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Irish language national daily in funding crisis

By Press Gazette

The daily Irish language newspaper La Nua is on the verge of closure after its primary funders threatened to stop its support.

Redundancy notices have been issued to all ten members of staff – eight of whom are journalists.La which has been published since 1984 and The Anderson News Group has owned it since 1999.

The paper has launched a petition urging its main funder – Irish language promoting NGO Foras na Gaeilge – to continue to provide funding for it.

If the paper, which is in negotiation with the Irish and British governments for funding, fails to gain support the last edition will be published on 29 February.

Andersonstown News chief executive Mairtin O’Mulleoir said: ‘The major problem as well as underfunding is that the government in Northern Ireland reversed its policy and now publishes no material for public consumption in Irish. That has been a blow to the paper. As we speak there are efforts by some of the ministers in the government to try and overturn that block on the use of Irish in public matters.

‘We are trying to put together a plan to try to ensure the survival of the paper. We feel there is an underfunding of around £100,000 a year.”

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