The Founding of the Leitrim Guardian (1)
by the Committee members of the Millenium year 2000

The Leitrim Guardian was first published as a weekly penny newspaper
in 1908 and did not continue for very long. Sixty years later the
visionary Michael Fox of Amorset, Manorhamilton named his first
annual county magazine The Leitrim Guardian. Published at Christmas
1968, it cost five shillings or one dollar in USA and Canada. The heading
over the Editorial read ‘Devoted to Leitrim and its people - The Leitrim
Guardian– Leitrim’s Christmas Magazine’ the stated aim ‘to enlighten
the people of Ireland on the beauty and glory of our county’. The Editorial
enumerated many of Leitrim’s needs and encouraged all to co-operate, make themselves important and heard, and use their courage, intelligence and talent to bring about all round improvement.

The Leitrim Guardian has been published every year since Christmas 1968. Michael Fox would be very excited that the millennium edition was printed had the good Lord spared his life on earth–it may be that he continues to serve as Angel Guardian to the Leitrim Guardian. Equally, Michael Fox would be delighted to see his 'Leitrim Guardian' on the World Wide Web, read by millions at home and abroad, forty years after its founding!