Payments firm founder named 'Internet Hero'

INTERNET ENTREPRENEUR Colm Lyon, who founded online payment service Realex Payments, was named last night as 2009 Internet Hero at the Eircom Golden Spiders Awards.

Mr Lyon has bucked economic trends with Realex Payments. Founded in 2000, it has survived the dot-com bust and economic slowdowns and is now embarking on an ambitious three-year plan that will see it launch a PayPal-style service aimed at consumers in 27 countries.

Realex Payments processes more than €6 billion for 3,500 businesses at home and overseas.

Mr Lyon also spent four years as director and chairman of the Irish Internet Association and founded the Internet Growth Alliance in 2009, to support Irish internet businesses seeking international growth.

Accepting the award in Dublin’s Burlington Hotel last night, Mr Lyon thanked his staff, clients and partners.

“It means so much to be recognised by your own industry and it’s a very proud moment for me and the team at Realex Payments.

“We have an incredible team that shares the vision and the passion to create an international internet payment processing business.

“We look forward to tackling the challenges that this opportunity presents.”

Also honoured at last night’s ceremony was video website Muzu.tv, which scooped the Eircom Grand Prix award and also picked up best entertainment and games-related website.

The site stood out for its business model that attracted content owners, offering consumers access to videos in an easy-to-use website that also facilitates social networking.

Other winners included organicsupermarket.ie, which won best retail and commercial shopping site; rte.ie/morningireland, which was awarded best digital media website; and culgreen.ie, named best community and charity website.

The public-voted social networking and community website award, introduced last year, made a return for the 2009 awards and went to Pix.ie.

Bethedifference.ie was named best interactive marketing campaign, while 21-year-old Declan Carey picked up the young designer of the year award for Corkcityfc.ie.