Blogtacular

by Twenty Major on March 2nd, 2008

The Irish Blog Awards took place last night and I’m very happy to have won ‘Most Humorous Post’ and the overall best blog award. That’s three in a row now. I feel like once, twice, three times a lady, let me tell you.

To have been chosen ahead of all the other fantastic bloggers makes me very proud. The amount of people there last night, at least 50% more than there were last year, shows how the Irish blogging community has grown in the last 12 months. There are a lot of really funny, clever, intelligent people writing blogs and every year the competition gets more fierce - but a friendly kind of fierce.

Congratulations to all the winners last night and all the nominees. One of the best things about the awards is that it has showcased blogs that some of us would never have found, whether they won awards or not. I know I spoke to people last night whose blogs I’m going to check out over the next few days. The event is a credit to Damien Mulley who has worked so hard at it and his contribution to the blogging scene in Ireland should not be underestimated. We’re very lucky to have somebody who gives so freely of their time for the benefit of so many.

Hosting duties were, as always, expertly carried out by Rick O’Shea who also managed to win the best ‘cock-pulture’ blog. Well deserved on so many levels that one.

The one thing I took away from the night was just how friendly everybody was. I met people I’d met before, I met new bloggers, I met people who comment on my blog and to a man/woman they were all great to talk to. I’m sure the experience was the same for the other bloggers and attendees. Drinks were drunk, hands were shook and all in all it was a fine night, full of smiles and good humour. There were some folk I did want to talk to but couldn’t find or got waylaid talking to other folk - sorry about that. Next year.

Thank you to all the people who read the blog, who comment, who nominated me and the judges who, from a very strong group, selected me as the Best Irish Blog for 2008. I’m sure that in 2009 the competition will be even better but I think perhaps it’s time to introduce some kind of a rule whereby if you win a category three times in a row you have to take a year off or something. Are you listening, Sinead? *cough*

There are loads of great Irish blogs and loads of them that deserve recognition and awards. Most of all though they deserve readers and contributors, people who will enjoy and appreciate their writing or their expertise or their pancake recipes or whatever.

We are blog, heartache to heartache.

Cheers everyone.

Irish blog awards tonight

by Twenty Major on March 1st, 2008

Just a quick one to wish good luck to everyone nominated tonight. And remember, it’s not about winning or losing, it’s about getting as drunk as possible and vomiting in people’s handbags.

See you later.

George Cook does the Irish Blog Awards

by Twenty Major on February 26th, 2008

Ahead of the Irish Blog Awards this Saturday George Cook interviews two of Ireland’s top bloggers.

Irish blog awards

by Twenty Major on March 4th, 2007

That was good fun last night, wasn’t it?

I’m very proud to have won Most Humorous Post and the overall Best Blog prize for the second year running. The amount and variety of people there is a great testament to the Irish blogging scene. Short, tall, fat, thin, old, young, mohawky, bald, pregnant, not pregnant - they were all there. It showed that it’s not just a pastime for nerds (although there were some nerds there. You know who you are, oh yes).

The way it’s grown in the last 12 months has been remarkable and I’m sure that the awards last year did as much to give it a kick in the arse to help it expand as anything else. Hopefully this year’s awards will do the same.

I think what it’s shown is that anyone can blog (even fucking Grannymar) about anything they like as often or as little as they like. Forget bullshit posts about the ‘rules of blogging’. What’s great about it is that you just make of it what you want to make of it. Fuck convention.

Congratulations to everyone involved last night. To all the nominees, the winners, to Rick O’Shea for his presentation - although I never did get that fucking Um Bongo, you cunt - to the sponsors, Damien (very nice touch by Bernie to give the Best Contribution Award to Damien - thoroughly deserved too) and everyone else who worked so hard to make the night a success.

For me the whole thing was made complete by seeing Tom Raftery dance. That man has some moves, let me tell you.

Well done again to everyone. See you all next year.

Irish blog awards coverage

by Twenty Major on February 20th, 2007

Nice to see it’s been picked up and run on some of the big sites. Yahoo has a story here.

However, I am very upset at being referred to as a “four armed midget”. Where the fuck did they get that?

As regular readers know I am not fond of the small person, they make me queasy, so for me to be cast in the same light as those is most distressing.

I shall be seeking legal advice from Thruppenceworth, my totally above board solicitors.

Irish Blog Awards shortlist announced

by Twenty Major on February 18th, 2007

You can see all the shortlisted nominations for yourself right here.

Thanks to everyone who voted for me and now it’s down to the judges. Word is they’re being sequestered immediately and won’t be allowed out until after the ceremony.

What happens if Rick O’Shea wins the Best Contribution category? He’s going to say, “And the winner is…me!”, and nobody will believe him and people will storm the stage and he’ll get crushed to death. A good death is probably what the blog scene needs to kick on in 2007 and if Rick is serious about making a contribution then he knows what to do.

Then next year it can be the Rick O’Shea memorial award. Nah, fuck it actually. That’s way too mawkish. We’ll just stare at the spot on the carpet that they couldn’t get the blood out of.

Anyway, Jimmy the Bollix says he wants to go along this year. Something to do with settling some old scores with some people. I don’t know who though. It’ll just add to the excitement.

Last chance…

by Twenty Major on February 16th, 2007

…today to vote in the Irish Blog Awards.

Simply go here and vote Twenty. To help focus your mind here’s a little jingle you can sing to make sure you don’t forget. To the tune of Rock me Amadeus (don’t you love the way he’s says ‘Monkey cunt’ in that song? Listen out for it):

Vote for Twenty, Vote for Twenty, Vote for Twenty, Vote for Twenty, Vote for Twenty, Vote for Twenty, Vote for Twenty, Vote for Twenty, Oh oh oh Vote for Twenty.

Happy voting.

Vote now in the Irish Blog Awards

by Twenty Major on February 10th, 2007

Damien and Jason have been up all night mainlining amphetamines and taking coffee intravenously to get the Irish Blog Awards voting form ready.

To vote for Twenty Major just go here and choose Twenty Major as you vote for Twenty Major. I’m in there for Best Blog, Best Blog Post, Most Humorous Post, Best Podcast and Best Podcaster (which might just be stretching it a little bit!).

So vote now, just vote once because vote rigging is how people like GWBush get elected and I am as honest as the day is long, and then send me your name, address, PPS number, date of birth and bank account details and I’ll transfer some money into your account to say thanks.

I promise.