The Tuam Herald to change ownership

Sale expected to be complete in New Year

One of the country’s most established newspapers, The Tuam Herald, is to change ownership.

The Directors of The Herald Printing & Publishing Co. have today (Friday Nov 28) announced the proposed sale of the newspaper title and related assets to Celtic Media Group.

The proposed sale of The Tuam Herald, founded in 1837, is contingent on approval from the competition authorities and the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport.

Colleagues working in the title were briefed by the Directors, David Burke and Mary Burke, earlier today on the decision to transfer ownership to Celtic Media Group (CMG).

David Burke, Managing Director of The Tuam Herald, said that CMG, with six established brands and over 400,000 social media followers, has the scale and digital expertise to secure and grow the title.

CMG have been business service partners to The Tuam Herald for over a decade, providing graphic design, digital and management consultancy.

All 12 staff will transfer to CMG, once the proposed sale is approved. The Dublin Road, Tuam, office premises are not part of the transaction, and the sale price has not been disclosed. Publishing continues as normal.

Mr Burke said he and his fellow director “wished to exit the business, having gone far beyond normal retirement age”.

“Our family has had a very proud stewardship of The Tuam Herald, with three generations of the Burke family responsible for managing the title for almost a century and I was very proud to have taken on the baton from my father, Jarlath,” he said.

“The time has now come to hand over to a company which can best position the title for the challenges and opportunities to come.”

Frank Mulrennan, CEO of Celtic Media Group, said: “We have been business partners of The Tuam Herald for many years and know and respect the quality of the brand and its readership loyalty in Galway.

“We look forward to working with Editor Siobhán Holliman, and the team, once this transaction is completed, early in the New Year.”

Celtic Media Group (CMNL Limited) was formed in 2012 from a management buy-out, led by its CEO, Frank Mulrennan.

The group employs 72 colleagues and publishes such local titles as Meath Chronicle, The Anglo Celt, Westmeath Examiner, Westmeath Independent, Offaly Independent and The Connaught Telegraph.

CMG operates a graphic design and digital hub in Mullingar providing publishing services to its own titles and a range of peer local titles and commercial outlets, including The Tuam Herald.