Books are my business: Chair of Bookselling Ireland Maria Dickenson 

Bookselling Ireland is the Irish branch of Booksellers Association in the UK

Maria Dickenson: 'We are there to listen to the needs of booksellers and advocate for them. That’s an increasingly important part of the role, lobbying and advocating for the book trade.'

Maria Dickenson has previously worked as a librarian, bookseller, and managing director of Dubray Books. 

She is on the board of the Irish Writers Centre, the Irish Book Awards, and is chair of Bookselling Ireland, which supports Irish Book Week, celebrating the contribution that bookshops make to our culture and economy. It takes place from October 18 to 25.