Celebrating 200 years of Ireland’s oldest provincial newspaper

Two hundred years ago the first editor of the Impartial Reporter newspaper in Enniskillen, William Trimble, was described as “the father of the Irish press”. And although busily engaged in his job, he was also the father of 26 children by two wives.

One of Ireland’s oldest provincial newspapers, the Impartial is deeply-rooted in the community and this year marks its bicentenary. Its full title is the Impartial Reporter and Fermanagh Farmers’ Journal and it is the only 19th century paper from Fermanagh to survive to the present day. First printed on May 19th, 1825 and priced at sixpence ha’penny, the paper produced an initial prospectus in February that year to alert readers of its forthcoming appearance.

In those days printing was a slow, primitive process and few people could read. International news, which formed the greater part of the contents, came to Britain by sailing ship, then by mail coach and packet boat to Ireland. ...
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