Seamus Mac Geidigh, Bainisteoir RTÉ RnaG i nDún na nGall, with broadcasters Michelle Nic Grianna and Áine Ní Churráin. The staff of RnaG Doirí Beaga are heavily involved in the promotion of the Irish language in the Donegal community.
BY SEÁN P. FEENY
THE manager of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta’s Derrybeg office has welcomed the announcement that the annual Gradam Ghlór na nGael prize 2012 has been won by the national Irish language broadcaster.
The prize recognises outstanding work by organisations and individuals to promote the Irish language, and speaking this week Lorcán Mac Gabhann, Head of Glór na nGael, said that RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta had done just that over the last 40 years.
Séamus MacGéidigh, Bainisteoir RTÉ RnaG i nDún na nGall, said the station was delighted with the recognition, particularly coming an institution which does so much to support the Irish language in communities both at home and abroad.
He said: “We strive to educate, to inform and to entertain our listeners on a daily basis through the medium of Irish and the feedback from our listeners is very positive.
“We have thousands of listeners throughout the world who tune in to listen to our traditional music programmes, to listen to our language and of course our Diaspora who want to keep in touch with home.
Learning Irish has never been more popular and I believe that RTÉ RnaG contributes in a very positive way to ensure the promotion and continuity of the language at home and abroad. We are delighted to receive this recognition from Glór na nGael.”
Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, Seán Bán Breathnach, The Irish Language Commissioner, and newspaper Lá, are some of the previous recipients of this prize.
Ceannaire of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta Edel Ní Chuireáin said: “This is valuable recognition of the work of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta over the past 40 years to provide a platform for the Irish language, the Gaeltacht and Irish language communities.
“I would like to congratulate our staff, both past and present, who commit every day to working to promote the language.”
Lorcán Mac Gabhann and National Manager of Glór na nGael Nóra Welby, were in RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta HQ in Casla, Connemara today to announce the winners of the annual Glór na nGael prizes.
The competition rewards local committees for work to promote and normalise the use of Irish in their communities.
Over 100 groups took part in the main competition this year, which has a top prize of €40,000, and a total prize fund of some €150,000.
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