Liberties Press
An independent Dublin-based Irish book publisher.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Liberties Press is an independent Irish book publisher based in Dublin and established in 2003 by Peter O'Connell and Seán O'Keeffe. It is also associated with the corporate name Liberties Media Ltd. The press began with a predominantly nonfiction programme and developed a catalogue that drew on politics, journalism, sport, the arts, public affairs and Irish social history. Its first publication was More Than a Game, a collection of sportswriting by Con Houlihan. The title was reprinted twice within a short period, giving the young company an early commercial success. During its initial period, Liberties Press concentrated on books by prominent or well-known contributors from public life. Peter O'Connell left the company in 2009, after which the business underwent a substantial reorganisation. The publishing programme subsequently placed greater emphasis on fiction, with poetry also receiving attention, while retaining a nonfiction list. This shift helped the press establish a profile in contemporary Irish literary publishing and in commercially oriented books by public figures, professionals and first-time authors. The company became particularly visible in 2012 through its planned publication of When We Dance, Melanie Verwoerd's memoir. Businessman Dave Kavanagh sought an injunction to prevent publication, alleging that the book defamed him. The attempt was withdrawn after the matter reached the High Court. When We Dance subsequently performed strongly in the Irish market, reaching second place on the bestseller lists before rising to number one the following week. That year also brought recognition for Julieann Campbell's Setting the Truth Free: The Inside Story of the Bloody Sunday Justice Campaign, which won the Christopher Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize for its contribution to peace and reconciliation in Ireland. Liberties Press expanded its physical presence in 2014 by adding a bookstore to its offices. It also participated in cooperative temporary bookshops in Dublin city centre, including locations on South William Street in 2014 and Drury Street in 2015. These ventures involved a group of publishers sharing operating costs and distributing proceeds according to sales, illustrating the press's engagement with independent publishing initiatives beyond conventional book distribution. Its catalogue has included literary fiction, commercial fiction, memoir, biography, sports and public-affairs writing, medical and professional memoir, and practical guides. Notable books associated with the press include Patrick Treacy's Behind the Mask, Caitriona Lally's Eggshells, R. B. Kelly's Edge of Heaven, Grange Abbey by David Daly under the pen name Dave Delaney, Lead White by Ronan Lyons, Quality Time at St Chinian by Patrick Masterson, and Joe McGowan's autobiography Clearing the Hurdles. Eggshells later won the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature and was reissued by HarperCollins imprint The Borough Press. The publisher attracted significant criticism in 2016 over reported delays in paying author royalties and over fees charged to authors seeking consideration of unsolicited submissions. The submission fee was later increased, prompting public criticism from writers, literary professionals and publishing figures. The dispute generated discussion about author contracts, access to publishing and the role of Arts Council funding in Ireland's publishing sector. Seán O'Keeffe defended the company's position in broadcast interviews, while one planned RTÉ interview was not broadcast after he complained about the way it had been conducted. Liberties Press was again reorganised in 2017 as its directors prepared for anticipated changes in the book trade connected with the United Kingdom's planned departure from the European Union. The available reference material documents planned releases for 2019, including fiction, crime fiction and a childcare guide produced in association with Túsla. Later operational information, current ownership and present trading status are not established in the supplied sources.
History
Liberties Press was founded in Dublin in 2003 by Peter O'Connell and Seán O'Keeffe. The company, also known as Liberties Media Ltd, entered the market as an independent publisher with a nonfiction-led list. Its first book was Con Houlihan's More Than a Game, a collection of sportswriting that was reprinted twice within several weeks. Early publications also included books by figures connected with politics, journalism and the arts. O'Connell left the business in 2009. His departure was followed by a substantial restructuring and a change in editorial emphasis. Although nonfiction remained part of the list, Liberties Press began placing more weight on fiction and, to a lesser extent, poetry. The resulting catalogue combined literary projects with accessible books by public figures, professionals and debut authors. The press gained national attention in 2012 when it announced When We Dance by Melanie Verwoerd. Dave Kavanagh applied for an injunction, arguing that the memoir defamed him. The application was withdrawn after the proceedings reached the High Court. The book then achieved a strong commercial result, reaching number two on the bestseller lists before moving to number one the next week. In the same year, Julieann Campbell's Setting the Truth Free: The Inside Story of the Bloody Sunday Justice Campaign won the Christopher Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize. The award recognised its contribution to peace and reconciliation, and the book was launched in Derry, Dublin and London. In 2014, the company added a bookstore to its physical offices. Liberties Press also helped establish temporary collaborative bookshops in Dublin city centre, first on South William Street in 2014 and then on Drury Street in 2015. The participating publishers shared costs and divided revenue according to sales. These projects provided an alternative retail presence for independent Irish publishers. The press continued to publish across several categories. Its output included Patrick Treacy's medical memoir Behind the Mask; Caitriona Lally's novel Eggshells; R. B. Kelly's science-fiction debut Edge of Heaven; David Daly's Grange Abbey, published under the name Dave Delaney; Ronan Lyons's Lead White; Patrick Masterson's Quality Time at St Chinian; and Joe McGowan's autobiography Clearing the Hurdles. Eggshells later received the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature and was reissued by The Borough Press, a HarperCollins imprint. Clearing the Hurdles reached number three on the bestseller lists in August 2018, while Grange Abbey entered at number five. The company's most contentious period came in autumn 2016. Authors and publishing professionals criticised Liberties Press over reported delays in royalty payments and over a charge imposed on authors who wanted unsolicited manuscripts considered. The fee was subsequently raised. The issue drew comments from literary agent Jonathan Williams, former Publishing Ireland president Ruth Hegarty, Penguin Ireland publishing director Michael McLoughlin, and authors including John Boyne, Sheila O'Flanagan and Patricia Scanlon. Seán O'Keeffe discussed the matter in media interviews, including an appearance on BBC Northern Ireland's The Arts Show. A planned RTÉ Radio 1 interview with Sinéad Gleeson and Ruth Hegarty was not broadcast after O'Keeffe complained about the interview process. The controversy also prompted discussion of Arts Council support for Irish publishers. In 2017, Liberties Press was significantly reorganised again. The directors linked the changes to anticipated developments in the book industry following the UK's impending exit from the European Union. The 2017 literary context also included the removal of Edge of Heaven from the Kate O'Brien Award shortlist at the author's request. Reference material lists planned Liberties Press releases for 2019, including Peter Money's Oh When the Saints, David Foley's The File Note and a childcare-selection guide produced with Túsla. The supplied sources do not establish the company's current management, ownership or operating status.
- 2018
Eggshells receives the Rooney Prize
[1]Caitriona Lally wins the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature for her Liberties Press debut.
- 2017
Second major reorganisation
[1]The company restructures in anticipation of changes to the publishing market associated with Brexit.
- 2015
Dublin pop-up bookstore collaboration
[1]Liberties Press participates in a cooperative temporary bookshop on Drury Street.
- 2014
Bookstore opens
[1]The publisher expands its Dublin premises to include a bookstore.
- 2012
When We Dance reaches number one
[1]Melanie Verwoerd's memoir reaches the top of the bestseller lists after an attempted injunction is withdrawn.
- 2012
Christopher Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize
[1]Julieann Campbell's Setting the Truth Free wins the peace-and-reconciliation prize.
- 2009
Peter O'Connell leaves
[1]O'Connell's departure is followed by a major company reorganisation and a broader fiction focus.
- 2003
Liberties Press is founded
[1]Peter O'Connell and Seán O'Keeffe establish the independent Dublin publisher.
- 2003
First publication
[1]The press publishes Con Houlihan's sportswriting collection More Than a Game, which is quickly reprinted twice.
Products and positioning
Independent Irish publishing house with a broad list spanning literary and commercial fiction, poetry, memoir, biography, sportswriting, public affairs and practical nonfiction.
Sportswriting · 2003
More Than a Game
Con Houlihan's collection of sportswriting was Liberties Press's first publication. Its rapid commercial performance, including two reprints within a few weeks, gave the newly founded publisher an early market profile.
Memoir · 2012
When We Dance
Melanie Verwoerd's memoir covers her early life in South Africa and later personal and public experiences. Publication was challenged through an attempted injunction, but the application was withdrawn and the book subsequently reached number one on the bestseller lists.
History and public affairs · 2012
Setting the Truth Free
Julieann Campbell's account of the Bloody Sunday justice campaign examines a major Irish human-rights and accountability campaign. Its contribution to peace and reconciliation was recognised with the Christopher Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize.
Medical memoir · 2015
Behind the Mask
Patrick Treacy's autobiography describes his medical training, international travels and career as a dermatologist, including his work with Michael Jackson. The book combines professional memoir with personal narrative.
Literary fiction · 2015
Eggshells
Caitriona Lally's debut novel was published by Liberties Press in 2015. It later won the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature, and The Borough Press reissued the book in 2018.
Science fiction · 2016
Edge of Heaven
R. B. Kelly's debut science-fiction novel was published by Liberties Press in 2016 and shortlisted for the Kate O'Brien Award. It was later removed from the shortlist at the author's request.
Fiction
Grange Abbey
The debut novel by property developer David Daly, issued under the pseudonym Dave Delaney, entered the bestseller lists at number five on release.
Autobiography · 2018
Clearing the Hurdles
Joe McGowan's autobiography reflects on his activities as a property developer and racehorse owner. It reached number three on the bestseller lists in August 2018.
Controversies
2016
Royalty-payment and submission-fee controversy
The publisher was criticised for allegedly failing to pay some author royalties promptly and for charging authors a fee to have submissions considered. The fee was increased, leading to further criticism from writers, agents and publishing professionals and to wider debate about publishing practices and public funding.
Marketing campaigns
- 2016Publishing-funding transparency discussion
Ireland
During the dispute over submission charges and author payments, Liberties Press publicly tweeted information about Arts Council funding awarded to Irish book publishers during a twelve-day Christmas series.
Outcome. The initiative contributed to public discussion about state support and transparency in the Irish publishing industry.
- 2015Dublin pop-up bookshops
Ireland
The collaborative pop-up retail initiative continued with a temporary shop on Drury Street.
Outcome. The participating publishers used a shared-cost and sales-based revenue model.
- 2014Dublin pop-up bookshops
Ireland
Liberties Press joined other independent publishers in operating temporary bookshops in Dublin city centre, helping create a shared retail channel for participating presses.
Outcome. Costs were shared among the publishers and proceeds were allocated according to each company's sales.
Brand decisions
2017
Reorganisation ahead of Brexit-related market changesStrategyBackground
The directors anticipated changes in the book sector associated with the UK's planned departure from the European Union.
Action taken
The company undertook a significant reorganisation.
Aftermath
The supplied sources do not provide detailed financial or operational outcomes.
2016
Increase in submission feeOtherBackground
The publisher was criticised for charging authors for submission consideration.
Action taken
Liberties Press increased the fee, intensifying public criticism.
Aftermath
The change became part of a broader debate about author access, publisher conduct and sector funding.
2014
Expansion into physical retailStrategyBackground
The publisher sought a more direct physical retail presence for its list.
Action taken
It added a bookstore to its Dublin offices and took part in cooperative city-centre pop-up shops.
Aftermath
The press gained an additional direct-sales channel and collaborated with other independent publishers.
2012
Publication of When We DanceProduct launchBackground
A proposed injunction alleged that Melanie Verwoerd's memoir defamed Dave Kavanagh.
Action taken
The press proceeded with publication after the injunction attempt was withdrawn.
Aftermath
The book reached number two and then number one on the bestseller lists.
2009
Shift toward fiction and poetryStrategyBackground
Peter O'Connell left the company, prompting a substantial reorganisation of the press.
Action taken
Liberties Press placed greater emphasis on fiction and, to a lesser extent, poetry while continuing to publish nonfiction.
Aftermath
The press developed a broader list spanning literary fiction, commercial fiction and nonfiction.
Recent events
- 2018
Eggshells author Caitriona Lally receives the Rooney Prize[1]
Other
Caitriona Lally won the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature for Eggshells, first published by Liberties Press in 2015. The novel was subsequently reissued by The Borough Press.
- 2017
Liberties Press is reorganised ahead of expected post-Brexit book-market changes[1]
Other
The company underwent another significant reorganisation in anticipation of structural changes that its directors expected in the book sector following the UK's planned departure from the European Union.
- 2014
Liberties Press opens a bookstore and participates in Dublin pop-up shops[1]
Other
The publisher expanded its Dublin offices to include a bookstore and helped operate cooperative temporary bookshops with other publishers in 2014 and 2015.
- 2012
Liberties Press announces publication of Melanie Verwoerd memoir amid injunction attempt[1]
Lawsuit · Product launch
Dave Kavanagh sought to prevent publication of When We Dance, alleging defamation. The application was withdrawn after the matter came before the High Court, and the book subsequently reached number one on the bestseller lists.
- 2012
Setting the Truth Free wins Christopher Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize[1]
Other
Julieann Campbell's account of the Bloody Sunday justice campaign received the prize, which recognises work promoting peace and reconciliation in Ireland.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/liberties-press · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled