The Carrickfergus Advertiser is a weekly newspaper in the east Antrim town of Carrickfergus. It is currently owned by the Alpha Newspaper Group, which is partly owned by former UUP MP John Taylor.
The East Antrim Gazette Series has three editions - The Carrickfergus Advertiser, (established in 1883), and the Ballyclare Gazette and Larne Gazette which both commenced publication in 1994. The Carrickfergus Advertiser is the traditional weekly newspaper of the Borough and is the only paper with full-time office in the centre of Carrickfergus. Being new weekly newspapers, the latter two are experiencing a rapid growth in circulation in the East Antrim area. The three editions circulate in an area with a population of 80,000 and the Carrickfergus Advertiser is a very popular paper with all sections of the community throughout the Borough of Carrickfergus. Carrickfergus is an historic Borough with a significant tourist industry reinforced with a new leisure boat marina.
East Antrim is a major growth area of Northern Ireland with many new residential developments in Carrickfergus and Ballyclare. East Antrim is very much within the commuter belt to Belfast and many who live there, would regularly shop in Belfast.
website: www.ulsternet.co.uk or www.carrickadvertiser.co.uk
Contact Details: 6 Market Place, Carrickfergus, BT38 7AW The only newspaper with a full-time office in Carrickfergus.
Tel: 028 9336 3651 Fax: 028 9336 3092
ITN journalist Dermot Murnaghan started his career at the Carrickfergus Advertiser.