Marketing & Communications
Best 10 Media Agencies in Ireland (Updated August 2026)
The companies featured in this list are not ranked in any particular order. They are presented based on their relevance to the category.
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.
How to Choose the Right Media Agency in Ireland
The real decision in this category is not which agency, but which type of agency, since the two kinds on this list solve different problems.
- Confirm buying relationships exist, do not assume them. Only a genuine media agency has the trading relationships to negotiate national television, radio or print rates. A digital marketing agency using self-serve ad platforms cannot do this, whatever the pitch deck implies.
- Match agency scale to campaign scale. A 500-person network group is built around budgets that justify its planning overhead. A campaign under that threshold gets better attention from one of the smaller digital-first agencies here.
- Get the payment model in writing before the plan is built. Commission on media spend and a flat planning fee create different incentives, and the model should be agreed before any media is bought, not discovered on the invoice.
- Ask for independence from any network, where it matters. A network-owned agency may be steered toward its own inventory or preferred partners. An independent firm like Dragon Ltd has no such conflict, though it also has less negotiating leverage on scale.
Neither type is the wrong answer. The wrong answer is briefing a digital agency for a national broadcast campaign, or a network agency for a small paid social budget.
What Does a Media Agency Do?
A genuine media agency plans where advertising should run across television, radio, print, out-of-home and digital, then buys that space and negotiates rates on the client's behalf. Several firms in this file instead run self-serve digital campaigns, paid search and paid social, which is media buying in a much narrower sense with no negotiated trading relationships behind it. Creative production, the ads themselves, generally sits outside scope for both types and is handled by a separate creative agency or an in-house team. Businesses typically bring in a true media agency once a campaign needs to run across channels a small team cannot buy directly, or once budget reaches a scale where negotiated rates meaningfully beat rate card pricing.
How Much Does Media Agency Services Cost in Ireland?
This file has no published hourly rates at all, and only four of the ten agencies publish a project minimum, all at the same figure: €900, from Starcom Ireland, CSM Agency, Effector and Dragon Ltd. That figure describes entry-level digital campaign work rather than national media buying, which is priced per campaign against the media budget involved and rarely published. Two payment models dominate the category: a flat planning and buying fee, or a commission calculated as a percentage of media spend. Commission scales with budget and rewards the agency for spending more of it, which is worth weighing against a flat fee on a large campaign. Whichever model applies, insist that agency fees and media costs appear as separate lines on every invoice, since the €900 figure here tells you almost nothing about what a national campaign will actually cost.
We have selected and reviewed these companies based on factors such as their services, industry experience, reputation, client portfolio, pricing where publicly available, market presence, and other relevant business metrics. The information and pricing mentioned are based on details available at the time of publication and may change over time. We recommend verifying the latest information directly with each company.
1. Core
Best for national campaigns across every channel
- Location
- Dublin, Ireland
- Team size
- 201-500
Core firmly stands out as Ireland's absolute largest and most comprehensive marketing communications company, operating from their massive headquarters in Dublin. They work extensively with major domestic and international brands to handle their high-stakes advertising across every conceivable channel, including national television broadcasts, widespread radio syndication, premium print publications, and massive online digital platforms. Because they operate as such a large, integrated group, they possess the sheer scale and deep industry connections necessary to negotiate the very best possible advertising rates on a national level, offering a significant financial advantage to clients with substantial marketing budgets.
What sets them apart
What makes Core genuinely different from other agencies on the market is their unique ability to handle every single part of a complex campaign under one roof. Whether a business needs to negotiate the sponsorship of a major sporting event, dive deep into consumer data to understand their customer base better, or meticulously plan a massive nationwide advertising rollout, Core has entirely dedicated teams of specialists ready to manage it. Their data and research divisions inform their media buying strategies, ensuring that every euro spent is backed by solid insights.
Who they suit
They are undeniably best suited for large, ambitious companies with substantial, multi-channel marketing budgets looking to reach a very wide audience across the entire country. For significant retail chains, major financial institutions, and fast-moving consumer goods brands, Core provides the necessary infrastructure, purchasing power, and strategic oversight required to dominate the media landscape and ensure maximum visibility in a crowded marketplace.
Services
- Media Planning & Buying
- Sponsorship
- Data & Research
Industries
- Retail
- Finance
- Consumer Goods
Languages
- English
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 €900
Based in South Dublin, Starcom Ireland operates as a highly dedicated, specialist media planning and buying agency that helps businesses figure out exactly where, when, and how their advertisements should appear to maximize their commercial impact. Functioning as a crucial part of the much larger Core group, they bring significant, unparalleled buying power to the negotiating table. This means they are uniquely positioned to secure excellent, highly competitive rates for premium television commercials, prime billboard placements (OOH), and other major, high-visibility advertising spots that smaller agencies simply cannot access at the same price point.
What sets them apart
Their highly experienced team focuses relentlessly on connecting consumer brands with the right audience at precisely the right time, minimizing wasted spend. By thoroughly understanding complex consumer habits, shifting market trends, and media consumption patterns, they ensure that their clients' advertising budgets are spent effectively and efficiently. They utilize advanced planning tools and data analytics to pinpoint exactly which channels will deliver the highest return on investment for any given campaign.
Who they suit
Starcom Ireland is a remarkably strong choice for large-scale businesses that need to make a massive, immediate impact on a national scale and want a team with deep, established industry connections to manage their substantial media investments. They are particularly well-regarded in fast-paced sectors like retail, clothing, and food and beverage, where reaching a mass audience quickly is often the key to driving immediate sales and building long-term brand awareness.
Services
- Media Planning & Buying
- Broadcast & OOH Advertising
Industries
- Clothing & Accessories
- Retail
- Food & Beverage
Languages
- English
- Irish
3. Ebow,the digital agency
Best for creative technology and media together
- Location
- Dublin, Ireland
- Team size
- 11-50
Founded in 1999, Ebow stands as one of the most well-established and highly respected digital agencies based in Dublin, boasting decades of experience in helping businesses build a dominant and engaging strong presence online. They specialize in seamlessly blending highly creative ideas with the very latest digital technology, working successfully with ambitious clients not just in Ireland, but significantly expanding their reach across the United Kingdom, the United States, and mainland Europe. Their versatile team handles a massive spectrum of digital work, from building highly attractive, user-friendly websites to running complex, data-driven online advertising campaigns.
What sets them apart
What truly sets Ebow apart in a crowded market is their exceptionally long history and comprehensive, holistic approach to digital marketing and media. They do not simply act as order-takers to place advertisements; they actively help create the engaging content and shape the underlying digital strategy to ensure the core message resonates powerfully with the target customers. Their ability to fuse technical web design with strategic content marketing and targeted paid media creates a unified digital ecosystem for their clients.
Who they suit
With their offices and client base expanding significantly beyond Ireland, Ebow is exceptionally well-equipped to support growing, ambitious businesses looking to reach a lucrative international audience. They are an ideal partner for organisations in the arts and culture sector, healthcare, and rapidly scaling e-commerce brands that require a sophisticated digital partner capable of delivering both high-end creative design and rigorous, results-oriented digital media management.
Services
- Web Design
- SEO & PPC
- Content Marketing
Industries
- Arts & Culture
- Healthcare
- E-commerce
Languages
- English
4. CSM Agency
Best for performance media for growing brands
- Location
- Dublin, Ireland
- Team size
- 11-50
- Min project
- From €900
CSM Agency operates dynamically as a highly focused commercial growth consultancy situated right in the bustling heart of Dublin, focusing entirely on connecting marketing and media efforts directly to tangible, measurable business revenue. They specialise in helping rapidly growing brands across Ireland, the UK, the US, and the UAE extract the absolute maximum value out of their digital advertising budgets. Their comprehensive work spans across essential digital disciplines including search engine visibility (SEO), highly targeted paid online advertising (PPC), and strategic, conversion-focused social media management.
What sets them apart
The agency takes a refreshingly practical, metrics-driven approach to digital marketing and media, ensuring that every single campaign is explicitly designed to generate actual, trackable sales or high-quality leads rather than just accumulating superficial views or 'likes'. By seamlessly combining strong, overarching business strategy with meticulous daily advertising management and optimization, they act less like a traditional agency and more like a dedicated growth partner deeply invested in the client's commercial success.
Who they suit
CSM Agency is the perfect fit for ambitious B2B service providers, scaling technology companies, and aggressive e-commerce brands that want to see clear, undeniable, and highly measurable returns on their digital marketing investments. They are for businesses that view media spend strictly as a lever for revenue growth and require an agency partner capable of proving the direct financial impact of every campaign they run across search and social platforms.
Services
- SEO
- PPC Management
- Social Media Marketing
Industries
- B2B Services
- E-commerce
- Technology
Languages
- English
5. Effector
Best for social and digital media for SMEs
- Location
- County Dublin, Ireland
- Team size
- 11-50
- Min project
- From €900
Effector is a highly energetic and results-focused agency located in the Dublin city centre that specializes almost exclusively in helping small and medium-sized businesses dramatically grow their online presence and reach. They are particularly well-known for their practical, no-nonsense approach, offering everything from fresh, conversion-optimized website designs to highly engaging, targeted social media advertising campaigns, importantly, all without requiring clients to sign long-term, highly restrictive contracts. A prime example of their effective work is their incredibly successful, long-standing partnership with the popular brand Gino's Gelato, where they strategically built a massive, loyal online audience completely from scratch.
What sets them apart
The dedicated team at Effector focuses heavily on the digital platforms where everyday consumers actually spend their time, running highly effective, creatively engaging advertising campaigns primarily on major social media networks like Facebook and Instagram. They understand how to craft visual content that stops users from scrolling, pairing it with smart media buying tactics to ensure the ads are seen by the most relevant local demographics.
Who they suit
They are an absolutely excellent fit for independent local businesses, growing retail brands, and busy hospitality venues that want to build a fiercely loyal customer base and see real, tangible results from their online marketing. By offering high-quality digital media management without the massive commitment overhead typically associated with traditional, large-scale media agencies, Effector provides SMEs with the professional tools they need to compete effectively in the digital space.
Services
- Social Media Marketing
- Web Design
- Facebook & Instagram Ads
Industries
- Food & Beverage
- Retail
- Hospitality
Languages
- English
6. 256 | Content Marketing Agency
Best for owned and earned media
- Content Marketing Institute Agency of the Year
- ISO 9000 (digital marketing)
- Location
- County Dublin, Ireland
- Team size
- 11-50
Based in the creative hub of Dublin 8, 256 is a prestigious, award-winning agency that focuses entirely on the strategic creation and distribution of high-value content marketing. Founded in 2013 by a team with a remarkably strong background in traditional publishing, they expertly help ambitious brands tell their unique stories across complex digital platforms, engaging social media channels, and even high-end print publications. They are highly recognized and respected globally in their specialized field, notably standing out as the only agency in the entire world to hold the rigorous ISO 9000 certification specifically for digital marketing processes, guaranteeing an exceptionally high standard of work.
What sets them apart
Instead of just buying traditional, disruptive advertising space, they help businesses meticulously create valuable, long-form articles, highly engaging visual materials, and genuinely useful information that naturally attract, educate, and retain customers over time. This approach to 'owned media' builds a sustainable asset for the brand, reducing reliance on paid advertising by establishing the company as a trusted thought leader in its respective industry.
Who they suit
They have an incredibly strong track record working with highly regulated, complex sectors like large financial institutions and professional services, as well as popular consumer goods brands. This makes 256 the perfect partner for companies that need to communicate nuanced information and want to build deep trust and long-lasting authority through high-quality, strategically distributed content rather than just relying on short-term paid media bursts.
Services
- Content Marketing
- Digital Marketing
- UX Design
Industries
- Financial Services
- Consumer Goods
- Professional Services
Languages
- English
7. Dragon Ltd
Best for independent media and marketing advice
- Location
- South Dublin, Ireland
- Team size
- 11-50
- Min project
- From €900
Dragon Ltd operates proudly as an independent, highly creative full-service agency based in South Dublin, providing a comprehensive, integrated suite of advertising, media, and design services. Crucially, because they are entirely independent and not owned by a massive global holding network, they pride themselves intensely on offering completely objective, unbiased, and highly strategic advice to their clients regarding their media spend. Their extensive in-house expertise covers everything from planning and buying traditional television and radio campaigns to executing highly targeted direct mail, sophisticated graphic design, and long-term brand strategy.
What sets them apart
The agency works incredibly closely with its clients to build strong, highly memorable brands entirely from the ground up. By expertly handling both the creative design work and the strategic media planning under one roof, they ensure a perfectly consistent, powerful message across all forms of media, avoiding the disjointed campaigns that can occur when using multiple specialist agencies. This unified approach allows them to stretch budgets further and deliver highly cohesive brand experiences.
Who they suit
They are an exceptionally great partner for mid-sized businesses, healthcare organizations, and non-profits looking for highly personalized, expert guidance without the potential conflict of interest that can sometimes happen in larger, network-owned agencies. Dragon Ltd provides the strategic depth and media buying capabilities of a larger firm, combined with the agility, dedication, and independent thinking of a fiercely proud local agency.
Services
- Advertising
- Brand Strategy
- Graphic Design
Industries
- Retail
- Healthcare
- Non-profit
Languages
- English
- Irish
8. Upload Media
Best for creative media production
- Location
- County Dublin, Ireland
- Team size
- 1-10
Founded in 2018, Upload Media is a dynamic, highly specialized Dublin-based creative production agency that brings corporate stories and brand messaging to life through the creation of exceptionally high-quality visuals. They specialize deeply in capturing the very essence of a business, offering professional, cinematic video production, stunning, high-resolution aerial drone photography, and comprehensive event coverage that traditional media agencies simply do not provide in-house. Alongside their core camera and production work, their skilled team also designs clean, modern, and highly effective websites to serve as the perfect showcase for the visual media they produce for their clients.
What sets them apart
The small but exceptionally highly skilled, tight-knit team works flexibly across a wide variety of sectors, helping prestigious educational institutions, bustling restaurants, large corporate offices, and ambitious real estate agents showcase exactly what they do best. They understand that before you can run a successful media campaign, you need outstanding creative assets, and this is precisely where Upload Media excels, delivering polished materials ready for distribution.
Who they suit
They are the absolutely ideal choice for businesses that urgently need to produce polished, highly professional media materials to use in their own digital marketing and advertising campaigns. While they don't buy the advertising space themselves, Upload Media provides the crucial, high-end visual firepower that makes any media campaign—whether on social platforms or a company website—infinitely more engaging and effective for the target audience.
Services
- Video Production
- Photography
- Web Design
Industries
- Corporate
- Education
- Real Estate
Languages
- English
9. Wasper Media
Best for social content and distribution
- Location
- Dublin, Ireland
- Team size
- 1-10
Located in the vibrant suburb of Rathfarnham, Dublin, Wasper Media operates as a highly dynamic, modern digital marketing agency that helps growing local businesses fiercely manage their online reputation, social presence, and digital advertising. They offer a highly unique and effective blend of services by keeping engaging video production, strategic public relations outreach, and traditional outdoor media planning entirely in-house. This streamlined structure allows them to move incredibly quickly and create highly cohesive, reactive campaigns that work seamlessly across multiple channels without the usual delays.
What sets them apart
Their primary, overarching focus is on producing highly engaging, shareable content and distributing it effectively and strategically across key social media platforms to rapidly build brand awareness and drive local footfall. By intelligently combining modern, data-driven online strategies with traditional, trusted media outreach, they ensure their clients' messages cut through the noise both on the street and on the screen.
Who they suit
Wasper Media offers an exceptionally well-rounded, hands-on approach for ambitious small to medium-sized businesses, particularly in retail and hospitality, looking to stand out prominently in a crowded local market. They are the perfect partner for business owners who need an agile, creative agency that can genuinely connect with a local audience and handle both the creation of the media and its strategic distribution online.
Services
- Content Creation
- Social Media Marketing
- Branding
Industries
- Retail
- Hospitality
- Local Services
Languages
- English
10. Fearless Media
Best for video content for corporate and social
- Location
- Dublin, Ireland
- Team size
- 1-10
Fearless Media is an innovative, highly specialized Dublin-based agency that focuses almost exclusively on creating high-impact, visually arresting video content tailored specifically for modern, fast-scrolling audiences. They excel particularly at producing highly engaging, short-form videos specifically designed to perform exceptionally well on rapidly growing social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. However, their expertise is not limited to social media; they also possess the technical skills to create highly polished, professional corporate video series and comprehensive, high-quality wrap-up videos for major industry conferences and corporate events.
What sets them apart
The agile agency works incredibly closely with Irish businesses to ensure their visual messaging is not only highly professional in its execution but also perfectly suited, formatted, and optimized for the specific platform where it will be viewed by the target demographic. They understand the crucial nuances of different social algorithms and tailor their video production to maximize organic reach and viewer engagement.
Who they suit
Fearless Media is a truly fantastic, highly recommended partner for large companies hosting major events or established corporate entities wanting to aggressively modernize their communications with compelling, highly shareable video content. For any brand that wants to grab attention in a crowded digital feed and communicate their message through dynamic visual storytelling, Fearless Media provides the dedicated expertise required to stand out.
Services
- Corporate Video
- Event Video
- Social Media Marketing
Industries
- Corporate
- Healthcare
- Events
Languages
- English
A good media agency gets a brand's message in front of the right audience, whether that's negotiated national coverage or a well targeted paid social campaign. What it doesn't do is give the people who saw that message a reason to keep buying afterwards. Reach and retention are bought differently. Brandfire designs and builds loyalty and rewards programmes for brands across Ireland, the work that starts once the media spend has done its job.
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.
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