Arandirect.com / Caol Díreach go hÁrainn has been awarded the prestigious Gradam Sheosamh Uí Ógartaigh Award at a Special Ceremony in the Ardilaun Hotel, Thursday 22nd February 2007 by Minister Éamon Ó Cuív T.D.

The award is presented every year to a company or organisation in recognition of their use of Irish and their subsequent promotion of Galway as the bilingual capital of Ireland. 

The award is hosted by Gaillimh le Gaeilge, with special support from the Galway Advertiser, and in association with Galway Chamber.

Karen Smyth, AranDirect.com, Minister Éamon Ó Cuív, T.D. & Sarah Clancy, AranDirect.com

"A large part of the appeal of the Aran Islands for visitors is the fact that the islands are still Irish-speaking" said Karen Smyth, Sales & Marketing Manager for Aran Direct, who implemented the bi-lingual policy within the company.   "Aran Direct is owned and operated by islanders and 90% of our staff and crew are native Irish speakers.  It is our policy to have the Irish language seen and heard in every aspect of the business -  in our marketing, ticket offices and on board our ferries. " 

"We believe it is very important to highlight the Irish language both nationally and internationally" she added.  "Tourism is a hugely important industry for the West of Ireland, and the Irish language is a tangible asset that differentiates Galway City and the Aran Islands from other tourist destinations."

On behalf of the adjudicators, Pádraic Ó Raighne, said “Aran Direct is a new entrant to the Gradam Awards but obviously a company in which the language is an essential part of their daily work."

"What impressed us was that Aran Direct is a new company in an industry that has been around for a while but they are the first company to take the language seriously and to use it to their advantage in sales and marketing. The Irish Language is an integral part of their business as opposed to an ‘add on’.   We were particularly impressed with the approach adopted by Arandirect.com / Caol díreach go hÁrainn and the plans they have for the future. It is because of this that we decided to present the category award and the overall winner to them.”

Minister Éamon Ó Cuív, T.D. presented Arandirect.com / Caol Díreach go hÁrainn, with the beautiful sculpture designed especially for the Gradam by Pádraig Reaney, depicting the 14 Tribes of Galway, with one extra tribe outstanding, symbolising the Gradam winner – the new Tribe of Galway. They also received a combined package from the Galway Advertiser Newspaper Group, Galway Chamber, Galway Bay F.M. and Snap Printing valued in excess of €10,000.

The Minister congratulated the winner and reiterated the vital role of businesses in Galway city to recognise the market of Irish speakers in Galway city and its surrounds, and the economic benefit to be gained from Galway’s most natural resource – an Ghaeilge.

Chairperson of Gaillimh le Gaeilge, Caitlín Nic an Ultaigh congratulated the winner and also referred to the importance of the Irish Language in maintaining our uniqueness and authicinty as a city. ‘Galway city is a great tourist destination and according to Fáilte Ireland the visitor in all markets is looking for distinctiveness and authenticity. 60% of overseas visitors each year say that ‘historic towns and cities’ are a key motivating factor for their choosing Ireland as a destination (Visitors Attitudes Survey 2006, Fáilte Ireland). We are lucky here in Galway that we have one of our most valuable natural resources available to enable us to retain our uniqueness and distinctiveness’ and that is the Irish Language’.

The annual Gradam Sheosamh Uí Ógartaigh Awards are organised by Gaillimh le Gaeilge in association with Galway Chamber, with special support from Údarás na Gaeltachta and the Galway Advertiser.

This year the Gradam featured two categories sponsored by Údarás na Gaeltachta, companies with twenty or more employees and companies with twenty or less employees

In the category with twenty or less employees, the companies short listed were: Europa Bicycles, Lohans Bar and Restaurant and Taaffes Bar. Tigh Taaffes were announced as the winners of the second category, companies with twenty or less employees.

In the category with more than twenty employees, the companies that were short listed were: AranDirect.com, Galway United FC. and Harrmack Developments. AranDirect.com emerged as winners of this category and then went on to win the Gradam Sheosamh Uí Ógartaigh Award.

For further information on the Gradam Sheosamh Uí Ógartaigh or the Irish language in Galway City, log on to Gaillimh le Gaeilge's website at www.gleg.ie

Seol go hÁrainn le "Rogha na nOileánach"

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