At an event in Ulster University in Belfast this week, Caoimhe Quinn was presented with the Niall Ó Dónaill Medal. Caoimhe was the winner of the main prize in this year’s lexicography essay competition, organised by the Department of Lexicography in Foras na Gaeilge. The competition, which aims to encourage third-level students to consider lexicography as a research area and as a career, is now in its third year.  The award was presented to Caoimhe by Pádraig Ó Mianáin, Foras na Gaeilge’s Lexicography Editor. Also in attendance at the presentation were two of Caoimhe’s lecturers, Gearóid Ó Domagáin and Caoimhín Ó Dónaill of the Ulster University Department of Irish.

The following students won prizes this year:

• Ulster Prize and the Niall Ó Dónaill Medal – Caoimhe Quinn (Ulster University)
• Munster Prize – Karin Mason (University of Limerick)
• Special Recognition – Eimear Curtin (University of Galway)

The assessment panel were very impressed by the range of material and by the high standard of the essays in general. Pádraig Ó Mianáin, Foras na Gaeilge’s Lexicography Editor, said:

“Students from all around the country and from abroad have expressed a keen interest in the Niall Ó Dónaill essay competition for three years running and that is a great source of encouragement for us. We congratulate all of the students who entered the competition this year on their excellent work. We thank the lecturers and tutors who helped them to prepare their essays or encouraged them to enter. Congratulations to Caoimhe, Karin, and Eimear, who wrote exceptional essays and who won prizes in this year’s competition.”

The essay Caoimhe Quinn wrote was titled: “Lexicographers today have decisions to make regarding pronouns”. In the essay she demonstrated a good understanding of the challenges of contemporary lexicography and of the responsibilities of modern-day lexicographers, especially in relation to living languages. She discussed various theories of lexicography and gave examples from many different languages, including Irish, English, French and even some indigenous languages of North America.

She discussed colonialism and its effects, not only on language issues but on attitudes to gender issues in places such as Hawaii, the Philippines and North America.

The depth and breadth of Caoimhe’s research greatly impressed the assessment panel.

This is the third year that Foras na Gaeilge has held this competition in honour of the celebrated lexicographer who was the editor of the well-known Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla in 1977. Foras na Gaeilge has commissioned a special medal as a prize for first place and they intend to run this competition again next year.

Blubs for two attached photographs:

Picture 1: Pádraig Ó Mianáin from Foras na Gaeilge presenting Caoimhe Quinn from Ulster University with the Niall Ó Dónaill medal for 2023

Picture 2: Gearóid Ó Domagáin and Caoimhín Ó Dónaill (Department of Irish, Ulster University), Caoimhe Quinn, and Pádraig Ó Mianáin (Lexicography Editor, Foras na Gaeilge)