THE ONLINE DEATH notice platform RIP.ie has been acquired by The Irish Times Group.
RIP.ie was founded in 2005 by siblings Jay and Dympna Coleman.
Neither come from a tech background – one worked in an office and the other on a farm – but gave up their day jobs to pursue the idea.
Speaking previously to The Journal, they said the idea grew out of the frustration the siblings felt after finding it difficult to get details of funerals online, or after missing funerals completely because of poor communication.
In a statement, Deirdre Veldon, managing director of The Irish Times Group, noted that the media outlet 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”.
She added that the tradition “aligns with RIP.ie” and that The Irish Times Group “look forward to continuing to provide those services on our digital and print platforms”.
Veldon also remarked that as reader habits change, there is a need to look at ways to “enhance and diversify our portfolio”.
Jay Coleman told The Irish Times that he is “immensely proud of what RIP.ie has become and what it means to the people of Ireland”.
He added that The Irish Times is a “worthy custodian” and “one that will allow the site to grow and continue to offer a familiar and trusted resource for end-of-life matters”.
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