Popular Irish magazine publishes farewell issue

December 11, 2008

The Word, a magazine that reached over 250,000 readers in the 1970s, has produced its last print edition. Founded in England in 1936, The Word moved to Ireland in 1953 and enjoyed enormous success as a general-interest magazine, drawing readers mainly from Ireland and Great Britain but also from the US, Australia, and other English-speaking countries. But readership has dropped steadily in recent years, and last year, with circulation well under 10% of its peak figure, the Divine Word Missionaries made the decision to close down the publication. Brother Paul Hurley, who served a remarkable 40-year term as editor from 1952 to 1992, remarked that "people who no longer go to Mass are unlikely to buy Catholic magazines."

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• The Last 'Word' (Word editorial)