The Irish Times Group has confirmed its acquisition of leading Irish digital death notice website RIP.ie.
The acquisition is part of the Irish-owned media group’s strategic move to expand its range of digital services and products.
Managing Director of The Irish Times Group, Deirdre Veldon said: "We are delighted to add RIP.ie to the services we offer to readers and customers. The Irish Times Group has a long tradition of publishing death and other family notices going back to the mid 1800s, and we know how much these services matter to people.
"This tradition aligns with RIP.ie and we look forward to continuing to provide those services on our digital and print platforms for the people of Ireland at home and overseas into the future. This acquisition helps us in our mission to stay relevant to our audiences by offering trusted journalism and content services that appeal to them at every stage of their lives.
“As reader habits change, we are constantly looking at ways to enhance and diversify our portfolio. By harnessing the reach and compelling content of RIP.ie, The Irish Times aims to unlock new opportunities for audience engagement and digital growth. This acquisition aligns with our values in playing a pivotal role in Irish life.”
RIP.ie is operated by Co Louth-based company, Gradam Communications, which is owned by siblings Jay and Dympna Coleman.
Since its inception in 2005, RIP.ie has become Ireland's leading online platform for death notices, with 60 million page views a month.
The site allows bereaved families to share information about their loved ones’ deaths and funeral arrangements. Visitors to the site can express condolences to bereaved families as well as accessing a range of funeral-related services and resources.
Jay Coleman said: “We are immensely proud of what RIP.ie has become and what it means to the people of Ireland. In the Irish Times, we believe we have found a worthy custodian, one that will allow the site to grow and continue to offer a familiar and trusted resource for end of life matters.”
The financial details of the deal have not been disclosed.
Along with the eponymous media title, The Irish Times Group also owns the Irish Examiner and Echo titles, along with breakingnews.ie, myhome.ie and several regional titles - the Western People, Roscommon Herald, the Waterford News & Star, the Carlow Nationalist, Laois Nationalist and Kildare Nationalist. It also has shareholdings in the WLRfm radio station and Beat 102-103. In March, Bauer Media Audio signed an agreement to acquire Beat 102-103.
The most recent accounts filed for Gradam Communications show accumulated profits at the company rose to €1.7 million, with the company recording a profit of €264,912 for the 12 months to December 31st, 2023.
