The Times today launched a tablet-only Irish edition with 30 journalists and a dedicated editor.
The move follows a failed legal bid by the Irish Times to stop News UK using the words ‘The Times Irish Edition’ to promote the new title.
Editor Richard Oakley said: “The launch of a new online edition of The Times for Ireland is a positive milestone for Irish journalism and represents one of the most significant investments in the sector in recent years.
“We have hired some of Ireland's most renowned journalists and secured a range of innovative partnerships to deliver the first product of its kind in Ireland.
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“Combined with exclusive membership benefits, we feel we have a really compelling offer and are enthused by the positive reaction we have received to date.”
Oakley is a former news editor of the Irish edition of The Sunday Times. Other members of his team include deputy and business editor John Walsh and political editor Niamh Lyons.
Columnists include Ann Marie Hourihane, Colm Tóbín, Jason O’Mahony and commentator Justine McCarthy.
According to News UK the new Irish edition will also be able to draw on 350 journalists in London and 36 foreign correspondents across six continents.
Subscriptions will cost €5 per week
The title claims to be the first of its kind in Ireland.
News UK said that subscribers will be able to "watch video highlights while reading GAA match reports, access over 9,000 interactive puzzles, view image galleries and watch other exclusive video content".
The existing Times digital edition average just under 80,000 “unique views” per day, according to ABC.
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