115 years and counting for Ireland’s Own
COUNTRY’S LONGEST RUNNING MAGAZINE IS GOING FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH
IRELAND’S Own, the country’s longest-running weekly family magazine, celebrated its 115th birthday last week.
Irish society has witnessed seismic changes since John Mellifont Walsh sent the first edition of Ireland’s Own to press in Wexford in the winter of 1902.
The subsequent century of technological advances in all walks of life have been spectacular, yet the popularity of Walsh’s magazine has remained steadfast.
‘Mr. Walsh introduced Ireland’s Own to combat the influence of literature that was flowing into Ireland from Britain at the turn of the last century,’ said current editor Seán Nolan.
‘I suppose one of the secrets to its enduring success is that the mix of content has remained the same down the years - it’s a magazine by Irish people, for Irish people.
‘You don’t need a degree from a journalism university to have something published in Ireland’s Own. All you need is experience from the University of Life and the ability to tell a good story. That’s what our readers look for.
‘A lot of things may have changed around us since 1902, but the needs and interests of people have remained ostensibly the same.’
To mark their special birthday, the Ireland’s Own team are
Irish authors Michael Harding and Alice Taylor are also on board sharing their memories of Christmas. And Ireland’s Own characters Kitty The Hare, Miss Flanagan, Cassidy and Dan Conway are back with festive stories and tales alongside regular features such as Stranger Than Fiction, Catch the Criminal, songs, jokes, pen pals and much more.
‘We have a number of events planned to mark our 115 th year throughout 2018 including the third instalment of our Birth of A Nation series in the spring,’ said Seán. ‘Here’s hoping that Ireland’s Own remains as popular as it is today with future generations, and that a different editor will be here to celebrate its continued success in another 115 years.
Ireland’s Own is published by People Newspapers, publishers of this newspaper, and has its headquarters in Channing House on Wexford’s Rowe Street.
The Ireland’s Own Christmas launching this year’s Christmas Annual 2017 is on sale now. Annual which features a moving For further information family tribute from Christie contact Shea Tomkins on Hennessy’s children on the tenth 05391 40140 or email info@ anniversary of his death. irelandsown.ie