O'Brien Press
Independent Irish publishing house based in Dublin, known especially for children's books and adult non-fiction.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
The O'Brien Press is an independent Irish publishing house headquartered in Dublin. Founded in 1974 by Michael O'Brien, it developed from a family-run printing business into a publisher with a distinctive role in Irish cultural and literary life. Its first publications included a biography of Peadar O'Donnell and Éamonn MacThomáis's Me Jewel and Darlin' Dublin, establishing an early interest in Irish history, language, local identity and popular culture. The company is best known for publishing children's and young-adult literature, while also maintaining an adult non-fiction list. Its children's publishing expanded significantly during the 1990s, a period in which the company issued Marita Conlon-McKenna's Under the Hawthorn Tree. The novel became an important work in Irish children's literature and helped define O'Brien's reputation for publishing stories rooted in Irish experience while addressing themes of family, history and social change. O'Brien Press has also been associated with the early careers of prominent writers, including Eoin Colfer, whose Benny Shaw books and The Wish List were published by the company. Its wider catalogue has included fiction, memoir, biography, history, cultural commentary, humour and illustrated works. Authors and creators connected with the list include Judi Curtin, Gregory Maguire, Pat Ingoldsby, Paul Howard, Oisín McGann, Anna Carey, Conor Kostick, Elizabeth Shaw, Gerard Whelan, Daniel O'Donnell, Shay Healy, Brendan O'Carroll and Feargal Quinn. The publisher also operates the Brandon imprint. Brandon was originally established by Steve McDonogh and was later acquired by O'Brien Press following his death. The imprint has published authors including Gerry Adams, Mary Morrissy, Alice Taylor and Frank McGuinness, extending the group's adult literary and non-fiction reach. O'Brien publications have received recognition through the KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards, and several titles have appeared on the International Youth Library's White Ravens list. These distinctions reflect the company's contribution to children's publishing in Ireland and its ability to bring Irish writing to wider international attention. The company has remained independent despite reported interest from larger publishing groups and has adopted digital production and workflow practices while preserving a comparatively local and editorially focused identity. In 2023, in connection with the company's fiftieth-anniversary period, O'Brien Press donated a substantial publishing archive to the National Library of Ireland. The material included manuscripts, artwork and early editions, creating a permanent institutional record of the publisher's history. O'Brien Press therefore occupies a dual position in the Irish book trade: it is an active commercial publisher and a long-standing custodian and promoter of Irish children's literature, adult writing and national cultural memory.
History
The O'Brien Press was established in Dublin in 1974 by Michael O'Brien. Its origins lay in a family-run printing business, giving the company an early connection to the practical production of books as well as to publishing and editorial selection. The first books issued under the O'Brien name included a biography of the Irish republican and writer Peadar O'Donnell and Éamonn MacThomáis's Me Jewel and Darlin' Dublin. These opening publications indicated a commitment to Irish subjects, regional culture, biography and writing that spoke directly to Irish readers. Over time, O'Brien Press developed from a mainly Irish-interest publisher into an independent house with several complementary lists. Adult non-fiction remained part of its activity, while the company increasingly became identified with children's and young-adult books. The strongest expansion of this area took place in the 1990s. One of the defining publications of that period was Marita Conlon-McKenna's Under the Hawthorn Tree, a historical children's novel that became a landmark in Irish children's literature. Its success helped establish O'Brien as a significant home for Irish children's writing and demonstrated the commercial and cultural potential of fiction grounded in Ireland's history and social experience. The publisher also played a role in the development of important writing careers. Eoin Colfer's early Benny Shaw books were published by O'Brien, as was The Wish List. The company's children's list subsequently included work by writers such as Judi Curtin, Gregory Maguire, Oisín McGann, Anna Carey, Conor Kostick and Gerard Whelan, alongside illustrated and literary contributions associated with Elizabeth Shaw and other creators. Its adult catalogue broadened the company's profile through fiction, biography, memoir, political writing, humour, popular culture and books by public figures. The list has included authors such as Paul Howard, Gerry Adams, Mary Morrissy, Alice Taylor and Frank McGuinness. A significant extension of the adult list came through the Brandon imprint. Brandon was founded by Steve McDonogh and was later acquired by O'Brien Press after McDonogh's death. Under O'Brien's ownership, the imprint continued to publish literary and non-fiction works, including books by Gerry Adams, Mary Morrissy, Alice Taylor and Frank McGuinness. The relationship gave O'Brien a broader publishing house structure while retaining a recognisable imprint identity. O'Brien Press's children's publishing has received external recognition. Books from its list have won awards associated with the KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards, and a number of titles have been selected for the White Ravens list of the International Youth Library. These achievements reinforced the publisher's role in Irish children's literature and gave selected works visibility beyond the domestic market. The company has maintained its independence in a publishing sector marked by consolidation and has been described as adopting digital workflows at an early stage. Its operating model combines modern production practices with a strong emphasis on Irish authors, subjects and readers. Rather than concentrating on a single commercial genre, O'Brien has sustained a mixed list spanning children's fiction, young-adult writing, adult non-fiction, cultural history, biography, humour and illustrated books. In 2023, during the period surrounding its fiftieth anniversary, O'Brien Press donated a substantial archive to the National Library of Ireland. The donation included manuscripts, artwork and early editions. It ensured that evidence of the company's editorial and production history would be preserved by a national cultural institution. The archive donation also underlined the publisher's long-term importance within Irish literary culture. Across its history, O'Brien Press has combined commercial publishing with the promotion of Irish voices and the preservation of stories, images and subjects connected to Ireland.
- 2023
Publishing archive donated to the National Library of Ireland
[1]The company gives manuscripts, artwork and early editions to the National Library of Ireland to preserve its publishing heritage.
- 1998
The General is adapted for film
[1]O'Brien Press's publication The General by Paul Williams is later adapted into the 1998 film The General.
- 1990
Children's publishing becomes a major focus
[1]The company expands its children's list during the decade, including the publication of Under the Hawthorn Tree by Marita Conlon-McKenna.
- 1974
O'Brien Press is founded
[1]Michael O'Brien establishes the independent Dublin publishing house, which grows out of a family-run printing business.
- 1974
First titles are published
[1]The first publications include a biography of Peadar O'Donnell and Éamonn MacThomáis's Me Jewel and Darlin' Dublin.
Products and positioning
Independent Irish publisher with a strong focus on children's and young-adult literature, complemented by adult non-fiction and culturally significant Irish titles.
Children's historical fiction
Under the Hawthorn Tree
Marita Conlon-McKenna's historical children's novel is one of O'Brien Press's best-known publications. Set against the Great Famine in Ireland, it became an influential work in Irish children's literature and helped establish the publisher's reputation for substantial, historically grounded fiction for younger readers.
Children's fiction
Benny Shaw series
The Benny Shaw books were among Eoin Colfer's early publications and formed part of O'Brien Press's contribution to the development of a major Irish children's author. The series represents the publisher's emphasis on accessible, locally published fiction for younger readers.
Young-adult fiction
The Wish List
Eoin Colfer's The Wish List was published by O'Brien Press and sits within the company's record of supporting Irish children's and young-adult literature. Its publication further connected the house with Colfer's early career and with commercially visible youth fiction.
Adult non-fiction
The General
Paul Williams's The General is an O'Brien Press title that was later adapted into the 1998 film The General. The book reflects the publisher's interest in Irish public life, crime, biography and contemporary national subjects.
Adult fiction and non-fiction
Brandon imprint
Brandon is an imprint originally founded by Steve McDonogh and subsequently acquired by O'Brien Press. It has published literary fiction, political writing and cultural non-fiction by authors including Gerry Adams, Mary Morrissy, Alice Taylor and Frank McGuinness.
Brand decisions
2023
Donate the company archive to the National Library of IrelandOtherBackground
The company sought to preserve materials documenting its publishing history around its fiftieth-anniversary period.
Action taken
O'Brien Press donated manuscripts, artwork and early editions to the National Library of Ireland.
Aftermath
The archive became part of a national institutional collection, safeguarding evidence of the publisher's editorial and production legacy.
1990
Expand substantially into children's publishingStrategyBackground
During the 1990s, O'Brien Press broadened its children's list as the company sought a stronger position in Irish children's and young-adult literature.
Action taken
The publisher issued influential children's titles, including Marita Conlon-McKenna's Under the Hawthorn Tree, and developed relationships with emerging and established children's authors.
Aftermath
Children's publishing became central to the company's identity and contributed to awards recognition and wider visibility for its authors.
- Acquire the Brandon imprintM&A
Background
Brandon was founded by Steve McDonogh and became available following his death.
Action taken
O'Brien Press acquired the imprint and continued publishing under the Brandon name.
Aftermath
The acquisition expanded O'Brien's adult literary and non-fiction offering while retaining Brandon as a distinct publishing identity.
Recent events
- 2023
O'Brien Press donates publishing archive to the National Library of Ireland[1]
Other
The publisher donated an extensive archive of manuscripts, artwork and early editions to the National Library of Ireland, preserving materials from its publishing history.
- 1990
O'Brien Press expands children's publishing during the 1990s[1]
Product launch
During the decade, the company strengthened its children's list and published influential titles including Marita Conlon-McKenna's Under the Hawthorn Tree.
Sources2 sources
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