Business and Law Student wins Irish Internet Award
Congratulations to 3rd year BBL Student, Christopher Rooney, on winning the ‘One to Watch’ Category at the recent eircom Spiders Awards. Christopher, along with his business partner, Liam Ryan, set up their company, safetext.ie, in 2009 and have since achieved great success. As well as the eircom Spiders award, they have also recently won the Irish Web Award for “Most Innovative Website”.Recent acclaim for the website from the judging panel of the eircom Spiders Awards included;
‘Novel, brilliantly implemented, gorgeous to look at, and easy to use, the winners site also provides a genuinely useful free service that will make lots of peoples’ lives better. It also cleverly and seamlessly combines internet and SMS technologies. What’s not to like? This site is the real deal: one to watch.’The 'One to Watch' award was a first for this year's Eircom Spiders, and as a result there were over 100 entrants in that one category alone. At the age of just 21, Christopher and Liam were the youngest winners of any award on the night.Furthermore, last week the company won a business startup package worth over €45,000 at the Action Community Enterprise Business Launch Competition. The competition was run in conjunction with the South Dublin County Council Enterprise Board. Safetext.ie beat off competition from 5 other finalists and were presented with the prize at an awards ceremony the following day in the Innovation Hub in Tallaght by Innovation Minister, Conor Lenihan. The judges commented that it was a combination of both Christopher and Liam's enthusiasm, as well as the potential this service could have for creating jobs, as well as expansion internationally, which really made their venture stand out. The UCD School of Law wishes both Christopher and Liam every success in their business for the future.
Christopher Rooney (centre) and Liam Ryan (right), from safetext.ie, being presented with their ‘One to Watch’ Award at the eircom Spiders Awards Ceremony.
