Creative role of publishers not understood

The savaging of O’Brien Press funding by the Arts Council is evidence that the creative role of publishers is not understood.

A flourishing Irish publishing industry is essential if Irish culture is to be properly articulated. A good publisher fosters and nurtures local talent; the key to this remains contacts, discriminations and a knowledge of the Irish context that only a local industry can supply.

Until this role is adequately supported, the Irish publishing industry, which has made such strides since its rebirth in the 1970s, will sink again to the situation lamented by Sean O’Faolain: ‘It is to a frightening degree the English public which decides both what Ireland should read and write . . . how can you be independent when your country’s mind is dominated from outside?’