Bitbuzz has come forward and suggested a new category that they’d like to sponsor – Best Technology Blog/Blogger. I know it is late in the day but I am going to go ahead and seek nominations for this category. Send emails to irishawards [at] gmail.com with the subject of “technology blog”. I will take nominations until February 3rd. As a result the public vote is put back by a week to allow for public voting in this category.

Bitbuzz has also offered to supply the event with free Wifi if anyone wishes to liveblog the event.

EDIT: I should also explain what the Best Contribution to the Irish Bloggersphere (Tech wise) is about in case there are any mixups. The Contribution to the Irish Bloggersphere award is to honour the person or group of people who through using technology has increased the value of the Irish blogging community. These are the people who worked with technology to entice in a new audience, or created software or a service that gets more people blogging.

Still counting up the nominations and testing the voting system but voting will start on Monday morning. Will leave it open for two weeks I think.

EDIT: With the addition of a new Category, public voting will instead start on Feb. 6th.

12 Awards, they all need trophies of some kind. Something more interesting than the usual bits of marble and gold looking plastic. They must be cheap too. Any ideas? Barbies spray painted gold? Edible trophies i.e. easter eggs wrapped in gold and silver?

UPDATE: New venue is Alexander Hotel

Initially it was looking like it was going to be March 4th but Rick O’Wonderful Host is going to be away that evening. So, unless everyone is unhappy with March 11th, that is when the awards take place. Buswells Hotel, around the corner from the Dáil.

Room cost is €200 ex vat and I’m sure that if everyone puts in a fiver each we should be able to cover the cost of it. Post in the comments or email irishawards [at] gmail.com if you are going to come along. The venue holds 70 comfortably and a few more at a squeeze. If you want Tea/Coffee and biscuits the cost is €4 per head or €8 if you want tea/coffee and sandwiches. I will need numbers in advance if people want to avail of these. There’s a bar in the Hotel and so you can bring alcohol you bought in the bar into the room with you. No sneaking in naggins!

I’m going to try and get everyone free wireless access too.

Map to Buswells:

Rick O’Shea has offered to MC the Irish Blog Awards. Woo! Nice one Rick. How the heck am I going to pay for a limo though? A bowl of M&Ms without the red ones isn’t it?