The Belfast-based national daily newspaper Daily Irelandis to cease publication from tomorrow.
In a statement released this afternoon, the publisher of the pro-nationalist newspaper, Mr Mairtín Ó Muilleóir, blamed the closure on a refusal by the British government to place advertisements and on a lack of investment by the North's main business development body, InvestNI.
Paying tribute to the staff at the paper, Mr Ó Muilleóir said "Daily Ireland played a vital role in promoting the nationalist case at a time when McCarthyism and anti-nationalist voices were in the ascendancy.
"We are very proud of the achievements of the Daily Irelandteam over the past 20 months. We hope we have inspired others to take up where we have left off and that this is more a time-out than an ending,"
Mr Ó Muilleóir questioned the timing of a decision by the British government to change its advertising policy by putting advertisements out to tender.
He added that the North's Equality Commission was assisting the paper in challenging the refusal of start-up grants and the British government's decision not to advertise.
Daily Irelandis part of the Andersonstown News Group, which also publishes the North Belfast News, Irish language daily Láand Liam Hayes's latest publications, the Lucan Gazetteand Blanchardstown Gazette.
The paper had a staff of 40, of whom 30 were journalists. Columnists included Damien Kiberd, Danny Morrison, Jude Collins and Tom McGurk.
The paper was involved in a dispute with Minister for Justice Michael McDowell after he accused it of being a "provo front" shortly before it began publishing in February of 2005.
Daily Irelandwill continue on the web at www.dailyireland.com.
