Local freesheet closes Mullingar office

The free newspaper the Galway Advertiser, which brings out a version for Mullingar, the Mullingar Advertiser, has this week closed its base in the town.The freesheet, which is circulated to households and businesses in Mullingar town, had an office at the Green Bridge, but on Monday, a notice was pasted on the door stating that the office was closed, and giving a phone number to which queries could be directed.While the newspaper claims a circulation of thousands locally, there are no independent figures to quantify what its actual reach is in Mullingar, as it is not one of the titles audited by the Audited Bureau of Circulations.It is understood that the newspaper will continue to publish, but that staff in its Athlone and Galway offices will be mainly responsible for providing a news and advertising service for Mullingar, with the support of freelance staff. The closure of the Green Bridge office represents further retrenchment on the part of the Advertiser Group, since it previously axed its Carlow Advertiser and Galway First newspapers, both launched as part of an ambitious expansion plan in late 2006 and early 2007. The two were closed due to a failure to attract sufficient advertising to meet costs.