The Tuam Herald has today announced its proposed sale to the Celtic Media Group.
The proposed sale of the Co Galway newspaper, which was founded in 1837, is subject to approval from the competition authorities and the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport.
The sale price of the deal has not been disclosed
Celtic Media Group's titles include Meath Chronicle, The Anglo Celt, Westmeath Examiner, Westmeath Independent, Offaly Independent and The Connaught Telegraph.
David Burke, Managing Director of The Tuam Herald, said that Celtic Media Group has the scale and digital expertise to secure and grow the title.
CMG have been business service partners to The Tuam Herald for over a decade, providing graphic design, digital and management consultancy.
All 12 staff will transfer to CMG, once the proposed sale is approved.
The newspaper's office premises in Tuam are not part of the transaction. Publishing continues as normal, the company said.
David Burke said he and his fellow director "wished to exit the business, having gone far beyond normal retirement age".
"Our family has had a very proud stewardship of The Tuam Herald, with three generations of the Burke family responsible for managing the title for almost a century and I was very proud to have taken on the baton from my father, Jarlath," he said.
Frank Mulrennan, CEO of Celtic Media Group, said the group have been business partners of The Tuam Herald for many years and know and respect the quality of the brand and its readership loyalty in Galway.
"We look forward to working with editor, Siobhán Holliman, and the team, once this transaction is completed, early in the New Year," he added.
Celtic Media Group was formed in 2012 from a management buy-out, led by its CEO Frank Mulrennan. The group employs 72 people.
It operates a graphic design and digital hub in Mullingar providing publishing services to its own titles and a range of peer local titles and commercial outlets, including The Tuam Herald.
