If you’re an Irish author looking for a publishing house for your novel, we’ve featured 14 top fiction publishers in Ireland below.
1. The O’Brien Press
Located in Rathgar, Dublin, The O’Brien Press is a top Irish book publisher founded in 1974. They earned the BIC Excellence Award for their supply chain efficiency, and their backlist includes over 1,500 titles.
Some of their favorite genres are fiction, folklore, nature, myths & legends, literature, religion, business, biography/memoir, and humor. If you’d like to learn more about their preferences in terms of fiction, make sure to check out “The Dead House”, by Billy O’Callaghan, “The Bodhrán Makers”, by John B Keane, and “American Skin”, by Ken Bruen.
Although they are open to working with authors from all backgrounds, they particularly welcome Irish writers and writers from underrepresented groups, such as LGBTQ+ members. To have your submission taken into consideration, you need to send your full manuscript, a cover letter, and a synopsis at books@obrien.ie. Keep in mind that they normally respond in 10-12 weeks.
2. Hachette Ireland
Hachette Ireland is a publisher established in 2002, and it was initially named Hodder Headline Ireland. It is presently an imprint of Hachette UK, with headquarters in Dublin. As their backlist includes numerous bestsellers, they are regarded as one of the most renowned publishers in the country.
Their preferences encompass both fiction and nonfiction books. When it comes to the former, crime & mystery and modern & contemporary fiction are the main categories featured on the website. “It’s That Time of the Year”, by Roisin Meaney, “The Glorious Guinness Girls”, by Emily Hourican, and “Unfiltered”, by Sophie White are just three of their most recent releases.
If you’d like to work with them, you should know that they don’t accept any unsolicited fiction submissions. To learn more about finding the right agent, click here.
3. Irish Academic Press
Founded by Frank Cass in 1974, the Irish Academic Press is currently located in Newbridge, County Kildare. Although it was initially based in Dublin, the press changed its location after being acquired by Conor Graham in 2012. Their aim is to produce around 30-35 new books on a yearly basis.
Among the genres featured on their website, you will find fiction, social history, education, art, engineering, sport, and media. To learn more about their preferences, make sure to check out “Terry Brankin Has a Gun”, by Malachi O’Doherty, “Two Souls”, by Henry McDonald, and “Knockfane: A Novel”, by Homan Potterton.
Unfortunately, their fiction submissions are currently closed. If you feel like they would be an appropriate choice for your project, though, you can still occasionally access this page for any updates. You can also ask for more information at info@iap.ie.
4. Liberties Press
Based in Dublin, Ireland, Liberties Press was established in 2003. It is now a top independent publisher with titles produced in several languages, such as Hungarian or German, and a backlist of hundreds of books.
In terms of genres, their website includes fiction, nonfiction, poetry, health, essays, short stories, and more. If it’s fiction you’re interested in, you may want to look up “The Boy in the Gap”, by Paul Soye, “Quality Time at St Chinian”, by Professor Patrick Masterson, and “Vinny’s Wilderness”, by Janet Shepperson.
They are open to unsolicited submissions all year round, from both aspiring and established writers. You will have to send a cover letter and a synopsis, along with the full manuscript (or at least 3 sample chapters). Even though they welcome hard copies, Liberties Press recommends sending a digital submission. The full guidelines can be found here.
5. The Lilliput Press
Established by Antony Farrell in 1984, The Lilliput Press has moved its headquarters from County Westmeath to Stoneybatter, Dublin just a few years later. Their backlist includes works of famous authors, such as James Joyce and Rob Doyle, and it encompasses over 600 titles.
When it comes to genres, they are interested in fiction, nonfiction, Irish history, children’s literature, poetry, music, and food, to give some examples. Some of their top fiction books are “A Letter Marked Personal”, by J.P. Donleavy, “A Lost Tribe”, by William King, and “Bad Day in Blackrock”, by Kevin Power. It’s also worth checking out their bestseller list, to get an idea about what they like.
Although their open reading period ended on October 31st, 2020, you should check this page (or any of their social media accounts) for updates.
6. Mercier Press
Mercier Press was established by Captain Seán and Mary Feehan in 1944, and it is located in Cork, Ireland. Renowned for their radical approach, the press has always provided their audience with thought-provoking titles, on topics such as sexual abuse, politics, and social changes. At the same time, they helped both Irish writers and their culture gain visibility.
Their backlist includes fiction, children’s books, humor, health/lifestyle/parenting, and military history of the Irish Civil War. To learn more about their preferences in terms of fiction, you should look up “Irish Fairy Tales”, by Edmund Leamy, “The First Sunday in September”, by Tadhg Coakley, and “Tuesdays Are Just As Bad”, by Cethan Leahy.
Mercier Press is currently closed to unsolicited submissions. You can check for updates here.
7. New Island Books
Based in Clonskeagh, Dublin, New Island Books was founded more than 25 years ago. As their titles are distributed worldwide, their Irish authors are able to reach a wide audience. This is particularly helpful for new authors, because they have a greater chance of building a career in the field.
On the website, their books are divided into four main categories – fiction, nonfiction, poetry & drama, and open door. If you’re interested in their fiction books, definitely check out some of their 2020 titles. “Secrets Never Told”, by Dermot Bolger, “A Quiet Tide”, by Marianne Lee, and “Tatty”, by Christine Dwyer Hickey are three excellent choices.
New Island Books only collaborate with Irish authors, and they are particularly interested in working with writers from underrepresented categories, such as disabled writers or LGBTQ+ members. If you think that your project has great potential, don’t forget to check their social media accounts, where they will announce the next open reading period. Meanwhile, the submission guidelines can be found here.
8. Little Island
Little Island is an independent children’s book publisher based in Dublin, Ireland. With over 10 award-winning titles in their backlist, they produce around 8-10 new books every year. Most of the writers whose works they published were at the beginning of their careers when they started collaborating, so don’t be afraid to reach them if you’re not an established author.
Their fiction titles are divided into four main categories, respectively young children (4+), older children (9+), young teens (12+), and older teens (15+). When it comes to the latter, “Needlework”, by Deirdre Sullivan, “Good Red Herring”, by Susan Maxwell, and “A Lonely Note”, by Kevin Stevens are three titles definitely worth checking out.
Although they are currently closed to submissions, there is a new open reading period coming in 2021, so make sure to check this page for any updates.
9. The Stinging Fly Press
The Stinging Fly Press was founded in Dublin in 2005, by the team that also established the magazine of the same name in 1997. Both the imprint and the magazine place a strong focus on short stories, and their aim is to provide the audience with high-quality Irish and foreign works.
The press is interested in publishing fiction, nonfiction, and poetry – some of the titles in their backlist are “Show Them A Good Time”, by Nicole Flattery, “The Long-Winded Lady”, by Maeve Brennan, and “Dinosaurs On Other Planets”, by Danielle McLaughlin. If you want to learn more about what The Stinging Fly is looking for, you should definitely look these up.
The open reading period for fiction is between December 14th, 2020 and January 8th, 2021 for the magazine. This is important to know, because they recommend submitting a short piece of work there before sending a book manuscript. Since the press is not taking on any more projects at the moment, you have plenty of time to make a decision.
10. Poolbeg Press
Founded in Baldoyle, Dublin in 1976, Poolbeg Press is a renowned fiction publisher in Ireland. Working with both aspiring and established authors, the press has numerous bestselling titles on their backlist. A few authors they have collaborated with so far are Marian Keyes, Melissa Hill, and Maeve Binchy.
Their range of interests encompasses children’s books, fiction, and nonfiction. The fiction category featured on the website is divided into romantic fiction and literary fiction, and it includes “A Great Beauty”, by A. O’Connor, “The Sleeper Lies”, by Andrea Mara, and “Gabriella”, by Caragh Bell, to name a few titles.
Luckily, Poolbeg Press accepts both solicited and unsolicited manuscripts, so you don’t have to hire an agent to work with them. A short bio, your contact details, your word count, and a few more requirements need to be included in your submission. Find out more here.
11. Maverick House
Maverick Home is a global publisher with operations in Ireland, Australia, Southeast Asia, and UK. In Ireland, their headquarters are located in Dublin. When it comes to authors, they have worked with Jenna Guy, Lissa Oliver, and Muriel Moran, to give a few examples.
Their passion for controversial subjects has determined them to specialize in nonfiction, but they also provide publishing opportunities for fiction writers. Because of this, their backlist includes “Harrow the Boys”, by Paul Whyte, “The Dark Confides”, by Steven Maxwell, and “Blind Truth”, by Jenna Guy.
Interested in working with them? Then you should send a submission including a book outline, a sample chapter, a short bio, and your contact information. To learn more about their guidelines, click here.
12. Turas Press
Based in Dublin, Ireland, Turas Press is relatively new in the industry, as it was founded in 2017. Their passion for exceptional writing has determined them to create a platform that provides fiction and poetry authors with the visibility they deserve.
If you want to learn more about their fiction preferences, make sure to check out “Crunch”, by Anamaría Crowe Serrano. However, poetry titles such as “Gold Friend”, by Chris Murray, and “Quarantena”, by Nina Karacosta could also help you understand what they like.
Their 2020 open reading period is now closed, which means that you will have to wait for the 2021 one to submit a manuscript. You can check this page for any updates.
13. Sandycove
A renowned imprint of Penguin Random House, Sandycove is based in Dublin, Ireland. Due to their high standards, they only publish around 20 new books every year. Since they also benefit from the resources of such a large publisher, it is no wonder that numerous titles in their backlist are bestsellers.
Although they mainly publish fiction and nonfiction, there are no genre restrictions when it comes to Sandycove – as long as you’re talented, you have a chance of getting published. “Our Little Cruelties”, by Liz Nugent, “Nothing But Blue Sky”, by Kathleen MacMahon, and “Seven Letters”, by Sinéad Moriarty are just three titles that may give you an idea about what they’re into.
If you’d like to work with them, make sure that your submission contains your name, the title and genre of your book, your preferred editor, a cover letter, and a few other requirements listed here.
14. Tramp Press
Established in 2014 by Sarah Davis-Goff and Lisa Coen, Tramp Press is a global publisher with headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, and in Scotland. Although they haven’t been in the industry for very long, they already gained great success – the Goldsmiths Prize, the Davy Byrnes Award, and the Kate O’Brien Award are just three of the numerous prizes earned by the press.
In terms of genres, they are interested in both fiction and nonfiction. Some of their best fiction titles are “A Ghost in the Throat”, by Doireann Ní Ghríofa, “Dark Enchantment”, by Dorothy Macardle, and “The Red Word”, by Sarah Henstra.
Unfortunately, they are currently closed to submissions. However, if you want to work with them, you can access this page for updates.
I am a content writer from Romania. My projects involve non-fiction writing, academic writing, product reviews, as well as technical writing. Although I have a personal preference for articles regarding social issues and human rights, I can provide content on any other topic.