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Scottish Catholic Observer

The Scottish Catholic Observer was Scotland's only national Catholic newspaper, founded in 1885. It ceased publication in 2020. It featured news of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland as well as regular international church news and reports from the Vatican. For most of the twenty-first century, it was owned by The Catholic Herald newspaper group.

Weekly editions contained local, national, and international news, opinion pages, letters, education news and reviews, in addition to regular reader competitions. The paper also listed births, deaths, and marriages across Scotland. Much of its exclusive news was later picked up by the mainstream media.[2]

The paper carried regular features on Scottish Catholic life and history, weekly columnists alongside an Ecumenical coverage which keeps readers up to date with Scottish Inter-Church dialogue and projects.

The Scottish Catholic Observer was redesigned and relaunched in 2008 with editor Liz Leydon, a former Scotsman journalist, and manager Rebecca Rigg.[3][4] In June 2016, deputy editor Ian Dunn took over as editor,[5] who was succeeded by his deputy Daniel Harkins in 2018.[6]

Notable former reporters include SNP MP Brendan O'Hara,[7] war correspondent Francis McCullagh,[8] and Kevin McKenna, columnist for The Observer and former deputy editor of The Herald and executive editor of the Daily Mail in Scotland.[9]

History

The Scottish Catholic Observer was created in 1885 as the Glasgow Observer. Its first edition was published on 18 April 1885 by the Glasgow Publishing Company at 58 Renfield Street, Glasgow.[10] It was shortly afterwards bought by Irishman Charles Diamond, who would use it and the Preston-based Catholic News as the basis of The Catholic Herald.[11]

The newspaper's early years were overseen by the Glasgow-born managing editor David John Mitchell Quin, who was recruited by Charles Diamond from the English-based Catholic Times.

In the twenty first century it was owned by The Catholic Herald newspaper group, but in March 2016 the newspaper was put up for sale by its owners for a reported fee of £350,000.[12]

In March 2020, the paper ceased publication at the time of the first national COVID-19 lockdown, which also saw churches closed. The company was wound up in December of that year.[13]

Editors

  • Peter Diamond (2019-2020)
  • Daniel Harkins (2018–2019)[14]
  • Ian Dunn (2016–2018)[15]
  • Liz Leydon (2008–2016)[16]
  • Harry Conroy (2000–2007)[17]
  • Eddie Barnes (1999–2000)[18]
  • Hugh Farmer (1993–1999)[19]
  • John MacLean (1990–1993)
  • Jim Coffey (1977–1990)
  • Rennie McOwan (1962–1964)[20]

External links

References

  1. Richard Purden. 'Stop behaving like victims': Anti-Catholic sectarianism a thing of the past in Scotland, claims leading historian The Irish Post, 20 March 2018, retrieved 1 April 2018^
  2. Gerry Braiden. Future of Scotland's only national Catholic newspaper in doubt as owners issue 'for sale' notice The Herald, The Herald, 19 March 2016, retrieved 2 April 2017^
  3. Scottish Catholic Observer to relaunch Scottish Christian.com, retrieved 24 October 2014^
  4. ^
  5. Scottish Catholic Observer staff list sconews.co.uk, retrieved 22 November 2016^
  6. Richard Purden. 'Stop behaving like victims': Anti-Catholic sectarianism a thing of the past in Scotland, claims leading historian The Irish Post, 20 March 2018, retrieved 1 April 2018^
  7. Going to Westminster was the start of a new life for Argyll and Bute MP Brendan O'Hara Helensburgh Advertiser, retrieved 16 February 2017^
  8. Jim Coffey. Writer of the War Scottish Catholic Observer, 19 April 1985^
  9. The future of the Catholic press Open House, retrieved 16 February 2017^
  10. Scottish Catholic Observer About Page Scottish Catholic Observer, retrieved 2 April 2017^
  11. The Catholic press in the UK Catholic Universe, retrieved 2 April 2017^
  12. Kevin McKenna. Bitter struggle to save the Scottish Catholic Observer The Guardian, 3 April 2016, retrieved 2 April 2017^
  13. Bishop John Keenan. Bishop John Keenan Facebook, 8 May 2021^
  14. Richard Purden. 'Stop behaving like victims': Anti-Catholic sectarianism a thing of the past in Scotland, claims leading historian The Irish Post, 20 March 2018, retrieved 1 April 2018^
  15. Scottish Catholic Observer staff list sconews.co.uk, retrieved 22 November 2016^
  16. Scottish Catholic Observer to relaunch Scottish Christian.com, retrieved 24 October 2014^
  17. Harry Conroy obituary The Guardian, 28 April 2010, retrieved 16 February 2017^
  18. Scotland's turbulent priest The Guardian, 19 August 2000, retrieved 16 February 2017^
  19. Sacked church editor not going meekly The Independent, 18 February 1999, retrieved 16 February 2017^
  20. Tom Gallagher. Glasgow, the Uneasy Peace: Religious Tension in Modern Scotland, 1819-1914 Manchester University Press, 1987^