Mayo Echo

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Mayo Echo
The Mayo Echo
Type	Weekly newspaper
Format	tabloid

Owner(s)	We Shout Loudest Limited
Founded	2004
Political position	None
Headquarters	Castlebar, County Mayo
Editor	Tony Geraghty

Website	Mayo Echo

The Mayo Echo is a free newspaper, in County Mayo, Ireland. It began publication in 2004, and is published weekly in tabloid-size.

The newspaper is seen to have more ‘teeth’ then the long established local titles. It is well known for its catchy front pages, and its irreverent attitude to local politicians. It is associated with campaigning for the release from prison of the Rossport Five. It is credited with campaigning for clean drinking water, and is critical of the management of Mayo County Council. Because of this criticism, Mayo County Council has operated an advertising boycott of the newspaper since 2006.^{[citation needed]}

The Mayo Echo is also credited with innovative April Fools stories. The paper, quite uniquely, does not have a sports section.

It has one of the largest, if not the largest, distribution of the four county newspapers (24,000 copies are distributed each week). It is available at most retail outlets and some large workplaces. It is no longer available in Mayo County Library as the Council has blacklisted the newspaper.^{[citation needed]} It is delivered door-to-door in Ballina, Castlebar, Westport and Claremorris. The complete newspaper is also published online every week.

[edit] Controversy

In May 2008, the Mayo Echo published an article about alleged homosexual activity at a local beauty spot in the town of Castlebar. The article sparked hot debate in the local and national press and online forums - mainly over its use of the words 'pervert' and 'paedophile' in association with homosexuality and the fact that photographs were printed of one person allegedly involved and their vehicle, with number plate clearly visible. The editor of the Mayo Echo (Tony Geraghty) objected to some comments about the original article published on the regional bulletin board at castlebar.ie and he contacted the Web site requesting that material he found objectionable be removed and an apology published. This was duly done but Tony Geraghty refused to accept the apology and did not withdraw his threat of legal action. As a result, the entire Web Site was shut down by the staff and replaced with a commentary on the events. Since publication of the original article, the debate has moved onto national radio and groups have been formed on Facebook and Myspace in support of the Web site. Outwest - a West of Ireland based gay group have confirmed that the Gardai have stated "that allegations made within the article are unfounded"