Mourne Observer

It’s an independent family-owned and run publication founded by Jim Hawthorne in 1949. His son Will was being groomed to take over the newspaper but died suddenly in 1984 aged just 43; Jim emerged from semi-retirement to manage the newspaper once more while his younger son David learnt the ropes. David Hawthorne took over the editorship on his father’s death at the age of 82 in 1996.

The editorial offices are in Newcastle.

There are two editions: one for Down and one for South Down (the Observer claims to be the largest selling newspaper in South Down). Both are published on Wednesdays.