Special Olympics Ireland launch iPhone App

---Press Release---

Special Olympics Ireland are delighted to launch their first iPhone app today enabling supporters to follow Team Ireland at the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games. 126 athletes will represent Team Ireland in 12 different sports at the Games in Athens which will run from 25th June – 4th July. The Team will be accompanied by 49 coaches, 200 volunteers, and hundreds of family members and supporters. The app will also provide information on the ongoing work undertaken by Special Olympics in more than 400 clubs throughout Ireland. The Special Olympics Ireland iPhone app is available to download for free from the Apple App store from today.

“The app is a fantastic communication tool for us. This is a unique app for Special Olympics globally and for the first time people will be able to follow the World Summer Games on their iPhone.” said Sahra O’Neill, Special Olympics Ireland Director of Fundraising and Marketing. “Throughout the 2011 World Games, our iPhone app will provide athletes, families, supporters and volunteers with up-to-date information on the progress of each individual member of Team Ireland on their iPhone. The app is fully integrated with Special Olympics Ireland social networks and provides live blogs, results and news from the Games, as well as information on the ongoing work of Special Olympics. We look forward to adding additional functionality and updates to the app in the near future and hope the app provides hours of use for all supporters of Team Ireland.”

The Special Olympics Ireland app was developed free of charge for the charity through the collective efforts of Alan Haverty (www.outlier.ie), Cian Pas (www.creamgraphics.ie) and Roland Gröpmair (www.mapps.ie). Alan, who’s brother Ian benefits hugely from his participation in Special Olympics, approached Cream Graphics with the idea of developing an iPhone app to follow the 126 members of Team Ireland at World Games, and together they brought onboard long term app developer Roland Gröpmair to assist with the build of the app.

“We’d like to thank Alan, Cian and Roland for their enthusiasm, creativity and perseverance in making this happen for Special Olympics Ireland,” said Ms O’Neill. “It’s fantastic for us to be able to reach out and connect with people via their mobile phones, and raise awareness of the fantastic endeavours of the 126 Sporting Heroes who are representing Ireland on the world stage in Athens”.

Cream Graphics
Cream Graphic Design is a professional graphic design consultancy based in Dublin Ireland. A boutique agency, we bring together professionals from disciplines including design, photography, video production, illustration and web development to deliver tailored design solutions from the ground up, which are realised on brief, on budget and on time. www.creamgraphics.ie

Roland Gröpmair
Roland is a freelance software developer, specializing on mobile apps for the iPhone and iPad. His website is www.mapps.ie. He is an experienced IT project manager and technology consultant with more than 15 years industry experience. He has worked with several Fortune 500 companies in Europe, US and Canada.

Alan Haverty – Outlier.ie
Alan Haverty holds close to a decade of experience in consumer focused marketing. He is currently developing a business collaboration forum through his own website www.outlier.ie. His current responsibilities at Blueface lie in the development of customer propositions as well as, the continuous updating of the customer's online experience. Before joining Blueface Alan was a brand ambassador for Microsoft (Australia). He also spent a year as a Rugby Development Officer in Asia, and is a Patron of the Lao Rugby Federation.

Meteor Launches Their iPhone Offering

Today, Tuesday 14th of June, Meteor announced a suite of new price plans and, more importantly, the availability of both iPhone 4's and 3GS's on the network (available in both black and white). The price plans, which include three different flavours, start at €40 and offer data, call and text combinations. The iPhone range is also available on Pre Pay from €469.

Commenting on the latest edition to the Meteor handset range, Kealan Donoghue Head of Devices and Product Operations said, “The introduction of the iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS means that customers now have even more choice and value with Meteor. We have already had more than 10,000 people pre-register for the iPhone on meteor.ie, so we are really delighted to be able to offer this fantastic handset to our customers and better still they can get an iPhone for Free. With the surge in Smartphone popularity and data consumption, customers are demanding more for their mobiles and are constantly using their mobile to update their status on Facebook, tweet and stay in touch with their family and friends on the go. We have invested heavily in our high speed data network and on creating real value, so customers get more for their money. The introduction of the iPhone further enhances an already extensive range of exciting devices - there is something for everyone, with Meteor”.

For more information log on to www.meteor.ie or call into one of Meteor's 42 stores nationwide.

Pizza Making Lesson at Milano

Last Tuesday I was invited to pop along to Milano Grand Canal Dock and bring three friends to experience something new that the restaurant has launched. It isn't a new dish, though I guess it could be if you like, but it is something really cool. Milano's Grand Canal Dock restaurant has introduced pizza making lessons!

This absolutely ingenious idea lets you and a group of friends take a private area in the restaurant and learn from Milano's seasoned staff exactly how to make seriously good food. What makes this even better is that the premise is simple - you just pay for whatever you eat just as normal. All the tuition and fun had putting your pizza's together doesn't cost a thing!

Now I'd be the first to admit that I am a Milano fan. I love the airy, casual atmosphere that the restaurants have; combined with great food, a good selection of wines and beers and brilliant staff and service. In this case I was especially happy to hear that it was Milano Grand Canal Dock that has introduced this new service as it's my local Milano, and my favourite of the Dublin branches.

We started off the evening with a few drinks and some starters, and then the fun got under way...

I really can't stress how much fun this was and I couldn't recommend it any higher. The four of us (@Juleser, @CurlyDena, @CloudSteph and I) had an absolute blast and being able to have a go at throwing our own dough was brilliant. If you have a birthday or a hen or just want to do something a little bit different with a group of friends then this should be it. Just give the restaurant a call and they can advise on dates and times.

As a bit of a foodie and someone who loves cooking this was an opportunity I jumped at, and wasn't one that I regretted. This was easily the best fun I've had in ages!

And finally...

Lyons Decaf - ‘Same Great Taste, Same Great Talk’

Lyons Tea has just launched its latest advertising campaign. ‘Same Great Taste, Same Great Talk’ supports Lyons Decaf tea and will run with targeted print, outdoor and online advertising and PR activity.

Decaf is the second fastest growing category within tea in Ireland at +6% (value) compared to the fastest growing, Green Tea at +11%. The Decaf market in the UK is worth £32.3m up 13.5% versus the previous year and Decaf is the fastest growing category in tea in the UK, pointing to the strong potential for growth for Lyons Decaf in the Republic of Ireland. Lyons Tea research has demonstrated that almost 90% of Irish people drink tea with the average Irish person drinking around four cups a day - an estimated 300 litres per person per year. However, Decaf tea household penetration is just 7%, half that of Decaff coffee in Ireland which has 14%.

Liz Finlay, Marketing Manager, Lyons Tea comments, “It is interesting that Irish people are more likely to buy Decaf coffee than tea… Given that so many Irish people love tea! Lyons Decaf is a great alternative for people trying to reduce their caffeine intake, with the same great taste as Lyons Tea is famous for!”

Digital Employment and Salary Survey 2011

Prosperity, Ireland's leading digital recruitment agency, have just released the results of a serious piece of research. Prosperity's Digital Employment & Salary Survey for 2011 covers all the digital sectors: Vendor/Portals, E-commerce, Digital Agency, Online Publisher, Gaming and Mobile/Telecoms.

The survey, while showing several very positive aspects of the digital sector, does highlight that there is a large shortfall in skills across the Irish digital environment. that need to be addressed if we are to be the digital colossus we aspire to be. The survey also draws comparisons between Irish salaries and those of The UK, Czech Republic, Israel and Singapore, and also includes a comparison of digital salaries today compared to those of two years ago.

For anyone involved in the sector, either as an employee or employer, I highly recommend taking a look.