A bi-weekly newspaper has celebrated a quarter of a millennium in business.
The Derry Journal has marked its 250th anniversary with a special edition featuring the memories of veterans who worked on the title as well as local people.
The Journal, first published on 3 June 1772, is the oldest regional paper on the island of Ireland.
Its patch straddles the border of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, covering both County Derry and County Donegal.
Editor-in-Chief William Allen has praised a “superb supplement to mark the anniversary” that has been produced by editor Brendan McDaid and his team.
William said: “As Ireland’s second oldest newspaper and one which straddles the border created by the partition of Ireland in 1921, the history of the Derry Journal is intertwined with the history of the North-West of Ireland.
“Its establishment pre-dated the American Declaration of Independence, it documented the names of many Irish people who emigrated to that country when it was new; it reported on the French Revolution, the United Irish rebellion of 1798, the Famine and, of course, the various political and military struggles for self-rule for Ireland, and the reunification of the country, including the most recent ‘Troubles’ and peace process.
“While it began as a Presbyterian publication, it changed course a century later to support Catholic emancipation and Irish nationalism and it remains a strong voice of nationalism today.
“Its commemorative edition contains many testimonies from political and community leaders, and also features the many memories of staff past and present.
“I believe that not only is this special edition an important body of work to mark a milestone anniversary, it also makes a substantial contribution to the history of Ireland and, in particular, the story of the nationalist, Catholic people of the North-West of the island.”