The Public Register, or Freeman's Journal (1763-1924)
The Freeman's Journal was founded by Charles Lucas (1713-1771) in 1763, and was initially associated with the Protestant patriot politicians like Henry Grattan (1746-1820). A change of ownership in the 1780s led to a closer relationship with the British administration. This again weakened during the 19th century, when the paper gradually became the most widely-read organ of moderate Irish nationalism. In 1924, the paper merged with the Irish Independent.
UCC Library holds much of the Freeman's Journal in bound volumes. Most of these are held in the Library Store, but the 18th century volumes have been transferred to Special Collections. These are 1765, 1767, 1770, 1771, 1772, 1773, 1774, 1775 and 1777. The paper is also available on microfilm and through the Irish Newspaper Archives database.
Other Dublin newspapers
In addition, a small number of loose issues of Dublin newspapers are held, and are available here in PDF form:
General Evening Post 31 January 1784
Saunders's News-Letter 23 July 1787
Saunders's News-Letter 8 February 1798
Fitz-Patrick, William J. The Sham Squire and the Informers of 1798: with jottings about Ireland a century ago. Dublin: Gill, 1895.
Larkin, Felix M. "The dog in the night-time: the Freeman's Journal, the Irish Parliamentary Party and the empire, 1875-1919" in Simon James Potter, ed. Newspapers and Empire in Ireland and Britain, c.1857-1921 (Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2004):109-123.
