A daily newspaper is leaving its home of 117 years to move into a radio station’s “ultra-modern” city centre headquarters.

The Irish News has announced it will be leaving 113-117 Donegall Street, in Belfast, where it has been based since 1905.

The paper will instead move to Fountain Centre in the city, which is currently home to its sister operation Q Radio, which is also owned by the News owner the Fitzpatrick family.

Staff were informed of the changes by managing director Dominic Fitzpatrick last week.

Noel Doran, editor of the News, said: “As Ireland’s best performing newspaper, we have never been afraid to introduce positive changes.

“We will be sorry to leave Donegall Street, which has served us so well down the generations, but we are looking forward to all the opportunities associated with our new home.”

The News saysd the new offices will be in a “high-specification building with a much greater footfall, located beside some of Belfast’s busiest shopping streets”, while the Donegall Street premises, pictured, has not been sold.

Dominic said: “We are in the unique position in that we have two large city centre premises, and though much loved, our office in Donegall Street is an aging building, no longer fit for purpose in the new business climate.

“But it was important to us that we remain at the heart of the communities we serve.

“So we plan to invest significantly in building state-of-the art modern offices at the Fountain Centre, bringing together the Irish News, Q Radio and Farm Week.

“Everything we do is to better serve our readers and advertisers, and to ensure our future.”