Why are there so many different Marketing/Design/Digital wards handed out in Ireland

oneofakind32

I'm note sure if I'm in the right form for this but I couldn't find anywhere else more suited so I said I'd try it here.
I'm from Galway. I worked in Dublin for 3 years after college as a web dev. I have since moved to the US. During my time in Dublin I noticed there are a lot of different design, marketing, digital awards handed out every year in Dublin. I did a quick search and found these 4 for example...
https://idma.ie/awards/
http://digitalmedia.ie/
http://www.aimawards.ie/
http://anpostsmartmarketing.ie/
The market appear flooded with these kind of awards. Ireland is small market for ~5m people, how many of these wards do we needs? I constantly see friends and former college who are "delighted" to be recognised for there blah blah blah. I work in New York now and I don't see any of this kind of back slapping going on. 
These look like pay for play for profit events. Why do people go in for this stuff? Do Irish people just love a piss up that much?

Richard Hillman

Marketing awards are marketing.

I used to work for a marketing company and they insisted that you put the companies awards on your email signature.

They seem impressive for those outside of the industry but everybody knows it is just BS

Hector Bellend

People in Ireland enjoy self congratulation, mutual masturbation and an excuse for a session.

Pivot Eoin

Yeah it's mostly a crock of bull**** tbh.

Agencies love to post this kind of recognition in their sales pitches and you mightnt believe it, but you actually pay to be nominated in a lot of these awards (Can't say all). And ticket sales are usually very high because the whole ****ing crowd is nominated. There's a lot more than above too.

The organizers benefit from the sales obv, they get seen as a position of "Influence" or "Authority" in the industry, thus making it look like they are the all seeing eye, or the person to ask when it comes to what work is award worthy, what isn't etc. The organizers are usually either Agencies or Freelancers in the space.

But you're right, they're a crock of ****e, but people love to get these BS nominations (You nominate yourself too) spread it all over Social Media etc. and try make everyone look on and go "Wow, they're really doing well". Far too much nonsense in the sector, especially in Dublin.

Sky King

1) Because a lot of these awards are revenue generating private businesses (as opposed to volunteer or academic institutions who actually give a fkuk about high standards in marketing / business / whatever)

2) Because having awards can make you or your product appear more credible, meaning lots of businesses want to enter, as they'll get a badge.

Fighting Tao

It's a bit like every wine having won awards. It's total BS that make unaware people think it must be a great wine.

jimgoose

Marketers be marketing.

Ubbquittious

Pay €2,000 for your tickets. Go into the convention centre, listen to a few paid talks incorporating a few soundbites. Eat a crappy slap-up breakfast by the local catering crowd Sodexho.

Person who paid the most for his tickets picks up award, walks up onto the stage saying how delighted they are.

Hour or so of ""networking"" time after. Everybody all smiles and the best of friends.

Who ever organises these things must be fecking minted. Money for jam.

KERSPLAT!

Sponsor an award and you'll win one. Most of them mean very little