Kingdom paper to cease publication

The Kingdom newspaper is to cease publication with the loss of 11 jobs — its final edition will hit the streets on Tuesday next.

The Killarney-based weekly newspaper has been owned by Thomas Crosbie Holdings Limited (TCH) since 2000.

TCH chief executive Tom Murphy said the decision to close The Kingdom was regrettable but was taken as a result of the severe economic downturn and its effect on The Kingdom’s advertising revenues and circulation volumes.

“We had a strong business in Kerry with a fantastic staff and the current situation is sad indeed,” he said

The editor and general manager of The Kingdom, John O’Mahony, paid tribute to the hard work and commitment of the newspaper’s staff. “The Kingdom is immensely proud of the role it has played, offering award winning news and sports coverage to the people of Kerry since TCH acquired the

title in 2000,” he said.

Staff were briefed yesterday morning about the closure and the final edition will be published on Tuesday next, January 18. Departing staff are to be paid statutory redundancy.

The newspaper founded in the 1920s by the MacMonagle family, ceased publication for some years and was re-established in the 1980s.

In December, TCH sold the Sligo Weekender to Carrick-on-Shannon native Kevin Mitchell

who operates the successful contracting printing company Datascope in Wexford.

In September, TCH sold the Newry Democrat to the Alpha Newspaper Group, owned by former Ulster Unionist MP John Taylor and his family. TCH also owns the Irish Examiner.