From UCC to the world of publishing: Q&A with Patrick O'Donoghue, Senior Commissioning Editor

16 Jan 2025

• UCC Arts graduate Patrick O’Donoghue shares his journey to becoming a Senior Commissioning Editor.
• Patrick shares some standout projects across his career in the Irish publishing industry and practical advice for aspiring publishers.

Patrick O’Donoghue, UCC Bachelor of Arts graduate, transformed a passion for English and History into a distinguished career in publishing.

Now a Senior Commissioning Editor with Gill Books, Patrick shares his inspiring journey so far - from studying English and History at UCC to completing an MA in Literature and Publishing, and his impactful work in the Irish publishing industry.

What inspired you to study English and History as part of your Bachelor of Arts (BA) at UCC?

I always favoured English as a subject. It’s a bit cliched but I was fortunate to have not one but two incredibly influential English teachers in those formative years at the end of primary and on into secondary school. Their enthusiasm for the language and gentle encouragement pointed me in the direction of the Arts degree. 

When it came time to choose, I never gave serious consideration to any alternatives. At that point I didn’t know what career opportunities I wanted to pursue but I was almost certain that it involved the English language.

How did your undergraduate experience shape your passion for literature and publishing?

For better or worse, the relationship with literature throughout secondary school can be quite stifled and formulaic – more box ticking than engaging. What I immediately found on the BA was that the approach to literature was less prescriptive and more responsibility was placed on the student. 

I enjoyed the freedom of that and as a result I ended up reading a lot of books which sat outside the curriculum – some of these books have stayed with me long after course material has been forgotten. In that environment, I rediscovered a love for reading and the written word which I don’t think I’d experienced since childhood. 

Then, as my Arts degree drew to an inevitable close I had to consider my next step. I had no great desire to pursue English academically but I did want to stay within that world and journalism was an obvious route. I distinctly remember the day, in the Student Centre looking up the MA in Journalism in NUIG and right there on the same page was the MA in Literature and Publishing – a little lightbulb moment. Applying for that course was honestly one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever had to make. And so much of that decision was directly attributable to my positive experience as an undergraduate in UCC.

Your role as a Senior Commissioning Editor involves identifying and nurturing talented writers. How do you decide which manuscripts or ideas to take forward? 

There is nothing better than picking up a completed text which immediately captivates and excites. That might be because the quality of the writing is so strong or, alternatively, the writing itself might need work but the idea or concept being put forward could be unique or brilliant. But good writing alone is not always a guarantee of publication, unfortunately. The majority of commissioning decisions will ultimately come down to a careful consideration and balancing of a book’s quality and commercial viability.

 There are exceptions but most successful publications will have an both of these qualities – however, no two publishers will agree on the exact extent of these qualities, which is why an author might receive a rejection from one publisher and acceptance from another.

Are there specific qualities or trends you look for when commissioning a book?

Trends are tricky. In the time it takes to identify one, commission an author to write in that area, take a manuscript through the publication process and release a book into the wider world, the trend you identified might be long passed, replaced by the next big thing. For me, there’s an element of trying to see around corners to what we do. You’re trying to see what direction things are moving in and then act accordingly.

Across your career so far, can you share a bit about some of the projects or books you’ve worked on that you’re most proud of, and why they stand out to you?

I began my publishing career at Columba Press, a religious book publisher founded in the 1980s with a mission to publish. Whilst there I was fortunate to publish. John F. Deane’s beautiful book Give Dust a Tongue: A Faith & Poetry Memoir. The quality of John’s writing is staggeringly good and it’s a book I have recommended to others on many occasions. A standout from my time at Mercier Press was the publication of The Lost Soul of Eamonn Magee by Paul D. Gibson. It’s the scarcely believable inside and outside the boxing ring story of one of Ireland’s most renowned boxers. The book won the prestigious William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award in 2018, making Mercier Press the first Irish publisher to win the award in the process. As an avid reader of the sports genre myself, this moment held huge significance for me. 

At Merrion Press, my time working with John Breslin and Sarah-Anne Buckley on their Old Ireland in Colour series was rewarding and so memorable. This was one of those star-aligning experiences where the combination of superb authors, a brilliant concept and a skilled publishing team led to a best-selling and award-winning collection of books which made a significant impact on the publishing landscape in Ireland. Finally, in 2022 I commissioned Fiacre Ryan for the publication of his beautiful and truly unique work Speechless: Reflections from my Voiceless Word. Fiacre is the first Irish-published author with non-verbal autism and through his writing he has found a way of communicating with the reader and the wider world – something he does with consummate skill.

I have, naturally, omitted many publications which have thought me so much and brought me into contact with some of the most talented people on this island. Each day brings fresh hope that another great book awaits!

For Arts students who are interested in pursuing a career in publishing, what steps or experiences would you recommend to help them get started and build a career?

My first bit of advice is quite simplistic – sign up to the newsletters of as many Irish publishers as possible. You’ll find a full list of publishers on the Publishing Ireland website or in the recent publication The 2025 Irish Writers Handbook, which is a superb resource for anyone with an interest in writing or publishing. I’d also encourage widening this net further to include UK and US publishers’ newsletters but start with the local. In so doing, you will get direct information on what publishers are currently publishing and over time this will help to build up your knowledge of the industry and stand you in good stead when it comes to interviewing for an Irish publisher. It’s a very small but practical first step.

There are a number of available options for further education at home and abroad. As mentioned, after my own BA I went on to complete the MA in Literature and Publishing and there are also similar courses available in the UK. But I should note that a publishing MA is not always a requirement for entering the industry. If a publishing house is looking for a new hire within their Marketing department, then a relevant degree in that field will be just as beneficial, if not more so, from the employer’s perspective.

In addition, modern publishing utilizes a range of applications such as: InDesign, Microsoft Word and Excel, Adobe, etc. A working knowledge of these apps and similar will often be a base requirement so familiarizing yourself with the tools of the trade will only help.

Be open-minded in terms of which type of jobs you are willing to apply for within the industry. You may see your ideal role as working in an editorial department but you could be a long time waiting for the right opportunity to present itself. My first publishing role was as a sales representative for three years and I would describe the experience I gained during that period as invaluable.

Finally, this won’t get you a job overnight, but I do believe it’s important: whenever possible attend events within the industry. The literary and publishing scene in Ireland punches well above its weight in terms of the sheer number of events hosted throughout the year – I think I can safely say that wherever you live in the country there is a literary festival close by. Book festivals are such an accessible and enjoyable way of experiencing a little piece of the industry which you’re trying to enter. You can immediately find yourself in a room with publishers, publicists, authors and like-minded audiences. The same applies for book launches.