Susan Roberts

The Dolmen Press was a highly regarded twentieth-century book publisher, founded in 1951 by Josephine and Liam Miller at their home in Drumcondra, Dublin.

In this thesis, I focus on the women whose artistic and material practices contributed to the cultural legacy of the press. Celebrated for its collaborations between writers, artists, and printers, the press produced handcrafted books that combined Irish literature with elegant typography, illustration, and design.

Through archival research, I examine the women involved in illustration, wood engraving, hand-painting, craft practices, and administration from the 1950s to the early 1970s. While the press is widely recognised for its literary achievements, my research expands the narrative by foregrounding the women whose craftwork helped shape the press’s identity.

Using a feminist methodology, the thesis revisits the history of the Dolmen Press through the work of women artists and craft makers. Although their contributions have been documented, I examine their cultural significance by exploring how locality, print practices, and cultural context influenced their work.

The research analyses women’s roles at the Dolmen Press, exploring the interplay between tradition and modernity in its creative practices. It also examines the significance of the press’s location at 23 Upper Mount Street and its proximity to cultural institutions, artists, and suppliers.

Finally, I explore how place, professional networks, and creative practices shaped the artistic and material culture of the Dolmen Press.