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Top Media Agencies in Ireland

Updated 6 August 2026 · 1 min read · 10 companies

Written byNuala Canning

The media agency label covers two completely different businesses in Ireland. One plans and buys advertising across national media, negotiating rates with media owners. The other runs search and social campaigns through self-serve platforms. Both appear below, and telling them apart is the whole job of this page.

What to look for in a media agency

  • Buying relationships or platform access. Only a genuine media agency negotiates national rates. Everything else is platform work.
  • Payment model. Commission on spend or flat fee. One of those rewards the agency for spending more.
  • Scale fit. A 500-person group and a one-person shop are both here. Neither will serve the other's clients well.
  • Separate invoicing. Media cost and agency fee should never appear as a single line.

Ask to see a post-campaign report from another client, with the numbers redacted if necessary. How an agency reports on a campaign that underperformed tells you more than any credentials deck.

  1. 1. Core

    Best for national campaigns across every channel

    Location
    Dublin, Ireland
    Team size
    201-500

    Ireland's largest marketing communications company at 201 to 500 people, working across strategy, data, research, media, creative, sponsorship and investment. By some distance the largest organisation on this list.

    Languages

    • English

  2. 2. Starcom Ireland

    Best for media planning and buying at scale

    Location
    South Dublin, Ireland
    Rating
    3.0 (1 review)
    Team size
    51-200
    Min project
    From €1,000

    South Dublin media planning and buying agency of 51 to 200 people, part of an international network. Holds one verified review at 3.0, the lowest rating in this set and worth reading rather than dismissing.

    Industries

    • Clothing & Accessories

    Languages

    • English
    • Irish

  3. 3. Ebow,the digital agency

    Best for creative technology and media together

    Location
    Dublin, Ireland
    Team size
    11-50

    Dublin agency operating since 1999, specialising in creative technology with marketing, communications and content at its core, working across Ireland, the USA, the UK and the EU.

    Languages

    • English

  4. 4. CSM Agency

    Best for performance media for growing brands

    Location
    Dublin, Ireland
    Team size
    11-50
    Min project
    From €1,000

    Dublin performance agency of 11 to 50 people covering search, paid search management and social media marketing.

    Languages

    • English

  5. 5. Effector

    Best for social and digital media for SMEs

    Location
    County Dublin, Ireland
    Team size
    11-50
    Min project
    From €1,000

    Dublin agency of 11 to 50 people driving results through social media, web design and digital marketing for growing companies.

    Languages

    • English

  6. 6. 256 | Content Marketing Agency

    Best for owned and earned media

    Location
    County Dublin, Ireland
    Team size
    11-50

    Dublin strategic content agency with roots in publishing, working across print, digital and social for corporate clients.

    Languages

    • English

  7. 7. Dragon Ltd

    Best for independent media and marketing advice

    Location
    South Dublin, Ireland
    Team size
    11-50
    Min project
    From €1,000

    Independent South Dublin marketing firm of 11 to 50 people, positioned on independence from any network.

    Languages

    • English
    • Irish

  8. 8. Upload Media

    Best for creative media production

    Location
    County Dublin, Ireland
    Team size
    1-10

    Small Dublin creative media production agency offering a broad range of digital services.

    Languages

    • English

  9. 9. Wasper Media

    Best for social content and distribution

    Location
    Dublin, Ireland
    Team size
    1-10

    Dublin digital marketing company specialising in content creation, branding and social media marketing.

    Languages

    • English

  10. 10. Fearless Media

    Best for video content for corporate and social

    Location
    Dublin, Ireland
    Team size
    1-10

    Dublin firm producing event, corporate and social media video for businesses and brands.

    Languages

    • English

Frequently asked questions

What does a media agency actually do?
It plans where your advertising should run and buys the space, negotiating rates on your behalf. That is distinct from a creative agency, which makes the advertising, and from a digital marketing agency, which usually runs self-serve platforms rather than negotiating with media owners.
How are media agencies paid in Ireland?
Either a flat fee or a commission on media spend, and the difference matters. Commission rewards the agency for spending more of your budget. Flat fees do not. Ask which model applies and request that media costs and agency fees appear separately on every invoice.
Do I need a media agency or a digital marketing agency?
If you are buying television, radio, print or out-of-home, you need a media agency with buying relationships. If you are running search and social, a digital agency is enough. Only two firms on this list are media agencies in the traditional sense.
Can a small business use a media agency?
Generally not the large ones. Network media agencies are structured around budgets that justify their planning overhead. Smaller advertisers are better served by the digital agencies on this list, or by buying directly from media owners.

Planning media behind a promotion that also needs building?

Tell us what you are launching and we will tell you straight whether we are the right fit.

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