The contribution entrepreneurs have made to the Irish language was highlighted yesterday at the "Business as Gaeilge" awards ceremony, which was attended by the Minister for Gaeltacht Affairs, Éamon Ó Cuív.

The awards, which are sponsored by Foras na Gaeilge and PWC, recognise the active use of the Irish language across a diverse range of industries.

As well as the announcement of this year's 50 winners, a number of special achievement awards were also handed out.

The Entrepreneur of the Year award went to Áine Ní Chonghaile, founder of the Connemara-based translation company Europus.

Ms Ní Chonghaile worked as a translator in Leinster House for a decade before founding Europus, which provides translation services to most State companies and provides English subtitles for programmes on TG4, the Irish-language broadcaster.

The company, which employs 15 people, also works in partnership with Údarás na Gaeltachta and GMIT to provide translation training up to MSc level.

The website Gasta, which offers a search engine facility through Irish, received the Innovation Through the Use of Irish award.

According to commercial director Francis Higgins, the website receives up to 10,000 hits a week. Gasta recently secured a deal with the search engine ask.com, which is 50 per cent owned by Google.

Chartered accountant Daithí Ó Maolchoille was also among the award-winners for his work in providing accounting, auditing and tax services through the medium of Irish. He has seen rapid growth in the demand for such services.

Michael Boleslav, from the Czech Republic, was recognised for his work as technical adviser on the construction of beo.com, the online Irish-language magazine.