In the centenary year of the Easter Rising, the Irish Defence Forces proved to be popular winners at last night’s Star-Wars-themed Social Media Awards, or Sockies, held at the RDS in Dublin.
Delighted for @defenceforces! Well deserved run of awards this evening. #sockies16 #iestaff pic.twitter.com/Emgr2HMuXP via @TheGregMurphy
— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) May 25, 2016
The organisation, which recently ran a recruitment campaign targeting women, took the awards for non-profit organisations’ use of both Twitter and Facebook, as well as the award for Best Integrated Social Media Campaign. At the end of the night, it was announced that they had also won the Grand Prix.
Congratulations to @DubFireBrigade and all the winners on a successful #sockies16 pic.twitter.com/TPrjmd2O3w
— Óglaigh na hÉireann (@defenceforces) May 25, 2016
Public service organisations were well represented, with Dublin Fire Brigade and Iarnród Éireann also among the winners. Lidl, Supervalu, Aer Lingus and HB Ice Cream were among the big brands to take awards. BreakingNews.ie took the award for a media company, while the Farmers’ Journal won for its mobile app and TG4 won for its use of Snapchat!
An #snapchat is fearr buaite ag #TG4/@LorGMedia ag #sockies16. Woohoo!! 🎉 #súileile pic.twitter.com/YJLYke9f0S
— TG4 (@TG4TV) May 25, 2016
AIB and Permanent TSB represented the banking sector and Radical took the Sockie for Best Agency.
This is the video that won @AerLingus their gong last night https://t.co/ZcshU0tqoe #sockies16 It's okay to cry even at this hour
— The Sockies – Social Media Awards (@socmediaawards) May 26, 2016
The event devoted several categories to SMEs, including Best Blog of an SME, won by Partnership International, and Best Use of Social Media by SME, won by Cuckoo Events. Awards also went to AA Roadwatch, Keogh’s Crisps and the Union of Students in Ireland.
Awww yeaaaah #sockies16 pic.twitter.com/1dqr9nQo2A
— Paul Buckley (@PaulBuckley) May 25, 2016
Sockies 2016 was organised by Damien Mulley and his team, and presented by Rick O’Shea.
About the Author: Conn Ó Muíneacháin
“May the @defenceforces be with you!” https://t.co/7ix9wqS5ac #Sockies16