Cork Business’ honoured for use of Irish Language

Gael-Taca presented four business from Cork City and the surrounding Suburbs with Awards, recognising their use of the Irish Language in a visible way on their premises or marketing/ advertising material, at an event in the Maryborough House Hotel on Friday 20th November. The organisation welcomed Minister Éamon Ó Cuív to present Gradam Phádraig Uí Chuanacháin.

The Award is named in honour of Pádraig Ó Cuanacháin, one of the founding members and Marketing Manager of Gael-Taca, the Irish Language Marketing and Promotion Organisation in Cork. Pádraig died in March 2008. He worked tirelessly with the Business Communinty to encourage them to use the Irish Language in their own Marketing. This Award is testimony to that work.

Gradam Phadraig Ui Chuanachain

The Award was presented to Lynda Tyers of Siopa Bearbóra an Fhir Spóirt, Ballincollig. “Siopa Bearbóra an Fhir Spóirt really encapsulated everything we hoped to achieve with this Award”, said Áine Ní Shléibhín, Marketing Manager with Gael-Taca, Corcaigh. “The Business is truly bilingual, with clear, concise Irish Language for the community to see, both on the exterior of the premises and on other marketing and promotional material”. There were also prizes for other business’ that impressed the judging panel. In joint second place, there was Siopa Oisín of Evergreen Street, Cork city and Quish’s SuperValu in Ballincollig. The judges also felt that third place was merited by the South County Bar in Douglas, who have included a lot of Irish Language Signage in their recent refurbishment.

16 companies entered the Award this year, a figure Gael-Taca hope to build on for 2010. “We are delighted with not only the amount of companies’ that entered, but the diversity, everything from local butchers to MultiNational Companies. It shows that all levels 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 next year”.

The Award was designed by West Cork Artist Paddy McCormack and the prize was €5,000 worth of Advertising with the Evening Echo, who are the main sponsors of the Award.

Other distinguished guests on the night included; Lord Mayor, Dara Murphy, Ray Lougheed, Brand Manager of the Evening Echo and Dónal Healy, CEO of the Cork Business Association.

Gael-Taca hope to present Gradam Phádraig Uí Chuanacháin in 2010 as well. Please contact the office if you require any information on the Award – 021 4310 841