Statement on the closure of the Irish Post

 Ambassador Bobby McDonagh speaking on behalf of the Tánaiste and of the Irish Embassy in   London has expressed his sadness about the recent closure of The Irish Post.

 “This is a major blow for the Irish community in Britain’ he said. ‘For many, the paper was an important means of keeping informed of Irish-related events in their locality, reading about developments within the wider Irish community in Britain, and keeping up-to-date with national and local news from Ireland.  The Post was not only a news-source but a record of the daily-work of the volunteers and charitable organisations that continue to provide vital services to the Irish community here.  

 Since it was first published in 1970, the Irish Post has served the Community by promoting Irish sports and culture to a wider audience. Indeed it actively supported, publicised and sponsored many festivals and competitions. For newly arrived emigrants, the paper – along with the Irish World – has been a valuable source of information about local events, and enabled people to get involved with Irish organisations and associations.

 For the past 40 years the staff and management of the Post have been our partners and our friends in the efforts to promote Ireland and Irish interests throughout Britain.  I want to wish them well and I especially want to thank them all for the work they have done with the Embassy and with the various Irish government agencies and community groups down the years in helping to foster the excellent relations we now enjoy with our nearest neighbour and which culminated in the historic visit by Queen Elizabeth to Ireland last May.    

 As well as writing about political, economic and social developments in Ireland, the Irish Post provided information about issues of particular concern for the Irish community in Britain - from the campaigns to release the Guilford Four and the Birmingham Six, to raising awareness about the establishment of the Residential Institutions Redress Board for survivors of institutional abuse in Ireland. Its closure will leave a void in the lives of many Irish people in Britain.”