Advertising revenue in national newspapers has grown by 16 per cent in the first half of the year, with £92 million (€116.82 million) spent in the 11 member titles of the National Newspapers of Ireland.

Advertising agencies accounted for more than £50 million of the total, with MCM Communications the biggest spender at £4.2 million, while £42 million was generated from classified and small ads.

Mr Gavin O'Reilly, NNI chairman, said: "Whilst other media have to take account of increasing audience fragmentation and thus reduced opportunities for targeting, the NNI newspapers are showing growth in both circulation and readership and are in a position to offer the advertiser precise targeting."

Jumping four places on the biggest spenders table to number two was Brindley Advertising, with a 54 per cent increase in spending taking its total to £3.8 million.

Ogilvy & Mather Ireland's £3.3 million spend brought it to third place, while QMP with a layout of £2.8 million, and Irish International with £2.7 million, took fourth and fifth place respectively.