming high-traffic public spaces into visible, living spaces for the Irish language.
In recognition of their consistent use of bilingual packaging, Kinvara Skincare was awarded the university scholarship “An Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge” — a two-year language acquisition programme. This prestigious qualification is fully sponsored by Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe.
Cathaoirleach Ghaillimh le Gaeilge, An tOllamh John Breslin, congratulated all the Gradam winners and commended their bilingual work. He extended a míle buíochas to the President for attending the awards, and to the Minister for the Gaeltacht and his Department for their continued, essential and valued support as the principal funders of Gaillimh le Gaeilge.
He concluded: “The Gradam is more than an awards ceremony; it reflects the steady and meaningful progress being made in strengthening the Irish language in every aspect of city life.”
Speaking at the event, Príomhfheidhmeannach Ghaillimh le Gaeilge, Bríd Ní Chonghóile, said:
“Is mór an onóir agus bród dúinn fáilte a chur roimh Uachtarán na hÉireann, CatherineConnolly, chuig an ócáid speisialta seo, agus fáilte a chur roimh an tAire Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD, a thug tacaíocht don imeacht tábhachtach seo.”
Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh reflects the continued and sustained progress being made in Galway as a designated Gaeltacht Service Town, and the ongoing development of Irish as a living language of business, community and cultural life. The Gradam continues to play an important strategic role in strengthening Galway’s status as a bilingual city, where the Irish language is actively visible, supported, and embedded in everyday life.”
