BORD na Gaeilge has approved a four year contract for the new Irish language weekly newspaper with its publisher, Mr Padraig O Ceidigh. It will receive a weekly grant of £3,500 provided it sells 5,000 copies a week and contains 24 pages.
Mr O Ceidigh, a solicitor and businessman in Galway, said the newspaper would contain 32 tabloid pages and cover local, national and international news, as well as features, opinion, sports and the arts. It is hoped to sell 7,500 copies initially, rising to 10,000 at the end of its second year and 20,000 copies over five years.
The board of the newspaper it has yet to be given a title includes the outgoing UCG president, Dr Colm O hEocha (chairman) and the president elect of the GAA, Mr Seosamh Mac Donncha. It hopes to employ five full time journalists.
It is due to go on sale from its Connemara base in October and will cost 75p. It will be available on Saturday evenings.