An Post division wins internet award

AN POST Transaction Services last night won the Esat BT Golden Spider Irish Internet Award for 2003.

The Irish internet industry seventh Annual Esat BT Golden Spider Awards, which recognises excellence in the Irish internet industry, are the benchmark award for the internet industry in Ireland.

Former winners include RecruitIreland.com and HostelWorld.com, also winners of this year’s Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.

Among the awards presented was a special award from Thomas Crosbie Media (TCM), the electronic publishing division of Thomas Crosbie Holdings, for significant contribution to the Irish Internet Industry.

The shortlist for this hard-fought category included Brid Carter of the Local Government Computer Services Board (LGCSB); Michael Dwyer of Pigsback.com; Liam and Pauline Ferrie of Irish Emigrant Publications; Mark Lenehan of Lenehans.ie; diytools.ie and Damian Ryan of Digital Media Intelligence.

The TCM award, presented by chief executive of TCM Angela Crowley recognised the contribution of an individual or group of individuals to the growth and development of the Irish internet.

“Presenting an award for special contribution gives us an opportunity to recognise the strength and integrity of the Irish internet industry which continues to be a rapidly growing industry sector,” she said.

“As part of our brief, TCM provides breaking news and content services for TCH companies and clients including TV3, Esat BT, iol.ie, oceanfree.net and Meteor among many others. Through our work we come across individuals and groups constantly striving for continuous improvement on the internet and we are particularly pleased to be able to recognise their contribution with this award,” said Ms Crowley.

Overall awards were presented in 20 categories with the TCM award featuring among much sought after and highly-prized special category awards.

The judging panel for the awards this year included industry representatives and commentators including Adrian Weckler of the Sunday Business Post and Gerry Hennigan of Goodbody Stockbrokers.

The Esat BT Golden Spider Awards are designed to raise the awareness of designers, programmers, business people and young hopefuls in the industry and honour those who keep apace with internet developments and are the only awards to encourage community aspects of the internet.