Revealed: Winners of Gradaim Ghnó Mhaigh Eo accolades

The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary, has presented the Gradaim Ghnó Mhaigh Eo to businesses for their achievements in promoting the Irish language in their work.

The Gradaim Ghnó (business awards) honour those who use the language in their daily business and who promote the use of Irish in new ways.

Gradaim Ghnó Mhaigh Eo is about more than awards – it is a celebration of our cultural heritage and it is evidence of the enduring spirit of the Irish language in County Mayo.

Gnó Mhaigh Eo has announced that this year’s prize fund is the largest ever with €45,000 to be won between the four catagories and the overall winner.

The businesses who have won the prizes are Aodha on Bridge Street in Westport in the Branding category, Caifé Brú on Main Street in Castlebar in the Signage category, Mescan Brewery in Kilsallagh, Westport in the Business Content or Website category, and Glasraí in the Irish Language Services category.

Mescan Brewery won the Overall Winner award on the night.

Speaking at the awards ceremony at the TF Royal Hotel in Castlebar, Minister Calleary said: “It is of the utmost importance that services be provided in Irish – for the customer and for those who wish to conduct their business in that language.

"Gnó Mhaigh Eo is an organisation which supports business across the county and which encourages them to use the Irish language as an economic resource which is both valuable and profitable.

“Local business are benefitting from the support they receive from Gnó Mhaigh Eo and they are providing a valuable service to the county’s Irish language community.

"I congratulate the businesses who were rewarded for their efforts today in the four categories, and especially the overall winner.

“As a result of Gnó Mhaigh Eo’s hard work with the local businesses, Irish can be seen and heard in businesses, shops and restaurants across the county.”

Speaking about the event, the chief executive of Gnó Mhaigh Eo, Niamh De Búrca, said: “We at Gnó Mhaigh Eo are delighted to award a prize package of over €45,000 to the businesses who won the Gradaim Ghnó.

"This is a highly valuable prize package for the businesses and we are very grateful to all of the sponsors who supported us and the businesses.

“At Gnó Mhaigh Eo, we were very happy with the standard of entries this year. We applaud all of the businesses who applied to the Gradaim and who have made an excellent effort in promoting Irish in business. It is clear that they understand the business benefits of using Irish in their services to the community.

“The Gradaim Ghnó offer an opportunity to celebrate the businesses who use the Irish language in business and to recognise them for their achievements.

"Sincere congratulations to the businesses who won the major awards on the night and may they benefit from and enjoy their prizes.”

Founded in 2011, Gnó Mhaigh Eo supports and encourages the business sector in County Mayo to use the Irish language as a valuable and profitable resource in providing goods and services to the community.

"The organisation promotes the Irish language generally among the community, as well as organising the annual Gradaim Ghnó which recognise businesses in the County who promote Irish.

The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, announced last July the approval of a grant of €217,500 for Gnó Mhaigh Eo, for a period of a year and a half, to implement the organisation’s programme for the 2025-2026 period.