The date is January 4th 2006, nominations have just opened for the very first Irish Blog awards to be held in Dublin on March 11th at the Alexander Hotel.

I was very excited, I had lots of visitors to my photoblog at the time. I was in with a chance. I didn’t expect to win, but I knew I had a chance.

The day before the ‘ceremony’, Friday 10th March 2006, my camera arrived in the post. My first digital SLR. After ripping the box open, I headed to Dublin City, having barely any idea what I was doing with the camera, sticking to ‘auto’ much of the time, I snapped away through the busy streets.

The next day I met Gavin and we both snapped all around us, he having received an SLR for Christmas a few months prior. Some of these photographs I still like today.

We arrived at the Alexander Hotel, a little unsure what to expect. I was nominated and short Listed the title of ‘best photoblog’. The prize went to Donncha O Caoimh for his In Photos blog – well deserved. I was quite relieved, anyway as I didn’t want to have to say anything in front of all those people.

The following year, however, I did. Gavin Mullan won the ‘best photoblog’ for Headphoneland. There was no way I could win it this year as I hadn’t updated mine in over 6 months. Unfortunately, Gavin was ill and couldn’t make it, so I accepted the trophy on his behalf.

Having very much enjoyed the last two Blog awards and met many great people, I will definitely be going to again this year. Unfortunately the photoblog is still no longer active (still on the to-do list), I do have this blog of course. So if you feel that this blog fits into any of the categories, have a go at nominating me.

Some would say this isn’t a photoblog, I don’t even consider it a ‘proper’ photoblog, though there are lots of photos. It could also go under the category of ‘personal’ blog, ‘arts and culture’ blog or ‘music’ blog, your choice. There is ‘best overall blog’ too! Each blog can only be nominated for Best Blog and one other category.

Nominations close at 9pm on Friday January the 18th. Click here for the nominations page

The blog awards this year are being held this year on Saturday, March 1st, 7.30pm at the Alexander Hotel. Time to book the hostel I think.

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