Creditors and subscribers to The Phoenix magazine have been told to contact the organisation directly as the company announced its official closure .
Contributors were last week contacted to say the magazine was going into voluntary liquidation. The website said it was no longer in a position to accept new subscriptions to its print or online editions.
“After more than 43 years, we have made the difficult decision to cease publishing The Phoenix magazine, effective immediately. The offices are now closed,” a statement on its website said on Wednesday.
The Phoenix was loosely styled on Britain’s Private Eye and published its first edition in 1983. It ran every two weeks, did not have bylines and contained profiles of political, business and media leaders as well as cartoons and satirical pieces.
The magazine had fewer than 10 employees in total, with a group of regular non-staff contributors providing articles.
It is run by Penfield Holdings, whose managing director is Aengus Mulcahy, the son of veteran Irish publisher John Mulcahy who published its first edition.
As recently as the end of last week the owners had been hopeful they could find an investor to keep the publication going.
“We are deeply grateful for the support, commitment and community that have sustained our publication throughout the years,” it said.
“We extend our heartfelt thanks to our loyal readers, customers, suppliers, partners and contributors who have supported us since our journey began in January 1983. We also thank our editors and staff for their tireless work and dedication. This publication would not have been possible without you all.”
What happens next for subscribers and creditors of the magazine is unclear.
The publisher said it was “deeply conscious” of the effects of its closure and offered an email address for contacts.
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