The Irish Timeshas been named best online publication for the second time in the Irish Web Awards.
The publication beat competition from the
Irish Independent, the
Irish Examinerand the
Belfast Telegraphto take the top award at Saturday's ceremony in Dublin for its website irishtimes.com, which has undergone significant redevelopment in recent years.
Irishtimes.com editor Hugh Linehan said the website was pleased to accept the award. "We're delighted to win best online publication for the second year in a row," he said. "I think it recognises the huge effort, resources and skills that
The Irish Timeshas put into its online version and it's great to see that being reflected."
More than 500 websites were nominated by 600 different people for the annual event, now in its second year, before the shortlist was compiled by 85 volunteers.
RTÉ.ie was named Ireland's best website. The national broadcaster also took the prize for best sports website, and most useful website, ahead of Google.ie, property website Daft and Menupages.ie. Last year's winner was irishtimes.com.
However, RTÉ lost out in the best podcast category to The Persuaders, the best entertainment category to Entertainment.ie, and most accessible website category, which was won by Rose Project. RTÉ was also nominated in the best radio website, but was beaten to the title by alternative music station Phantom, the second time the station has won.
Blogger Nialler9 took the title of best music website, despite fierce competition from State magazine, Muzu TV and Heinekin Music, among others.
Silicon Republic was named top technology site for the second time at the awards, and Decisions for Heroes, a collaborative rescue team management tool, won this year's title of most innovative website.
Online community site Boards.ie took the award for best discussion forum, while CountMeOut.ie, which provides information to those who want to cut ties with the Roman Catholic Church, won an award for best social media campaign.
Other winners included Dance Ireland (best arts website), Kildare Street (best new web application or service), IDA Ireland (best government and council website) and Talk Irish (best education). Organic Supermarket was named most beautiful website.
Organiser Damien Mulley said this year's event attracted a wider range of people, with more established businesses and Government organisations among those who attended. The quality of entries was also raised, he said.
"A lot of the websites seemed to be stronger. It was nice to see very small websites that were focused on one particular thing, like CountMeOut or Kildare Street, doing very well against big sites like RTÉ and The Irish Times," he said.
The scorecards for each website would be published shortly.