The Irish Times

The Irish Times is Ireland's "newspaper of record", launched in the late 1850s. The current editor is Geraldine Kennedy, who succeeded Conor Brady in 2002. Its main daily rival is the Irish Independent newspaper, currently Ireland's best-selling broadsheet newspaper.

Related Topics:
Ireland - Newspaper of record - 1850s - Geraldine Kennedy - Conor Brady - Irish Independent - Broadsheet

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The paper is generally perceived as liberal, social democratic and neutral on Irish unity, in contrast to the Irish Independent, which is perceived as populist, economically right wing, and, by republicans, pro-British. For example, The Irish Times was seen as supportive of Mary Robinson's campaign for the presidency of Ireland, and of legal changes to Ireland's divorce, contraception and abortion laws.

Related Topics:
Liberal - Social democratic - Irish unity - Irish Independent - Republicans - British - Mary Robinson - Presidency of Ireland

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Historically, The Irish Times was formed to be the voice of Irish unionists who wanted Ireland to remain a full part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. In the early twentieth century, as the Irish Free State seceded from the United Kingdom and later also the Commonwealth, the paper changed its identity, becoming a more radical voice in the Irish media.

Related Topics:
Unionists - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland - Twentieth century - Irish Free State - Commonwealth

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Its most prominent columnists include controversial former Sunday Tribune editor, Vincent Browne, left-wing writer and arts commentator Fintan O'Toole and former taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Garret FitzGerald. Senior international figures, including Tony Blair, Bill Clinton and others have written for its 'Op-Ed' (Opinion and Editorial) page. Its most prominent columns include Drapier (an anonymous column produced weekly by a politician, giving the 'insider' view of politics), "An Irishman's Diary" (regularly penned by the controversial right-wing commentator, Kevin Myers), and Rite and Reason, its weekly religious column, edited by Patsy McGarry, its Religious Affairs Editor. On the sports pages, Tom Humphries' Locker Room column recently spawned a book.

Related Topics:
Sunday Tribune - Vincent Browne - Fintan O'Toole - Taoiseach - Garret FitzGerald - Tony Blair - Bill Clinton - Kevin Myers - Rite and Reason - Patsy McGarry - Tom Humphries

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One of its most famous columns was the biting and hilarious Cruiskeen Lawn satire column written by Myles na gCopaleen, the pen name of Brian O'Nolan (Brian Ó Nualláin) who also wrote books using the name Flann O'Brien. Cruiskeen Lawn is an anglicized spelling of the Irish words cruiscín lán, meaning 'the full little jug'. Cruiskeen Lawn first appeared in the early 1940s and continued for over twenty years.

Related Topics:
Myles na gCopaleen - Flann O'Brien

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It is also the Irish newspaper with the most bureaux abroad; it has had full time correspondents in Washington, Moscow, Beijing, London, Central and South America, Africa and other parts of the world.

Related Topics:
Washington - Moscow - Beijing - London - Central - South America - Africa

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According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, it had a daily circulation of 117,543 during the first six months of 2005.

Related Topics:
Circulation - 2005

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