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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Ja2Km5b9awzXFC8Fl9UIG+B98IgDUuJ6q5qon2DrjyntjvOu3UH1NBFIhBxDYWA5
 naO4mIx44r0lFZaAccqspA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001346367-08-000004.txt : 20080410
<SEC-HEADER>0001346367-08-000004.hdr.sgml : 20080410
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080410155245
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001346367-08-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080409
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080410
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080410

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SKILLSOFT PUBLIC LIMITED CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000940181
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		107 NORTHEASTERN BOULEVARD
		CITY:			NASHUA
		STATE:			NH
		ZIP:			03062
		BUSINESS PHONE:		603-324-3000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		107 NORTHEASTERN BOULEVARD
		CITY:			NASHUA
		STATE:			NH
		ZIP:			03062

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SKILLSOFT PUBLIC LTD CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20021120

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SMARTFORCE PUBLIC LTD CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20000314

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CBT GROUP PLC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950303

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NINE JERALD A JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001240187

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25674
		FILM NUMBER:		08750030

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		107 NORTHEASTERN BLVD
		CITY:			NASHUA
		STATE:			NH
		ZIP:			03062
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6033243000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SKILLSOFT
		STREET 2:		20 INDUSTRIAL PARK DRIVE
		CITY:			NASHUA
		STATE:			NH
		ZIP:			03062
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-04-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000940181</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SKILLSOFT PUBLIC LIMITED CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>skil</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001240187</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NINE JERALD A JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>SKILLSOFT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>107 NORTHEASTERN BLVD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NASHUA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>03062</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Operating Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>American Depositary Shares</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-04-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>28800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.8459</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>303444</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">American Depositary Shares evidenced by American Depositary Receipts, each of which represents one Ordinary Share, nominal value 0.11 (Euro) per Ordinary Share of SkillSoft Public Limited Company.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Held by the Kimberly M. Nine Revocable Trust, of which the Reporting Person's spouse is trustee.  The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities to the extent to which such person does not have an actual pecuniary interest in these securities.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Greg Porto (for Jerald Nine)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-04-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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