Celtic Media Group Newspapers

The Celtic Media Group publishes multiple local print newspapers and their associated websites, according to the Celtic Media website the total weekly print readership is reported as 212,000 people, however no year or source is provided for this information. There are six newspapers in the group, The Anglo Celt in Cavan; Meath Chronicle in Navan; Westmeath Examiner in Mullingar and Westmeath Independent in Athlone/Roscommon and finally The Offaly Independent, a free newspaper.

While individually each title reaches a relatively small local audience the newspapers of the Celtic Media Group are included due to the significant scale of their combined reach. Within the Irish electoral system of Proportional Representation by single transferable vote (PR-STV) local politics play a significant role in elections, with seats won by small margins. Local issues and campaigns can have a considerable impact on the outcome of national and EU elections in Ireland.

Formation of The Celtic Media Group:

In the early 2000s Scottish publisher Dunfermline Press entered the Irish Market buying the Meath Chronicle (2002) and The Anglo-Celt (2004), followed by three other titles to form the Celtic Media Group Ltd. In 2012, following financial difficulties at the Dunfermline parent company, the group was bought out by the Celtic Media Group’s senior management team. In 2014 they added the Connaught Telegraph to the group after this paper went into liquidation. Independent News Media (INM now Mediahuis Ireland) submitted a successful bid to buy the company in 2016 but this fell through during a review by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.

Celtic Media Group currently owns six regional newspapers, each has a separate office in their locality and, with the exception of the Westmeath Independent and the Offaly Independent, individual editors.

Publications Foundation details:

All of the newspapers in this group focus on coverage of local news, politics, sports, events and entertainment. Political coverage centres on local issues and campaigns. When reporting on national level policy these titles focus their reporting on the local impact of national policy.

Westmeath Independent - Established in 1846 by Thomas Chapman, nationalist focus and created for farming communities. Areas covered: Athlone, South Westmeath, South Roscommon, West Offaly, Ballinasloe and surrounding areas.

Westmeath Examiner - Established in 1882 by John Patrick Hayden who was also the first editor of the newspaper. Hayden was an Irish nationalist and tenant’s rights campaigner during the Land War and Plan of Campaign in the 1880s.

Areas covered: Mullingar and North Westmeath.

The Anglo Celt - Established in 1850 by William Johnson with a liberal outlook.

Areas covered: Cavan and surrounding areas.

Meath Chronicle - The Meath Chronicle was founded in 1887, and has a very proud nationalist tradition. It was one of the first newspapers to call for full Irish Independence in 1916 and was suppressed by the British in 1918, when the authorised removed parts of its printing press.

Areas covered: Navan, Kells, Trim and surrounding areas.

Connaught Telegraph - Established in 1828 by Frederick Cavendish as Mayo Telegraph. Cavendish and the early editorial team were supporters of Irish Home Rule and campaigners for tenants rights.

Areas covered: Castlebar and Mayo.

Offaly Independent - Established in 1894 as the Tullamore & King’s County Independent, following independence it was renamed the Offaly Independent in the 1920s before another name change to the Offaly-Westmeath Independent in 1968. The newspaper was reverted to the Offaly Independent title in 1985.