The Irish Times and the Irish Examiner were the only daily newspapers to increase their readership in 2005, according to the Joint National Readership Survey (JNRS).
The Irish Times increased its readership to 336,000 in 2005 from 323,000 in 2004, a rise of 13,000 readers, or 4 per cent. Last week the paper reported a rise of 2.5 per cent in its sales for the second six months of 2005.
The Irish Examiner increased its number of readers to 260,000 from 220,000 in 2004. All other national dailies suffered falls in readership levels.
Readership measures the number of people who read a title whereas circulation figures simply measure the number of sales per title.
The survey was released by the National Newspapers of Ireland (NNI). It was conducted by Lansdowne Market Research among 7,000 adults aged 15 and over.
It shows that 1,898,000 people were regular readers of at least one daily newspaper, up from 1,874,000 - an increase of 24,000 readers. Readership of Sunday titles dropped to 2,516,000 from 2,540,000, a loss of 24,000 readers.
The Irish Independent experienced a sharp fall in readership, down to 575,000 from 612,000, a drop of 37,000 readers or 6 per cent. The Evening Herald also slipped badly to 307,000 from 348,000, a loss of 41,000 or 11.8 per cent. Both papers are owned by Independent News and Media (IN&M)
The Irish Daily Star, which is 50 per cent owned by Independent News and Media, also suffered an erosion of its readership, down to 405,000, from 447,000, a drop of 42,000 readers or 9.4 per cent.
The Irish Daily Mirror, owned by Trinity Mirror, was down to 222,000 from 234,00, a loss of 12,000 readers or 5 per cent. The Irish Sun dropped to 275,000 from 278,000, a loss of 3,000 readers or 1.1 per cent.
The Sunday market also saw major shifts in readership. The largest fall in numerical terms was the Sunday World, which attracted 71,000 fewer readers. The survey saw readership of the tabloid falling to 781,000 from 852,000, a loss 8.3 per cent. One of its fiercest rivals, Ireland on Sunday, also lost ground, with readership slipping to 440,000 from 502,000, a loss of 62,000 readers or 12.4 per cent.
The Sunday Independent increased readership to 1,095,000 from 1,075,000, a rise of 20,000 readers or 1.9 per cent.
The Sunday Tribune, which has been suffering from falling sales, boosted its readership marginally to 238,000, up 1,000 on the 2004 figure.
The Sunday Business Post was one of the biggest gainers across the market, up to 201,000 from 173,000, a rise of 28,000 readers or 16.2 per cent. Another title to gain readers was the Sunday Times up to 359,000, from 349,000, a rise of 10,000 readers or 2.6 per cent.
The Star on Sunday increased its figures to 202,000, up from 190,000, a jump of 12,000 or 6.3 per cent. Readership for the Irish News of the World was at 524,000, down from 550,000, a loss of 26,000 or 4.7 per cent.
The Irish Sunday Mirror lost 2,000 readers to finish the year at 213,000, a drop of 0.9 per cent. The Irish People dropped to 133,000 from 150,000, a loss of 17,000 readers or 11.3 per cent.
The Farmers Journal managed 259,000 readers, but this was down from 268,000, a fall of 9,000 reader or 3.4 per cent.
The NNI said 91 per cent of Irish adults were regularly reading newspapers, an increase of 58,000 over the last year. NNI co-ordinating director Frank Cullen said: "Newspapers have worked hard to provide readers with more diversity and choice. More supplements and special interest and lifestyle magazines are on offer than ever before."