Twenty companies from Gaeltachtaí in Galway, Mayo, Kerry, Donegal and Waterford that are short listed for awards for doing business in Gaeltacht areas, are being profiled in a five-part series broadcast on TG4 each evening this week.

Joint Managing Directors of Eirecomposites, Dr Conchur ? Br?daigh and PJ Feerick in the Eirecomposites factory. Eirecomposites is one of the companies shortlisted in the Udar?s na Gaeltachta Business Awards.

The series culminates with a sixth programme that will see the 20 nominees competing against each other for 'Gradam GnÓ na Gaeltachta 2007' and will be shown live on TG4 on Sunday 2 December.

The eight Galway companies competing for the awards are: Aontec Teo, Baile na hAbhann; Bioniche Teo, Indreabhán; Earraí Coillte Chonnachta Teo, Corr na MÓna; Éirecomposites Teo, An SpidÉal; Europus Teo, An Cheathr? Rua; Fintrax Teo, Baile na hAbhann; ISPG, Cill Chiaráin; Telegael Teo, An SpidÉal.

Chartered accountants and business advisors KPMG have undertaken an extensive business analysis of all the finalists and the judging panel, chaired by Pádraic Ó CÉidigh, will select the category and overall winners. The panel also includes Edel Ní Chuireáin, CEO of RaidiÓ na Gaeltachta, Brendan Flood, Head of Regions and Entrepreneurship, Enterprise Ireland and Dr James Cunningham, Lecturer in Strategic Management NUI, Galway.

Commenting on the awards, Pádraig Ó h-Aoláin, Chief Executive of the award sponsors, ?darás na Gaeltachta, said, "We now have more than 12,000 people working full and part-time in Gaeltacht-based companies and what's really striking is the diversity of the businesses. These enterprises span a wide range of commercial activities, from a company that makes thermoplastic composites used in the aerospace and wind energy industries, to a company that makes highly specialised fertiliser from shellfish shells, another which produces sterile injectable products, and yet another that is farming organic cod.

"Through these awards, we hope to showcase these industries and to show others the level of innovation in Gaeltacht companies, where we have a highly educated, flexible and enthusiastic workforce. Already more than 500 businesses have established enterprises in the Gaeltacht with assistance from Údarás na Gaeltachta. As well as offering generous financial and support incentives, highly competitive locations with low start-up costs and a wide range of commercial properties that are immediately available, we can also offer companies and their employees a rich quality of life in a first class, clean and unique cultural environment."

Mr Ó h-Aoláin concluded, "Providing high quality jobs is a very important part of our work in helping the survival of the Irish language. The types of jobs being offered by the Gradam GnÓ nominees match any on offer in any economy and I congratulate all 20 participants in the awards and wish them all the best of luck with their enterprises in the future."

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