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Gill Books has bought Irish indie publisher the Collins Press for an undisclosed sum after its owners announced their retirement following 30 years in the book trade.
The move will see around 150 Collins titles represented under Gill’s sales agency business, with full acquisition of the company’s trading assets on 29th March. Gill said the sale ensured continued availability of the Collins list.
Founded in 1989, the Collins Press built up a wide-ranging portfolio of Irish interest non-fiction. Notable titles include Our Island Home by Kevin Dwyer (1997), The Keeper of Absalom’s Island by Tom Nestor (1999), An Unsung Hero by Tom Crean (2000), The Framing of Harry Gleeson by Kieran Fagan (2015) and Lighthouses of Ireland by Roger O'Reilly (2018).
Managing director Con Collins said he and wife Anna are retiring after “over 30 most enjoyable and satisfying years in the book trade”. He said: “We are very pleased that leading Irish publisher Gill will acquire the list. Our thanks to all the authors and everyone in the sales, distribution, wholesale and retail arms of the book trade for their help and support over the years. It has been a pleasure working with everyone.”
Gill employs more than 80 people, across its books, education and distribution divisions. Its books arm is Ireland’s largest trade publisher.
Gill Books m.d. Ruth Gill, said: “As distribution providers for Collins for over ten years, we have greatly admired the breadth and ambition of the list which Con, Anna and their team have spent 30 years growing. This acquisition continues Gill’s commitment to Irish-interest publishing by both broadening and deepening our reach across this market.”