Ken McGuire

Tag: awards

  • Last Call For Net Visionary 2009 Votes

    Voting closes later today on the IIA Net Visionary Awards for 2009. If you haven’t already cast your vote you can do so by clicking here. You’ve got until 6pm today.

    I’ll admit I left it until the last day to cast a vote myself so if you’re like me, click here to vote before 6pm.

    Last year’s awards saw Pat Phelan (MAXroam / Cubic Telecom) announced as the overall Net Visionary. The awards this year have been brought in line with the IIA Congress and will be held on May 21st at the Crowne Plaza Dublin Northwood.

  • A Beginner At The Irish Blog Awards

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    Creative Commons License photo credit: harry-m

    They know what a blog is. They’ve read blogs as references. They might have even given thought to starting a blog at some stage, if they had time to do it. They know that podcasts exist. They know the power of the web.

    They don’t blog. They’ve not really heard of, seen or used Twitter. Online video is another world away, but there is a realisation that it works.

    They’re not on Facebook. They’re not on MySpace.

    It’s their first time going to the Irish Blog Awards or any award ceremony that recognises those working with blogs or the wider world of the internet in Ireland.

    I’ve spoken to people at the Irish Blog Awards over the last two years who were in the same situation. Some of them have gone mad altogether.

    What advice would you give such a person?

  • Irish Blog Awards Nominations – Have You Made Yours?

    Irish Blog Awards - morning tea following the 2008 IBAs in Dublin

    The nominations are still open for the 2009 Irish Blog Awards, but not for much longer with 6pm Wednesday the deadline to get your nominations in.

    Guilty as charged, I’ve yet to make my own but they’ll be in for this evening. The night recognises the talents and voices of the Irish blogging community across all genres. In the past I’ve been lucky enough to see nominations for some of my blogs in Best Technology, Best Music and have nominations in one or two other categories as well.

    But it’s not just about technology or music, there’s the arts, business, pop culture, photography and a whole lot more.

    The awards themselves are changing location this year. After three years in Dublin (having made the road trip the last two years) I’ll find myself driving to Cork and this great venue for the awards. Having experience two years at the Blog Awards and a fantastic night at the Irish Web Awards in October, the real fun of the night isn’t competely in the awards ceremony itself but in the craic before and afterwards (and all through the night).

    In saying that, I’ve booked into the hotel already so there’ll be no looking for Burger King at 2am.

    I’m looking forward to the night, catching up with those I’ve not seen or spoken to in a while and hopefully get the chance to match even more faces to names from the web. Hit the awards as often as you like, when there’s a few hundred people in the room it can be tricky to talk to everyone you want to!

    Nip along to Awards.ie and get your nominations in before Wednesday.

  • Shortlisted At Irish Web Awards


    My morning-after coffee at the 2008 Irish Blog Awards earlier this year

    Two of my babies (can I call them that if I’m *that* close to them?) have been shortlisted at the 2008 Irish Web Awards.

    While I was secretly delighted to see KilkennyMusic.com and the Playlist Mix Podcast (new podcast later this morning) make the longlist last week, there was not one but two high fives given yesterday when I discovered that KKM and PLM have made the shortlist for Best Music site and Best Podcast respectively.

    Needless to say I’m all surprised and happy and I’m looking forward to catching up with everyone again in Dublin on October 11th. I’m should be dragging the blog awards ninja with me again to represent Kilkenny Music on the night but can’t wait for the show.

    Congratulations too to all the individuals and companies who also find themselves on the shortlist. Registration for the awards, taking place in the is currently open with numbers already well in three figures

  • Irish Web Awards Nominations Close Tonight

    The deadline for getting nominations in for the inaugural Irish Web Awards is tonight, August 29th at 23:59. Typically I’ve left my decision making until the last minute but I’ll be submitting my nominations before the deadline passes. While registration to attend the awards night itself has yet to open, there’s still the opportunity to step in as a sponsor for one of the categories like Best Education Website, Best School Website, Best Practice, Best Videocaster etc.

    (Note: those categories may well be sponsored at this stage).

    However, you can learn about sponsorship opportunities for the awards here.

    Time to get the thinking cap on…

  • Irish Web Awards Announced

    Irish Web Awards 2008If you have doubted web award ceremonies in Ireland in the past, then doubt no more. The Irish Web Awards 2008 have just been announced with Moviestar.ie as the headline sponsor. As with the Irish Blog Awards, Damien Mulley is the brains behind the operation so you know you’re in for a good night and a solid show.

    Nominated sites will be judged in areas such as

    • Interactive Design
    • Content
    • UI Design
    • Feedback
    • Extras such as web standards, mobile compatability etc

    A full breakdown of the scorecard can be found here.

    Registration to attend the awards ceremony to be held on October 11th will open soon. The best thing about it? It won’t cost you a penny It will only cost you €30 to attend and nominations are entirely free!

    Update: Damien has posted an update re: pricing.

  • Kilkenny Business Award Winners

    Back in 2006 I shared a table with some of the McDonalds, Pack Publishing and Kilkenny Active gang, myself and John (Aidan was away on holiday) tucking into a sizeable steak as we’d been nominated for and were attending the Kilkenny Business Awards (nominated in the best service provider category). Nominees had a 20 euro (I think) discount on ticket prices, bringing the cost to 100 a head for the night).

    The awards were held in Kilkenny on Saturday night in the Lyrath Estate Hotel and Keith has the lowdown on the results. You’ll be able to catch Keith in conversation with some of the winners on The Bottom Line, KCLR96FM’s business show which airs later tonight.

    Overall, there were six categories with 39 finalists, I’ve highlighted the winners below in bold.

    Kilkenny Retailer of the Year Award (Sponsored by FBD Insurance)

    • Lamber de Bie Flowers*
    • Pat McDonnell Paint Sales
    • Flowers by Lucy
    • Superior Tiles
    • Kilkenny Book Centre
    • Field’s Jewellers

    Kilkenny Service Provider of the Year Award (Sponsored by Electro City)

    • Kilkenny Borough Council Garden Crew
    • Premier Recruitment Group,
    • Blue Wall Technologies
    • Springhill Court Hotel Leisure Club
    • C&C Security
    • Creative Catering
    • Taxback.com*
    • Gibbins Removals & Storage
    • James Phelan Demonstration Farm

    Best Small Business Award 2008 (Sponsored by Kilkenny Chamber)

    • Vendemia Organic Wines
    • Surf Box/Ormonde Technologies*
    • Smart Placements
    • Rothe House Trust Ltd
    • Blueberry Larder
    • Kilkenny Print & Graphic
    • Hullaballoons
    • Kompass Records
    • The Reptile Village

    Kilkenny Tourism Provider of the Year Award (Sponsored by Kilkenny Local Authority)

    • Team Dynamics
    • Tullahought Community Group
    • A Rural Experience
    • Woodstock Gardens & Arboretum
    • Springhill Court Hotel
    • Kilkenny Rivercourt Hotel*

    Education & Training Provider of the Year Award (Sponsored by FÁS)

    • Empower Training
    • Sharon Roynane Kelly
    • Kumon Kilkenny
    • Busy Bees Early Learning Centres*

    Manufacturing/Product of the Year (Sponsored by SEBIC)

    • QEF Ltd
    • Kelsey Horseboxes*
    • Chesneau Leather
    • Fineline Furniture
    • Enviroclad Systems
    • Moth to a Flame Ltd.

    Taxback.com were also presented with the “overall winner” award on the night while Kilkenny’s Kieran Crotty was given a lifetime achievement award. For more background on the awards themselves, check out this article in the current edition (dated April 10th) of the Kilkenny Advertiser.