.IE Digital Town Awards 2023

.IE, the national registry for .ie domain names, recently announced the winning entries for the .IE Digital Town Awards 2023. The glitzy gala night recognises the innovative digital projects developed by businesses in communities across Ireland

The awards recognise and reward projects with a digital element that have been created by town groups and local communities promoting awareness, knowledge, use and understanding of digital in Ireland by its citizens, businesses and communities. Created by .IE in 2021, the programme encourages the uptake and use of internet and digital technologies. A prize fund of €100,000 was given over the 10 digital innovation categories; in total, 22 town and community digital projects were recognised at this year’s awards, including winners and runners-up across the seven main categories, three special category winners and one overall prize winner. Clonmel’s Smart Skills Agri-Tech project took the overall .IE Digital Town Award (and €10,000) title. Its project helps farmers use new technologies to make their work easier, save time and money as well as improving the sustainability and pro tability of their farm. The .IE Digital Business award was won by Killorglin’s RDI Hub. Their hub was launched to facilitate the creation of new products, services and jobs in the South West region. It was a worthy winner; having transformed Kerry into “a globally connected digital technology innovation, enterprise and skillset hotspot boosting economic growth,” according to .IE. It also runs numerous programmes including hackathons which resulted in Augmented Reality Apps for Kerry tourism, a STEM passport programme whose graduates gain a bonus of 50 Leaving Cert points and it provides ongoing supports for scaling companies to attract investment and create jobs. Oonagh McCutcheon, National Director, .IE Digital Town Programme agreed this years entries truly went above and beyond in terms of digital innovation throughout their towns and communities across Ireland. “The quality of entries in this year’s .IE Digital Town Awards has been incredibly impressive. Ireland’s towns and communities are identifying and solving connectivity challenges, driving digital innovation and developing creative digital solutions to enhance the lives of their fellow citizens. This year 22 projects were recognised which add signi cantly to the lives of their local communities and improves our nation’s digital footprint,” she said. New categories were also introduced this year, including The .IE Digital Sustainability award with Hollymount in Mayo winning for their Eco-Powered Cabinets which store life-saving equipment.

Winners

.IE Digital Town Awards Winners 2023:

.IE Agri-Tech Award

Winner: Clonmel: Smart Skills for Farming Communities (Tipperary) overall winner

.IE Digital Education Award

Winner:

Fingal: Weather Stations for Schools (Dublin)

.IE Digital Tourism Award

Winner:

Dunlewey: Virtual Heritage Trail (Donegal) sponsored by AIB Merchant Services

.IE Community Digital Award

LEFT: is Kevin Vallely representing Weather Station for Schools, Fingal Dublin, Winner in Digital Education category at the .IE Digital Town Awards 2023 alongside Oonagh McCutcheon.

BELOW: Pictured are Rona Toft and Sophrina Joyce, Rossmore Scratchers Rural Connectivity, Tipperary, Rossmore, Winner in Community Digital category at the .IE Digital Town Awards 2023 alongside Allan Mulrooney, Western Development Commission, category sponsor and Oonagh McCutcheon

Winner: Rossmore Scratchers (Tipperary) sponsored by the Western Development Commission

.IE Digital Business Award

Winner: Killorglin’s RDI Hub (Kerry) sponsored by Vodafone

.IE Digital Sustainability Award

Winner: Hollymount: Eco-Powered Cabinets for Defibrillators (Mayo)

.IE Newcomer Award

Winner:

Portumna: Recording Family Histories (Galway)

ABOVE LEFT: Pictured is Oileán Carter Stritch representing Change Clothes Crumlin, Dublin, Winner in Digital Changemaker category at the .IE Digital Town Awards 2023 alongside Stephen Carolan, Connected Hubs, category sponsor and Oonagh McCutcheon. BELOW LEFT: Pictured are Caoimhe Callan and Ned Burns representing Recording Family Histories, Galway, Portumna, Winner in Newcomer Award category at the .IE Digital Town Awards 2023 alongside Oonagh McCutcheon. BELOW RIGHT: Pictured is Josephine Kelly representing Virtual Heritage Trail, Dunlewey, Donegal, Winner in Digital Tourism category at the .IE Digital Town Awards 2023 alongside Mícheál O’Gruagáin, AIB Merchant Services, category sponsor and Oonagh McCutcheon

.IE Digital Rising Star Award:

Drogheda: Drawda Urban Art Trail (Louth)

.IE Digital Changemaker Award: Change Clothes Crumlin (Dublin) sponsored by Connected Hubs

.IE Digital Local Hero Award:

Clara Clarke, Blackrock Cycling without Age (Dublin)

Tommy Smyth, Tom Smyth & Associates