People who write, edit, produce, and sell the books we read work in Literature and Publishing — from novelists and poets to the editors, designers, and booksellers who bring a manuscript to the shelf. Ireland is known all over the world for its deep literary history and celebrated contemporary writers (for eg. Dublin is a UNESCO City of Literature), but publishing is also its own industry with jobs in editorial, production, marketing, and sales.
Examples of jobs in this sector
Writes books, whether fiction, non-fiction, or poetry.
Possible Pathway Higher Education or self-taught through writing groups and competitions.
Checks, develops, and improves a manuscript before publication.
Possible Pathway Higher Education in English or publishing, often starting as a Junior Editor.
Creates artwork for book covers, children’s books, and graphic novels, usually working with publishers like The O’Brien Press or Gill Books.
Possible Pathway Higher/Further Education in illustration or visual communication, building a strong portfolio.
Supports editorial, marketing, and production teams at a publishing house.
Possible Pathway Work Experience or Higher Education — often the first step into a publishing house.
Promotes books and authors to media and readers.
Possible Pathway Higher/Further Education in marketing, or Transferable Skills like running a book-related social media account.
Handles author contracts, copyright licensing, and permissions to use other people’s material.
Possible Pathway A law degree or legal qualification, sometimes coming from a general legal background before specialising in publishing and copyright.
Manages a publishing house’s budgets, royalty payments to authors, and financial accounts.
Possible Pathway A recognised accounting qualification (e.g. ACCA or ACA), then applying to a publishing house like any other finance role.
Possible Pathways into this sector
- Look at Higher Education options
Think about a course related to one of these areas. Many universities offer these, for eg: BA (Hons) in Creative Writing and English at Maynooth University. Or following a basic degree, specialise in creative writing at Trinity College Dublin’s Oscar Wilde Centre. - Look at Further Education options
Many FE colleges offer courses in subjects like creative writing or digital publishing. There are also many online courses available in these areas, which makes it easier for distance learning. - Think about work experience
Bookshops and small publishers often take work experience students directly — worth asking your local independent bookshop. The Irish Writers Centre (Dublin) runs workshops and events for new and emerging writers of all ages. - Transferable Skills / Local Experience
Record your poems and post them online – social media is often where young poets and wordsmiths get discovered by audiences today. Writing for a school magazine or blog, entering a writing competition, running a school book club, or helping at a local library.
Free Online Tools to Practise With
- Reedsy free tools for aspiring writers and editors
- Canva book cover or poster design
- BorrowBox free with any library card — borrow ebooks and audiobooks
- Your local library’s free online courses (400+ available nationwide).
A Note on Ireland’s Library Network
Ireland has an excellent public library service, and it’s one of the best free resources going for anyone interested in this sector. Membership is free at any age (under-18s just need a parent or guardian’s permission), and every local authority library shares one national catalogue — so if a book isn’t on the shelf in your branch, you can usually request it in from anywhere in the country. Beyond books, libraries offer free computer and internet access, free study and meeting space, and free digital services like BorrowBox. Many also run “My Open Library,” giving members extended access from 8am–10pm, 365 days a year — 16–18 year olds can use it with a parent or guardian’s written consent.
Skills Worth Developing
- Reading widely
- Writing & editing skills
- Attention to detail and accuracy
- Coming up with original ideas & stories
- Patience and persistence
- Basic computer/tech confidence
Resources & Further Reading
- Publishing Ireland Trade association with jobs listings
- Irish Writers Centre Lots of resources on their website
- Cló Iar-Chonnacht Irish-language publishing pathways
- Poetry Ireland run a Writers in Schools programme.
- Children’s Books Ireland Resources
