Donegal organisations swept the boards at this year’s annual prize giving event of Glór na nGael. Two prizes have been awarded to DowningS language and development committee, Céim Aniar, in the national Glór na nGael competition this week.
The fir
st prize awarded was the Comhluadar prize, worth €1,500 and this prize was accompanied by Donegal County Council’s prize of €1,500.
Céim Aniar has gained deserved recognition for its efforts to promote the language within the family environment to ensure language transfer from the beginning from one generation to the next. Engaging with parents and children and providing opportunities to play and enjoy the language the group’s work impressed the independent ajudicators. It was clear that this busy committee is gaining more recognition when Donegal County Council’s sponsored prize was also awarded to Céim Aniar.
Comhlacht Forbartha an Tearmainn, has been awarded first place in level 1 of the annual Glór na nGael competition, for Gaeltacht committees with a prize of €2,000.
Tearmann is situated on the edge of the Donegal Gaeltacht and their language work is therefore very important. The committee has set itself clear aims including use and strengthening the use of Irish, supporting education through Irish, supporting language teaching and working with the youth.
In May, the Taoiseach Brian Cowen opened their new building 'Craoibhín' which has a childcare facility, a sports hall and many other facilities. The centre provides employment for twelve people.
Coiste Forbartha Dhobhair Teo in Dobhar, has been awarded first place in level 3 of the annual Glór na nGael competition, for Gaeltacht committees with a prize of €5,000.
Praising their achievements, Glór na nGael manager, Nóra Welby said: “This award has been well earned by an Coiste Forbartha Dhobhair and all involved with Ionad Naomh Pádraig for their work over the past number of years.”
This is the second year in a row that the committee have won this high level award for their work in a wide range of youth, educational, social, and cultural events. The group have been to the fore in providing a state of the art building, with phenomenal local fundraising and have worked hard to keep Irish alive in their area.
The awards will be presented at a special ceremony in Belfast on 20 March 2010.
