The Local News is a community paper reporting on events in Drogheda for the people of the town.
John Kierans and Brendan Kelly established Elite Print in January 1983. Within months, they faced competition from the Drogheda Independent printing works. John Kierans says that ocal businesses that used the services of Elite Print were no longer getting any coverage in the local newpaper the Drogheda Independent. To counteract this, the pair set up the Local News.
The new Drogheda newspaper Local News began as a 16 page publication with sales reaching around 3,000 after two years. The popularity of the paper grew and it became a 24 to 36 page publication with ABC sales of 5,000 copies.
John Kierans puts the success down the fact that their paper has a simple policy of providing local news for local people. He believes the Drogheda Independent newspaper has ignored competition from the Local News which has made big inroads in circulation figures.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 21 December 1984. The reporter is Andrew Kelly.
