Navan-based newspaper publishes its last edition

The Meath Post newspaper, which started in Navan almost three years ago, ceased publication yesterday (Tuesday). A statement from the River Media Group, which owned the paper, said that following an extensive review of the business, and in the light of the "continuing poor performance" of the local advertising market, its board had agreed to a restructuring plan that included the closure of three loss-making titles and a decision to invest in and further develop its six profitable titles. These include the Derry News, the County Derry Post, the Inish Times, the Letterkenny Post, the Donegal Post and the Kildare Post. The three titles to close are the Meath Post, the Cavan Post and The Sligo Post. The Meath Post, with offices at Flower Hill, had six staff and a number of freelance personnel. It launched in late 2007 and had as its target market the 20-50 age group in line with the group's strategy of aiming for younger readers. The River Media Group, founded in 2005 and based in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, was backed by the Irish News newspaper and investors Tim Collins and Padraig O'Dwyer, both of whom are also involved with local radio. The group is based mainly in the Republic and Northern Ireland and at one stage operated a chain of 12 weekly newspapers and six radio stations, including Ocean FM and Kfm in the Republic.