Blog awards to feature e-canvassing politicians
But some evidently have more time on their hands than others. And so we come to the Oscar-style awards of online diaries — The Irish Blog Awards.
The online scribblings and musings of bloggers will receive accolades next month in a ceremony at a Dublin hotel.
Politicians words and deeds, or lack thereof, will be recognised by the awards.
Best Political Blog nominee Dominic Hannigan is a Labour party TD candidate for Meath East in the upcoming General Election. The councillor’s blog features several videos as well as archive discussions dating back a year, hitting on local topics as well as holiday photographs.
“I hope to get to the Dáil and keep on blogging,” said the 41-year-old.
He’s already uploaded over 50 pictures and a dozen videos on his website. Many of the musings concern problems in local estates.
“I don’t rate my chances winning (the award), but I’d be delighted.”
Another politician hoping to emerge as a prize-winning blogger is Seanad hopeful Daniel K Sullivan. The NUI graduate is hoping to literally “blog my way through the Seanad election process”.
The former Fine Gael candidate is on the shortlist for best videocast or video online with a hard-hitting look at tax evasion in Irish politics.
“Politicians in future will probably use these for their campaigns,” said the 40-year-old yesterday.
In the same category, a video entitled “Minister to Nowhere” takes a somewhat unsympathetic look at Transport Minister Martin Cullen’s own input on Irish roads.
Prizes for the aspiring bloggers will be delved out on March 3 at the Alexander Hotel after almost 5,000 people from 67 different countries voted for their favourite Irish blogs across 21 separate categories.
According to event coordinator, Damien Mulley, a variety of eclectic and often irreverent writings on Irish life have made it into the top blog nominees.
One website, One Breast Less, features a personal and emotional story about the trauma and heartache of breast cancer. Another reveals the stress and pain of a couple coping with fertility treatment.
Organisers of the awards say that given an election is just around the corner, voters are reflecting the current interest and focus on politics with many controversial blogger sites being nominated for accolades.
It is thought as many as 4,000 people are blogging in Ireland compared to an estimated 1,500 last year.
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