You craft a masterpiece with the hope of getting it before thousands or even millions of eyeballs out there. You comb the internet and manage to submit it to some publishers.
What follows is radio silence.
If you ever hear from them, it’s probably a decline email. You end up giving up on your dream to be a bestselling author because no one seems to appreciate your work.
Sounds familiar? Well, you are not alone.
Talented writers are letting their best manuscripts accumulate dust on their home shelves or worse, fill up the publishers’ trash bins every day.
The reason the work of many authors can’t see the light of the day has nothing to do with lack of talent. Most of these publishers accept content from both budding and established writers. So, you don’t have to be another John Banville, James Joyce, or Anne Enright to submit your book to them.
Instead, the reasons most of the submissions are declined are: authors are pitching the wrong publishers, they are not reading the fine print in the submission guidelines provided by various publishers, or they are sending the right piece of work to the wrong publisher, such as sending a non-fiction title to a publisher that only accepts fiction titles.
Here is a list of the best, handpicked top Irish book publishing companies accepting submissions. These publishers won’t ask you to pay anything to submit your work except paying attention to their submission guidelines.
1. Orpen Press
If there’s one publisher dedicated to highlighting the present state of people in Ireland, it’s Orpen Press. Situated in Park West Industrial Estate, Dublin, the company aims to enlighten readers about the modern Irish culture and society through timely and sensible nonfiction.
Orpen Press publishes nonfiction about relationships, family & parenting, physical & mental well-being, food & lifestyle, business, and Irish living. To learn about Irish history and Dublin, check Maurice Curtis’s In Dublin’s Fair City and Independent Ireland 1922-1992.
New and veteran authors alike should look into the catalog to see if their project fits with the available titles. Orpen Press accepts online proposal submissions, which you can do after reading the guidelines.
2. Columba Books
Are you searching for books about faith and spirituality? If so, Columba Books is one of the finest picks in the industry. Based in Sandyford, Dublin, this indie publisher provides titles that not only reflect but also enrich the lives of today’s Christian believers.
Apart from expected topics like theology, saints, prayers, and liturgy, Columba Books also covers subjects like mindfulness, philosophy, biography, and history. Some historical titles are Liam Swords’s The Flight of the Earls and Chris Lowney’s Heroic Leadership.
Columba Books is open to unsolicited manuscript submissions. You should prepare other details like your project summary and sample pages.
3. Folens
Learning institutions have always sought Folens to ensure that their faculty members have the best and most up-to-date teaching materials. Headquartered in Tallaght, Dublin, its team currently has almost 65 members that maintain and develop educational textbooks and platforms.
Folens publishes primary and post-primary books. In the latter, readers can learn about science, religion, music, chemistry, German, biology, art, politics & society, and other subjects. For politics and geography, consider Theories in Action (Gerard Elwood) and Tíreolaíocht Don Ré Nua (Tara Fitzharris & Peter Lydon).
Writers keen on working on specific topics are free to submit a proposal whether they’ve been published or not.
4. The O’Brien Press
Thomas and Michael O’Brien founded their titular publishing company 48 years ago, which started as a humble printing business. Today, kids and adults alike cherish the O’Brien Press in Rathgar, Dublin, for its massive catalog that spans more than 2,000 titles.
The O’Brien Press is the most prominent name in Ireland for nonfiction, fiction, and children’s literature. Thus, they have everything except educational books and poetry collections. Young readers will certainly like Paddy Donnelly’s The Vanishing Lake and Caitriona Sweeney’s picture book A Galway Fairytale.
The independent publisher encourages authors to fill out and send online submission forms. Still, you can send your work by post. Different guidelines for adult titles and children’s literature apply, so read the submissions page carefully.
5. Hachette Ireland
Originally known as Hodder Headline Ireland when it was established in 2002, Hachette Ireland is now a sizable and reputable company in Castleknock, Dublin. Writers love working with the team because they foster long-lasting professional connections.
The fiction catalog ranges from crime & mystery to contemporary fiction. Likewise, the nonfiction titles deal with sports, health & well-being, history, and biography, among others. Hachette Ireland’s newest books include Rachael English’s The Letter Home and Roisin Meaney’s Life Before Us.
Hachette Ireland accepts agented fiction submissions. On the other hand, nonfiction writers can send unsolicited proposals.
6. Currach Books
Currach Books is a major part of the Dublin-based Columba Books. If the latter concentrates on religious titles, this imprint prints secular writings. Its operations are not as massive as other Irish publishers, but the independent team will never compromise on high-quality literature.
The company prints fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books. Specifically, the nonfiction section contains categories like history, well-being, biographies, and art. You’ll find noteworthy current affairs books such as Caoimhín De Barra’s Gaeilge: A Radical Revolution and John Waters’s Give Us Back the Bad Roads.
Currach Books welcomes unsolicited submissions by mail or email. Never send the original copy of your manuscript. Moreover, remember that the evaluation period requires at least six weeks.
7. The Liffey Press
Twenty-one years ago, The Liffey Press entered the publishing industry in the Republic of Ireland. Based in Clontarf Road, Dublin, it specializes in nonfiction and has more than 125 amazing titles across physical and digital formats.
The Liffey Press offers a diverse selection of Irish nonfiction about politics, self-development, education, literary criticism, sports, business, and social issues. If you want to deepen your understanding of Ireland, consider Patrick Quigley’s Sisters Against the Empire and Anthony Murphy’s remarkable Dronehenge.
Authors who want to contribute to The Liffey Press’s Irish nonfiction (or even its humble collection of short stories and other fiction) can send proposals by mail or email.
8. CJ Fallon
Located in Liffey Valley Office Campus, Dublin, CJ Fallon is one of the go-to publishers of educational materials. Having been around since the late 19th century, it effortlessly adapts to the ever-changing curricula and technological breakthroughs in publishing.
CJ Fallon’s primary and post-primary books cover topics such as religion, handwriting, music, geography, physics, French, and business & accounting. Peter Jackson’s Exploring Biology and Seán Ó Tuairisg’s Basic Engineering for Junior Cycle are exceptional learning materials in their respective fields.
The first step in getting published is to contact the managing editor about your proposal. They will assess your project and eventually recommend an appropriate editor to discuss the manuscript.
9. Irish Academic Press
The late Frank Cass founded the Irish Academic Press nearly five decades ago. In its succeeding years, the business built its reputation for intellectual rigor, accessibility, and transparency. In 2012, Conor Graham bought the company and transferred its location from Dublin to Newbridge, Kildare.
Irish Academic Press publishes titles in sports, literature, media, art & photography, gift books, children’s books, history, and education, among others. A couple of the finest biographies are Brian Rowan’s Living with Ghosts and Colin Bateman’s Thunder and Lightning.
The company hopes to release up to 35 new projects annually — and one of them could be yours. While Irish Academic Press isn’t open to fiction right now, you can send a proposal for nonfiction writing in any of the subjects they tackle.
10. Maverick House
Serving readers not just in the Republic of Ireland but all around the world, Maverick House strives to inform the public about the most pressing and essential sociopolitical issues. Based in Ballycoolin Road, Dublin, its best-selling titles are never afraid to talk about the hard truth.
While Maverick House has a few offerings in fiction, it truly shines in nonfiction. For one, it published Barbara Frale’s The Templars about the Knights Templar. Second, Maverick House has Audrey Delaney’s harrowing Innocent.
Before sending your unsolicited manuscript, view the submission guidelines. The review period usually only lasts between six and eight weeks.
11. Gill Books
In 1968, Michael Gill created Gill & Macmillan to discover the most promising writers in Ireland. Today, the company is known as Gill Books. Situated in Park West, Dublin, its current director is Nicki Howard while Claire O’Flynn serves as the publicist.
Gill Books specializes in Irish nonfiction. Still, it’s remarkable how unique each title can be since they span from humor, parenting, hobbies, and food to current affairs, history, and true crime. For nature lovers, check Richard Nairn’s Wildwoods and John Connell’s highly praised The Stream of Everything.
Whether you’re new or already an accomplished author, Gill Books will consider your proposal. As of writing, it’s actively looking for adult nonfiction and children’s nonfiction that have Irish aspects. You might have to wait for half a year, but it’s always worth taking the shot.
12. Management Briefs
What if there was a publisher that specialized in management books? Located in Clonskeagh, Dublin, Management Briefs eases the worries of professionals who want to alleviate workplace problems and improve their capacity to lead.
Management Briefs earns the unbridled attention of executives because their publications can have a significant impact on business. From Project Management (Dermot Duff & John Quilliam) to Emotional Intelligence (Daire Coffey & Deirdre Murray), the catalog is clearly at the forefront of understanding the modern work environment.
Prospective authors can send a book proposal. If your writing is concise and offers practical value to managers, it has a good chance of getting considered for publication.
13. Cork University Press
Alfred O’Rahilly is the founder of Cork University Press, which first printed books way back in 1925. As one of the most esteemed university presses in the country, this Cork-based publisher is a vital resource for Irish cultural studies.
Academics and general readers alike will never grow tired of titles under Cork University Press. They can choose from categories like film & drama, music, and literature to gender studies, law, and social studies. Dermot Keogh’s Ireland and Argentina in the Twentieth Century and Val Nolan’s Neil Jordan are tough to put down once you start reading.
Cork University Press requires writers to submit an accomplished proposal form along with a couple of sample chapters. The evaluation is rigorous and involves two stages of peer reviews if the committee is interested in your work.
14. Poolbeg Press
Forty-six years ago, Poolbeg Press began operations in Baldoyle, Dublin, and sought fresh and unique literary voices. Soon enough, it garnered praise not just for the quality of its publications but also for championing women’s writing.
From literary fiction and romantic fiction to women’s fiction and children’s literature, Poolbeg Press is abundant with quality writing. Of course, this knack for excellence is apparent in its nonfiction catalog too, which includes Gabriel Walsh’s Maggie’s Breakfast and Peter de Rosa’s Vicars of Christ.
Poolbeg Press is looking for both fiction and nonfiction — including children’s fiction that aims to impart essential knowledge. Furthermore, you can submit a proposal whether you have a literary agent or not.
15. The Gallery Press
Peter Fallon established The Gallery Press in 1970 to provide a home for Ireland’s new generation of exceptional authors, especially in poetry and drama. Now, the company based in Oldcastle, County Meath has a catalog of over 500 books, all of which satisfy the acclaimed founder’s high standards in writing.
Apart from its massive selection of poetry collections and stageplays, The Gallery Press has a few titles in fiction. Eugene McCabe’s Tales from the Poorhouse is a great set of historical short stories. Likewise, John Banville’s Long Lankin is one of the best examples of psychological fiction.
The Gallery Press welcomes unsolicited manuscript submissions. However, remember that it only launches a handful of new titles annually — and that it prioritizes projects of writers it has already worked with before.
16. Tramp Press
Lisa Coen and Sarah Davis-Goff are the co-founders of Tramp Press, a Dublin-based business with an international following. This degree of success can be partly attributed to the extensive experience of both women in the industry — and Sarah even has a master’s degree in publishing.
One thing you’ll immediately notice about Tramp Press publications is their eye-catching contemporary covers. These visual designs perfectly introduce the reader to the wonderful writing within. For example, see the arresting cover for Doireann Ní Ghríofa’s multi-award-winning nonfiction A Ghost in the Throat.
Tramp Press has closed its submission window to writers from Canada and the United States. On the other hand, authors in Ireland and other parts of the world are free to send unsolicited manuscripts whether in fiction or narrative nonfiction.
17. University College Dublin Press
Located in Belfield, Dublin, the University of College Press (UCD Press) is heralded for top-tier publishing. From proofreading and cover design to distribution and peer reviews, each step is taken with great care and academic scrutiny. This is no small feat when you consider the breadth of its disciplines and topics.
Currently, UCD Press has nearly 400 titles in contemporary nonfiction. Readers can choose from drama studies, food science, and sociology to military history, architecture, and critical theory. Under classic Irish history are well-researched reads such as Darrell Figgis’s A Chronicle of Jails and Wilfrid Ewart’s A Journey in Ireland 1921.
Before you send a proposal, browse the catalog to get a better idea of what UCD Press is looking for. Prospective authors should also read the documents containing style guidelines and advice on book proposals.
18. Four Courts Press
Michael Adams established Four Courts Press 52 years ago. Originally, it focused on theology, eventually covering medieval studies and modern history too as the years went by. Today, the publisher operating in Malpas Street, Dublin, releases around 40 new projects annually, which undergo stringent peer reviews.
So far, the Four Courts Press catalog has 500 titles. These cover typical scholarly categories like history, philosophy, archaeology, law, and literature & criticism. In addition, there are books on Scottish studies and Celtic studies such as Alan Macquarrie’s Legends of Scottish Saints and Robin Frame’s Plantagenet Ireland, respectively.
Four Courts Press is not open to unsolicited submissions. Still, interested writers should send an email to learn more about getting published. Lastly, the page for authors has a link to the publisher’s house style.
19. Mercier Press
Captain Sean and Mary Feehan launched Mercier Press in 1944. Headquartered in Cork, it is now the oldest indie publisher in the Republic of Ireland. Even when it was young, Mercier Press earned the respect of general readers for releasing books that inspired critical thinking and curiosity no matter the prevailing beliefs at the time.
After acquiring other publishing houses, Mercier Press quickly developed a diverse selection of fiction and nonfiction. Here, you can read about humor, parenting, politics, memoirs, and the Irish Civil War. Younger readers have titles like Edmund Leamy’s Irish Fairy Tales and Debbie Thomas’s Class Act.
At present, Mercier Press has already finalized its selection of upcoming publications. Thus, unsolicited proposals will be rejected.
20. The Lilliput Press
In 1984, Antony Farell established The Lilliput Press, which has since transferred to Stoneybatter, Dublin. Although relatively meager in operations and employee size, it remains an esteemed company with over 600 publications.
The Lilliput Press is primarily known for memoirs, biographies, and history books like Niall Murphy’s A Bloomsday Postcard and Eda Sagarra’s Living With My Century. But it also thrives in novels and other nonfiction subjects (nature, art, photography, travel, genealogy, and criticism).
While The Lilliput Press isn’t currently open to manuscript submissions, it advises writers to become part of its mailing list and check its social media accounts. These steps will help them become aware of future submission windows as soon as possible.
21. Dedalus Press
John F. Deane launched the Dublin-based Dedalus Press in 1985. Twenty-one years later, its management would shift to Pat Boran (a fellow poet like John) and Raffaela Tranchino who serve as editor and general manager, respectively.
Dedalus Press is the home of modern Irish poetry and world poetry. This is where you can find a bilingual edition of Yau Noi’s poetry collection The Crane and Paddy Bushe’s Second Sight. Similarly, its catalog has memoirs, prose, and fiction that are related to poetry.
Unfortunately, its last submission window ended earlier in July. Check the submissions page at another time for updates.
Summing up
There you have it – a list of the top Irish book publishing companies accepting book submissions. As you can see, some accept submissions through email and post, some through email alone and a few others only accept submissions through post. Before submitting your requests, do your due diligence and read more about the publisher, especially the fine print on their submissions page.
If a publisher declines your submission, don’t take it personal; believe in yourself and the work you wrote. Another publisher in this list will certainly accept you.
Are you an Irish publisher that accepts book submissions without charging authors any fees? Feel free to leave a comment below.
21 Top Irish Book Publishing Companies Accepting Submissions is an article from Writing Tips Oasis.
Copyright © 2014-2019 Writing Tips Oasis All Rights Reserved
Kevinson Libama is a full-time non-fiction writer, proofreader, and editor. He’s currently accepting new clients who need help with their eBook proofreading and editing as well as blog writing.