General Information » Further Reading » Newspapers & Magazines

The Irish like to be in the know on national and international affairs, making the country a heaven on the news front. A good variety of national or local newspapers and magazines caters to various readerships, as the newsagents stock the shelves with an increasing number of foreign prints.

Although traditionally divided, the majority of newspapers are non-aligned on the religious (and the political) front, with some of them still displaying Anglo-centric or nationalist tendencies in their choice of topics. The oldest daily newsprint, The Irish Times (€1.60), is Dublin-centred and features a great selection of reviews and entertainment listings on a Saturday. A lot more serious than its main broadsheet competitor, the Irish Independent, it is renowned to be an example of excellent journalism, although some argue that it should limit its extensive selection of foreign news to those that are relevant for Ireland. It is surpassed in sales by the Irish Independent, which has a much more domestic focus, but goes to the other extreme in its coverage of foreign news, which can be very sensationalist. Always a good read, but not attracting as big a readership in Dublin as the other two broadsheet papers is The Irish Examiner, the former Cork Examiner.

On the tabloid front, the Irish Daily Star (€0.90) and its evening version (although available just after lunch time) The Evening Herald (€1.10), are the biggest sellers. They certainly look to The Sun for ideas, although British advocates of the gutter press will be disappointed to find that the Irish versions display a lot less bare flesh. The Evening Herald is particularly useful for its entertainment and property listings. Two British publications, The Sun and The Times both publish Irish editions of their titles.

The Sunday Tribune and The Sunday Independent are considered the best Irish Sunday papers, but are said to be somewhat lacking compared to their English rivals. The Sunday Business Post is an excellent excuse for workaholics to keep informed about the Irish business world, while the rest of the papers – the majority of which are tabloids– will easily more than fulfil your need for gossip.

Following the example of its European neighbours, Dublin now also has some free morning papers, including The Metro. Also adding to the long list of publications is an array of local prints of various sizes and frequencies.

There is also a wide range of magazines, including many specialised prints available monthly or fortnightly. In Dublin, Dublin Event Guide and Slate provide weekly listings, with the latter two easily surpassing the forme...