The Irish Echo marks 97 years of publishing this year. But we are only a youngster compared to the Buenos Aires-published "The Southern Cross."
The Irish-Argentine newspaper celebrates 150 years in print today, Thursday, January 16.
The Southern Cross, according to a release, is the oldest Irish newspaper in the world edited outside Ireland and as such is the dean of the Irish diaspora press.
It is also one of the oldest newspapers printed in Argentina and the dean of both the local foreigner communities and Catholic press.
Stated the release: "Founded January 16, 1875 by Dean Patrick Dillon (1842-1889, born in C° Mayo), a prominent political figure in Buenos Aires who later was elected to the Chamber of Deputies in the Province of Buenos Aires, The Southern Cross was conceived of as a Catholic newspaper devoted to preserving Irish identity in the immigrant nation of Argentina.
"As such, it was published exclusively in English (with some Irish-language lessons occasionally) until 1977, when it switched to a Spanish-language publication, with a few articles published in English each issue. Nowadays it is printed in a digital form (as of 2020).
"The Irish community in Argentina in general, however, is both significant and unique – excluding predominantly English-speaking nations, it is one of the largest Irish diasporas in the world. Today, the number of people living in Argentina descended from Irish ancestors is believed to include at least 500,000 people.
"Among its editors was the Irish nationalist and writer William Bulfin (from 1896 to 1906) author of “Tales of the Pampas” and “Rambles in Eirinn” and Fr. Fred Richards (from 1968-1988), who campaigned for Human Rights.
"Since 2009, Dr. Guillermo MacLoughlin Bréard became the 14th editor, the youngest ever to take the position. He is a well-known historian of The Irish in South America and has been active in the Global Irish Economic Forum and is a regular lecturer in Irish Diasporas Conferences worldwide."
