For the second year running, Western Development Commission has sponsored the .IE Digital Town Awards.
The .IE Digital Town Awards are the first pillar of activity under .IE Digital Town which has been developed to address digital enhancement and adoption in Ireland.
The Awards promote awareness, knowledge, use and understanding of digital in Ireland by its citizens, businesses and communities. They also highlight the benefits and possibilities of digital and celebrate the digital achievements of local towns, big and small.
Digital offers the opportunity to create new ways of doing things, promote innovation and breathe new life into local communities, making them more attractive places to live and work as well as contributing to a more sustainable future. They are also a chance to recognise and show appreciation to the volunteers across the country who devote their spare time working tirelessly to enhance their local area, and we have seen some great examples of towns that are using digital to fight back and use online resources to help renew and invigorate their local town.
The Awards recognise and reward projects with a digital element that have been created by town groups and local communities. They promote awareness, knowledge, use and understanding of digital in Ireland by its citizens, businesses and communities. They also highlight the benefits and possibilities of digital and celebrate the digital achievements of local towns, big and small.
Digital offers the opportunity to create new ways of doing things, promote innovation and breathe new life into local communities, making them more attractive places to live and work as well as contributing to a more sustainable future. They are also a chance to recognise and show appreciation to the volunteers across the country who devote their spare time working tirelessly to enhance their local area, towns and villages. We have seen some great examples of towns that are using digital and online resources to help renew and reinvigorate their local town.
The gala awards were held on 24 May in the Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone where the winners were announced. The category winner receives a prize of €6,000, runner-up receives €4,000 and commended receives €2,000.
There was a number of winners and runner-up’s from the West of Ireland celebrated at the awards;
- Digital Sustainability winner: Eco-powered Cabinets, Hollymount, Co. Mayo
- Agri-tech runner-up: Achonry Farmers Market, Co. Sligo
- Digital Education runner-up: Unleashing Digital Creativity, Carndonagh, Co. Donegal
- Digital Tourism winner: Digital History and Heritage, Dunlewey, Co. Donegal
- Community Digital commended: Foxford Alzheimers and Community Trust CLG – Interactive, digital games designed for seniors living with cognitive impairment, Foxford, Co. Mayo
- Digital Business runner-up: Foodie Save, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
- Newcomer winner: Recording Family Histories, Portumna, Co. Galway
- Newcomer commended: Decreasing Isolation – Increasing Connectedness, Ardara, Co. Donegal
