Gaeilge Abú!

By Declan Varley

Gaillimh le Gaeilge will host an information evening on Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh from 6.30pm to 7.30pm, Tuesday January 24, in the Menlo Park Hotel, Terryland. This prestigious award recognises, honours and celebrates all the great bilingual work done in Galway City and is named in honour of Seosamh Ó hÓgartaigh, founding member and company secretary of Gaillimh le Gaeilge.

This award is the perfect opportunity for any business to put itself out there as a company which is proud to use the Irish language in its business.

Gaillimh le Gaeilge provides a ‘Gaeilge sa Ghnó’ service, free of charge to help businesses/organisations prepare for the Gradam. If you would like more information on this free service, contact Gaillimh le Gaeilge on 091 568876 or email gearoidin@gleg.ie.

This year, the Gradam features four categories which were recently unveiled by the Deputy Mayor of Galway City, Cllr Frank Fahy. These are retail, hospitality and tourism, services and other companies. A winner will be chosen in each category and the overall winner will be selected from the four category winners. The information evening will provide you with an excellent opportunity to chat with previous Gradam winners and find out how they went about achieving it.

Moltóirí an Ghradaim will speak on the adjudication process and Foireann Ghaillimh le Gaeilge will be happy to answer any questions and show you what to do in order to prepare for the Gradam. David Keane, Menlo Park Hotel, will also speak about winning Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh and how it has helped strengthen the hotel’s brand and promote it. Application forms will be made available on the evening and refreshments will also be provided.

Gaillimh le Gaeilge will take to the streets and shopping centres of the city this weekend encouraging the public to take part in a survey on the status of Gaeilge in Galway.

Gaillimh le Gaeilge recently conducted an online survey to determine the current status of the Irish language in the city and were “delighted with the response”.

The survey was carried out by Edgecast Media Ltd, an independent research company as part of an overall study that will specify the contemporary linguistic situation of Irish in Galway in order to support the case for an official bilingual status for the city.

To include as many people as possible in the survey Edgcecast Media Ltd will take to the streets this weekend, visiting all the shopping centres.

“Gaillimh le Gaeilge would really appreciate if you would call into your local shopping centre and complete the survey,” said a GleG spokesperson. “No matter what your level of fluency or comprehension, Gaillimh le Gaeilge would greatly appreciate your response. It should take no longer than 10 minutes of your time but will be invaluable. The information given to them will be treated in strict confidence.”

More here

The Education Minister is unable to confirm when funding for two Gaelscoils in the county will be made available.

A planning application for a new school for Gaelscoil de hÍde, Oranmore is currently pending approval from planners.

Management at Gaelscoil Riabhach in Loughrea have also submitted an application for funding for an extension and refurbishment works.

In response to a question by Galway Senator Trevor O ’ Clochartaigh, the Education Minister said funding for both projects would be ‘assessed based on current demands on the Departments capital budget’.

Senator O’ Clochartaigh says Minister Ruairí Quinn needs to look at these school projects realistically

Original article here

Galway city has been chosen as the location for a pivotal national seminar on the Irish language

The Irish-speaking community will discuss their goals in sustaining the Irish language at the event on September 30th in the Menlo Park Hotel.

It’s the first event to be organised by Aontas Phobal na Gaeltacht, a new alliance of Irish language organisations.

It will look at the creation of Gaeltacht networks and quarters in areas such as Galway.

Representatives from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Foras na Gaeilge will give an insight into the aims and targets of regional planning.

 Original article here

Galway has in recent years witnessed an increase in the use of bilingual signage in the city. This is largely due to the work of Gaillimh le Gaeilge in partnership with Galway City Council and the business community through the Galway Chamber and other groups, to develop Galway’s unique Irish image and to gain bilingual status for the city….(Click the title read the article from advertiser.ie)