This day, 55 years ago, the city of Galway awoke to something new—something vibrant, something that would become an indelible part of its identity. For the first time, the Galway Advertiser, the brainchild of the visionary Ronnie O’Gorman, landed on doormats across the city. Its pages carried not just ink and words, but a spirit of community, connection, and curiosity.
A novel front-page colour photograph—rare and ambitious for its time—was a symbol of what the Advertiser aspired to be: bold, fresh, and reflective of the changing city around it.
From that April day in 1970, the Galway Advertiser has never once failed to appear. Week in, week out, it has chronicled the life of a city and its people. Births and deaths, victories and losses, triumphs and heartbreaks—it's all been there. And today, as we mark its 55th birthday, we do so for the first time without Ronnie O’Gorman. Yet, his legacy remains woven into every word, every yarn, every story. His belief that Galway deserved a platform owned by its people, shaped by their voices and lived experiences, remains the bedrock of what the Advertiser stands for.
In an era of rapidly shifting media landscapes, of digital noise and global narratives, the value of local journalism has never been more evident—or more essential. Our communities depend on a voice that knows them, that shares their joys and sorrows, that understands the nuances of life in a town like Galway. A free press grounded in locality is not a luxury—it is a necessity. It’s where democracy finds its roots, where injustices are challenged, and where the stories that bind us are told with care and authenticity.
There’s a lot of chatter these days about media agendas, misinformation, disinformation, political slants, and bias. But after four decades in the field, I can tell you with certainty: I’ve never once been asked to push a political cause over another. Nor would I listen. That independence isn’t just preserved—it’s protected. When wrongs need to be righted, the Advertiser and local media stands up. When celebrations unfold, it joins the chorus. That’s the duality of local journalism: a witness to pain, and a megaphone for joy.
As I navigate the home stretch of a lifelong love affair with storytelling, I find myself more energised than ever. The challenges that lie ahead—for media, for society, for our sense of community—are significant. Recent global events have shown just how fragile our structures can be, how deeply affected we are by the decisions of a powerful few. Once, we believed that the good guys would always outnumber the bad. Now, we see how easily the tail can wag the dog.
But in all this uncertainty, the role of the Galway Advertiser remains as clear and vital as ever. It has touched all our lives in ways big and small. As students, it helped us find digs and plan dates. It helped us land jobs, spot bargains, explore ideas, and discover our place in the city. It has been a mirror, a guide, a connector.
To every reader, advertiser, contributor, and staff member—across all 2,860 issues—we say thank you. Your support has kept the flame burning. Your trust has fuelled every headline, every classified, every editorial.
As we look ahead to our 60th, let’s continue to build a better, kinder Galway—more aware of each other’s needs, more ready to extend a hand. Because in the end, that’s what the Advertiser has always been about: community.
Here’s to 55 years of stories. And to many more still to be told.
