Ryanair wins Web awards

Ryanair.com, the low fares website, scooped three of the 14 awards at the fourth Golden Spider Irish Internet Awards last night in the RDS.

Ryanair.com, which receives 15.2 million page impressions a month, was awarded the sponsor's EsatNet award, the Dot.ie Internet magazine readers award and best international award.

Mr Seamus Conaty, managing director of Itronics, the electronics publishing division of The Irish Times, was given a special award for his significant contribution to the Irish Internet industry.

Mr Conaty was instrumental in the setting up of The Irish Times online in 1994 - at which time it was the first online newspaper in Ireland and Britain - and has been a pioneer of the use of the Internet in Ireland.

The Irish Times site, ireland.com, receives 16.7 million page impressions per month and has 1.1 million unique users, making it the most visited Irish site.

At last night's awards ceremony, special awards were presented to: Ryanair.com (Dot.ie Internet Magazine Readers Award); Mr Seamus Conaty, managing director, Itronics Ltd (Significant Contribution to the Irish Internet Industry); Ryanair.com (EsatNet Award).

Business on the Net Awards were presented to: toyota.com (marketing excellence); http:// vhihealth.com (information excellence); buildonline.com (best ecommerce site); paddypower.com (best e-business site); newmedia.ie (Internet advertising award); 12travel.com (best use of the Internet by an SME); Webfactory.ie (2000 Web design agency of the Year); and Ryanair.com (best international award).

Life on the Net Awards went to: cluas.com (best community or special interest award); archaire.ie (best personal site); http:// library.thinkquest.org/coo2926 (young person's award).