The 23rd annual Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh gala awards ceremony was held on Monday, the 26th of May at the Galway Bay Hotel, celebrating excellence in bilingual service among businesses and organisations across Galway City. Finalists, their families, colleagues and friends, together with members of Cairde Ghaillimh le Gaeilge, turned out in force to honour this year’s achievements. Meet the winners here...
Guests enjoyed a memorable evening of traditional music, with performances from a group of well-known and highly respected musicians. The line-up included Mick Crehan (whistle), Andres Trajberg (fiddle/flute), Mayo Yanachi (fiddle), George Grosso (bouzouki), Niall McQuaid (bodhrán), and Johnny O’Halloran (melodeon), who all contributed to a warm and lively atmosphere. A special highlight of the evening was a surprise guest appearance by Pádraig Jack, the bilingual singer-songwriter from the Aran Islands, whose performance was warmly received by those in attendance.
Mayor of the City of Galway, Cllr. Peter Keane opened the ceremony by presenting the Gradam Certificates to each of the finalists in recognition of their commitment to promoting the Irish language in Galway City. The highlight of the evening was marked when Minister for the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, announced Irish Socksciety as the overall winner of Gradam 2025. In receiving the award, Irish Socksciety was also honoured with the title of 15th Tribe of Galway, a distinction they will hold proudly for the year ahead.
Speaking about the Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh award, Minister Dara Calleary TD said: “Is sampla iontach é Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh den iliomad deiseanna a chruthaíonn an Ghaeilge i ngach gné de shaol Chathair na Gaillimhe — ó shiopaí agus chaiféanna go dtí scannánaíocht, gnóthaí, grúpaí pobail, agus an domhan digiteach. The Gradam stands as a testament to how the language is not only part of our cultural identity, but also a valuable asset in business, branding, and community engagement.”
In addition to the overall winner, the Minister unveiled the recipients of this year’s category awards. And they are as follows:
Just Art It - Winner of the ‘Retail Experience’ Category, sponsored by Galway Bay FM;
Daróg Wine Bar - Winner of the ‘Tourism’ Category, sponsored by Fáilte Ireland;
Plámás - Winner of the ‘Customer Service’ Category, sponsored by Computer Troubleshooters;
Club Seoltóireacht Húicéirí na Gaillimhe - Winner of the ‘Community & Culture’ Category,
sponsored by Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe.
Since their establishment in 2017, Irish Socksciety have fully embraced the Irish language and culture across all aspects of their brand. From the designs on their socks to their packaging, website, social media, and customer communications - an Ghaeilge is a vibrant and integral part of their identity. Recently, they expanded their offering to include a colourful range of children's socks featuring Irish, alongside fun competitions that encourage the public to get creative with new Irish-language sock designs. Founders Joanna Ciezka and Alex Kieldanowicz, originally from Poland, are passionate advocates for the Irish language. Their enthusiasm for learning and promoting Gaeilge is evident in the playful and innovative ways they bring the language to life—one step at a time.
Earlier on in the evening, they were announced as the winner of the ‘Digital’ Category, sponsored by Platform 94, and went on to scoop the overall award. They received a beautiful sculpture designed especially for the Gradam by the renowned artist Pádraic Reaney, depicting the 14 Tribes of Galway, with one extra tribe outstanding, symbolising the Gradam winner – the new Tribe of Galway. They will receive an advertising package from the main sponsor of the Gradam, the Galway Advertiser, a publicity package with TG4 and one year’s membership of Galway Chamber and Gaillimh le Gaeilge.
The Gradam category winners all received a business package to the value of €2,000 from their respective category sponsor as well as a replica of Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh sponsored by Údarás na Gaeltachta.
This year’s ‘Bronnadh Speisialta na Moltóirí’ (Judges’ Special Award) was presented to a newly established business participating in the Gradam for the first time, which demonstrated an exceptionally high standard in its use of Irish. Sponsored by Judy Greene Pottery, the award was presented to Soundtrack & Podcast in recognition of their outstanding commitment to integrating the Irish language into their operations from the outset. In recognition of their consistent use of the Irish language, The little Siopa was awarded a university scholarship ‘An Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge’ – a two-year language acquisition course. This prestigious qualification is fully sponsored by Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe.
Speaking about the Judging process this year, Éanna Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “Mar mholtóirí Ghradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh, bhíomar an-tógtha le húsáid nádúrtha na Gaeilge i ngnólachtaí agus eagraíochtaí ar fud na cathrach. Bhí sé soiléir le feiceáil gur buntáiste straitéiseach í an Ghaeilge, ní hamháin i gcumarsáid le cainteoirí dúchais, ach freisin mar shócmhainn luachmhar i measc cuairteoirí agus turasóirí. Léirigh Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh i mbliana an fás agus an fuinneamh atá ag baint le húsáid na Gaeilge i saol tráchtála agus pobail na cathrach. Tá sé soiléir go bhfuil stádas na teanga i nGaillimh ag dul ó neart go neart.”
At the event, the Mayor of the City of Galway presented a special award to Galway City Tidy Towns for their valuable contribution to promoting Irish through creative and visible signage. Their work has greatly enhanced the city’s bilingual image and public awareness of the Irish language. Sponsored by Just Art It, the award was accepted by committee member Donncha Foley.
Cathaoirleach Ghaillimh le Gaeilge, an tOllamh John Breslin congratulated all the Gradam winners and commended their bilingual work. He thanked the Aire Gaeltachta and his Department for their continued and valuable support of Gaillimh le Gaeilge as its main funders.
Ba mhaith le Gaillimh le Gaeilge buíochas ó chroí a ghabháil le gach aon duine a ghlac páirt i nGradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh 2025, agus comhghairdeas mór a dhéanamh leis na buaiteoirí go léir.
Gabhaimid buíochas speisialta leis na moltóirí: Éanna Ó hÓgartaigh, mac le Seosamh Ó hÓgartaigh (a bhfuil an Gradam ainmnithe ina onóir), Margaret Jenkins (Bainisteoir Slí an Atlantaigh Fhiáin), Colleen Baxter (WestBIC), agus Diarmuid Ó Conchubhair (Galway Bay FM), as a dtiomantas agus a gcuid ama. Táimid an-bhuíoch freisin dár n-urraitheoirí go léir as a dtacaíocht leanúnach leis an nGradam.
For more information please visit the website www.gleg.ie
