Foreword

What the paper says

Preparing this foreword for the final issue of the Irish Journal of Management (IJM) was a real mix of emotions -pride for what was achieved, and sadness that we must bring the journal to a close.This final issue marks a significant moment in the history of Irish management scholarship, as we take a step back to reflect on the history of the journal and the vibrant academic community it has supported over the decades.Looking through the back catalogue whilst working on archiving the journal, it was lovely to see the initial publishing efforts of many now wellestablished academics and friends as they began their academic careers.The journal also fostered engagement with the professional world, featuring several contributions from practitioners and content aimed at informing policy and practice.The process of writing this final issue also allowed us to trace the major research themes over 50 years of the journal identifying the important management issues that were vital to Ireland at different points in time.Top of our list of priorities when planning for our final ever issue was to celebrate this historical legacy of the IJM and its predecessor IBAR and to acknowledge and thank all of the key people involved in establishing and driving the journal from its inception in 1979 to its final issue in 2025.We hope we have achieved this.The roots of the IJM stretch back to 1979 with the founding of its predecessor, the Irish Business and Administrative Research (IBAR) journal.IBAR emerged at a time when the landscape of Irish business research was still very much in its infancy.At that time, the journal provided a much-needed platform for Irish academics to publish their work, exchange ideas, and begin to establish an academic identity that was uniquely Irish.In 2001, the journal evolved into the Irish Journal of Management, formally becoming the academic publication of the Irish Academy of Management.This transition reflected the development and integration of business and management studies as a now fully recognised field in Ireland.Kelly and Roche's paper in this issue provides a fascinating historical account of this evolution.Operating under the umbrella of the IAM, the IJM continued to grow in stature, offering a home for high-quality, peer-reviewed research that spoke to both local and international audiences.The journal had a focus on academic rigour and served as a vital platform for Irish-based research on pressing national issues, while also engaging with broader international scholarship.The decision to wind the journal down was not taken lightly, nor was it made quickly.This followed several years of reflection, dialogue, and experimentation with various models and initiatives, carried out in collaboration with the Irish Academy of Management Council and the editors of the Irish Journal of Management.However, the evolving competitive nature of academic publishing, with its growing demands, ultimately made it unsustainable to continue the journal in its current form.Some of these challenges are highlighted in this issue by the past editors' joint paper contribution.This special issue includes reflections from a wide range of contributors who have played important roles in the journal's history.