2nd Year… 2nd Golden Spider!
Padraig Smith wins Best Property Website
Well, it was Golden Spider Award time last Thursday in the Burlington Hotel, Dublin. After last years success of RaymondPotterton.com winning Best Professional Services Website, we had 3 clients up for Best Property Website - Padraig Smith Auctioneers, Raymond Potterton Auctioneers and Geraldine O’Reilly Auctioneers. I am very glad to say that we were successful when Padraig Smith Auctioneers won the category. It was our second year entering and our second year to win! I must say well done to Raymond Smith and all the team at Padraig Smith Auctioneers for their ideas and effort they put into the background while running the site. It’s an award they will surely cherish! Well done guys! 
The Organisers
It was a fantastic night all told and once again proved to be a great networking event. I wish to say thank you and well done to the guys and girls (Jennie, Grant, Andrea and the others that I can’t mention 
or have forgot their names - you know who you are!) with the tough job of orgainising the event. There’s always backlash online and somebody giving out but I think you did a great job on the night and I know all of us that attended, really had a good time.
Jason and Glenda
Once again, Jason Byrne and Glenda Gilson presented the awards. I met Jason outside for a cigarette a few minutes before going on stage and he was looking for someone to update his website. I refrained from giving him my card as I know he likes to pick on someone in the crowd but Jason, if you’re reading this, drop me a mail and we’ll sort something out! Unfortunately I didn’t get to meet Glenda other than been presented with the award so I didn’t get time to ask for her number. So, Glenda, if you’re reading this, my number is on the contacts page! Somehow, I doubt I’ll get a call
The Networking
I got to meet a lot of people in the industry once again. We were seated with Owen Gallagher, and his lovely wife, from Spirit Design and I have to say we had a great time with them all night. I had a good ol’ chat with Chad Gilmer, CEO of Vazumo.com - a very innovative approach to online search. I’ll be interested in chatting to them a little more on behalf of my clients. I was also talking to Tay from CCMA.ie and I had a very interesting chat with Declan Donnelly from United for Children and the work that they do. I’ll be talking to Declan again soon and will hopefully be helping him spread the word about what they do, which I believe to be a fantastic project. And what would the Golden Spiders be without having a few drinks with the gang from Daft.ie - always a pleasure!
The Other Winners
I was quite impressed with a number of the other winners on the night. My old college where I started learning web design while studying accounting, dkit.ie, picked up an award for Best Education, Research & Training Website. Lightbox.ie picked up Best Web Design Agency - I’ve always liked their own site and their work. MicksGarage.ie for having such a cool name! MenuPages.ie - I really like that site, great resource. Pix.ie - A great site for sharing photos, must start using it soon. CullyAndSully.com for their playful looking site and great content. They won the overall Grand Prix Award also. I’ve just been reading their blog, which is great, and have to post a link to how cool the Gardai are!
There was a number of other winners and well done to everyone… but the best award on the night had to have gone to Grandad over at HeadRambles.com. I was so happy to see him nominated and I just knew he’d win on the night. The only reason I stopped reading his blog is that it is too addictive. He’s back in my RSS Reader but I will refrain from spending too much time reading it. If you haven’t been over to his blog before, you should check it out at headrambles.com. Congrats Grandad.
And Finally…
As I mentioned to a number of people on the night - the Golden Spiders are a business award and it does wonders for business. After winning last year, Padraig Smith Auctioneers found our business and commissioned us to design their new site. This year, they won. The Golden Spiders do work and are great for business. Well done to the organisers once again and thank you for a wonderful night. I’m already looking forward to entering a few sites again next year!
Regards, Dave!
