Twelve bookshops around Ireland have made the longlist for this year’s An Post Bookshop of the Year
The longlist has been revealed of the twelve bookshops in the running to win Bookshop of the Year, at one of the biggest—not to mention one of the most glamorous—events of the literary calendar, the An Post Irish Books Awards.
The prize acknowledges the crucial role of our independent bookshops—and local branches of bookshop chains—in local communities. Brendan Corbett, Chairperson of the An Post Irish Book Awards, said he was delighted to see such deserving bookshops on the longlist, and wished all the booksellers the best of luck.
The longlist
Bridge Books Dromore, Co. Down
Bridge Street Books, Wicklow
Castle Book & Card Centre, Castlebar, Mayo
The Clifden Bookshop, Connemara, Galway
Halfway Up the Stairs, Greystones, Wicklow
Kerr’s Bookshop Clonakilty, Co. Cork
Liber, Sligo
Little Acorns Bookstore, Derry
Maynooth Bookshop, Kildare
O’Mahony’s Booksellers, Limerick
Tales for Tadpoles, Bray, Wicklow
Tertulia, Westport, Mayo
“Bookshops foster a love of reading in communities, especially for those new to the word of literature, helping them find titles they will enjoy.“—Dawn Behan, Chair of Bookselling Ireland
The judging process
Book lovers were asked to vote for their favourite bookshops, and to say why their choice should be in the running to win. Those that received the most votes were longlisted, and the booksellers invited by the judges to enter a written submission.
Now mystery shoppers will visit the 12 stores as part of the judging process, which will result in a shortlist of six bookshops. The shortlist will be officially announced on 19 October.
The overall winner of An Post Bookshop of the Year will be presented with their trophy at the An Post Irish Book Awards on 22 November, along with a prize worth €15,000 from An Post Commerce.
Garrett Bridgeman, Managing Director of An Post Mails & Parcels said that bookshops open up a world of possibilities for every age, and are a place of joy, solace, and enjoyment for so many people. “Here at An Post Commerce we are proud to work with bookshops across Ireland and we celebrate the twelve bookshops listed here and all that they represent.”
