Bronnadh Gradam don Chumann is Mó Feabhas ar an gCumann Gaelach i gColáiste Mhuire gan Smál (CmgS) ag Gradaim Bhord Chumainn na gColáistí Éireannacha (BICS) a bhí ar bun sa Tulach Mhór le gairid.
Aithnítear leis an ngradam an fás mór atá tagtha ar an gcumann agus a infheictheacht mhéadaithe le bliain anuas, laistigh de MIC agus i gcur chun cinn na Gaeilge agus an chultúir i measc na mac léinn araon.
Tá curtha go mór ag an gCumann Gaelach in CmgS, a bunaíodh in 2021, lena chlár gníomhaíochtaí le roinnt blianta, agus cuirtear clár leathan imeachtaí ar fáil lena n-áirítear seisiúin Tae agus Plé sheachtainiúla, Tob-Ghaeltachtaí i gcomhar le TradSoc, maidineacha caife, tráth na gceist, ceardlanna agus imeachtaí cultúir, imeachtaí móra amhail Oireachtas na Samhna agus Bál Gaelach Luimnigh ina measc. Díríonn obair an chumainn ar chur chun cinn na Gaeilge agus an chultúir ar bhealach fáilteach agus inrochtana do gach mac léinn, beag beann ar a gcumas teanga.
Ag labhairt dó ar an ngradam a fháil, dúirt Joseph Cosgrove, mac léinn tríú bliana ar an mBaitsiléir san Oideachas (B Oid) agus sa tSíceolaíocht agus Cisteoir an Chumainn Ghaelaigh:
“Táimid thar a bheith bródúil as aitheantas náisiúnta a fháil leis an nGradam don Chumann is Mó Feabhas. Le bliain anuas, d’oibríomar chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn mar chuid fheiceálach, bheo de shaol an champais, agus léiríonn an gradam seo tiomantas an choiste, na mball agus gach duine a thug tacaíocht dár n-imeachtaí. Ba mhór againn freisin an fás a tháinig ar an rannpháirtíocht agus ar an díograis a bhí le feiceáil, agus táimid fíorbhuíoch dár gcomhoibrithe in MIDAS agus TradSoc as a dtacaíocht leanúnach.”
Ag trácht di ar an mbliain, dúirt Éabha de Gaillí, mac léinn tríú bliana ar an mBaitsiléir san Oideachas agus sa tSíceolaíocht agus Cathaoirleach an Chumainn Ghaelaigh freisin:
“Ba bliain thar a bheith dearfach a bhí ann don Chumann Gaelach. D’oibrigh an coiste le teann dúthrachta agus díograise, agus táim thar a bheith bródúil as an méid atá bainte amach. Tá sé tábhachtach spás a chruthú don Ghaeilge mar theanga beo laethúil, go háirithe i gcoláiste ar nós MIC, agus go háirithe do mhic léinn a bheidh ina múinteoirí amach anseo. Ba mhór an t-údar mórtais againn é an fhís sin a fheiceáil ag teacht chun cinn inár gcuid gníomhaíochtaí agus inár rannpháirtíocht i mbliana.”
Fuair cumainn CmgS roinnt ainmniúchán ag Gradaim BICS na bliana seo. Ainmníodh MIDAS don Imeacht is Fearr agus don Ghrianghraf is Fearr; ainmníodh MIDANCE don Imeacht Meabharshláinte is Fearr; agus ainmníodh Matthew O’Rourke, mac léinn ceathrú bliana ar an mBaitsiléir Ealaíon agus MIDAS, mar an Duine is Fearr.
Tugtar cumainn mac léinn ó áiteanna ar fud oileán na hÉireann le chéile ag Gradaim BICS chun aitheantas a thabhairt dá gcuid oibre, dea-chleachtas a roinnt, agus ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar an méid a chuireann na cumainn le saol an mhic léinn agus le pobail an champais.
MIC’s Cumann Gaelach wins national award at BICS 2026
Cumann Gaelach at Mary Immaculate College (MIC) Limerick, has been awarded the Most Improved Society Award at the Board of Irish College Societies (BICS) Awards, held recently in Tullamore.
The award recognises the society’s significant growth and increased visibility over the past year, both within MIC and in its wider promotion of Irish language and culture among students.
Established in 2021, Cumann Gaelach at MIC has expanded its activity considerably in recent years, delivering a broad programme of events including weekly Tae agus Plé sessions, Pop-Up Gaeltachtaí in collaboration with the TradSoc, coffee mornings, quizzes, workshops and cultural events, including larger flagship initiatives such as Oireachtas na Samhna and Bál Gaelach Luimnigh. The society’s work focuses on promoting the Irish language and culture in a welcoming and accessible way for all students, regardless of their language ability.
Speaking about winning the award, Joseph Cosgrove, a third-year Bachelor of Education (B Ed) and Psychology student and Treasurer of Cumann Gaelach, said:
“We are incredibly proud to have been recognised nationally with the Most Improved Society Award. Over the past year, we have worked to make Irish a visible and living part of campus life, and this award reflects the commitment of our committee, members and everyone who supported our events. It has been especially rewarding to see the growth in participation and enthusiasm, and we are grateful to our collaborators in MIDAS and the TradSoc for their continued support.”
Reflecting on the year, Éabha de Gaillí, third year B Ed and Psychology student and Chairperson of Cumann Gaelach, added:
“This has been an extremely positive year for Cumann Gaelach. The committee has worked with real dedication and enthusiasm, and I am very proud of what has been achieved. Creating space for Irish as a living, everyday language is particularly important in a college like MIC, and especially for future teachers. It has been very rewarding to see that vision reflected in our activities and engagement this year.”
MIC societies received several nominations at this year’s BICS Awards. MIDAS was nominated for Best Event and Best Photo; MIDANCE for Best Mental Health Event; and Matthew O’Rourke, fourth year Bachelor of Arts student and MIDAS, for Best Individual.
The BICS Awards bring together student societies from across the island of Ireland to showcase their work, share best practice, and celebrate the contribution societies make to student life and campus communities.
