Three family-owned newspapers in the midlands have been purchased for an undisclosed sum.
Staff at the Westmeath Independent, Offaly Independentand the Westmeath Examinerwere told today that the titles have all been acquired from the Nally family by Celtic Media Group.
The three papers publish every Wednesday and recent data suggests that they have a combined circulation of over 25,000.
The acquisitions bring to five the number of titles owned by Celtic Media.
In January it purchased the Anglo Celtnewspaper and its associated printing works, Celtrim printing, for €15 million. In December 2002 Celtic Media purchased the Meath Chroniclefor €30 million.
Celtic Media is the Irish registered subsidiary of Dunfermline Press Ltd. The chief executive of the Scottish group is Dublin-born Ms Deirdre Romanes.
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/irishtimes/64c7504b-f9dd-4cbf-ad7c-534bbb1857e7.png)