Award for 'Irish Times' online site

PAUL CULLEN

www.IRISHTIMES.COM has been voted the best online publication at the inaugural Irish Web Awards.

The Irish Times online site also picked up an award for being Ireland's most useful website.

www.Boards.ie, Ireland's largest online community, won the overall Grand Prix award for best website and was also voted best discussion forum.

More than 300 people from the online community attended the award ceremony in Dublin on Saturday, which was sponsored by www.moviestar.ie.

www.Kanchi.org, formerly the Aisling Foundation charity, won the most accessible website while www.Focal.ie won for best Irish Language Website.

Best radio website was Phantom FM and best sports site went to www.munsterfans.com.

www.Entertainment.ie won the best entertainment website category and State magazine's website won in the music category.

www.Araskids.ie, a Government website aimed at young people wanting to learn about the President, won the Government award and RTÉ was voted best videocaster.

Other awards were picked up by Silicon Republic (technology), Playlist Mix (podcasting), and www.Dublin.ie (best council website).

Also at the weekend, RTÉ Radio 1 was voted national station of the year at the PPI Radio Awards ceremony in Kilkenny.

The station's Seán O'Rourke was news broadcaster of the year, Today with Pat Kenny won the current affairs award and Marian Finucane was presented with an outstanding achievement award.

Dublin's 98 won best local music station.

© 2008 The Irish Times