The O'Brien Press is an Irish

publisher Publishing is the activity of making information, literature, music, software and other content available to the public for sale or for free. Traditionally, the term refers to the creation and distribution of printed works, such as books, newsp ...

of mainly children's fiction and adult

non-fiction Nonfiction, or non-fiction, is any document or media content that attempts, in good faith, to provide information (and sometimes opinions) grounded only in facts and real life, rather than in imagination. Nonfiction is often associated with b ...

History

The O'Brien Press was founded in 1973, evolving out of a family-run printing and type-house. Its first publication came in November 1974 and numerous other titles soon followed. O'Brien published books are regularly shortlisted for the Bisto Book of the Year Awards. As of 2007, no less than 24 books published by the O'Brien Press have won a Bisto Book of the Year Awards.

Successes

The O'Brien Press is notable for launching the career of international, bestselling author,

Eoin Colfer Eoin Colfer (; born 14 May 1965) is an Irish author of children's books. He worked as a primary school teacher before he became a full-time writer. He is best known for being the author of the ''Artemis Fowl'' series. In September 2008, Col ...

, publishing the " Benny Books" and '' The Wish List'', and have also published '' The General'' by Paul Williams, which was made into a major film by John Boorman in 1998. It is the only

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

publishing house Publishing is the activity of making information, literature, music, software and other content available to the public for sale or for free. Traditionally, the term refers to the creation and distribution of printed works, such as books, newsp ...

to have received the prestigious

International Reading Association The International Literacy Association (ILA), formerly the International Reading Association (IRA), is an international global advocacy and member professional organization that was created in 1956 to improve reading instruction, facilitate dialo ...

Award.

Authors published by O'Brien Press

Marita Conlon-McKenna Marita Conlon-McKenna (born 5 November 1956) is an Irish author of children's books and adult fiction. She is best known for her Famine-era historical children's book '' Under the Hawthorn Tree'', the first book of the ''Children of the Famine'' ...

(born 1956) – a children's novels author, including ''Children of the Famine'' trilogy *

Judi Curtin Judi Curtin (born c 1960s) is an Irish children's writer and novelist based in Limerick. Biography Judi Curtin was born in Kenton, London to Irish parents who were originally from County Kerry. When she was eight her family moved to Douglas, Co ...

– author of Alice and Megan series, including '' Alice Next Door '' * Paul Howard (born 1971) – journalist and author of the ''Ross O'Carroll-Kelly'' series * Gerry Hunt (born 1936) – an Irish comics writer and artist * Conor Kostick – an historian and writer, including the ''Avatar Chronicles'' *

Oisín McGann Oisín McGann (born 1973) is an Irish writer and illustrator, who writes in a range of genres for children and teenagers, mainly science fiction and fantasy, and has illustrated many of his own short story books for younger readers. As of 5/10/ ...

(born 1973) – a children and young adult author and illustrator * Shay Healy (1943–2021) – a songwriter, broadcaster and journalist * Elizabeth Shaw (artist) (1920–1992) – an Irish artist, illustrator and children's book author * Gerard Whelan (born 1957) – a children's author

Brandon

Brandon is an imprint of O'Brien Press. Brandon Books was independently established in

Dingle Dingle ( Irish: ''An Daingean'' or ''Daingean Uí Chúis'', meaning "fort of Ó Cúis") is a town in County Kerry, Ireland. The only town on the Dingle Peninsula, it sits on the Atlantic coast, about southwest of Tralee and northwest of Kill ...

, County Kerry by Steve McDonogh but subsequently folded when he died. Authors published by Brandon include Gerry Adams, Alice Taylor, Mary Morrissy and

Frank McGuinness Professor Frank McGuinness (born 1953) is an Irish writer. As well as his own plays, which include '' The Factory Girls'', ''Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme'', '' Someone Who'll Watch Over Me'' and ''Dolly West's Kitchen'' ...

References

External links