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''Magill'' was an Irish
politics Politics (from , ) is the set of activities that are associated with making decisions in groups, or other forms of power relations among individuals, such as the distribution of resources or status. The branch of social science that studies ...
and current affairs magazine founded by
Vincent Browne Vincent Browne (born 17 July 1944) is an Irish print and broadcast journalist. He is a columnist with ''The Irish Times'' and ''The Sunday Business Post'' and a non-practising barrister. From 1996 until 2007, he presented a nightly talk-show ...
and others in 1977. ''Magill'' specialised in investigative articles and colourful reportage by journalists such as
Eamonn McCann Eamonn McCann (born 10 March 1943) is an Irish politician, journalist, political activist, and former councillor from Derry, Northern Ireland. McCann was a People Before Profit (PBP) Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Foyle from 201 ...
(who wrote its anonymous ''Wigmore'' column) and Gene Kerrigan. It was relaunched in 2004 after an earlier closure before closing again in 2009.


Berry diaries

It first achieved a nationwide profile when it published the diaries of Peter Berry, the former Secretary (administrative head) to the Department of Justice in which he alleged that former
Taoiseach The Taoiseach is the head of government, or prime minister, of Ireland. The office is appointed by the president of Ireland upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann (the lower house of the Oireachtas, Ireland's national legislature) and the of ...
Jack Lynch John Mary Lynch (15 August 1917 – 20 October 1999) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Taoiseach from 1966 to 1973 and 1977 to 1979, Leader of Fianna Fáil from 1966 to 1979, Leader of the Opposition from 1973 to 1977, Ministe ...
had been less than forthright publicly about the truth surrounding the 1970
Arms Crisis The Arms Crisis was a political scandal in the Republic of Ireland in 1970 in which Charles Haughey and Neil Blaney were dismissed as cabinet ministers for alleged involvement in a conspiracy to smuggle arms to the Irish Republican Army in Nor ...
which brought down two ministers, including Charles Haughey. In the 1980s as Ireland underwent rapid political change it became the major Irish magazine covering politics.


Changes in editor

Browne later appointed a series of editors with him becoming managing editor. Its early editors included Fintan O'Toole, John Waters and
Colm Tóibín Colm Tóibín (, approximately ; born 30 May 1955) is an Irish novelist, short story writer, essayist, journalist, critic, playwright and poet. His first novel, '' The South'', was published in 1990. ''The Blackwater Lightship'' was shortlist ...
. (Tóibín went on to achieve renown as a novelist.) However clashes of personalities with Browne led each editor in turn to quit the post as did one of its major writers Gene Kerrigan.


Closures and relaunches

Magill ceased publication for a period in the 1990s before returning in 1997 as a joint effort between Browne and Michael O' Doherty, publisher of '' VIP Magazine''. Its editors in its second incarnation included John Ryan, Emily O'Reilly,
Kevin Rafter Kevin Rafter is an Irish academic and non-executive director. He is the author of numerous books on media and politics topics, having previously worked as a political journalist. Career Rafter is currently Head of the School of Communications ...
,
Eamon Delaney Eamon Delaney (born 14 July 1962) is an Irish newspaper columnist, author, editor, novelist, journalist and former diplomat. According to the Irish Independent, Delaney's best-selling memoir of life as an Irish diplomat "ruffled feathers" within t ...
and
Niall Stanage Niall Stanage (born 18 June 1974) is a Northern Irish journalist and associate editor of the American political newspaper, ''The Hill''. Biography Stanage was born in 1974 in Belfast, Northern Ireland and attended Carryduff Primary School and Met ...
. The magazine was sold by Browne in the early 2000s. It was acquired by Ian Hyland who had previously acquired ''
Business & Finance ''Business & Finance'' (sometimes ''B&F'') is a fortnightly Irish business magazine published by Belenos Publications, that was established by Hugh McLaughlin in September 1964. It provides news and comment, and analysis on Irish and interna ...
''. The title was re-opened under a new editor (author and former
diplomat A diplomat (from grc, δίπλωμα; romanized ''diploma'') is a person appointed by a state or an intergovernmental institution such as the United Nations or the European Union to conduct diplomacy with one or more other states or interna ...
)
Eamon Delaney Eamon Delaney (born 14 July 1962) is an Irish newspaper columnist, author, editor, novelist, journalist and former diplomat. According to the Irish Independent, Delaney's best-selling memoir of life as an Irish diplomat "ruffled feathers" within t ...
and deputy editor Andrew Lynch in November 2004. Whereas the earlier ''Magill'' was famously populist and leaned to the left, often carrying photographs of politicians with accusatory banner headlines, the new ''Magill'' published reviews, commentaries, analysis, book reviews and business reports as well as a broader range of articles than were found in Browne's fortnightly version. The new magazine was more right-of-centre than earlier versions. The re-launch was viewed with particular relish in the world of political journalism because Magill was seen as the centrist answer to '' The Village'', edited by
Vincent Browne Vincent Browne (born 17 July 1944) is an Irish print and broadcast journalist. He is a columnist with ''The Irish Times'' and ''The Sunday Business Post'' and a non-practising barrister. From 1996 until 2007, he presented a nightly talk-show ...
, the one-time editor of Magill. Upon becoming editor, Delaney told ''
The Sunday Times ''The Sunday Times'' is a British newspaper whose circulation makes it the largest in Britain's quality press market category. It was founded in 1821 as ''The New Observer''. It is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News UK, whi ...
'' that, "I respect the hard Irish left but it's the woolly liberal consensus of
The Irish Times ''The Irish Times'' is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper and online digital publication. It launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Ruadhán Mac Cormaic. It is published every day except Sundays. ''The Irish Times'' is considered a newspaper ...
and
RTÉ (RTÉ) (; Irish for "Radio & Television of Ireland") is the national broadcaster of Ireland headquartered in Dublin. It both produces and broadcasts programmes on television, radio and online. The radio service began on 1 January 1926, whil ...
I have a problem with... They have this raft of outdated orthodoxies: the Americans are bad, the Israelis are evil, travellers are our greatest problem. One in three Irish people is supposed to be living in poverty and Vincent will, no doubt, interview them all." Having dropped to an officially bi-monthly (and increasingly erratic) publication schedule in 2008, the magazine once again ceased publication in mid-2009 due to a lack of advertising as a result of the recession.


Browne regains control in 2017

In April 2017 it was announced that Vincent Browne had regained control of the Magill title, after purchasing it from Business and Finance publisher Ian Hyland. The plan is to have a relaunched print edition initially of one-off specials, as well as online content.


Contributors

Many staff and freelance writers from newspapers contribute to the magazine including the ''
Sunday Independent ''Sunday Independent'' may refer to: * ''The Independent'' (Perth) * ''Sunday Independent'' (South Africa) * ''Sunday Independent'' (England), in south-west England, UK * ''Sunday Independent'' (Ireland), in Ireland See also *'' The Independent on ...
s political commentator John Drennan, ''
The Irish Times ''The Irish Times'' is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper and online digital publication. It launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Ruadhán Mac Cormaic. It is published every day except Sundays. ''The Irish Times'' is considered a newspaper ...
'' contributor Jim Duffy (who ceased his column when he became an advisor to the
leader of the opposition The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest political party not in government, typical in countries utilizing the parliamentary system form of government. The leader of the opposition is typically se ...
in 2007) and an Irish government special adviser writing under the pseudonym ''Sean Sexton''. Other people who have contributed to the new ''Magill'' include
Fine Gael Fine Gael (, ; English: "Family (or Tribe) of the Irish") is a liberal-conservative and Christian-democratic political party in Ireland. Fine Gael is currently the third-largest party in the Republic of Ireland in terms of members of Dáil É ...
deputy leader Richard Bruton, former Labour deputy leader
Liz McManus Liz McManus (born 23 March 1947) is a former Irish Labour Party politician who served as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party from 2002 to 2007 and Minister of State at the Department of the Environment from 1994 to 1997. She served as a Teachta ...
, former
British Conservative Party The Conservative Party, officially the Conservative and Unionist Party and also known colloquially as the Tories, is one of the two main political parties in the United Kingdom, along with the Labour Party. It is the current governing party, ...
minister
Jonathan Aitken Jonathan William Patrick Aitken (born 30 August 1942) is a British author, Church of England priest, former prisoner and former Conservative Party politician. Beginning his career in journalism, he was elected to Parliament in 1974 (serving u ...
, right-wing retired
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...
diplomat George Dempsey and BBC Foreign Affairs Editor John Simpson. Michael O'Sullivan, Michael O'Sullivan (biographer)biographer of Mary Robinson and Seán Lemass was Literary Editor when the magazine was edited by John Ryan and Emily O'Reilly. The last incarnation of ''Magill'' was designed by Cobalt Design to make use of commissioned artwork as an important tool of communication. Issues feature several of Ireland's most established editorial illustrators, with work by
Jon Berkeley Jon Berkeley (born 1962) is a Dublin-born illustrator and children's author. Background He travelled widely in the 1980s, working freelance in London, Sydney and Hong Kong before returning to Dublin in 1992, where he formed a loose coalitio ...
; David Rooney; Kevin McSherry; Fintan Taite and Joven Kerekes. Its December 2005 edition carried an interview with Taoiseach
Bertie Ahern Bartholomew Patrick "Bertie" Ahern (born 12 September 1951) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician who served as Taoiseach from 1997 to 2008, Leader of Fianna Fáil from 1994 to 2008, Leader of the Opposition from 1994 to 1997, Tánaiste a ...
.


References

{{Reflist


External links


''Magill'' archive
from
Vincent Browne Vincent Browne (born 17 July 1944) is an Irish print and broadcast journalist. He is a columnist with ''The Irish Times'' and ''The Sunday Business Post'' and a non-practising barrister. From 1996 until 2007, he presented a nightly talk-show ...
's ''Politico.ie'' website Defunct magazines published in Ireland Defunct political magazines Monthly magazines published in Ireland Political magazines published in Ireland Magazines established in 1977 Magazines established in 1997 Magazines established in 2004 Magazines disestablished in 2009 Magazines published in the Republic of Ireland