AS beginnings go, it was quite spectacular and instantly attention grabbing. "This baby saved Kerry," screamed the bold headline beside a clever mono-chrome snapshot of a bawling infant perched on a delivery room weighing scales with the needle resting at just under 16 pounds.

It was the landmark first ever front-page photograph on the first edition of this newspaper, which hit the news stands with quite an impact at Easter 1981.

That was a particularly proud moment for everybody associated with the launch of Now and Then, which changed its name to The Kingdom three years later, and the wonderful story accompanying that bouncing baby boy image was a fittingly unusual one with which to launch a publication that was to revolutionise the publishing industry in Kerry.

"Now and Then, in its infant issue, is proud to reveal one of the best kept secrets in Kerry," teased the caption writer.

He continued: "Over the past 24 years the international press did their utmost to trace the identity of a record fifteen and three-quarters pound baby born in Nurse Seymour’s Nursing Home in Killarney on 26 February 1957, shortly before the general election of that year.

"Talk of politics, candidates and policies disappeared with the arrival of the heavyweight baby. His extraordinary weight was on everybody’s lips."

Still not revealing the child’s identity, the writer added that his name became well known in every household in Kerry and that, on many occasions, he defended Kerry from "vicious attacks launched by people from Dublin and Cork".

Fascinated readers were then invited to rush to page 10 to ascertain the identity of the mystery baby who turned out to be none other than legendary Kerry goalkeeper Charlie Nelligan, one of the biggest babies ever born in the county.

The impact of that incredible photograph is still fondly recalled by many and the fun manner in which it was presented became something of a trademark for this newspaper which has worked long and hard to offer readers something a little different and light-hearted as well as the staple diet of news, sports, photographs and informed, though-provoking opinion.

From tracking down Big Bertha, the oldest cow in the world, on an isolated farm in Blackwater, revealing the nicotine addiction of a chain-smoking hen from Rangue, Killorglin, and discovering the world’s biggest mushroom in a rural field in Glencar, we always set out to add a little bit of fun and novelty to the more serious news of the week. And it worked. It worked so well, in fact, that The Kingdom became the most talked about regional newspaper in the country with the national media, both print and broadcast, taking a lead from our example with imitation becoming a very frequent form of flattery.

Now, 30 years later, the incredible journey has reached its end and this is to be the very final edition of The Kingdom, in its current form at least. The bombshell decision by owners Thomas Crosbie Holdings Ltd to cease publication can be attributed to a significant reduction in revenues as a result of the crippling economic situation that currently prevails. When businesses have no option but to slash their advertising spend and households tighten budgets by eliminating everything bar basic essentials, there are always going to be victims. But nobody told us there would be days like these.

Staff were informed of the closure decision at a meeting last Wednesday afternoon and it is quite an understatement to say that the support received from a caring public since that devastating event has been quite incredible. So many people in so many towns, villages and parishes throughout Kerry share the pain that everybody in The Kingdom has been experiencing over the past week but the blow of closure has been cushioned somewhat by the overwhelming messages of support and goodwill received from loyal readers and advertisers, friends and strangers.

The Kingdom, of course, has a long and proud history that can be traced back much further than that landmark relaunch of three decades ago and, in fact, the very first publication dates back to 1923 when Daniel Mac-Monagle, a photographer in Killarney, brought his own unique take on the news of the day to the people of Kerry.

The paper ceased trading for several years until it was relaunched, in some style and with great purpose and passion, by Daniel MacMonagle’s sons, Harry and Donal, and his grandson, Philip MacMonagle, in 1981.

The long road travelled since then has been occasionally rocky, frequently turbulent, seldom straight forward but always interesting and many wonderful, talented and creative people have played big roles in the drama that has been The Kingdom.

So many of Ireland’s top reporters and broadcasters cut their journalistic teeth and learned their trade in The Kingdom - and were proud to do so - and, of course, the publication has always been renowned for its magnificent photographic coverage of the events that make and shape a county. Maintaining a real and important link with the past has been the weekly involvement, right up to this final edition, of the late Daniel MacMonagle’s grandsons, Don MacMonagle and Eamonn Keogh, who are carrying on the great family tradition of high quality and ground-breaking press photography.

Another constant right through the 30 years since the relaunch has been the beloved weekly musings of veteran columnist Finbarr Slattery, one of nature’s true gentlemen and an astute and respected observer of world affairs, who has penned a fascinating current affairs column in every single edition of The Kingdom since the very first issue hit the shelves.

Finbarr, in so many ways, represents all that has been good about The Kingdom in its quest to become a newspaper of record for the county and his painstakingly researched and incredibly informed work has enriched so many lives, in so many ways, down through the years. This week we salute and thank Finbarr Slattery who is one of the greatest ambassadors Killarney and Kerry has known and a man whose wisdom and friendship has always been truly cherished by every member of staff. Since it was acquired by Thomas Crosbie Holdings Ltd (TCH), in February 2000, The Kingdom has had to change radically in order to succeed in a rapidly altering media landscape in which breaking news is available at the touch of a button, digital systems make photography instant and the immediacy of social media options can give a dated impression to newspaper coverage of any event.

The team at The Kingdom adapted well to that task, so much so that circulation trebled in the early years of TCH ownership and prestigious and important national awards for quality journalism soon followed, including three medical journalist of the year honours scooped by Mary Murphy, a GAA McNamee award and a prize for the best coverage of
community games in the country. But in order to survive and prosper, newspapers need almost constant investment in human resources and technology and, unfortunately in the current climate, such aspirations became out of bounds and the ultimate price has been paid.

Despite the shackles imposed by the economic collapse, The Kingdom is immensely proud of the role the paper has played in the community and we are happy to have been in a position to support, sponsor and highlight many of the wonderful local initiatives that have been launched and have prospered down through the years.

We were there for the formative years of the Killarney Looking Good competition that has transformed the image of the premier tourist town in the country from a neon and plastic paradise to one of the tidiest and best kept locations in the entire country.

We were particularly pleased to assist wonderful organisations like the Kerry branch of the Cystic Fibrosis Association, the Kerry Mountain Rescue Team and the Kerry branch of Autism Action Ireland by raising tens of thousands of euros through The Kingdom Charity Ball.

We were proud sponsors of the Christmas in Killarney campaign, the Rose of Tralee festival, the Jack and Jill Foundation 10k event in Kenmare, the East Kerry GAA All-Stars, the Killorglin Tidy Towns competition, Tralee festive lights, the Killarney-London Reunion, the Lily of Killarney, GAA teams and other sporting organisations at all levels and the annual secondary schools’ quiz to mention but a few of our commercial commitments in recent years.

And, of course, we will always be especially proud of our association with the annual Christmas Toy Appeal which helped make dreams come true for so many children and families in every parish in the county and beyond. Through the generosity of our readers we were delighted to be in a position to assist Killarney solicitor Pat F O’Connor in the annual initiative which, we hope and believe, will continue for many years to come.

We were cheerleaders for Kerry’s sporting heroes, of which there were many, and we were thrilled to relate the good news and lead the celebrations whenever Kerry people achieved anything of note at any level of life.

There were times, of course, when not everybody enjoyed reading all that was contained between the covers of the paper but, hands on hearts, we can say we never derived any pleasure from reporting on any misfortunes that impacted on any lives and we always set about our business in a fair, decent and responsible manner.

If questions needed to asked, we asked them. When issues needed to be highlighted, we highlighted them. When politicians erred, we scolded them. But when people succeeded in life we praised them and celebrated with them. That was our job and we did it to the very best of our abilities.

When the first edition of Now and Then hit the streets in 1981, then editor Harry MacMonagle, penned a front-page comment outlining the editorial policy of the publication.

The newspaper, he insisted, had no political axe to grind and no lobby or wealth or pressure would influence what went in or out of its columns. It has always remained that way.

Politicians of all parties and none, people of all religious persuasions and those in minority groups have enjoyed an equal amount of space, even though we may not always have agreed with their views and, very often, we vehemently disagreed with them.

That proud tradition was brought home to us in a very real fashion over the past week when so many politicians, church leaders, community groups, local organisations and individuals called, telephoned or wrote to us to express their regret that the paper is to close its doors. Interestingly, perhaps tellingly, among the local politicians that have not been in touch are the vast majority of those that represent or support the current government whose failed and farcical policies have led to the economic devastation that sparked the collapse of this newspaper. Maybe they haven’t even noticed.

To our loyal readers, our supportive advertisers, our wide network of correspondents, talented freelance reporters and photographers and opinion formers we say a genuine and respectful thank you for the great support you have afforded us down through the years.

The past week, perhaps understandably, has been trying, difficult, emotional and heartbreaking for everybody associated with The Kingdom but, true to form, every single member of staff has turned up for work every morning to do what they do best one last time - informing the Kerry public what, exactly, is happening in this great county in which we live.

Their commitment to the task, their passion for the job, their fun-loving approach to life, their loyalty and their friendship will always be remembered.

The future is there for them to embrace and there is no better group of people to realise their potential and maximise any opportunities that come their way.

It has been an exceptionally poignant few days but the remarkable resolve, the steely determination and the enormous dignity demonstrated by all the staff has been truly impressive.

In so many ways, this Tuesday marks the end of an era but it also signals the start of a new adventure in life and more interesting times are not very far away. In life, change is constant. Lessons of the past have taught us that in a short space of time profound sorrow can turn to absolute joy and there are always unchartered waters waiting to be explored.

Thanks for sharing the journey with us thus far. It has been an absolute privilege to provide a quality service to a magnificent county and a wonderful people.

To be continued....

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