The various Education Acts of the late 19th and early 20th century had created a market in Britain for magazines and periodicals which were also popular in Ireland.
At a time when there was a growing sense of national self-identity in Ireland, the purpose of the Our Boys magazine was to compete with British boys' magazines, which were in the main pro-British Empire and pro-Church of England.
A list of advertisers from the Christmas 1972 edition includes Raleigh Bicycles, Allied Irish Banks, Hector Value (toys), Department of Health, CBS Records, Walton's (musical instruments), Fred Hanna (books), Corgi Toys, Aer Lingus and Odeon Cinemas.
[2] The influence of Our Boys extended beyond Ireland as it was made available to the Irish communities of England, Australia, the US, and even India, where it was distributed through the Christian Brothers' schools.
"Our Boys - The Christian brothers, heroic masculinity and national identity".