Celtic Media Group takes on outsourcing contract for Connaught Telegraph

Celtic Media Group, parent company of the Westmeath Examiner has scored a significant newspaper industry first by taking on the full range of pre-press and printing activities for the Connaught Telegraph.The Castlebar-based newspaper is the oldest continuously published newspaper in the country - its origins are in 1828 with its support of the Land League and Michael Davitt.From this week, all advertising graphic design; editorial page make-up and page planning for Connaught Telegraph will be completed at Celtic Media Group's centralised pre-press facility in Mullingar.Celtic Media Group's state of the art printing press in Navan will print the Mayo title in what is an industry first in terms of the full suite of outsourcing services.Celtic Media Group employs almost 150 people in its Anglo-Celt; Meath Chronicle; Westmeath Examiner; Westmeath Independent and Offaly Independent titles.It also prints newspapers ranging from the Irish Mirror titles to its own in-house titles. It set up its centralised pre-press in Mullingar in March 2008.Frank Mulrennan, Celtic Media Group director of operations, said: "We are pleased to be partnering with such a prestigious newspaper and look forward to providing the Connaught Telegraph with a consistently high level of service."As part of this new initiative, the Connaught Telegraph has launched a new look, designed by the Celtic Media Group creative team in Mullingar. Taoiseach Enda Kenny wished the new venture success and committed to formally launching the new look Connaught Telegraph later this month.Stephen Connolly, Connaught Telegraph general manager, said: "We have chosen to outsource our advertising and editorial design to Celtic Media Group as a means of saving costs in a tough market."This move will allow us focus our efforts on the quality of our locally-based news and sales teams - while allowing Celtic Media undertake services which it is uniquely placed to do."