November Gradam RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta do Ghearóid Ó Tuathaigh

Tá sé fógartha ag RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta inniu gur ar Ghearóid Ó Tuathaigh a bhronnfar Gradam RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta i mbliana.

Is as Luimneach do Ghearóid Ó Tuathaigh ó dhúchas, Ollamh Emeritus le Stair in Ollscoil na hÉireann Gaillimh, cé go bhfuil a shaol oibre caite aige i gCo. na Gaillimhe agus é ag cur faoi i  mBearna ansin i gceantar Chois Fharraige le blianta fada.  Tá sé aitheanta mar dhuine de staraithe móra ár linne, agus bíonn sé le cloisteáil go rí-mhinic ar chláracha ar RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta i mbun plé, anailíse agus díospóireachta ar cheisteanna polaitiúla agus socheolaíochta na tíre.  Níor leasc leis riamh a chuid léinn agus saineolais a roinnt go fiail leis na héisteoirí, agus tá meas air dá réir, agus don ómós a léirigh sé féin don teanga agus do phobal na Gaeltachta riamh anall. 

Is Iar-Chathaoirleach é ar Chomhairle RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, agus tá tréimhsí caite aige mar chathaoirleach ar Údarás na Gaeltachta agus mar Chathaoirleach Gníomhach ar Bhord na Gaeilge, mar leas uachtarán ar Ollscoil na hEireann Gaillimh agus ar Chomhairle an Stáit, gan ach cuid acu a lua. 

Tá sé pósta ar Mharie Gleeson as Leitir Ceanainn, agus tá triúr clainne orthu - Colm, Eimear agus Caoimhe. 

Dúirt Gearóid Mac Donncha, Ceannaire Gníomhach RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta: “Tugann Gradam RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta deis don tseirbhís aitheantas a thabhairt do dhaoine nó do ghrúpaí as a saothar ar son na teanga agus ar son phobal na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta, agus is cinnte go bhfuil a chuid déanta ag Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh sa ngort sin le blianta fada anuas agus is pribhléid dúinn  a bheith in ann an gradam seo a bhronnadh air i mbliana.  Tá urraim mhór ag pobal an Raidió dó, agus é sin thar a bheith tuillte aige.  Léiríonn a chuid oibre a ghrá is a phaisean don Ghaeilge, don stair, don oideachas, don phobal....agus don gCumann Lúthchleas Gael chomh maith.  Tréaslaím a ghradam leis, go mba fada buan é.”

Bronnfaidh Gearóid Mac Donncha Gradam RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltacha ar Ghearóid Ó Tuathaigh oíche Dé Sathairn le linn Chorn Uí Riada ag Oireachtas na Samhna i gCill Airne.  Is é Jarlath Daly a dhear an dealbh cré-umha a bhronnfar air.

Beidh Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh faoi agallamh maidin Dé Domhnaigh ar an gclár An tSeachtain le Máirín Ní Ghadhra ag 9.30 am beo  ón Oireachtas i gCill Airne.

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Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh, Professor Emeritus NUIG, awarded Gradam RTÉRnaG

Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh, Professor Emeritus of History in NUI Galway, was presented with Gradam RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta at the Oireachtas festival at the weekend.  This award recognises people and organisations for their work for the Irish language, and the Gaeltacht and Irish-language communities.

Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh is originally from Limerick, but has spent his working life in Galway and he has lived in Bearna for many years now.  He is recognised as one of the great historians of our time, and is a regular contributor to RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta programmes, particularly political and historical shows.  He has demonstrated an unwavering generosity with his knowledge of Irish history and society, and offers insightful analysis of contemporary events. 

Gearóid is a former Chairperson of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta Council, and has also spent time as Chairperson of Údarás na Gaeltachta, as Acting Chairperson of Bord na Gaeilge, as Vice President of NUIG and on the Council of State, to name but a few.

He is married to Marie Gleeson, and they have three adult children, Colm, Eimear and Caoimhe.

Gearóid Mac Donncha, Acting Head of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, presented the award to Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh on Saturday night at the Oireachtas festival in Killarney.  He said:

“Gradam RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta offers us an opportunity to recognise people or groups for their work for the language, and for the Gaeltacht and Irish-language communities, and it’s a privilege for us to be able to present Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh with this award for his work in this area over many years.  He is held in very high esteem by Raidió na Gaeltachta listeners, and rightly so.  His work demonstrates his commitment and passion for the Irish language, culture, history, education, the community and the GAA, and I’d like to congratulate him on this award.”

The bronze award was created by Jarlath Daly, and features a book, a quill and the Celtic Triskele.

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