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If you’re an author in Ireland looking for a publishing company for your manuscript, you have an ample amount to choose from, such as these Irish book publishers.
However, before you make a formal submission to any publisher, be sure it has been properly edited by someone like the following 17 top book editors in Ireland.
1. Mark Empey
A professional historian, Mark Empey lives in Dublin and has obtained a PhD from the University College Dublin. He has contributed to over 30 publications in the capacity of an editor, proofreader, and author. His vast knowledge in the realm of history has led him to don multiple hats throughout his career.
Mark works on a freelance basis, providing services like copy editing and proofreading. Owing to his field of interest, the genres of works that he accepts have largely to do with history. In fiction, he is open to receiving manuscripts that are historical fiction or historical mysteries. As for nonfiction, education & reference, biographies & memoirs, history, and writing are the categories that he works with.
The scope of his services ranges from enhancing language, ensuring accuracy, offering constructive advice, and perfecting structure, to name a few. Some of the books listed in his portfolio are Riotous Assemblies: Rebels, Riots & Revolts in Ireland by William Sheehan and Women’s Bookscapes in Early Modern Britain: Reading, Ownership, Circulation by Leah Knight, Micheline White, Elizabeth Sauer.
To discuss your editing requirement with him, you can request a quote.
2. Conor Reidy
Hailing from Nenagh, Tipperary, Conor Reidy may just be the right editor to transform your manuscript into a stellar version. He has certifications in copy editing and proofreading from the Society for Editors and Proofreaders, as well as a certificate in editing fiction from the Publishing Training Centre.
After 12 years of experience working as an academician, Conor decided to venture into the publishing industry.
While copy editing is predominantly the freelance service he offers, you can also have your book proofread or indexed by him. Conor is likely to accept work pertaining to historical fiction, mystery & crime, travel, true crime, history or biographies & memories. A few titles he has worked on are Irish Medical Education and Student Culture by Laura Kelly and Mutiny or Murder? The Bloodsoaked Voyage of the Chapman Convict Ship, of which the latter has been authored by himself.
Go ahead and request a quote to see if he is available to take on your manuscript.
3. Dermott Barrett
Amidst glowing testimonials, the primary factor that stands out about Dermott Barrett’s work is the expertise he brings to the table. An editor based in Dublin, Dermott is self-employed. He has worked with clients in various niches, catering to their communication requirements since 1998.
If your manuscript is in dire need of a copy edit, you could reach out to Dermott. The different genres of books that he has worked with are historical fiction, fictional anthologies, art, biographies & memoirs, business & management, history, and travel. A few titles that he has contributed to are John Redmond: Selected Letters and Memoranda by Dermot Meleady, Who Do I Think I Am? by Homan Potterton, and Being New York, Being Irish by Terry Golway.
Thrilled to pitch your book to him? Request a quote today.
4. Richard Bradburn
Living in Cork, Richard Bradburn is a self-employed book editor. He not only has the certifications to prove his caliber but also a portfolio title shortlisted for the Bath Novel Award. The books he has worked on have even become Amazon bestsellers or been published by one of the Big 5.
Developmental editing, copy editing, proofreading, and editorial assessment are the services he provides. Richard edits fictional books belonging to genres like women’s fiction, young adult, historical fiction, literary fiction, mystery & crime, and thriller & suspense.
If you’ve heard of books such as Bad Napkin by T. Sharman, The Secrets at Ocean’s Edge by Kali Napier or Between The Lines by A.J. Wills, know that Richard Bradburn had a role in the launch of these titles. To discuss the possibility of him editing your work, you can request a quote.
5. Chris DeVeau
While there doesn’t seem to be a dearth of editors residing in Dublin, the reason why you should reach out to Chris DeVeau is that his freelance journey is propelled by his vast experience in the publishing industry. He has worked with Dalkey Archive Press, Mango Publishing, Deep Vellum Press, and Haymarket Books.
Chris offers copy editing, proofreading, editorial assessment, and developmental editing services. Keep in mind that the only 2 fictional categories he is willing to consider are literary fiction and culture & ethnic. In nonfiction, if your book has anything to do with biographies & memoirs or humanities & social sciences, you could get lucky.
Lucida Intervalla by John Kinsella, A Clean Heart by John Rosengren and America’s First Serial Killer: Jane Toppan and the Making of a Monster by Mary Kay McBrayer are a couple of titles he has helped enhance. Get in touch with him to submit your manuscript for review.
6. David Heffernan
Based out of Cork, Ireland, David Heffernan has ample experience with the publishing industry. He currently works as a freelance editor, channeling the years of skills he has developed at Manchester University Press and Irish Manuscripts Commission.
David provides copy editing and proofreading services. Apart from history books, he is willing to work on titles in the education & reference, writing & publishing, and biographies & memoirs categories. The Colonial World of Richard Boyle, First Earl of Cork by Colin Rynne and David Edwards is a book he has contributed to. If you want to connect with David, share information about your book.
7. Simon Coury
Simon Coury, living in Greystones, County Wicklow, possesses over 30 years of freelance editing experience. He prides himself on understanding an author’s needs and delivering results that align with such goals. The types of editing he is well-versed in are copy editing, proofreading, developmental editing, and providing an editorial assessment.
In fiction, he accepts fantasy, middle grade and literary fiction novels. Education & reference, religion & spirituality, history, and biographies & memoirs are nonfiction categories he can work on.
Mary, Lou and Cass: Jane Austen’s Nieces in Ireland by Sophia Hillan is a book from his portfolio. To discuss your manuscript with him, you may request a quote.
8. Maire O’Dwyer
Nonfiction authors looking for editors specializing in the genre are in for a treat! Maire O’Dwyer hails from Dublin and provides her freelance editing services to authors of books related to parenting & families, law, history, health & wellbeing, education & reference, and technology.
She brings with her 9 years of experience working with diverse authors. And, as an author herself, is able to connect with the requirements of her clients. Copy editing, proofreading, fact-checking are the types of services she provides.
Why We Do What We Do by Dr Helena Boschi and The Law of Duress and Necessity: Crime, Tort, Contract by Nathan Tamblyn are two books Maire has worked on. You can get in touch with her by requesting a quote for your manuscript.
9. Claire Hennessy
A resident of Dublin, Claire Hennessy is a self-employed editor, assisting fiction and nonfiction authors in the publishing of their books. She has studied History and English Literature for her Bachelor’s degree and has pursued an education in Creative Writing & Popular Literature during her MPhil course.
Claire has worked with Penguin Random House Ireland as an editor and even co-founded a literary journal called Banshee.
Structural editing, developmental editing, proofreading, and editorial assessment are the services she provides. If your manuscript ventures into the realm of literary fiction, picture books, middle-grade topics, young adult fiction, short stories or anthologies, you can reach out to her by requesting a quote.
10. Robert Doran
Spanning nearly 20 years, Robert Doran’s career in the publishing industry has placed him in editorial roles at various publishers such as Mercier Press, Merlin Books, The O’Brien Press, etc.
He is a resident of Dublin and offers freelance copy editing, developmental editing, proofreading, and editorial assessment services.
Robert is open to accepting works of many genres for editing; a few of them being women’s fiction, young adult, humor & comedy, LGBTQ nonfiction, economics, psychology and so on.
Some titles in his portfolio are Can You Keep A Secret? By Katie Collins, Going Solo on Lake Como by Ciara O’Toole, and The Secrets of Grindlewood by Jackie Burke. Ready to approach Robert with your manuscript? Request a quote from him.
11. Maria McGuinness
For developmental editing, copy editing or proofreading services in a wide range of fiction and nonfiction genres, you could submit your work to Maria McGuinness. She works as a freelance editor for the Irish Academic Press and has several certifications to merit her editing & writing skills.
Another factor that sets her apart is that she is experienced in editing genres like action & adventure, holiday, poetry, inspirational, political science & current affairs, to name a few. Scumbags & Handbags by Sinead Hamill and Undoing Time: The Life and Work of Samuel Beckett by Jennifer Birkett are 2 books she has contributed to. You can contacther by requesting a quote for your manuscript.
12. Sally Vince
Working with Sally Vince can place your book amidst crowd favourites like The Last Goodbye by Caroline Finnerty, The Children of Lirby Ann Carroll and Tyringham Park by Rosemary McLoughlin. She is a freelance editor, providing services like proofreading, copy editing, and developmental editing.
Authors with fantasy, sci-fi, women’s fiction or romance novels can submit their work to her. If you’re a nonfiction writer, take a look at the many categories such as technology, business & management listed on her profile. The best way to discuss your manuscript with her is to possibly request a quote.
13. Neil Burkey
Neil Burkey has 15 years of editorial experience and has worked with clients from many parts of the world. A recipient of the 2015 Literature Bursary Award from the Arts Council, Neil is only open to considering literary fiction, history, photography, art, biographies & memoirs, and political science & current affairs books.
If you reside in Dublin, you may want to submit your work to this regional editor. He has the expertise to offer proofreading, editorial assessments, copy editing and developmental editing services.
Treasures of Merton College by Dr Steven Gunn and Rave On: Global Adventures in Electronic Dance Music by Matthew Collin are two books he has helped publish. Why don’t you request a quote and see if Neil would be a great fit for your editing requirements?
14. Brenda O’Hanlon
If you’ve been looking for an expert editor, you may just have found the right one! Brenda comes with 20 years of experience editing nonfiction and fiction books. She has previously worked as a feature writer and understands the written word extremely well.
A citizen of Dublin, she works as a freelance editor for authors and publishers alike. Copy editing, developmental editing and proofreading are the services you can obtain. A few of the genres that she is interested in exploring are women’s fiction, historical fiction, mystery & crime, romance, culture & ethnic, nature, health & wellbeing.
To hire her as your editor, you should request a quote from her profile.
15. Lucie Shelly
Having worked at Legacy Publications, Vanity Fair and Electric Lit, Lucie brings high-quality writing and editing skills. She is from Galway and provides freelance developmental editing, copy editing, proofreading, and editorial assessment services.
The only nonfiction topic she is open to working with is art. Whereas in fiction, short story, science fiction, dystopian, classics, and literary fiction are some of the genres she is interested in.
9 Stories About Exploring Extremes and 9 Stories on the Magic of Cities are two volumes Lucie has contributed to. Interested in submitting your manuscript to her? Request a quote today.
16. Emer Garry
A certified editor, Emer Garry’s developmental editing, copy editing and proofreading services have enabled authors worldwide to publish their works. She has an Editing and Proofreading Diploma from the College of Media and Publishing.
The 5 categories of books she is willing to consider are health & wellbeing, life sciences, holiday, mystery & crime, and science fiction. Shootout in Cheyenne by Joe Corso, Archain by Isaac Belacheur, and Hero Up: Unleash Your Inner Hero and Make Life Epic by Jim Simcoe are 3 titles she has worked on.
In order to discuss your editing requirement with her, submit a quote request through her profile.
17. Ellen Christie
Authors living in Kilkenny, here is a resident editor you should seriously consider for your book! Ellen Christie comes from an illustrated nonfiction publishing background. Having previously worked with organisations like Phaidon Press and Long March Space, she now offers her editing services on a freelance basis.
The types of services you could potentially sign her on for are developmental editing, substantive and line copy editing, proofreading, rewriting, fact-checking and more. As for the categories, Ellen is willing to accept a wide range of them such as fictional picture books, children’s nonfiction, nonfiction comics, architecture, design – and these are just a few.
The Documentary Impulse by Stuart Franklin and The Art of Forgery: The Minds, Motives and Methods of the Master Forgers by Noah Charney are two books she has helped polish. Can’t wait to discuss your manuscript with her? All you have to do is request a quote.
Are there any other book editors in Ireland that need to be on this list? Please tell us about them in the comments box below!
K. Z. Kwan is a freelance writer based out of Halifax, Canada.