The weekly Foinse, the Irish-language newspaper published in Carraroe, Co Galway, recently marked a milestone with the publication of its 200th issue. Further good news was provided by the Audit Bureau of Circulations which showed the paper was selling an average of just over 8,000 issues a week and had a readership of 25,000.
Also, the paper's publisher, Connemara businessman Mr Padraig O Ceidigh, has been awarded an additional contract by Foras na Gaeilge, the North-South language body previously known as Bord na Gaeilge, to produce a monthly Irish-language magazine.
It is a significant boost for Foinse (the name means source), as it seeks to ensure its future for another five years. The paper is grant aided to the tune of £185,000 per annum by Foras na Gaeilge and has a staff of eight: the editor Breandan Delap; two reporters and a support staff of one designer, a sub-editor and three office and advertising managers.
Currently, that grant is up for grabs. An Foras readvertises the award to ensure that whichever paper wins it does not become stale. It is thought that four groups are vying for the new contract. The decision as to which has been successful will be made by the board members of an Foras on September 20th and announced shortly thereafter.
Without doubt one of Foinse's greatest successes has been to combine the Gaeltacht aspect of its news service with a national outlook on politics. It is a difficult balancing act for any regional paper to achieve - devote too much time and energy to the goings on in Connemara and you might lose readers in Dublin; devote too much time and energy to the goings on in Dublin and you might lose readers in Carraroe.
Unfortunately, many native Irish speakers do not read as much in the language as those who have learned Irish, and Raidio na Gaeltachta provides an immediate and comprehensive news service to Gaeltacht communities. Print journalism in Irish, too, has not been in great health in recent years. The broadcast media, Raidio na Gaeltachta and TG4, are seen as more attractive options for aspiring journalists.
Nevertheless Foinse, under the able direction of Mr Delap, has met those challenges to the best of its ability and its limited budget. The newspaper is a tabloid format, but can make claim to practising broadsheet journalism. Foinse has succeeded in covering Gaeltacht issues, such as planning issues and Udaras na Gaeltachta elections, in detail and in such a way as to make them accessible to even the most hesitant reader.
Nationally, the ducking and diving in Dail Eireann, tribunals and other political issues are written on by RTE's Cathal Mac Coille and Raidio na Gaeltachta's Eoin O Murchu. Events in Northern Ireland have been comprehensively covered by Poilin Ni Chiarain, another journalist of great ability who has previously covered the Northern beat for RTE. Ni Chiarain has provided independent and authoritative pieces on the Northern peace process and related cultural issues.
In other areas, Joe O Gallchoir and Martan O Ciardha, among others, provide enjoyable coverage of major sporting events; the weekly book review is often required reading and a weekly educational supplement helps the paper get a foothold in schools.
Foinse does have its weaknesses. The four regional pages fulfil the role of parish bulletin but can be thin in content, while dedicated feature articles are not as strong as they should be. Also, the paper desperately needs to undertake forceful and continuous marketing if it is to keep and, more importantly, add to its readership. That said, those deficiencies could be addressed through extra staff and extra funding.
Will Foinse remain a source of information in the future? It will if Foras na Gaeilge has any sense.