There were four big Galway winners at the virtual ceremony for the National Digital Awards this week recognising achievements online.
Galway-based businesses Gra Chocolates won the Hospitality, Food, Beverage Website of the Year award, with Schoolbooks.ie winning the Education Website of the Year award.
The much coveted and prestigious Digital Trailblazer Award goes to Galway entrepreneur, Ashley McDonnell of PUIG. Galway-based tech founder, Stella Power won the Women in Digital Award.
Secretary General of Digital Business Ireland, Lorraine Higgins said that they are “truly delighted” to recognise the achievements of businesses and individuals.
“Given that we received over four hundred entries to this year’s series, including many from Galway, it is fair to say that our expert judging panel had a momentous task in selecting the winners and runners-up in each category.”
“The talent, innovation and ambition showcased by both Gra Chocolates and Schoolbooks.ie was inspiring to all who were part of the judging process”.
The National Digital Awards ae organised by Digital Business Ireland, the country’s dedicated representative body for the digital and e-commerce sector, along with Permanent tsb.
The finalists gathered on Thursday evening for the highly-anticipated awards ceremony, which took the form of a virtual event hosted by national broadcaster, Jonathan Healy.
This year, the Awards spanned twenty categories, and drew in more than four hundred entries from businesses, people and organisations across Ireland.
The winners were announced across 20 categories spanning websites, digital innovation and the people who power them, with leading brands such as ez Living, An Post, Harvey Norman, Pamela Scott and Currys being rewarded for their sterling efforts in the digital arena over 2021.
Mags Brennan, Head of Business Banking at Permanent tsb said “Throughout 2021, businesses throughout Ireland have faced extraordinary challenges.”
“In responding to shifting consumer trends, many have had to transform their operations and embrace digitalisation and all that it offers.”
“The resilience, determination and entrepreneurial spirit that has been shown by businesses over the last year has been nothing short of remarkable.”
