Top Oil is new Tribe of Galway!
Top Oil on the Tuam Road in Galway was announced as the overall winner of Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh at a special awards ceremony which took place in the Westwood Hotel on Thursday the 12th May 2016.
Former Minister of State for the Gaeltacht, Joe McHugh, presented Top Oil with Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh, a beautiful piece of sculpture specially designed by the famous artist Pádraic Reaney symbolising the 14 Tribes of Galway, with one ‘present day Tribe’ representing the winner of Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh 2016 and other winners to come.
The gala awards ceremony attracted over 100 representatives from all aspects of Galway life who came to celebrate the use of Irish in business in the city as well as Galway’s status as the first city in Ireland to gain bilingual status.
Top Oil was also named as the winner of the ‘Services’ Category sponsored by Snap Galway before going on to scoop the overall award on the night.
The Moltóirí said that they were particularly impressed by the integration of the Irish language into Top Oil: from a ‘Seirbhís i nGaeilge’ to bilingual signage, bilingual stationery, Gaeilge on delivery trucks and a new bilingual logo – “Fuelling Ireland/Éire Á Breoslú”.
They were also impressed with how the staff were inspired and encouraged to use Irish. Top Oil also intends to extend the use of the Irish language to other branches around the country.
Other category winners for Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh 2016 were Faherty Paints (Retail winner, sponsored by Galway Bay FM); the Connacht Hotel (Tourism & Hospitality winner, sponsored by Fáilte Ireland) and the Galway Technology Centre (Other Companies winner, sponsored by Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, Ollscoil na hÉireann Gaillimh).
They all received a business package to the value of €2,000 from their respective category sponsor as well as a replica of Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh specially designed for the Gradam by Pádraic Reaney and sponsored by Údarás na Gaeltachta.
A reflection of the high standard of entries this year is Bronnadh Speisialta na Moltóirí, a special award designed to acknowledge a business who has entered the Gradam for the first time and has achieved a very high standard which could not go unrecognised.
This award, sponsored by Judy Greene Pottery, was presented to Péarla na Mara. The Moltóirí were particularly impressed by the attitude and passion for the language displayed by the owner. Péarla na Mara have embraced the ‘Spirit of the Gradam’ and see it as something that is integral to the success of their business.
For the first time this year, the Moltóirí bestowed a University Scholarship sponsored by Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh on a business that is making a special effort to develop a ‘Service in Irish’ for their customers.
Michaela McDermott of Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop was presented with a one year scholarship on the language acquisition course, ‘An Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge’, a university qualification from NUI Galway.