Difficulties in trading led to the closure of a religious publisher and retailer’s Ennis store.

Veritas closed their doors on O’Connell St last year having first opened in the county town back in 1988. At the time of its closure, Veritas had one full-time member of staff and two part-time workers based in Co Clare.

According to a spokesperson for Veritas trading had been “very difficult in recent years” for its Ennis store. The company is owned by the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference.

Over 40 books are published each year by Veritas in the areas of theology, scripture, prayer, spirituality, parenting, counselling, children’s issues, social commentary, and liturgical resources. Religious education texts used in primary and second level education are also published by the company.

In the 1960s, the Communications Centre was founded in Booterstown by the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference, under the directorship of Fr. Joe Dunn. It came about as a response to the developments in media which were changing the ways that Irish people were receiving their information.

It merged with the Catholic Truth Society to become the Catholic Communications Institute of Ireland in 1969, later being renamed Veritas Communications.

Also in 1969, Veritas Publications was founded, ‘Patrick in His Own Words’ by Bishop Joseph Duffy was the first title released.