An Droichead, Belfast, Co. Antrim, was announced as the overall winner of Ardán 2026 at a major Glór na nGael awards ceremony in Óstán Chonnacht, Galway, on Saturday.
The group won the top prize of €20,000 for its presentation, “Ag freastal ar shainriachtanais na dteaghlach sna luathbhlianta” (Meeting the additional needs of families in the early years).
The judges awarded second place and a prize of €10,000 to Pobal Eascarrach, Co. Donegal, for its presentation, “Dúchas na nDaoine” (The People’s Heritage).
Galway also took home ten prizes from the annual Ardán worth a total of €11,000, with entries in eight categories and another two special recognition awards for outstanding groups.
Gaillimh le Gaeilge received €3,000 as the winner of the Speaking Irish category. Fóram um Pleanáil Teanga Chois Fharraige, Coiste Féilte Chill Chiaráin, Ionad na nImirceach CTR, Gaeilge Locha Riach, Comhar Chuigéal Teo, Comhlacht Forbartha Inis Meáin CTR and Pobal Rua each received €1,000 in their categories.
Aisteoirí an Bhaile in Moycullen and Coiste Óige Bunscoile on Inisheer each received a special recognition award of €500.
The announcement came at the end of a lively day of adjudication, during which 32 groups presented their projects to the judges across eight different categories. The projects covered a wide range of work, including youth services, family supports, social enterprise, education, wellbeing, heritage and the environment.
More than 100 entries were received from 59 community groups in this year’s competition. The entries demonstrated the energy, creativity and valuable work being undertaken by Irish-language and Gaeltacht communities throughout Ireland.
Frainc Mac Cionnaith, Manager of Glór na nGael’s Community and Enterprise Division, said, “It was a great privilege for us to see and celebrate the outstanding work being carried out in communities here today.”
“Every group demonstrated the dedication, creativity and energy they are investing in creating meaningful opportunities for the Irish language and strengthening their own communities.”
“We extend our heartfelt congratulations to An Droichead and Pobal Eascarrach, to the category winners and to all the groups that took part in Ardán 2026. The standard and diversity of the work taking place throughout the country give us great encouragement.”
Ardán 2026 winners
Overall winner – €20,000
An Droichead
Second place – €10,000
Pobal Eascarrach
An Óige (Youth)
Category winner – €3,000: Meitheal Pleanála Teanga an Iarthuaiscirt, Co. Donegal
€1,000 prize: Glór Uachtar Tíre, Co. Down
€1,000 prize: Glór Cheatharlach, Co. Carlow
€1,000 prize: Glór na Móna, Co. Antrim
An Teaghlach (Family)
Category winner – €3,000: Fís an Phobail, Co. Antrim
€1,000 prize: Tae agus Play, Co. Leitrim
€1,000 prize: Céim ar Chéim, Co. Cork
€1,000 prize: Gaeil Ruairí Óg agus Gaeil na nGlinntí, Co. Antrim
An Ghaeltacht (The Gaeltacht)
Category winner – €3,000: Coiste Forbartha Chnoc Fola, Co. Donegal
€1,000 prize: Fóram um Pleanáil Teanga Chois Fharraige, Co. Galway
€1,000 prize: Coiste Féilte Chill Chiaráin, Co. Galway
€1,000 prize: Ionad na nImirceach CTR, Co. Galway
Oideachas (Education)
Category winner – €3,000: Cill Dara le Gaeilge, Co. Kildare
€1,000 prize: Gaeilge Locha Riach, Co. Galway
€1,000 prize: Coiste Forbartha Charn Tóchair, Co. Derry
€1,000 prize: Did not attend
Tacaíochtaí Pobail agus Folláine (Community Supports and Wellbeing)
Category winner – €3,000: Pobal Eascarrach, Co. Donegal
€1,000 prize: Comhar Chuigéal Teo., Co. Galway
€1,000 prize: An Droichead, Co. Antrim
€1,000 prize: Lár Chomhairle Paróiste Ghleann Cholm Cille, Co. Donegal
Gnó agus Fiontraíocht (Business and Enterprise)
Category winner – €3,000: Muineachán le Gaeilge, Co. Monaghan
€1,000 prize: Comhlacht Forbartha Inis Meáin CTR, Galway Bay
€1,000 prize: An Clár as Gaeilge, Co. Clare
€1,000 prize: BSG An Clochán Liath, Co. Donegal
Labhairt na Gaeilge (Speaking Irish)
Category winner – €3,000: Gaillimh le Gaeilge, Galway City
€1,000 prize: Pobal Rua, Co. Galway
€1,000 prize: Carraig ag Caint, Co. Cork
€1,000 prize: Did not attend
Caomhnú Comhshaoil agus Caomhnú Oidhreachta (Environmental and Heritage Conservation)
Category winner – €3,000: Cumann Cultúrtha Mhic Reachtain, Co. Antrim
€1,000 prize: Gaeláras Mhic Ardghail, Co. Down
€1,000 prize: Comharchumann Forbartha Ghaoth Dobhair, Co. Donegal
€1,000 prize: Did not attend
Special recognition awards – €500 each
The judges presented ten special awards to groups that demonstrated exceptional progress or achieved something particularly noteworthy during the year:
- Aisteoirí an Bhaile, Maigh Cuilinn, Co. Galway
- Coiste Óige Bunscoile, Inis Oírr, Galway Bay
- Conradh na Gaeilge, Craobh Pheadair Uí Dhubhda, Dún Dealgan
- Craobh Cholm Cille, Sord Cholm Cille, Co. Dublin
- Coiste Forbartha Dhobhair Teo – Ionad Naomh Pádraig, Co. Donegal
- Coiste Ghaeloideachas Chromghlinne – Ionad Teaghlaigh Ghleann Darach, Co. Antrim
- Comhar Fhánada & Ghleann Bhairr, Fánaid, Co. Donegal
- Coiste Cheathrú Thaidhg – Dún Chaocháin, Co. Mayo
- Comhlacht Forbartha Mhúscraí, Maighchromtha, Co. Cork
- Gaelphobal Ard Mhacha Theas, Co. Armagh
Ardán 2026 had a total prize fund of €83,000.
Ardán is a national Glór na nGael competition that recognises the creative and valuable work being carried out by community groups in support of the Irish language throughout Ireland.
