The Irish News to move after century at Belfast headquarters

By Jim O'Hagan

The Irish News has confirmed, it's to move to new offices in the Fountain Centre in Belfast. Staff were told about the move by managing director Dominic Fitzpatrick on Thursday. The paper first started in 1891 and it moved to its current home on 113-117 Donegall Street in 1905.

That office will still be operational for a number of years to facilitate the transition, allowing customers to call in with family notices and use front counter services. Irish News editor Noel Doran 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 Irish News is the last daily newspaper in Ireland to move to new offices, which will be in a modern building with a much greater footfall, located beside Belfast's busiest shopping street.

Its existing premises have not yet been sold. Dominic Fitzpatrick added: “We are in a unique position in that we have two large city centre premises, and though much loved, our office in Donegall Street is an aging building which no longer suits the new business climate. “It was important to us that we remain at the heart of the communities we serve. 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.”