“Age of attention”. “Existential; crisis”. Now where have we heard this before? The sky is always falling in publishing.

The Irish book trade generated €189 million for the national economy in 2025, with market sales revenue rising to €164 million from €162 million the previous year, according to data presented at the annual Irish Book Trade Conference in Waterford this month.

Per The Bookseller, NielsenIQ BookData figures position Ireland among the top-performing markets globally, even as the sector confronts what interim Bookselling Ireland chair Maria Dickenson termed “unexpected and expected challenges” – most notably Amazon’s recent marketplace entry.

The Bookseller as “Human Algorithm”

Peter McKay of Publishing Ireland framed independent booksellers as “the human algorithm,” emphasising their irreplaceable capacity to deliver curated recommendations and the “significance of place” through personal expertise.

He called for formal government recognition of bookshops as cultural and community infrastructure to secure enhanced funding streams.

McKay also highlighted the sector’s structural resilience: 100 active publishers currently operate in Ireland, predominantly small presses employing two to five staff.

A significant market shift emerged in McKay’s analysis: 80% of annual sales now derive from backlist titles, indicating profound changes in consumer discovery patterns and promotional strategies.

Regulatory Victory: EUDR Exemption

Laura McCormack, head of policy at the Booksellers Association, characterised the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) delay and subsequent amendment as averting “an existential threat” to Irish booksellers.

Following extensive industry advocacy, the European Parliament voted in December 2025 to remove all printed products – including books, newspapers and printed pictures – from EUDR scope entirely, while delaying implementation for remaining commodities until December 2026.

The regulation, which would have imposed impossible traceability requirements on complex publishing supply chains, risked rendering millions of non-compliant titles unsellable within the EU.

Policy Priorities and Cultural Initiatives

Advocacy and government representation emerged as the top priority for Irish booksellers in 2026, according to BA managing director Meryl Halls.

Conference delegates also heard proposals for an Irish Culture Card scheme and reforms to public procurement regulation.

Youth Reading Concerns

Children’s Books Ireland director Elaina Ryan presented troubling data: 24% of Irish teenagers report not reading for pleasure, while average childhood book ownership has declined from 30 volumes in 2023 to 20 in 2025.

A subsequent panel featuring marketing consultant Kat McKenna, Chapters Bookstore CEO Mick Finucane and Hachette Ireland deputy managing director Ciara Doorley examined how publishing and bookselling must evolve in the “age of attention,” where books compete against digital entertainment for consumer engagement .

The View From The Beach

“Age of attention”. “Existential; crisis”. Now where have we heard this before? The sky is always falling in publishing.

This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.