The Printing press was first used in Ireland in 1550, but it was not until 1659 that the first newssheet circulated. The first commercial newspaper , the Irish Intelligencer, was published in 1662, followed by the Dublin Newsletter in 1685 and Dublin Intelligence in 1693.

In 1725, George Faulkner founded the Dublin Journal, which lasted for a century. This was followed in 1763 by the Freeman's Journal, which became the organ of the Irish Parliamentary party. In 1766, a provincial press emerged with the publication of Limerick Chronicle, which is still publishing.