Gael-Taca, the Irish language promotion organisation in Cork, officially launched Gradam Phádraig Uí Chunacháin, an Award for Irish Language in Business, on Tuesday 18th May in the Clarion Hotel, Cork.

This is an Award which will be presented to a Company or Business in Cork that has incorporated the Irish Language into their marketing in a visible and genuine way.

The award is named in honour of Pádraig Ó Cuanacháin who was among the founder members of Gael-Taca in 1987 and was the driving force behind the establishing of many Gaelscoileanna especially in Cork City and County. Pádraig worked very closely with the business community in Cork to encourge them to incorporate Irish into their business’

Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr Laura McGonigle was in attendance on the night, and praised the work of Gael-Taca and Cork businesses in their efforts to “an teanga a choiméad beo”. She also noted the value of the Irish language to Cork tourism.

Among those present on the evening were Chris Dorgan, Communications & Irish language officer with Cork City Council, Donal Healy of the Cork business Association, last years award winner, Linda Tyers of The Sportsman’s Barber shop in Ballincollig and many of the previous participants. Cork City Councillors Jim Corr and John Kelleher were also in attendance.

“We were delighted with the not only the amount of companies that entered last year, but with the diversity, everything from local butchers to multinationals. It shows all level of business can appreciate the added value the Irish language can give to the image of a company. We hope to at least double the amount of entries for this year” says Áine Ní Shléibhín.

The Evening Echo is the media sponsors of the award. The winner will receive a specially commissioned award and an advertising package worth €5,000 from the Evening Echo,

The award is now open for entries until September 6th 2010. Application forms or further details available from Gael-Taca, 20 Sráid an Chóibh, Corcaigh. 021 4310841 or eolas@gael-taca.com.

Sheol Gael-Taca Gradam Phádraig Uí Chuanacháin 2010, ag ócáid ins an Óstán Clarion i gCorcaigh le déanaí. Bronnfar an gradam seo ar an gcomhlacht nó ar an ngnó is mó a chuireann an Ghaeilge chun cinn sa chathair.

Bhí Pádraig i measc bunaitheoirí  Ghael-Taca i 1987 agus bhí dlúthbhaint aige ag an am gcéanna le bunú Gaelscoileanna i gcathair is i gcontae Chorcaí. Chuir Pádraig roimhe go mbeadh an Ghaeilge le tabhairt faoi ndeara ag daltaí scoile lasmuigh den rang scoile agus ghríosaigh sé an lucht gnó chuige sin.

Chuir 16 chomhlacht isteach ar an gcomórtas anuraidh. Tá súil ag Gael-Taca cur leis an bhfigiúr sin i mbliana, a dúirt Oifigeach Forbartha, Áine Ní Shléibhín. “Bhíomar ana-shásta, ní hamháin leis an méid gnónna a chuir isteach ar an gcomórtas anuraidh, ach leis an réimse mór leathan a bhí ann. Bhí gnónna áitiúla ar nós búistéirí agus comhlachtaí idirnáisiúnta. Teaspeánann sé seo an meas atá ag daoine ar an dteanga, agus go dtuigeann siad go bhfuil luach faoi leith ag baint leis an nGaeilge ó thaobh gnó dhe”.

 Bhí an tArdmhéara Tánaisteach, an Comh. Cllr Laura McGonigle i láthair agus thug ardmholadh do Ghael-Taca agus do lucht gnó na cathrach as a bhfuil déanta ar son na Gaeilge i gCorcaigh. Tá tábhacht freisin le cur chun cinn na Gaeilge ó thaobh turasóireachta de mar go bhfáiltíonn cuairteoiri roimh an éagsúlacht a thaispeántar le húsáid na Gaeilge i bhfograíocht siopa is gnó. Bhi na Comhairleoirí Jim Corr agus  John Kelleher i láthair freisin.

 I láthair freisin bhí Chris Dorgan, Oifigeach Cumarsáide is Gaeilge le Comhairle Cathrach Chorcaí, Donal Healy ó C.B.A.Chumann Gnó Chorcaí, agus Linda Tyers , The Sportsmans Barber Shop i mBaile an Chollaigh buatoir an Gradam i 2009 comh maith le morán eile a ghlac páirt sa chomórtas anuraidh.

 Tá bealaí éagsúla chun an Ghaeilge a úsáid sa ghnó – is féidir í a úsáid ar láthréain ghréasáin, ar fhógraíocht, ar chomharthaíocht nó ar bhileoga eolais. Tá foireann Ghael-Taca ann chun comhairle agus cabhair a thabhairt d’éinne atá ag iarraidh an Ghaeilge a úsáid sa tslí sin.

 Tá bá an-mhór ag muintir Chorcaí leis an nGaeilge agus is uirlis iontach í an teanga i gcursaí margaíochta, leis. Tapaidh do dheis. Foirmeacha iarratais ar fáil ag Oifig Ghael-Taca 20 Sráid an Chóibh,  Corcaigh, 021 4310 841 nó ar ríomphost:

eolas@gael-taca.com nó féach ar www.gael-taca.com