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Irish Digital Media Awards turns 21

More than 500 industry leaders and enthusiasts gathered to celebrate the 21st Irish Digital Media Awards

Digital Media Awards 2023, held in The Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin, September 2023. Photograph: Paul Sherwood
Digital Media Awards 2023, held in The Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin, September 2023. Photograph: Paul Sherwood

On the 6th of September, the Clayton Hotel Burlington opened its doors to over 500 attendees for the Digital Media Awards (DMAs), this year celebrating its 21st birthday. Top honours on the night went to Wolfgang Digital, who took home the award for Best Agency. Anton Savage hosted the event, which was supported by a host of sponsors including Buymedia, Ebow, Elevate, Joe Media Group, Kantar Media, Olytico, The Irish Sun and WhitePress.

Sinead Clandillon, digital marketing executive of Ebow sponsor of the best technology innovation category, said: “It’s really important to support the Digital Media Awards as it celebrities the amazing work done in the creative industry by agencies, clients and partnerships.” She also went on to say, “The DMAs are a great fit for Ebow as our values of creativity and collaboration are exactly what a night like tonight celebrates.”

Another sponsor was Whitepress and Jeremy Scott, international business development manager said: “It’s absolutely crucial to support developing talent! What you want to do is encourage innovation and by supporting it here today, we’re hoping we can support the future of the industry. Whitpress are wanting to help the best, and the best are all in this room tonight.”

Overall winner Wolfgang Digital also scooped the award for best integrated digital campaign for its Wolfgang Digital & BodySlims – Daring To Dream Bigger campaign, as well as best social media campaign for Ikea, Dentsu and Joe Media Group, Swedish with an Irish Accent.

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It was also a wonderful evening for those still involved in education in this space. Seven students from Technological University of Shannon, Athlone were nominated for digital student of the year, with three of them bringing home a win on the night. Clodagh Henderson won gold, Shruti Nadagouda won silver and Yingxin Li took the bronze back to Athlone.

Speaking about the awards ceremony, Trish Murphy, sponsorship director of the Digital Media Awards, once again thanked the award sponsors – Buymedia, Ebow, Elevate, Joe Media Group, Kantar Media, Olytico, The Irish Sun, WhitePress, Better Business Magazine and InBusiness Magazine. “Without their support and commitment to the sector, these awards would not be possible. We are very grateful for their support which are viewed as the ‘Oscars’ for the digital sector.”

For all the big wins from this incredible night, take a look at our highlights video.

The event couldn’t happen without our panel of expert judges drawn from all areas of the digital media sector.

Digital Media Awards judges

  • Damian Gordon, lecturer, Technological University of Dublin
  • Darina Sexton, head of communications, Microsoft Ireland
  • Edel Walsh, head of digital marketing, EY Ireland
  • Emmet Ryan, business and technology reporter
  • Gabriela Gliga, lecturer in marketing, Atlantic Technological University
  • Gavin McKenna, marketing manager, Sky (Now TV)
  • Greg Canty, managing partner, Fuzion Communications, and podcaster
  • Joseph McGucken, online content creator
  • John Carty, lecturer and researcher, Atlantic Technological University
  • Keith McLoughlin, director, Connexus
  • Marija Grishin, assistant professor in marketing, University College Dublin
  • Mark O’Brien, lead engineer, Eaton Corporation
  • Martyn Rosney, partner, Reputation Inc
  • Megan O’Riordan, B2B growth leader, Accenture Song
  • Niall Kitson, editor of Techcentral.ie and co-host of Tech Radio
  • Viv Maher, founder and connector, ThinkDifferently.ie Recruitment
Joe Media Group was awarded Gold in the Best Podcast category. Photograph: Paul Sherwood
Joe Media Group was awarded Gold in the Best Podcast category. Photograph: Paul Sherwood

2024 winners

Best agency

Gold – Wolfgang Digital

Best OOH digital campaign

Gold – Havas Media

Silver – PML Group/OMD

Bronze – Posterplan & Mindshare

Best website

Gold – Kooba

Silver – Vital Media

Bronze – Granite

MC Anton Savage presents the award for Best Use of Video to members of the team from Teneo. Photograph: Paul Sherwood
MC Anton Savage presents the award for Best Use of Video to members of the team from Teneo. Photograph: Paul Sherwood

Best use of video

Gold – Teneo/Samsung Ireland

Silver – Lidl, essencemediacom, The Irish Times Group and Foe

Bronze – Today FM

Best brand

Gold – Dentsu Ireland

Silver – LADbible Ireland

Bronze – Stratticus Studio

Best conversion strategy

Gold – Ebow

Silver – Havas Media

Bronze – Strike Digital

Best big data implementation for digital marketing

Gold – Glowmetrics

Best newcomer – sponsored by Olytico

Gold – Joe Media Group

Clodagh Henderson, student from Technological University of the Shannon, was awarded Digital Student of the Year 2024. Photograph: Paul Sherwood
Clodagh Henderson, student from Technological University of the Shannon, was awarded Digital Student of the Year 2024. Photograph: Paul Sherwood

Digital student of the year

Gold – Clodagh Henderson

Silver – Shruti Nadagouda

Bronze – Yinxin Li

Best strategy

Gold – Ebow

Silver – EssenceMediacom

Bronze – Joe Media Group

Best social media campaign

Gold – Wolfgang Digital

Silver – Dentsu Ireland

Bronze – Forsman & Bodenfors Dublin

Best creative

Gold – We the People

Silver – Digital Plus

Bronze – Teneo

Best search campaign – sponsored by WhitePress

Gold – Dentsu Ireland

Silver – Irish Life

Bronze – Core Optimisation

Best integrated digital campaign – sponsored by Kantar Media

Gold – Wolfgang Digital

Silver – EssenceMediacom

Bronze – Life Style Sports

Best app – sponsored by The Irish Sun

Gold – Scope Tickets

Silver – Food Village

Bronze – Total Digital

Best integrated media strategy – sponsored by BuyMedia

Gold – Lorg Media

Silver – Gibney Communications

Bronze – EssenceMediacom

Best in digital financial services

Gold – OMD

Best technology innovation – sponsored by Ebow

Gold – Clear Channel

Silver – BuyMedia

Bronze – Gibney Communications

Best in retail & consumer goods – sponsored by Elevate

Gold – Life Style Sports

Silver – Granite

Bronze – Mace

Best native campaign

Gold – Too Into You by Women’s Aid

Silver – Forsman & Bodenfors Dublin

Bronze – TBWA\Ireland x Glenveagh Homes

Best collaborative campaign

Gold – Lidl, EssenceMediacom, The Irish Times Group and Foe

Silver – The Irish Times Group

Bronze – Joe Media Group

Best podcast

Gold – Joe Media Group

Silver – Dustpod

Bronze – Engineers Ireland

PHD Media collected the Silver award for Best In Government & Not For Profit. Photographer: Paul Sherwood
PHD Media collected the Silver award for Best In Government & Not For Profit. Photographer: Paul Sherwood

Best in government and not for profit

Gold – Vroom Digital

Silver – PHD Media

Bronze – Belong to LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland

Best AR or VR implementation for the digital marketing industry

Gold – vStream

Best small agency – sponsored by Joe Media Group

Gold – Strike Digital

Silver – Vroom Digital

Bronze – Friday Agency

Wolfgang Digital accepting Best Agency Award of the Year 2024. Hosted by Anton Savage and Presented by Trish Murphy, Sponsorship Director of Digital Media Awards. Photograph: Paul Sherwood
Wolfgang Digital accepting Best Agency Award of the Year 2024. Hosted by Anton Savage and Presented by Trish Murphy, Sponsorship Director of Digital Media Awards. Photograph: Paul Sherwood

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