Bloggers, bliggers and blaggers: undercover at the Irish Blog Awards

14-03-2006

by Maxim Kelly

In the best Irish tradition, few of the winners at the first Irish blog awards prepared their acceptance speeches. This is unsurprising as an integral aspect of blogging is that nothing is prepared -- it's just natural writing.

There were 160 confirmed guests at the ceremony but the true number was at least 200. This was blamed on gatecrashers -- or bliggers as they were affectionately termed.

A prevalent subject of conversation at the ceremony was the coinage of new words and phrases amongst web logs. The Irish blogosphere -- or Hibernoblogosphere as some attendees from the North preferred to call it -- is a growing form of voluntary citizen journalism and a rich source for the English lexicon.

The recent Dublin riots were heralded as example par excellence of this "amateur reportage". Several bloggers sent "live" text and images from mobile devices -- including pictures and video footage.

An interesting bunch attended the gig

Although there was a quotient of stereotypically bespectacled computer nerds, and toothy geeks sporting an interesting collection of breast-pocket biros, it was an eclectic, if not egregious bunch.

Ranging in age from 18 to mid-forties, there was some talk that it was unfortunate that Irish bloggery was seemingly the preserve of young people and that more "oldies" should get involved.

With only 10 percent of the crowd female, arts and culture blog award-winner Sinead Gleeson expressed hope that more girls would get online. One imagines Ms Gleeson would not condone the sobriquet "bloggobimbos" which was floating around the bar after the event.

From amongst the T-shirted and tuxedoed attendees there was a lot of philosophising about what blogging represents. Some likened it to a revival of the 18th and 19th century traditions of publishing letters or diaries as social commentary. Others voiced concerns that it will become too commercialised as the high-profile blogs become yet another advertising channel.

Unlike other award ceremonies in Dublin, spot prizes were from BT rather than Brown Thomas, and although a few reporters were present, the amount of cameras and high-tech recording gadgets the "civilian" spectators held aloft would put any press corps to shame.

I need a hero

The undisputed hero of the night was Ireland Offline's broadband lobbyist and event organiser Damien Mulley. Looking a bit spivvy in his stripy shirt, Mulley told the audience that bloggers were exercising their right to free speech and exhorted them to encourage others to get blogging.

Corkman Mulley admitted to ElectricNews.Net that the event had surpassed what was originally envisaged, but that Microsoft's 11th hour offer to sponsor the event meant he could afford to hire larger conference facilities in Dublin's Alexander Hotel.

Microsoft was apparently happy to lend its support without advertising its presence, and there were no Microsoft banners at the event. This is not surprising as the assembled bloggers were not the most complimentary about the software giant, although the understated sponsorship did win grunting approval.

Would the real Twenty Major please stand up

The overall winner was the Twenty Major blog which also scooped the most humorous award and best blog post. Although Twenty himself did not attend the ceremony because "too many people were after him", there was suspicion that his south-Dublin accented representative-on-earth was the real deal: especially when he announced he was going to keep an iPod freebie for himself.

Twenty's blog is not unlike the highly popular Ross O'Carroll Kelly stories about being a Southside "Legend", but of course with a more earthy Northside perspective. Staff at ElectricNews.Net have been pondering who would win in a fistfight between the two: Ruggerbugger Ross against "street" Twenty Major anyone?

Another well-known blogger who couldn't make it was Mick Fealty from the popular Slugger O'Toole political website. Representing Slugger was "Belfast Gonzo", a mysterious personage who was convinced this reporter was actually a spy collating political intelligence. "Yer man's a spook," he said to one of ENN's undercover operatives.

One attendee who stood out from the crowd was a tall tuxedoed gentleman who was constantly talking into a large microphone -- presumably for a podcast. Pausing his babbling momentarily to speak into the lectern-mounted mic after he won a raffle prize was a classic piece of Monty Pythonesque slapstick for the online-generation.

2FM presenter and self-confessed bloggoholic Rick O'Shea compered the evening's entertainment. He likened the 12 member Community At Large group, winner of best group blog, to musicians So Solid Crew who famously swamped the stage at the Mobo music awards in London recently. Unlike So Solid though, The Community seemingly had no female members.

There was certainly a feeling amongst journalists at the Irish Blog Awards that these talented diarists, satirists, and reviewers will become the next generation of the fifth estate. There was a very fresh attitude and many of these bloggers are certainly the future. They either don't know it yet or are too smug or modest to admit it.

Several award-winning bloggers told ElectricNews.Net that since they had published their thoughts online they had been approached by mainstream newspapers offering column space. What is sure is that many diarists, activists, writers, bloggers and chancers will claim to have attended these inaugural awards.

Onwards into the night

After a good-natured ceremony at the Alexander Hotel, many bloggers, bliggers and general blaggers dispersed across Dublin's receptive hostelries. The acute lack of blogs posted on Sunday is testament to the hangovers presumably endured by attendees. This reporter did follow a group to the cellar bar of the salubrious Merrion Hotel but one young red-headed photo blogger was getting tired of being constantly questioned while trying to enjoy a (not so) quiet pint. I posit the birth of the bloggarattzi. You read it here first.