Attendees of the first ever bonkers.ie awards were treated to a wonderful keynote speech, a dramatic charity auction, a special guest appearance and the excitement of 13 awards being handed out by MC, Joe Duffy.
After months of preparation, the inaugural bonkers.ie awards took place in the spectacular Round Room at the Mansion House last night. And it was a night to remember!
The bonkers.ie awards in full swing at The Round Room at the Mansion House
The ceremony
With over 250 black-tie-clad representatives of Ireland's leading banking, energy, broadband and insurance companies packed into the Round Room, the event opened with addresses from MC Joe Duffy and bonkers.ie Founder & MD, David Kerr.
Joe Duffy opens the inaugural bonkers.ie awards
Guests were also treated to a riveting keynote address from the ESRI's Dr Pete Lunn, who ran four live experiments with the audience and shared some fascinating findings on consumer decision making.
ESRI's Dr. Pete Lunn address the 250-plus attendees
The winners
There were 13 awards handed out at the ceremony, with Energia, KBC, SSE Airtricity and Virgin Media the biggest winners on the night.
Bank of Ireland, Pinergy and Royal London also each went home with an award.
The full list of winners is:
- Best Value Current Account: KBC
- Best Value First-Time Buyer Mortgage: KBC
- Best Value Switcher Mortgage: KBC
- Best in Mortgage Protection Insurance: Royal London
- Best TV Deal: Virgin Media
- Best Broadband Only Deal: Virgin Media
- Best Broadband Bundle: Virgin Media
- Best Energy Deal: Energia
- Best Innovation in Energy: Pinergy
- Best Customer Service: SSE Airtricity
- Best Online Customer Support Team: SSE Airtricity
- Best Digital Marketing Campaign: Bank of Ireland
- Grand Prix Award - Best Consumer Business 2017: Energia
The Grand Prix Award was handed to Energia's Glen Bailey by Chairperson of the Judging Panel, Bobby Kerr, who took the opportunity to highlight just how difficult it was for his team of 12 independent judges to reach their decision.
Bobby Kerr presents the Grand Prix Award to Energia's Glen Bailey
The charity auction
One of the highlights of the night was a very special charity auction, run in aid of the Peter McVerry Trust.
A rugby ball, signed by the entire 2015 Irish rugby team and coach on the back of their 6 Nations victory was donated to the cause by 12-year-old John Mulhall, who had won the ball at a previous event.
Guests were then surprised and delighted to see Pinergy ambassador and Irish rugby legend, Paul O'Connell appear on stage to place the ball on its tee for auctioning.
The auction immediately kicked into gear, with the ball being sold for €3,500 after a ferocious bidding war!
The team
The bonkers.ie team was out in force at the awards ceremony and was delighted to have the opportunity to enjoy an evening of celebrating consumer value with partners across banking, energy, broadband and insurance.
Thank you to everyone who made the first ever bonkers.ie awards a night to remember! See you next year!
