In the 20th year of the Gradam, KD Autoparts, Gaillimh was announced by Jack Chambers TD, Government Chief Whip and Minister of State for Sport and the Gaeltacht as the overall winner of Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh and named as the 15th Tribe of Galway at a special awards ceremony in the g Hotel. The appointment of the new Oifigeach Pleanála Teanga for Galway City was also annouced at the event.
KD Autoparts, Gaillimh is Galway's best one-stop-shop for all automotive needs. They supply thousands of parts and accessories, from air filters to windscreen wiper blades. All their staff are trained experts and are happy to advise on any auto requirements and they also offer a complete Seirbhís trí Ghaeilge.
Maureen Duggan of KD Autoparts, Gaillimh was thrilled on receiving the news and said: “Tá áthas an domhain orainn a bheith ainmnithe mar bhuaiteoir foriomlán Ghradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh i mbliana. Táimid an-bhródúil as an méid atá déanta againn ó thosaigh muid amach leis an nGradam ceithre bhliain ó shin. Tá seirbhís trí Ghaeilge ar fáil anseo and creidimid gur cuid lárnach é cur chun cinn na Gaeilge dár mbranda agus dár seirbhís. Baineann cuid mhaith dár gcuid gcustaiméirí leas as seo agus déanann siad a ngnó trí Ghaeilge linn.
"We are very proud of Galway’s status as a bilingual city, and we’re dedicated to supporting the Irish language and are undertaking to bring more Irish into the day to day running of our company. We use the Irish language in signage, marketing, website, stationery, service in Irish and also we have Irish on our vans which travel all around the county. Our drivers deliver to Connemara every day, sometimes twice a day, the customers are thrilled to speak with the driver and do business trí Ghaeilge and we are delighted to be able to provide this service for them. Maureen continued, Winning Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh this year is an honour and something we as a team are so proud of as it is a recognition of our dedication to continue to do business bilingually and promote the Irish language in Galway and beyond.”
The Gradam is the longest running award of its kind in Ireland, organised by Gaillimh le Gaeilge, in partnership with the Galway Advertiser and with support from TG4 and the Galway Chamber. The Gradam is celebrating its 20th year in business this year which is a testament to all Galway businesses and organisations who have been involved over the years and to the sponsors who have supported it also.
Before announcing the winners on the night, the Mayor of the city of Galway, Cllr. Collette Connolly presented all of the Gearrliosta with their certifications, acknowledging their achievement of becoming Gradam finalists.
KD Autoparts, Gaillimh were announced as the winner of the ‘Retail’ Category, sponsored by Galway Bay FM and went onto scoop the overall award.
The other proud Gradam award winners on the night were:
Plámás; Winner of the ‘Tourism & Hospitality’ Category, sponsored by Fáilte Ireland.
Tribes Press: Winner of the Services Category, sponsored by Computer Troubleshooters.
Irish Socksciety: Winner of the ‘Online Business’ category sponsored by the Galway Technology Centre.
Galway Hospice Foundation: Winner of the ‘Non-Profit & Other Companies’ Category sponsored by Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, OÉ Gaillimh.
Government Chief Whip and Minister of State for Sport and the Gaeltacht, Jack Chambers TD said: “Comhghairdeas libh as cloch mhíle thábhachtach a bheith bainte amach ag an nGradam i mbliana agus é ar an bhfód le 20 bliain. Chruthaigh an Gradam deiseanna iontacha chun an Ghaeilge a chur faoi bhláth i gcathair na Gaillimhe le 20 bliain anuas, ag mealladh ainmniúchán ó eagraíochtaí ilnáisiúnta, spóirt, agus ealaíne, trádálaithe aonair, óstáin, ionaid siopadóireachta, bialanna, comhlachtaí ola agus níos mó, iad uile den tuairim go bhfuil an Ghaeilge ábhartha dá ngnólacht agus iad bródúil as an ról a imríonn siad chun an Ghaeilge a neartú agus a láidriú sa chathair.”
The Minister of State then announced the new Oifigeach Pleanála Teanga for Plean Teanga Cathair na Gaillimhe. “I’m delighted to announce this evening the appointment of Máire Uí Dhufaigh (Ní Chonghaile) as the new Oifigeach Pleanála Teanga, Gaillimh le Gaeilge …Guím gach rath ar Mháire agus ar an bhfoireann go léir i nGaillimh le Gaeilge. Tá obair dhúshlanach ach spreagúil amach romhaibh agus tá mé cinnte go leanfaidh Gaillimh le Gaeilge ag plé go gníomhach le mo Roinn féin, leis an gComhairle Cathrach agus leis na páirtithe leasmhara eile go léir chun cuidiú leis na moltaí agus na gníomhaíochtaí sa phlean a chur i bhfeidhm.”
Maeliosa Ó hÓgartaigh spoke on behalf of the Moltóirí, saying: “Ba mhór an pléisiúr dúinn a bheith mar chuid den Ghradam i mbliana agus iad ag ceiliúradh 20 bliain ar an bhfód. This year has been an exciting year, not only because the Gradam is celebrating 20 years in business but because it was the first time since the pandemic occurred that the Moltóirí were able meet with the Gearrliosta in person, visit their premises and get a true sense of their use of bilingualism within the business. We enjoyed meeting the people behind these businesses and organisations and seeing the impact they are having on Galway’s status as a bilingual city.”
"This year’s Gradam attracted many new businesses and organisations, a fantastic indication of the fact that more and more companies recognize the benefits of using an Ghaeilge in business. We were very encouraged to see an increase in the ‘Seirbhís trí Ghaeilge’ this year, something that is so important with Ireland’s largest Gaeltacht being situated on the doorstep of Galway city." Maeliosa continued "We truly commend everyone who took part, for their dedication and commitment to the Gradam over the last number of months, and sincerely congratulate all the winners!”
Cathaoirleach Ghaillimh le Gaeilge, Bernadette Mullarkey extended her congratulations to all of the winners by saying, “This is a particularly special and exciting year for the Gradam as it reaches the milestone of 20 years in business agus ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh leis na gnólachtaí agus leis na heagraíochtaí a bhain an Gearrliosta amach i mbliana. Is ábhar dóchais é to see so many new businesses and organisations, signing up, using the language, and beginning their Gaeilge journey. It was equally as inspiring to see organisations and businesses that started this journey a few years ago still support the language and use it in day-to-day business.”
In respect of the high standard of entries this year Bronnadh Speisialta na Moltóirí, a special award designed to acknowledge a business who has entered the Gradam for the first time and has achieved a very high standard which could not go unrecognised. Bronnadh Speisialta na Moltóirí, sponsored by Judy Greene Pottery was presented to Just Art It.
The Moltóirí also bestowed a University Scholarship sponsored by Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh on the same business this year, as their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn the language could not go unrecognized. The two-year scholarship on the language acquisition course, ‘An Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge’, a university qualification from NUI Galway was presented to Elena Santos of Just Art It.
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. KD Autoparts will receive an advertising package from the main media sponsor of the Gradam, the Galway Advertiser. They will also receive a publicity package with TG4 and one year’s membership of Galway Chamber and Gaillimh le Gaeilge.
They also receive Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh, a beautiful piece of sculpture specially designed by the famous artist Pádraic Reaney symbolising the 14 Tribes of Galway, with one ‘present day Tribe’ representing the winner of Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh 2022 and other winners to come. MOLSCÉAL are also sponsoring the Gradam again this year and created the video on the night, taking in all the action of the winners and finalists at the event.
Ba mhaith le Gaillimh le Gaeilge buíochas a ghabháil leis na hainmnithe ar fad a ghlac páirt i nGradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh i mbliana agus comhghairdeas a dhéanamh leis na buaiteoirí ar fad.
Tá ár mbuíochas tuillte chomh maith ag na moltóirí as ucht a gcuid ama don mholtóireacht. Is iad sin: Maeliosa Ó hÓgartaigh, Cuntasóir agus Fear Gnó agus mac le Seosamh Ó hÓgartaigh (nach maireann), a bhfuil an gradam ainmnithe as, Daithí Ó Gallchobhair, Bainisteoir Foirne, An Ghaeltacht & na hOileáin, Slí an Atlantaigh Fhiáin agus Caroline Ní Fhlatharta, Oifigeach na Gaeilge, Oifig an Uachtaráin Ionaid & Meabhránaí, OÉ Gaillimh. Ár mbuíochas chomh maith leis na hurraitheoirí ar fad a lean lena dtacaíocht don Ghradam. Táimid fíorbhuíoch díobh.
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