Would you like something to read?

How about 1074 Blogs all from Ireland.

You read that correctly.  There are 1074 2010 Irish Blog Awards Nominations, as Damien says “These are raw nomination lists with spam/junk nominations and some dead blogs removed. Yes we know some blogs in categories do not fit the category but this is what the general public has submitted”.

The Irish Blog Awards do not happen out of the blue, they happen because of the dedicated work and time given over many months by Damien Mulley and his team.  They are not Glitzy affairs where you buy your way in.  The whole process is voluntary, it depends on Sponsorship and in these difficult times finding sponsors for the twenty one categories and an overall winners prize is no mean task.  Without those Sponsors the whole event would not happen, so we owe special thanks to those who stepped up to the plate with the Geld!

Catagory	Sponsor	Noms
Best Popculture blog	Insure.ie	66
Best Food/Drink Blog	Bord Bia	31
Best Beauty/Fashion Blog	Spinnakerpro	46
Best Music Blog	Reserved	39
Best Photo Blog	Pix.ie	49
Best Technology Blog/Blogger	Bitbuzz	27
Best Sport & Recreation Blog	Boards.ie	28
Best Blog of a Business	RedCardinal.ie	46
Best Arts and Culture Blog	Poetry Ireland	67
Best Blog from a Journalist	BVisible	35
Best News/Current Affairs Blog	dediserve	31
Best Group Blog	Red Fly Marketing	50
Best Political Blog	Digital Revolutionaries	37
Best Blog of a Politician	——–	16
Use of the Irish Language in a Blog	Edgecast Media	9
Best Specialist Blog	iQ Content	127
Best Newcomer	LastMinute.com	100
Best Youth Blog	Spunout.ie	18
Best Personal Blog *	Microsoft Ireland’s Developer and Platform Group	118
Best Humour Blog *	——–	52
Best Blog Post	KRO IT Solutions	82

Judging will begin early next week. Congratulations to all the nominees and a special thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate so many blogs, it makes for a very interesting time.  It is wonderful to see new blood on the block plenty of fresh talent to read and watch both now and in the months to come.  They deserve your support.

Every blog will be judged in round 1, then those who make it through to a second round and have nominations for more than one category will be asked to choose which one they wish to go forward for judging.  The final shortlisted names will be published closer to the event and category winners will be announced on the night of the Blog Awards. There is no public vote.

Actively blogging means the blog was in use at points between the date stamps mentioned.  I think that was from May to December 2009, but I stand to be corrected if that is not so.

Elly, George and I will be heading to Galway early in order not to miss out on the fun.  No doubt there will be a photo walk,  The guys will need time to spruce themselves up (or is that prop up the bar for an hour) while we ladies gather for the The Ladies’ Tea Party 2010 organised by Sabrina Dent.   This will be the third event of this kind and so popular that we had toyboys gate-crashing last year, but worry not I soon had them on their knees…

Thanks to sponsorship the  L’Onglex Ladies Tea Party will be held in the g hotel. The date is 27 March from 4 – 7 PM, this year’s event will include food, drink, tea, cakes and even gift bags and a DIY Nail Bar!   So are you listening Peter and Ben?  If you call in this year I will insist that you nails, both fingers and toes will be painted Bright red! Alas there are only 40 places but my place is booked and also Elly’s, so if you want to be counted in the other 38 get your skates on sharpish!

Oh!  Now I am all excited about going to Galway, I wonder what will I wear?

*Thank you to whoever nominated me, I am up against some very strong competition: There are 118 nominations for Best Personal Blog and 52 in Best Humour Blog.  If I happen to make the cut I shall have to make the decision of which one to cull.  The full list of Nominees is available on the Nominations link above.

Good luck to all!