Internet Hero!

Folks,

We’re delighted to let you know that Aodhan Cullen (founder and CEO of StatCounter) has been chosen as this year’s Internet Hero at the eircom Golden Spider Awards! The award, sponsored by Business and Finance, was created to recognize an individual who has made a significant contribution to the development of the internet.

Aodhan was honored to receive the award from last year’s Internet Hero, Dr. Denis Jennings.

Here’s a transcript of the speech given by Aodhan last night as he accepted the award in the Burlington Hotel in Dublin…

    Once upon a time, there was a little boy who lived in Castleknock [residential area in Dublin, Ireland]. Although small for his age and quite shy, this young chap was also very determined… he wanted to earn some extra pocket money [allowance] and he wanted to earn it NOW!

    So, despite being just 10 years of age, he put an ad in the Golden Pages [telephone and business directory] for typing services… “£2 / page & a free copy with that!”

    Although he counted doctors, professors & other highly qualified people among his clients, I can assure you that 10 year old had absolutely no idea that 15 years later he would be standing here tonight before his peers to accept such a prestigious award.

    “Business Link” that first typing business is no more but these days I work on StatCounter – a free online visitor stats tool that helps 2 million website owners and bloggers worldwide understand and optimise their websites. If you haven’t yet got a StatCounter on your website, then you need to get one! Look us up tomorrow!

    I am thrilled & humbled to be the recipient of this year’s Internet Hero Award. Tonight I’m being presented with some big shoes & I hope I can fill them.

    I’d like to thank a few people:

    • The judges for choosing me.
    • All the team at eircom and Business & Finance for organizing tonight’s event.
    • All my family & parents – who still to this day, get calls asking about CV [résumé] typing!
    • And of course my wife Jenni who is thrilled to be Mrs Internet Hero 2008!
    • Thanks also to my colleagues on the StatCounter Team and all the StatCounter members worldwide – without their loyalty & support I wouldn’t be here tonight.

    Finally, I want to thank all of you sitting here tonight, my friends & peers in the internet industry – many of you have offered advice & support to me over the last 15 years, in some cases just via email or message boards so that we have never actually met in person. To one and all – thank you!

    And I look forward to trying to live up to my new title in the next 12 months.

    Goodnight and God bless!

We, the StatCounter Team, don’t think Aodhan will have any trouble living up to the new title… look how well the suit fits?! 😉

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