As has been noted across the Irish blog community, Damien has announced the date for this year’s Irish Blog Awards – 3rd March.
If the date is good for you head over there and let them know; it might be an idea to sub the blog too as the next to months are sure to see it heat up again after a period of relative “down-time”.
If I do make it along (and I have every intention of doing that) it will be my first blog-gathering – that is unless some other meet ‘n’ greet comes up in the time between. I was away for the last Awards but by all accounts it was a successful and enjoyable event, and one of the first incidents that really gave the Irish media something to talk about in the realm of blogging (and its multimedia brothers).
In general the Blog Awards should be taken as an opportunity to honour and congratulate those that have done something unique with their own little virtual spaces, be it to educate, humour or entertain.
For me the Awards are also a chance to expand my horizons beyond the relatively miniscule portion of web-reading I currently partake in. It’s likely that many of those nominated will be the better known amongst us – the cream of the crop that even the most passive of blog-readers is aware of. That said, the wide range of topics ensures that there’ll be plenty I have missed or overlooked and flicking through the nominations will be a great way to pick up on those blogs quietly tucked in the corner. The Best Newcomer award only makes this outcome all the more likely.
Then, of course, there’s the event itself which is as good a chance as any to meet up with the people behind the CSS and pseudonyms; something I’m really looking forward to as well.
Will 2007 see even further advancements for blogging in Ireland? Who knows… but there’s no reason why blogging won’t become far more widespread by the time the Blog Awards 2008 make their way around. I certainly have my own ideas for the next 12 months and events and landmarks like the Awards themselves will only help those who could benefit from blogging realise that fact.