Gaeltacht Quarter picks up top award
West Belfast’s Gaeltacht Quarter was one of the main recipients of the Top 50 Business as Gaeilge Awards announced on Friday by Lá Nua.
Sponsored by Foras na Gaeilge and Accenture, the reception at the Four Seasons, Dublin, was addressed by Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny TD .
2008 marks the third year of the awards with a new group of 50 recipients highlighting the active use of the Irish language across a wide range of professions and industries including professional services, technology, the arts, media and entertainment, retail, catering and the public sector. Recipients this year are based at home and abroad, including Wikipedia, Carlsberg, Grafton Recruitment and Cognotec.
Among the 50 Top Business Awards, eight leading businesses were presented with a Special Achievement Awards at the event.
An Cheathru Ghaeltachta, led by Tony McCusker, is the driving force behind the up and coming Gaeltacht Quarter in West Belfast. The company received the Vision for the Future Award, supported by The Quinn Group.
Carlsberg was recognised in the category for ‘Use of Irish as a Marketing Tool in the Private Sector’, sponsored by Foras na Gaeilge, due primarily to its innovative advertising campaigns such as ‘Aon Focal’.
Litriocht.com was acknowledged in the category for ‘Use of Service Through Irish in the Private Sector’, sponsored by Foras na Gaeilge. The company, founded in 1999, is an online shop for Irish language titles.
Public Appointment Services was awarded for ‘Best Use of Irish in the Public Sector’, sponsored by RPA, due primarily to its website Publicjobs.ie.
Brian de Staic Ltd, based in Daingean, Co. Kerry, designs high quality, hand-made jewellery, selling nationally and internationally, and received the award for ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’, sponsored by Accenture.
Donegal’s Bialann Danny Minnies received the best ‘Gaeltacht Company’ award, sponsored by Údarás na Gaeltachta.
Coláiste na bhFiann was recognised for its successful business which operates directly through Irish. Sponsored by Lá Nua, the company has over 50,000 past pupils and 2,000 young people attending Coláiste na bhFiann every year.
CEO and Founder of Cognotec, Brian Mac Cába, was also recognised with a ‘Diaspora Award’. Originally from Dublin and now based in the US, Brian is a prominent Irish speaker. Cognotec was established in 1981 and is an automated foreign exchange solutions provider.
The awards were initiated by the Belfast Media Group’s Irish language daily newspaper Lá Nua.
“At Accenture, we realise the important role the Irish language plays in our business and are delighted to sponsor the awards this year,” said Mark Ryan, Country Managing Director at premier business partner to the awards Accenture. “Many of our local employees and clients speak Irish and where appropriate we appoint Irish speaking executives to work on specific projects as Gaeilge. The Irish language is not only an important part of our heritage but also an asset that we should all seek to make more use of.”
Gearóid Trimble, Programme Manager at Foras na Gaeilge, said the awards “highlight the diverse range of ambitious businesses and business people utilising the Irish language”.
Speaking at the awards, Enda Kenny — himself a fluent Irish speaker — said: “I am a passionate supporter of the Irish language and I welcome its use and promotion by more and more businesses.”
Barr Chaoga 2008 recipients:
- Aerphort Dhúin na nGall
- An Cupán Tae
- Angel
- Apple
- Arann Island Ferries
- Bóthar
- Brian de Staic
- Brian Mac Cába
- Brophy Insurance
- Carlsberg
- Ceart
- Ceathrú Gaeltachta
- Chef
- Coláiste na bhFiann
- Comharchreidmheasa Ghaoth
- Dobhair
- Danny Minnies
- Debraam
- Dolores O’Reilly
- Domhnall Ó Muiri
- Druids Glen Golf Club
- Eachtraí Uisce
- Examcraft
- Fis Beo
- Frank Conroy
- Gnó Mhaigh Eo
- James Kilbane
- JFK Signs
- Keith Quigley
- Litríocht.com
- Mentor Gaelige
- Michael Doherty
- Niall Ó Cathain
- Oisin Teo
- Pádraic Ó Conchúir
- PRSAS.ie
- Publicjobs.ie
- Remax-Liatrom
- Rossetta Stone
- Ruan Ó Bric
- SEACHT – Stirling Productions
- seik/Time Mark Ltd
- Sensei Solutions
- Spark
- Spin FM
- Stillwater Communications
- Tacsaithe larthar Bhéal Feirste
- Tayto
- Tom Trainor
- Marketing
- Institute of Ireland
- Tomás O Ciarnain
- Westmeath Topic
- Wikipedia
Barr Chaoga 2008 sponsors:
Barr Chaoga 2008 in magazine:
