Gaillimh le Gaeilge is delighted to announce the 15 businesses and organizations that have been selected as finalists for Galway's prestigious bilingual business award. Discover the businesses striving to keep the Irish language alive in Galway...
Organised in partnership with the Galway Advertiser, TG4, and the Galway Chamber, the Gradam celebrates and recognises excellence in the use of the Irish language in business and community life across the city. The diversity of this year’s finalists further illustrates how Irish can be seamlessly integrated across all sectors—from the traditional Galway Hooker Sailing Club to an international bus company to a HR consultancy firm—demonstrating that the language is both adaptable and vibrant in every corner of Galway life.
Gearrliosta Ghradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh 2025 is as follows:
Retail Experience category, sponsored by Galway Bay FM: Booley, Just Art It.
Tourism category, sponsored by Fáilte Ireland: Daróg Wine Bar, Galway Girl Cruises and Tribe Gin School.
Customer Service category, sponsored by Computer Troubleshooters Galway: Citylink, GHR Consulting, Plámás, Soundtrack & Podcast.
Digital category, sponsored by Platform 94: Grá Chocolates, Irish Socksciety, The little Siopa, Thrive with Marian.
Community and Culture category, sponsored by Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe: Cumann Seoltóireacht Húicéirí na Gaillimhe, Galway Film Fleadh.
This year saw the largest number of entries in the Digital category, highlighting how Gaeilge is thriving in the digital space and proving its relevance in the modern world. It is also noteworthy that 27% of this year’s nominees are from businesses run or owned by people who have come to Ireland and embraced the language in their day-to-day business.
The Gradam winners are selected each year by an independent panel of judges with a diverse range of expertise. This year's judging panel includes: Éanna Ó hÓgartaigh, son of the late Seosamh Ó hÓgartaigh whom the award is named after; Margaret Jenkins, Wild Atlantic Way Team Manager; Colleen Baxter, Marketing Executive and Projects Officer at WestBIC; Diarmuid Ó Conchubhair, Galway Bay FM.
The Moltóirí will visit each business/organisation on the Gearrliosta in the coming weeks to determine the winners in each of the 5 categories. They will then select an overall winner from the five category winners.
The Moltóirí met for the first phase of the adjudication process last week. The Gearrliosta selection was a difficult one for the Moltóirí, as Gearóidín Hynes, Bainisteoir Tograí explains; "Each of the nominees has demonstrated a genuine commitment to bilingual Galway and a strong commitment to providing a 'Seirbhs trí Ghaeilge'. The Moltóirí were especially delighted to see a strong element of collaboration between this year’s participants—both among the finalists themselves and with previous Gradam entrants—as they work together to strengthen the use of an Ghaeilge and foster a spirit of meitheal throughout the city and the Galway Gaeltacht."
Speaking on behalf of the Moltóirí, Éanna Ó hÓgartaigh said; "Bliain iontach eile don Ghradam agus obair den scoth idir lamha ag gnólachtaí agus ag eagraíochtaí ag cur na Gaeilge chun cinn sa chathair. Its great to see that the promotion of the Irish language in the city shows no signs of slowing down and, it is gratifying to see the energy and enthusiasm shown by the Gearrliosta in this endeavor. We are also very pleased to see that services in the Irish language are accessible as widely as they are. We look forward to visiting each of the businesses and organizations on the Gearrliosta in the weeks to come."
We are delighted that the Minister for the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, will announce the winners at a special awards ceremony on Monday the 26th of May at 6pm in the Galway Bay Hotel.
Gaillimh le Gaeilge would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the local and national sponsors for their invaluable support to the Gradam over the years. Go raibh míle maith agaibh a chairde: The Galway Advertiser, TG4, Fáilte Ireland, Galway Bay FM, Computer Troubleshooters Galway, Platform 94, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, Údarás na Gaeltachta and the Galway Chamber. The total value of the sponsorship is worth more than €43,000.
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