DEIRDRE ROMANES, owner of the Meath Chronicle, Anglo-Celtand Westmeath Examinernewspapers, died yesterday aged 60.

Ms Romanes, who lived in Edinburgh, died after a “long and courageous battle with illness”, according to a statement from Dunfermline Press, the Scottish media business she ran.

As chief executive of Dunfermline Press, Ms Romanes led its expansion into the Irish regional newspaper market over the past eight years. In 2002, it bought the Meath Chroniclefor €30 million. The following year it paid €15 million for the Anglo-Celtin Cavan. In 2004 it added the Westmeath Examiner, Westmeath Independentand Offaly Independentfor about €15 million.

Born in Wicklow, Ms Romanes grew up in Meath but emigrated to Britain in her 20s and trained as a midwife. She married Ian Romanes, who worked with his family media business, founded in 1859. Ms Romanes joined the firm and became its chief executive.