"Vote Alan Kelly" rap nominated for digital award
Issued : Wednesday 24 February, 2010
The rap song produced for Labour MEP Alan Kelly's European election campaign has the chance to scoop a prestigious digital media award in Dublin this week.
Launched in 2003, the awards are considered the Oscars of the digital media world in Ireland, and will be held tomorrow, Thursday 25 February in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Northwood, Santry, Dublin.
"Don't Make the Wrong Choice - Vote Alan Kelly" has been an internet sensation, reaching over 1 million people across both internet and radio.
It has been widely syndicated on sites such as YouTube but also made the leap into mainstream media featuring on RTE, Today FM, Newstalk, FM 104 and multiple regional radio stations.
Nominated in the "Best Viral Event" it is up against illustrious brands such as Sony Ireland and Coors Light.
MEP Kelly is widely acknowledged as being one of the political pioneers in Ireland when it comes to utilising new media and the internet.
Alan has won many awards for his work as an eBusiness Manager with Bord Fáilte and is a former recipient of an IIA Net Visionary Award in eGovernment.
During his time in Bord Fáilte, he built the National Tourism Database that today drives every tourism information distribution channel and reservation engine. He was the first person to register the domain names www.ireland.ie and www.discoverireland.ie.
Recognising the need for an improved communications infrastructure, he is involved in a number of European reports on the future of the digital economy and is currently undertaking a comparative study of broadband access levels across Europe.
The song written and performed by Garry McCarthy aka GMC also features music by Cork band State of Jay. The song instantly became an internet phenomenon when it was released ahead of the 2009 European elections. The rap song is one of the first ever political raps and the first of its kind in Ireland.
GMC has since been commissioned to produce songs for a number of commercial and non commercial organisations. He played to a packed audience last summer at Electric Picnic and is currently running a series of community workshops in Cork for teenagers and kids.
Speaking ahead of the awards, Garry said "I'm delighted with the nomination and to be able to reach a whole new audience with my music. I never expected such a massive reaction.
