Reblogging – renewing Ireland’s national blog awards

Monday June 11 will see the much anticipated launch of Ramp.ie (@ramp_ie | Facebook). Featuring an all-star cast of Irish bloggers and writers the site is another sign of the growth of the country’s blogging scene.

Whether it’s the country’s famed love for the written word or just another outlet for the gift of the gab (or other such oirish clichés) Ireland’s army of bloggers and blogs is growing both in number and influence.

But over the past year Ireland’s bloggers have been without a recognised national blog awards. Back in March 2011 the doors closed on the Irish Blog Awards, having been run on a volunteer basis by Damien Mulley, the man behind the hugely successful Irish Social Media Awards and the Irish Web Awards, for six years.

The announcement at the end of the last awards met with genuine surprise by the country’s bloggers, although Mulley encouraged others to take up the process of arranging the next awards it seemed nobody would.

Blog Awards Ireland's organisers

While many lamented the passing of the premier networking event for bloggers, the unstoppable Beatrice Whelan (@beatricewhelan), Amanda Webb (@spiderworking) and Lorna Sixsmith (@WriteOnTrack_L) began plotting the awards’ revival.

With a new name, Blog Awards Ireland (@blogawardsie | Facebook), and new organisers the event is back on the Irish calendar for October 13.

“We want the Blog Awards Ireland to be an event that involves as many people as possible and celebrates the best of Irish blogging, culminating in a fabulous annual event where the ‘crème de la crème’ of Irish bloggers are recognised and rewarded.”

The organisers aren’t starting small; there’ll be 30 categories this year covering categories as diverse as eco-blogging, news, corporate, and science blogging. Nominations are open to the public now (closing on July 16) and will be judged by a panel, that is, with the exception of The Best Blog Post category, which will be open to the public vote.

Blog Awards Ireland 2012 Categories.

1. Best Music Blog
2. Best Popculture Blog
3. Best Food / Drink Blog
4. Best Health and Wellbeing Blog
5. Best Technology Blog
6. Best Photography Blog – sponsored by Damien Carroll Photography
7. Best Eco/Green Blog
8. Best Sport/Recreation Blog
9. Best Blog of a SME business – sponsored by Sage Ireland
10. Best Arts and Culture Blog
11. Best Designed Blog
12. Best Mobile Compatible Blog
13. Best Blog of a Journalist
14. Best Podcast Blog
15. Best News/Current Affairs
16. Best Corporate Blog
17. Best Video Blog
18. Best Political Blog
19. Best Blog in the Irish Language
20. Best Newcomer (started after 1st June 2011)
21. Best Youth Blog
22. Best Personal Blog
23. Best Science/Education Blog
24. Best Humour Blog
25. Best Beauty/Fashion Blog
26. Best Lifestyle Blog
27. Best Craft Blog
28. Best Group Blog
29. Best Overall Blog
30. Best Blog Post

October’s ceremony will be a welcome return for one of the country’s best networking events for blog authors – roll on October 13.