Glór na nGael
South Belfast Irish language centre, An Droichead, has won first place and €50,000 in the 2009 Glór na nGael national awards.
The results of the Gradaim Ghlór na nGael competition were announced by Seán Bán Breathnach on Raidió na Gaeltachta at 2.00 pm 29 January on a show broadcast live from Belfast.
The amount of planning done for the future growth of Irish in south Belfast by An Droichead impressed the Glór na nGael judges.
The Glór na nGael awards, with a prize fund of €150,000, are awarded annually to the local voluntary committees that do most to promote the Irish language.
The awards are used to offer scholarships to attend Irish language courses in the Gaeltacht where the language is in daily use by the local population.
Among the winners were the West Belfast Taxi Association will be presented with Trófaí na gComhlachtaí on account of the services it provides through the medium of Irish.
The awards will be presented at a special ceremony in Belfast on 20 March 2010.
Global Gaeilge, the international part of the competition, was initiated in 2005 to give recognition to Irish language groups oversees.
First place in the Global Gaeilge awards was won by Cumann Gaeilge na hAstráile (Melbourne, Australia), second place went to the Manchester Irish Language Group and third place went to Gaeltacht Cheanada.
Congratulating the Manchester Irish Language Group, Glór na nGael manager, Nóra Welby said: “The work carried MILG deserves the highest praise.
“Over the last year they have organised regular classes, and social events in Manchester. This is the second year in a row for MILG to be in the top two international committees and we wish them every success for 2010. ”
Recognition awards also went to Ollscoil Baile Pitt, Pittsburg and to an Cumann Gaelach, Lucsamburg.
