A proud past to guide our future

WHEN John Francis Maguire published the first edition of The Cork Examiner on the evening of Monday, August 30, 1841 — 170 years ago today — he had deep political intent and the commercial ambition needed to fulfil that vision.

Although Queen Victoria had been on her throne for four years, Maguire wanted to champion an Ireland free, viable and at ease with all its traditions.

He realised that to sustain such a project, one supported by the great majority of Irish people but suppressed by their English rulers, he needed commercial success — a deep war-chest — to fund his campaigns.