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.

Historical background

The first issue of the newspaper was published on the 29th of March, 1859. After the death of its founder, Major Lawrence Knox, in 1873, the paper was bought by the Arnott family, famous as founders of Arnotts department store. Though the paper became a publicly listed company in 1900, the family continued to hold a majority shareholding until the 1960s (even after the family lost control, the great-grandson of the original purchaser was the paper's London editor).

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Today, the newspaper is not owned by shareholders, but rather overseen by the Irish Times Trust. The Trust was created in 1974 as a guarantor of editorial independence, to prevent takeover by private individuals, and to guard against commercial pressures. The Irish Times is the only newspaper in Ireland, and one of only a few worldwide, to be protected in this way.

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According to the Trust's memorandum of association, the purpose of the body is "o publish The Irish Times as an independent newspaper primarily concerned with serious issues for the benefit of the community throughout the whole of Ireland free from any form of personal or of party political, commercial, religious or other sectional control."

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However, some commentators blame the Trust for problems that faced the paper in 2002. The Irish Times was in considerable financial difficulty over a disastrous decision to invest its reserves in the building of a new printing plant; it laid off a large number of its journalists and underwent major restructuring. Some of its external bureaux were closed, while it also ceased publishing 'colour' pages specifically devoted to covering local Irish regions, with regional coverage now merged with news. The reorganisation appears to have had the desired effect; after posting losses of almost €3 million in 2002, the paper returned to profit in 2003.

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In 1895, the paper moved from its original offices on Middle Abbey Street (the street that was until late 2004 the home of the Irish Independent) to D'Olier Street in the south city centre. "D'Olier Street" became a synonym for "The Irish Times". In January 2005, the paper announced its intention to relocate from its historical home of D'Olier Street in Dublin city centre to Tara Street, less than a hundred metres away.

Related Topics:
Irish Independent - Dublin city

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In May 2005, the paper launched a new international edition, which is available in London and southeast England at the same time as other daily newspapers. (Previously, copies of the Irish edition were flown from Dublin to major cities in Britain on passenger flights, arriving around lunchtime.) The new edition is printed at the Newsfax plant in Hackney, and uses the Financial Times distribution network. http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/articles/folder2005/05/maydaily/irishtimes-intledition

Related Topics:
London - England - Britain - Hackney - Financial Times

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