The Cork Examiner was founded by John Francis Maguire, in support of catholic emancipation and tenants’ rights. Maguire, a supporter of Daniel O’Connell, was a barrister, four times Mayor of Cork and represented Cork at Westminster from 1865 until his death in 1872.

Viewed as an alternative to the unionist Cork Constitution, which represented landed interests, the paper was run by Thomas Crosbie on Maguire’s behalf from early on, while Maguire tended to his political career. It was initially published three times a week in the evenings, costing 4d, but became a morning daily in 1858. On Maguire’s death, editor Crosbie became the proprietor and the paper is still owned by the Crosbie family today.

In an attempt to broaden the paper's readership throughout Ireland, title changes occurred in 1996 and 2000 and the Irish Examiner as it is now known, is a national daily whose main rivals are the Irish Times and the IrishIndependent.