The launch of the Irish Press

HOW stories were reported by the main daily newspapers told a lot in the past. Regarding the story of a small fire, The Irish Times supposedly said a certain church hall had a narrow escape from fire when the shed next door burned to the ground.

The Independent supposedly said that the licensed premises of Johnny Murphy had a narrow escape from fire when the shed next door burned down. It reported that Mr Murphy was a brother to the Very Rev Patrick Canon Murphy PP and of Sister Mary Alphonsus, serving on the Missions in Africa.
The Irish Press concentrated on the fact that Mr Murphy was a Fianna Fáil member of the local county council.
Those were the days when you knew allegiances and affiliations simply by the newspaper people bought. No self-respecting member of Fine Gael would buy anything other than the Independent and if a Fianna Fáil member was seen with anything other than The Irish Press then his loyalties would be under severe scrutiny.
The Irish Press had been started as a paper for the ordinary people, proclaimed that it printed ‘The Truth in the News’ and was unashamedly a platform for the newly formed Fianna Fáil Party. It was founded by Eamonn deValera and financed by small investments from supporters both here and in the United States. Irrespective of where the investments came from, control was firmly in de Valera hands.
Initially the paper was totally opposed to the Cumann na nGaedheal government and the feeling was mutual. In its first few months its editor, Frank Gallagher, was brought before a Military Tribunal. He was charged with publishing articles alleging garda mistreatment of Fianna Fáil supporters. He was convicted and fined £50.
Newspapers were distributed from Dublin by train but the Irish Independent refused to allow the Press be carried on their train with the result that the new paper had to charter their own rail transport. In spite of these drawbacks the papers circulation grew and Sunday and Evening titles were added.
In spite of its Fianna Fáil slant, Tim Pat Coogan, who started as a copy boy and worked his way up to possibly the papers best known editor, was actually the son of a Fine Gael TD. Under his guidance it grew to possibly the most competent daily paper carrying all the major stories and frequently scooping its opposition. It had well known writers like Benedict Kiely and Brendan Behan, Mary Kenny edited the first ever women’s page and David Marcus introduced New Irish Writings. Douglas Gageby worked on all three titles while Breandán Ó hÉithir and Cearbhaill Ó Dálaigh were Irish editors.
The GAA got little coverage but the Press made a conscious decision to provide widespread coverage of Gaelic Games. Its arrival could not have been better timed as its first edition was published on the eve of the 1931 All-Ireland hurling final between Cork and Kilkenny. The final went to two replays and the paper had the perfect launch. Unfortunately inability to match the editorial and writing standards led to its ultimate demise.
Margaret Pearse, mother of Patrick and Willie, started the presses and the first issue of The Irish Press went on sale on September 5, 1931 – 80 years ago this week.