The Irish Post

The Irish Post is a newspaper and wider media brand focused on Irish people and Irish culture in Great Britain. Its principal publication is a weekly national newspaper, traditionally published on Wednesdays and distributed through shops in Great Britain and Ireland. The title covers Irish community affairs, migration, politics, culture, entertainment, sport, business and human-interest stories, giving it a role that extends beyond conventional news publishing: it also functions as a community institution and a connection between Irish communities in Britain and Ireland. The newspaper was established in February 1970 by journalist Breandán Mac Lua and businessman Tony Beatty, who came from County Waterford. The first print edition appeared on 13 February 1970. Mac Lua became the paper's first editor. In its early decades, the publication developed a specialist readership among Irish migrants and their descendants in Britain, a community whose experiences were not always reflected in the mainstream British press. The paper's editorial identity has consequently combined news reporting with coverage of Irish organisations, local community life, music, sport, entertainment and the achievements of Irish people in Britain. Thomas Crosbie Holdings acquired The Irish Post in 2003. The paper later encountered serious financial pressure. In August 2011, Thomas Crosbie Holdings placed the title into voluntary liquidation, citing five years of losses. The newspaper disappeared from newsstands for more than six weeks. Employees, readers and supporters organised the Save the Irish Post campaign to maintain public and political attention while the title's future was uncertain. Cork-born, London-based publisher Elgin Loane subsequently acquired the paper as a going concern. He re-employed most of the former staff at his Loot offices in Smithfield, London, and relaunched the newspaper with a new first edition on 19 October 2011. The brand expanded its digital presence in early 2013 when its website was relaunched as a daily news service for Irish people in Britain. This created a more continuous publishing operation alongside the weekly print edition. During the same year, The Irish Post introduced business-oriented glossy magazine initiatives, including Building Britain, Companies100 and In Business. These titles broadened the brand's commercial and editorial offer into construction, company profiles, entrepreneurship and business networking. The Irish Post also operates event properties. Its annual Irish Post Awards recognise Irish individuals in Britain across fields such as business, entertainment, sport, technology and design. The awards have become a prominent platform for celebrating Irish achievement and have attracted public figures from British and Irish media, sport, politics and entertainment. The organisation has also developed the Irish Post Country Music Awards, which were broadcast live from Derry in 2018. In February 2017, The Irish Post announced the acquisition of the broadcaster Irish TV. The broadcasting operation closed approximately one month later, making the transaction a short-lived expansion beyond print and digital publishing. The newspaper nevertheless continued as a community-focused media brand. Its editorial leadership has included Breandán Mac Lua, Donal Mooney, Frank Murphy, Norah Casey, Martin Doyle, Mal Rogers, Siobhan Breatnach and Fiona Audley. Mal Rogers returned as editor in 2022. The brand's continuing proposition is built around specialist authority, Irish identity, diaspora connection and recognition of Irish life in Britain.

The Irish Post began in February 1970 as a newspaper for the Irish community in Great Britain. Journalist Breandán Mac Lua and County Waterford businessman Tony Beatty founded the title, whose first print edition was issued on Friday, 13 February 1970. Mac Lua served as its first editor. From the outset, the publication addressed a distinct readership: Irish migrants, their families and later generations living in Britain. Its coverage provided a specialised forum for community news, Irish cultural life, sport, entertainment, public affairs and the professional and commercial achievements of Irish people in Britain. The paper became a national weekly publication, appearing on Wednesdays and being sold through retail outlets in Great Britain and Ireland. Its role was not limited to reporting events in Ireland. It also documented the social experience of the Irish diaspora in Britain and connected readers with Irish organisations, performers, sportspeople, businesses and community figures. Over time, a succession of editors contributed to the paper's identity, including Donal Mooney, Frank Murphy, Norah Casey, Martin Doyle, Mal Rogers, Siobhan Breatnach and Fiona Audley. Thomas Crosbie Holdings acquired The Irish Post in 2003. Under that ownership the title later faced a prolonged financial crisis. In August 2011, Thomas Crosbie Holdings put the newspaper into voluntary liquidation, attributing the decision to five consecutive years of financial losses. The paper disappeared from shelves for more than six weeks. Staff and supporters responded by creating the Save the Irish Post campaign, seeking to preserve the publication and draw attention to its importance to the Irish community in Britain. The title was subsequently purchased as a going concern by Elgin Loane, a Cork-born businessman and London-based publisher associated with other publishing properties in Britain and Ireland. Loane re-employed the majority of the former staff at his Loot offices in Smithfield, London. The newspaper returned on 19 October 2011 with a relaunch edition, preserving the brand while placing it under new ownership. The relaunch was followed by digital and publishing expansion. In early 2013, The Irish Post website was relaunched as a daily news site serving Irish people in Britain. The organisation also introduced a series of business-focused glossy magazines, including Building Britain, Companies100 and In Business. These ventures extended the brand into business journalism, company recognition and professional audiences while retaining its Irish-community orientation. Events became another important part of the organisation's activity. The annual Irish Post Awards recognise Irish individuals in Britain for achievements in business, entertainment, sport, technology and design. The event has featured prominent hosts and guests, including Eamonn Holmes as master of ceremonies for many years and, from 2025, Ryan Tubridy in that role. Award recipients have included Michael Flatley, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Fionnuala Flanagan, Louis Walsh, George Best, Bob Geldof, Johnny McDaid and Imelda May. The 2016 ceremony took place at Grosvenor House in London, with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan as keynote speaker and more than 1,000 guests. The 2017 awards were televised live in Ireland on TG4. The Irish Post Country Music Awards were broadcast live from the Millennium Forum in Derry on 11 September 2018. The company briefly attempted to expand into broadcasting. On 2 February 2017, it announced the acquisition of Irish TV, but that broadcaster closed approximately one month later. The Irish Post continued primarily as a newspaper, digital publisher and event organiser. Mal Rogers returned as editor in 2022. The brand's enduring proposition is to provide specialist journalism and cultural recognition for Irish life in Britain through a combination of print, digital, business and live-event formats.

1. 2022Mal Rogers returned as editor

   Mal Rogers returned to the editorial leadership of the newspaper.

   Source
2. 2018Country Music Awards broadcast from Derry

   The Irish Post Country Music Awards were broadcast live from the Millennium Forum in Derry on 11 September.

   Source
3. 2017Irish TV acquisition announced

   The Irish Post announced the purchase of Irish TV; the broadcaster closed about a month later.

   Source
4. 2013Digital and business-publishing expansion

   The website became a daily news service and the brand launched business-oriented glossy magazine initiatives.

   Source
5. 2011Liquidation crisis and relaunch

   The paper entered voluntary liquidation in August, then returned under Elgin Loane on 19 October after a campaign by staff and supporters.

   Source
6. 2003Acquisition by Thomas Crosbie Holdings

   Thomas Crosbie Holdings acquired the newspaper.

   Source
7. 1970First edition published

   The first print edition of The Irish Post appeared on 13 February, following its foundation by Breandán Mac Lua and Tony Beatty.

   Source

A specialist national media brand for Irish people and communities in Great Britain, combining weekly print journalism, daily digital news, business publishing and recognition-led events.

• The Irish PostWeekly newspaper1970

  The core weekly print publication is aimed at Irish people and communities in Great Britain. It combines news and commentary with reporting on Irish community life, culture, entertainment, sport, business and the achievements of Irish people in Britain. The newspaper is published weekly and distributed in Great Britain and Ireland.

• The Irish Post websiteDigital news service2013

  Relaunched in early 2013, the website extended The Irish Post from a weekly newspaper into a daily digital news operation. It serves Irish readers in Britain with continuing coverage of community affairs, Irish and British news, culture, entertainment and sport.

• Building BritainBusiness magazine2013

  Building Britain was part of the business-focused glossy magazine series introduced by The Irish Post in 2013. The title broadened the brand's publishing activity toward construction, development and business audiences connected with Irish enterprise in Britain.

• Companies100Business publication2013

  Companies100 was one of the business-oriented titles associated with The Irish Post's 2013 publishing expansion. It focused on company visibility and business recognition within the Irish-British commercial community.

• In BusinessBusiness magazine2013

  In Business formed part of the glossy magazine portfolio launched alongside the newspaper's digital expansion. Its subject matter was directed toward business, professional and entrepreneurial readers.

• Irish Post AwardsAwards event

  The annual Irish Post Awards celebrate Irish people in Britain for accomplishments in business, entertainment, sport, technology and design. The event provides a prominent public platform for diaspora achievement and has included both a live ceremony and, in 2017, television coverage on TG4.

• Irish Post Country Music AwardsMusic awards event2018

  The Irish Post Country Music Awards extend the brand's events activity into Irish country music. The ceremony was broadcast live from the Millennium Forum in Derry on 11 September 2018.

• 2011Save the Irish Post

  Great Britain · Ireland

  Staff and supporters mounted the Save the Irish Post campaign after Thomas Crosbie Holdings placed the paper into voluntary liquidation and it disappeared from newsstands.

  Outcome. The title was bought as a going concern by Elgin Loane and relaunched on 19 October 2011, with most former staff re-employed.

  Source

• 2017Irish TV acquisitionM&A

  The Irish Post announced an expansion from newspaper and digital publishing into broadcasting.

  What changed. The organisation announced that it had acquired broadcaster Irish TV.

  Aftermath. Irish TV closed approximately one month after the announcement, making the broadcasting expansion short-lived.

  Source
• 2013Digital news and business publishing expansionProduct launch

  The brand sought to extend its weekly print presence and reach professional and commercial audiences.

  What changed. The website was relaunched as a daily news service, while business-focused glossy titles including Building Britain, Companies100 and In Business were introduced.

  Aftermath. The Irish Post developed a broader media proposition spanning print, digital news and specialist business publishing.

  Source
• 2011Voluntary liquidation of the newspaperOther

  Thomas Crosbie Holdings cited five years of financial losses when it placed The Irish Post into voluntary liquidation in August 2011.

  What changed. The newspaper was withdrawn from sale for more than six weeks while staff and supporters campaigned to preserve it.

  Aftermath. Elgin Loane acquired the title as a going concern and relaunched it on 19 October 2011.

  Source

• 2017The Irish Post announced the acquisition of Irish TV

  The newspaper announced that it had acquired broadcaster Irish TV. The broadcaster closed approximately one month later.

  M&AProduct launch
  Source
• 2013The Irish Post website relaunched as a daily news service

  The website was relaunched to provide daily news for Irish people in Britain, complementing the weekly print newspaper.

  Product launch
  Source
• 2011The Irish Post entered voluntary liquidation

  Thomas Crosbie Holdings placed the newspaper into voluntary liquidation after reporting five years of financial losses. The title was absent from newsstands for more than six weeks.

  Bankruptcy
  Source
• 2011The Irish Post relaunched under Elgin Loane

  Elgin Loane bought the title as a going concern, re-employed most former staff and published the first edition of the relaunched newspaper on 19 October.

  M&AProduct generation
  Source
• 2003Thomas Crosbie Holdings acquired The Irish Post

  Thomas Crosbie Holdings became the owner of The Irish Post.

  M&A
  Source

1. The Irish Post