IIA team up with Brightspark Consulting to urge Irish Firms to Enter Global Web Awards

The world’s most prestigious web site awards are seeking nominations from Irish companies. The Irish Internet Association (IIA) and Brightspark Consulting have joined forces to encourage Irish companies to enter these awards.

Hailed as “the Oscars of the web world” by the New York Times and one of “the most prestigious awards in the world” by the BBC, the Webbys are an annual event recognising achievements in the worldwide web. Deadline for this year’s awards which have over 100 categories is 15 December 2006 at www.webbys4ireland.com

“Even to be nominated boosts web traffic and search engine listings so I would urge Irish companies to enter,” commented Maryrose Lyons of Brightspark Consulting, who has been named as the Irish Webby Ambassador.

IIA Chief Executive, Fergal O’Byrne, added “we recently ran our national Net Visionary Awards and they are a huge success in Ireland. We are now encouraging companies to go a step further and enter these global awards”

Lyons added that Ireland has a high reputation for the quality of its technology. “But we also have the talent to excel in the fastest growing sector of global IT which is web based technology. This is an opportunity for Ireland to showcase its skills on an international stage.”

The Webby Awards is presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences, a global organisation with over 550 members including musician David Bowie, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, Internet inventor and Google Chief Internet evangelist Vinton Cerf, “Simpsons” creator Matt Groening, Real Networks CEO Rob Glaser, and fashion designer Max Azria.

Nominees will be announced in April, and winners will be unveiled in June 2007 in New York. Further details from Brightspark Consulting and Webbys 4 Ireland

About The Webby Awards:
Called the “Oscars of the Internet” by the New York Times, the Webby is the leading international award honouring excellence in Web design, creativity, usability and functionality. Established in 1996, the 10th Annual Webby Awards received over 5,500 entries from all 50 states and over 40 countries worldwide. The Webby Awards is presented by The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. Sponsors and Partners of The Webby Awards include: AOL, The Creative Group; Verizon; Adweek; Fortune; Variety; Wired; IDG; iStockphoto; American Marketing Association; PricewaterhouseCoopers; 2advanced.Net; KobeMail and Museum of the Moving Image. For more information visit Webby Awards.