Donegal Democrat

Newspaper in Ireland

Donegal Democrat

Type| Twice-weekly newspaper
Format| Broadsheet & compact
Owner(s)| Iconic Newspapers
Editor| Chris Ashmore
Founded| 16 June 1919
Political alignment| Nationalist
Headquarters| Letterkenny, County Donegal
Website| donegaldemocrat.ie

The Donegal Democrat is a twice-weekly local newspaper, covering County Donegal, Ireland. The paper was traditionally based in the town of Ballyshannon in the south of the county, but now has offices in Donegal Town (southern edition) and Letterkenny (northern edition). The Donegal Democrat is the largest paper focused solely on County Donegal, and its current managing editor is Chris Ashmore. The paper was the only one published in south Donegal from the mid-twentieth century on, and so has gained a reputation of being the local paper of record for that part of the county.

Since its launch, the Donegal Democrat has been published weekly on a Thursday in broadsheet format, and in recent years has become part of a chain of titles that are published three times per week in the county. The paper is now almost entirely integrated with the Donegal People's Press, a paper published on Tuesdays in a compact format. The People's Press was traditionally a north Donegal paper and so, with minor alterations, is published as a Tuesday edition of the Donegal Democrat in the south of the county.

In March 2004, the Sunday Democrat was launched as an edition of the Sunday Journal, it changed its name later that year to Donegal on Sunday which is no longer in print. The Donegal Democrat group is owned by Iconic Newspapers, which publishes several other titles in counties Donegal and Londonderry including the Donegal Post, Inish Times, County Derry Post and Derry News.

## History

[edit]

### Early years

[edit]

The paper was first published on 16 June 1919,[1] and was founded by John Downey.[2]

The editorial in the first issue set out that it was to be a "non-political paper in a world of politics, but we believed that in doing so we are doing right. We are making our bow to the public at a critical period in our national and local history and it shall be ever our object to uphold anything that, will further the national and local interests."[1]

The paper had a fairly militant nationalist policy, which during the Irish War of Independence led to it being raided on several occasions by police and British soldiers,[1] who on one occasion announced that they were looking for a "typewriting machine". But they left on being assured that there was no such machine on the premises.

For its first years, the paper was completely hand-set, with each letter of type being placed individually; it was not surprising therefore that there were only 10 pages, measuring 9 inches by 11 inches. Its front page contained mostly adverts, with no photos in the paper at all. Over the next few years the paper gradually increased in size and circulation, and in 1922 got its first typesetting machine.

Cecil King purchased the Democrat from the Downey family in 1948.[3]

### Recent history

[edit]

The Democrat published a number of books between 1962 and 1988.[4]

The paper was put on the market in 1992 following the death of the then managing director, Cecil King jnr.[5] In 1995, the paper was bought by the Derry Journal Newspapers group for an undisclosed sum thought to be in the region of 1 million.[5] The paper was purchased by the 3i holding company Local Press Ltd in 2004, and changed hands again the following year, when Johnston Press took over Local Press. In 2014,[6] Iconic Newspapers acquired Johnston Press's titles in the Republic of Ireland.[7]

## Layout

[edit]

### Features

[edit]

Community section including local features and town notes; public notices; Donegal Life

### Tuesday

[edit]

The Tuesday edition (available as the Donegal People's Press in the north of the county), is in compact format with full colour; through its features, it is a little less 'rigid' than the Thursday paper.

### Thursday

[edit]

The Thursday paper which is available throughout the county, has moved from broadsheet to full colour compact and contains a comprehensive selection of news from around the county as well as lifestyle, health, columnists, photographs and readers' letters.

### Sport

[edit]

Sport stories form an important part of the newspaper, and coverage is given in both titles to the local GAA league and championship as well as Donegal's involvement in inter-county competitions.[1] Soccer is also quite prominent, including the local leagues, and the progress of Finn Harps, the only professional team in the county. Other sports regularly covered include golf, basketball and athletics.

### Circulation

[edit]

The Donegal Democrat is no longer ABC audited[8] so circulation figures for the period since 2012 are not available.

In 2007, it had a combined ABC circulation for its Tuesday and Thursday editions of 23,792, for the first half of 2007. Circulation declined, for the Tuesday edition, to an average of 5,855 copies per day, for the period July 2012 to December 2012. Circulation declined, for the Thursday edition, to an average of 7,684 copies per day, for the period July 2012 to December 2012.[9]

### Website

[edit]

The paper also has a breaking news website www.DonegalLive.ie shared with other Donegal newspapers in the group.

## See also

[edit]

* Martin McGinley
* Donal Reid
* Noel Slevin
* Michael Daly

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d CURRAN, CONOR (April 2012). WHY DONEGAL SLEPT: THE DEVELOPMENT OF GAELIC GAMES IN DONEGAL, 1884-1934 (Ph.D.). De Montfort University.
2. ^ "Democrat to publish four-part series on 1916 rising". Donegal Democrat. 7 March 2016.
3. ^ Begley, Anthony (7 January 2013). "Ballyshannon Musings: Let Me Sing of What I Know". ballyshannon-musings. Blogger. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
4. ^ "Donegal Democrat Publisher". Open Library. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
5. ^ a b O'KANE, PAUL (12 January 1995). "Donegal paper changes hands". highbeam.com. The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
6. ^ "ACQUISITION OF LOCAL PRESS LIMITED". Johnston Press. 16 September 2005. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
7. ^ Slattery, Laura; Raleigh, David (1 April 2014). "Johnston Press sells its 14 titles in the Republic". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
8. ^ "Data - ABC | Audit Bureau of Circulations".
9. ^ "Regional Newspapers ABC Circulation July-Dec 2012". ilevel.ie. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2016.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Letterkenny

* Climate
* History
* People

Districts|

* Central: Cathedral Road · Cathedral Square · College Road · College Row · Convent Road · Oldtown Road

Streets: Church Lane · Fortwell · Justice Walsh Lower Main · Market Square (Mount Southwell) · Rosemount Lane · Speer's Lane · Upper Main

Suburban: Oldtown (New Leck · Old Leck) · Rockhill

Landmarks|

* Army Barracks
* Cathedral of St Eunan and St Columba
* Church of the Irish Martyrs
* Conwal Cemetery
* Conwal Parish Church
* Hospitals
* University General
* St Conal's Psychiatric
* Parks
* Ballymacool
* Bernard McGlinchey

Culture|

* Architecture
* County Museum
* Library and Arts Centre
* Public art
* Regional Cultural Centre
* Theatre

Education|

* Letterkenny branch of the local technological university
* St Eunan's College
* Gaelcholáiste
* Loreto Convent

Mass media|

* Donegal Democrat
* Donegal News
* Donegal on Sunday
* Donegal People's Press
* Highland Radio
* Letterkenny Post
* River Media
* Tirconaill Tribune

Sport|

* Athletic Club
* GAA club, Naomh Adhamhnáin—St Eunan's
* O'Donnell Park
* Golf Club
* Regional Sports and Leisure Complex
* Rugby Football Club
* Association football clubs
* Bonagee United
* Letterkenny Rovers
* Dry Arch Park
* Leckview Park

Economy|

* Club Voodoo
* Grill Music Venue
* Oatfield

Retail|

* Courtyard Shopping Centre
* Glencar Shopping Centre
* Letterkenny Shopping Centre
* Letterkenny Retail Park
* Riverside Retail

* Former Town Council

* v
* t
* e

Media in County Donegal

Print|

* Derry Journal
* Donegal Democrat
* Donegal News
* Donegal People's Press
* Donegal Post
* Donegal Times
* Donegal on Sunday
* Finn Valley Post
* Finn Valley Voice
* Inish Times
* Inishowen Independent
* Letterkenny People
* Letterkenny Post
* Strabane Weekly News and Donegal Reporter
* Sunday Journal
* Tirconaill Tribune

Radio|

* Highland Radio
* Ocean FM
* i102-104FM
* Inishowen Community Radio
* RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta

Web|

* Donegal Daily
* Donegal Sport Hub

* v
* t
* e

Newspapers in the Republic of Ireland

Media of the Republic of Ireland

National|

* Business Post
* Gaelic Life
* The Herald
* Irish Daily Star
* Irish Examiner
* Irish Independent
* The Irish Catholic
* The Irish News
* The Irish Times
* An Páipéar
* Scéal
* The Sunday Times
* Sunday Independent
* Sunday World

Regional|

* The Anglo-Celt
* The Argus
* The Clare Champion
* Clare Courier
* Connacht Tribune
* The Connaught Telegraph
* The Corkman
* Derry Journal
* Derry People/Donegal News
* Donegal Democrat
* Donegal People's Press
* Donegal Post
* Drogheda Independent
* Drogheda Leader
* Dublin InQuirer
* Dundalk Democrat
* The Echo (Cork)
* The Echo (Dublin)
* Finn Valley Post
* Finn Valley Voice
* Inish Times
* Inishowen Independent
* Kerry's Eye
* The Kerryman
* Kilkenny People
* Leinster Leader
* Leinster Express
* Leitrim Observer
* Liffey Champion
* Limerick Leader
* Longford Leader
* The Mayo News
* Meath Chronicle
* The Munster Express
* The Nationalist (Carlow)
* The Nationalist (Tipperary)
* The Nenagh Guardian
* New Ross Standard
* Offaly Express
* Offaly Independent
* The Sligo Champion
* Sligo Weekender
* The Southern Star
* Tipperary Star
* Tirconaill Tribune
* The Tuam Herald
* Waterford News & Star
* Western People
* Westmeath Examiner
* Westmeath Independent
* Wexford People

Political|

* The Irish Workers' Voice
* An Phoblacht
* The Socialist
* Socialist Voice

Freesheets|

* Cavan Echo
* Cork Independent
* Galway Advertiser
* Galway Independent
* Letterkenny People
* Letterkenny Post
* Limerick Post
* Northside People
* Southside People

Defunct|

* Aiséirí
* Amárach
* Anois
* The Clare People
* Cork Constitution
* Cork Free Press
* Daily Express
* Daily Ireland
* Daily Irish Independent
* Daily News
* Donegal on Sunday
* Donegal Times
* Dublin Evening Mail
* Dublin Evening Post
* Enniscorthy Echo
* Evening Press
* Foinse
* An Gaedheal
* Herald AM
* Inniu
* Ireland on Sunday
* The Irish Press
* The Kilkenny Voice
* Leitrim Post
* Mayo Echo
* Metro Éireann
* Metro Herald
* Saol
* Sligo Post
* The Sunday Press
* Sunday Tribune

Companies|

* Celtic Media Group
* Derry Journal Newspapers
* Iconic Newspapers
* Independent News & Media
* Landmark Media Investments (formerly)
* North West of Ireland Printing and Publishing Company
* Sunrise Media
* Thomas Crosbie Holdings (formerly)

* See also: Newspapers founded before 1937  • Northern Ireland newspapers (1921–present)

* v
* t
* e

Newspapers of Ireland founded in the period before the establishment of Northern Ireland in 1921 and the Republic of Ireland in 1937

National|

* An Claidheamh Soluis (1899–1930s)
* An Phoblacht (1906–present)
* Belfast Morning News/Morning News/Morning News and Examiner (1855–1892)
* Belfast Telegraph (1870–present)
* Daily Express/Daily Express and Irish Daily Mail (1851–1921)
* Daily Irish Independent (1890s–1905)
* Evening Telegraph (1871–1924)
* Freeman's Journal (1763–1924)
* The Herald (1891–present)
* Irish Examiner (1841–present)
* Irish Independent (1905–present)
* The Irish Catholic (1888–present)
* The Irish News (1891–present)
* The Irish Press (1931–1995)
* The Irish Times (1859–present)
* The Irish Workers' Voice (1931–present)
* The Nation (1842–1900)
* The News Letter (1737–present)
* Sinn Féin (1906–1914)
* The Sunday Times (1821–present)
* Sunday Independent (1906–present)
* Sunday World (1895–97)
* United Irishman (1899–1906)

Regional|

| Connaught|

* The Connaught Telegraph (1828–present)
* Leitrim Observer (1889–present)
* The Mayo News (1892–present)
* The Sligo Champion (1836–present)
* The Tuam Herald (1837–present)
* Western People (1883–present)

|

Leinster|

* The Argus (1830–present)
* Drogheda Independent (1884–present)
* Dublin Evening Mail (1823–1962)
* Dublin Evening Standard (1870)
* Dundalk Democrat (1849–present)
* Enniscorthy Echo (1902–no longer?)
* Leinster Express (1831–present)
* Leinster Leader (1880–present)
* Longford Leader (1897–present)
* The Nationalist (Carlow) (1883–present)
* New Ross Standard (c. 1889–present)
* Tullamore & King's Co. Independent (1894–1920)
* Westmeath Examiner (1882–present)

Munster|

* The Clare Champion (1903–present)
* Cork Advertiser/Cork Constitution (1799–1824)
* Cork Free Press (1928[citation needed]–1978[citation needed])
* Cork Morning Post/Cork Constitution (1822–1924)
* Evening Echo (1892–present)
* The Kerryman (1904–present)
* Limerick Leader (1889–present)
* The Munster Express (1860–present)
* The Nationalist (Tipperary) (1890–present)
* The Southern Star (1889–present)
* Tipperary Star (1909–present)
* Waterford Star (1848–present)

Ulster|

* The Anglo-Celt (1846–present)
* Coleraine Constitution and Northern Counties Advertiser/Northern Constitution (1875–present)
* Derry Journal (1772–present)
* Derry People/Donegal News (1903–present)
* Donegal Democrat (1919–present)
* Donegal People's Press (1931–present)
* The Downpatrick Recorder/Down Recorder (1835–present)
* Fermanagh Herald (1902–present)
* The Impartial Reporter (1835–present)
* The Larne Times and Weekly Telegraph (1891–present)
* Lurgan Mail (1889–present)
* Newry Reporter (1867–present)
* Newtownards Chronicle (1873–present)
* Northern Whig/Northern Whig and Belfast Post (1832–1963)
* Strabane Chronicle (1896–present)
* Tyrone Constitution (1844–present)
* Ulster Gazette (1844–present)
* Ulster Herald (1901–present)
* Ulsterman (1852–1859)
* Ulster Saturday Night/Ireland's Saturday Night (1894–2008)

Companies|

* Independent Newspapers Limited (1904–1999)
* North West of Ireland Printing and Publishing Company (1901–present)
* Sinn Féin Printing & Publishing Company (1904–1914)

See also
Northern Ireland newspapers (1921–present)
Republic of Ireland newspapers (1937–present)

Authority control databases |

* VIAF

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