Irish Blog Awards Winners
February 23, 2009 at 10:11 am
The blog awards were a great success. Everyone agreed that it made it all the more exciting that they were on in Cork – the travelling out of the city bestowed a sense of occasion on things. Travelling back with a slightly more foggy head the next day was a bit arduous however! Hopefully next year the awards will be held in another city – Belfast or Galway would be great.
The night itself ran super smooth. Thanks to everyone who did the work behind the scenes to make it happen. I know it’s not easy putting on an event like that. And it ran really well. Thanks to Brian Greene who played deadly tunes all night long. If you’re planning a Big Event and you want decent tunes, contact Brian.
The awards site seems to be down this morning, but here’s a good roundup of winners. The winner in my category was Blacknight Solutions, congratulations to them. There is no doubt that Blacknight is a keen supporter of the web industry in Ireland and of the web development community as a whole. Their hosting solution is the best for bloggers who use WordPress, I use Blacknight for this blog.
Tags: 2009 Irish Blog Awards
Run Up To Blog Awards
February 19, 2009 at 12:44 pm
I’ve been asked to go on The Persuaders Marketing Show this Friday at 1pm to lay my soul on the line and make Big Bold Calls as to who I think is going to win in a number of the key blog award categories.
Tune in to Dublin City Radio 103.2 FM at 1pm on Friday. That’s the station that does the traffic commentary to get you home during rush hour.
If you miss it, you can always pick up the podcast here.
Tags: Irish Blog Awards, The Persuaders Marketing Show
More Good News – Blog Finalist
February 17, 2009 at 9:00 am
I just found out that this blog has made it to the shortlist of the 2009 Irish Blog Awards. I’m chuffed! Thanks to all the judges, on average 7 of them, I believe.
And good luck to the others – Blacknight, Sabrina, Curious Wines and Nice Day Designs. I think it’s kind of cool that the shortlist has such a diversity of business types.
Tags: Irish Blog Awards
Longlisted for Irish Blog Awards 2009
February 4, 2009 at 10:28 am
Yay, this blog has been longlisted. It’s in the Best Business Blog category and is up against some other amazing blogs that I read everyday. Ones that makes me laugh. Ones that keep me informed. Ones that are just so goddamn good that they inspire me to keep at it.
Tags: Irish Blog Awards 2009
Irish Raspberry Awards
January 27, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Just heard about the Irish Raspberry Awards, perhaps the newest kid on the awards block – and let’s face it there are many of them! These awards will celebrate the worst of Irish blogging! Looks like the ‘organiser’, Herr Pixenate, is still liaising with sponsors on the categories, but I would like to add:
- Fanboy of the Year … this goes out to the most consistently gushy, ass-licking blogger in the country. And it could be a girl.
- Most Boring Blog... quite simply, yawn inducing so much that should be bounced off WordPress or Blogger or whatever tool they use. Many corporate entries for this.
- Longest Delay Between Posts… self explanatory!
- Most Obvious Material Produced Originally For Print … where they almost just add the pdf, but no…
I’d like to extend my heart felt good luck to everyone who’s in the running for a Razzie!
Tags: Irish Raspberry Awards
Irish Blog Awards Nominations
January 21, 2009 at 10:53 am
The full list of nominations to this year’s awards are out – now the organisers will begin the process of sifting and sorting. I must say, there’s a bucketload of really great Irish blogs out there. Are they related but has the quality improved markedly since the establishment of the blog awards in 2007?
This blog is in the Best Blog of a Business category – amidst the usual stiff competition. And I”m delighted to see one of my adored clients Kanchi is in the Best Newcomer category.
View the full list of nominees (ie. not long list) here.
Tags: Irish Blog Awards, Irish Raspberry Awards
Warm & Fuzzy Feeling
March 2, 2008 at 6:15 pm
The 2008 Irish Blog Awards took place last night at the Alexander Hotel and what a great night it was too! Thanks must go out to all the organisers who put so much thought and hard work into making it an amazing event. And as for Mr Mulley, the man should be sainted for his contribution to blogging in Ireland.
Congratulations to all the winners, particularly Kieran Murphy of Ice Cream Ireland who won the Best Business Blog against *stiff competition* for a second year running. He wore the full ice cream man get-up, with white wellies and all. I was also thrilled to see Best Designed Blog go to Sabrina Dent. And the Best Technology Blog go to Robin Blandford. I do love Lexia’s blog also. A hat trick was scored by Twenty Major, 3rd year running that he won Best Blog. Now that he’s got a book out and is in publicity overdrive mode, he revealed himself at the awards. Well, not in the way that some smutty minds might imagine, because that would be quite scandalous, but he was present as himself and was even autographing his book! View Twenty Major here on the left beside Joe Drum-Google!
Before the event took place, 37 women bloggers all met in the Market Bar for the Ladies Tea Party. I didn’t see a whole lot of tea being drunk, but there was plenty of chat, openness and sharing of stories and ideas. It was quite fabulous actually. I reckon I knew 5 women who were there from previous meets. I ‘knew’ about 5 or 10 more from their blogs. But by the end of it though, I felt like I knew everybody and we were all set to whoop each other on at the awards themselves. Special mention of my favourite gimick of the night was Julie-Anne Graham of Curious Tales.com who handed out fake mustaches to everybody to promote her new blog. The blog sounds really interesting; she takes old clothing and re-engineers it with a contemporary look and blogs about the story of the clothes. She also designs a rather fine range of eco T-shirts too. If anyone has any pics of me in the ‘tache, please pass them on!
For me, the Blog Awards confirmed how lucky I am to work in such a open, friendly, supportive, and highly creative, talented, and humourous industry. Everyone was buzzing to be meeting people they chat to daily in the flesh. There was much smiling and congratulating, and of course much flashing of flashes! I was getting a buzz off the fact that my favourite 5 web designers in the whole country were there within 10 metres of each other (in various states of inebriation!). At least 5 of the serious entrepreneurs who I most respect were knocking shoulders too. And it was all good.
I reckon it’s quite unique to work in such a non-hostile, supportive and open industry. Do groups of bankers and doctors all share the same warmth and camaderie at their get-togethers? I wouldn’t think so. Is there such genuine delight in the meet-ups at the Property Awards? I wouldn’t bet on it. Yes. Apart from being able to make my living doing what I love, I am also blessed that I get to it with such great people.
So that marks the end of the warm and fuzzy piece. Normal ranting and giving out service will resume tomorrow.
Best Business Blog Shortlist
February 11, 2008 at 1:38 pm
is out, and I’m on it! Am in good company too. Good luck to everyone, and sure see yiz all at the shindig on 1st!
A Laugh For The Weekend
February 1, 2008 at 6:52 pm
The shortlist for the most humourous post is out and it confirms that we are in fact a hugely funny nation of dossers! Enjoy.
Updated: Shock News This Morning
January 31, 2008 at 9:33 am
Well it never rains but it pours!
Yesterday (Thurs) I learned that the Brightspark blog is on a shortlisted for an award at the Irish Blog Awards! Best blog and Best Business Blog as well. Today (Fri) I’ve just been sent a copy of the John Collins column in the Irish Times where he profiles this very blog! Technology, Irish Times
I have to say I’m very surprised, but delighted. In fairness, on the blog awards front, there are about 50 others too including many that reside on the front page of my RSS reader and who I read regularly. But I am thrilled to be in such good company. So get on there, and vote.
