Provincial newspaper group the Leinster Leader is to buy Dublin suburban newspaper the Echo for an undisclosed sum.
The Echo, which is published in two editions, is mainly circulated in South and West Dublin. It has a circulation of almost 12,000 and employs 40 people. It was founded by David Kennedy in 1980.
The Leinster Leader group is a privately owned newspaper publisher, based in Naas, Co Kildare. The group publishes five weekly regional newspapers - the Dundalk Democrat, Leinster Express, Leinster Leader, Limerick Leader and Offaly Express. It also publishes an evening paper in Limerick three times a week.
As a whole, the group has a weekly circulation of over 80,000. It has a total workforce of over 200.
The deal is still subject to approval from the Competition Authority and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment under the legislation governing ownership of newspapers.
