The Sligo Champion, one of the last remaining independent local Irish newspapers, is being put up for sale.

The Irish Times reported
(subs reqd) today that the Sligo newspaper company could achieve up to
€15m if sold. Its owners are Niall Townsend (55), chairman and managing
director, and Michael Townsend (75), production director. Both are
expected to retire.

The paper was set up in 1836 and now has a circulation of aroound 12,574 copies per week. The Times
reported that it is understood the Champion Publications company had a
pre-tax profit of €1 million and a turnover of €3.8 million in 2006.

Local competing newspapers include the TCH owned Sligo Weekender, and the River Media owned Sligo Post.

Parts of Sligo are also covered by other local papers, such as the Western People
(TCH) in Ballina next to the Mayo-Sligo border, while the River group
have titles in neighbouring counties Leitrim and Donegal.