I travel to Ireland every couple of years, and would stop in the odd bookshop if I knew where to look. Anyone have a shop to recommend?

Os.

I love both Kenny's and Charlie Byrne’s in Galway, if you're over that way.

The Hounds of the Morrigan actually starts in Kenny's Bookshop.

It's not second hand, but I went to an amazing bookshop in Waterford that was inside the old cinema - there was a cafe where the balcony seats used to be, and musicians playing from the projector room. It's worth a visit.

Kenny's closed at the beginning of last year. They only exist online now.

i like 'the bell book and candle' in galway. good prices-vast selection

The Celtic Book Shop in Limerick is an absolute must for any material relating to Ireland.

Also, Mealy's Auctioneers, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny hold at least two book auctions every year.

Message edited by its author, Sep 6, 2007, 7:10pm.

I add my voice to job2007 re The Celtic Book Shop. I am from Limerick and I make sure to go there anytime I am home. Check: http://www.iol.ie/~celticbk/, http://www.iol.ie/~celticbk/olc.htm

And here is another useful site:

www.pbfa.org

(The Provincial Booksellers Fairs Association)

They have a fair coming up on Friday 21 September 2007 (noon to 7) and on Saturday 22 September 2007 (10am-5pm) aat the Freemasons' Hall in Molesworth Street.

Lots of very interesting stuff.

That should be:

http://www.pbfa.org

Vibes and Scribes in Cork City has a good second-hand collection.

The Gallery is still there though!
Eoin

Yeah I like Vibes & Scribes. Adjusting to Cork bookshops has been difficult!
Eoin

I'll second Charlie Byrnes, in Galway. Insanely great range of second-hand and overstock books (loads of gorgeous last-season US hardbacks, at good low prices), as well as a judicious selection of new Irish and local books. And wonderful, witty, intelligent staff. My favourite bookshop in the world.

And as sean2euro mentioned, Bell, Book and Candle, also in Galway, is good in its very different way. Wildly unpredictable selection of second hand paperbacks at arra-why-not-take-a-chance prices. Excellent, quirky selection of old/vintage comics, too.

Slightly off topic, but if you're in Berlin, St George's English bookshop has a good selection of English-language books (mostly secondhand). The kind of slightly US-student-slanted selection you'd expect in Berlin (lots of David Foster Wallace paperbacks), with a thick layer of old English expat Booker-shortlist hardbacks and battered PG Wodehouse Penguins...

St George's also hosts weekly film nights, with beer. And I saw A.L. Kennedy do a splendid stand-up show there last month, with a good supporting lineup of local (German and expat) stand-ups. Well, OK, some of the support acts were rubbish. But a couple were good. (And A.L. Kennedy kicked serious ass. Definitely go see her stand-up, if she's passing through your territory.)

> 12

> I'll second Charlie Byrnes, in Galway. Insanely
> great range of second-hand and overstock
> books (loads of gorgeous last-season US
> hardbacks, at good low prices), as well as a
> judicious selection of new Irish and local books.
> And wonderful, witty, intelligent staff. My
> favourite bookshop in the world.

I am afraid that, because every visitor can check your saying and thus will find out for himself that, alas, it is true indeed, in re Charlie Byrne's Bookshop a firm warning is due. Nevertheless, Charlie Byrne's Bookshop is one of the finest and most charming bookshops and bookshop experiences in Ireland (and far beyond).

Cf. my short review at its venue page.

> 4

FYI : BB&C is situated at :
Bell Book and Candle
Small Crane, Sea Road,
Galway, Co. Galway

Actually, Kenny's opened a new bookstore in Galway during the Summer, in Liosbán. See:
http://www.kennys.ie/help/press/reopenin...

I haven't been out to visit yet - living in Galway I'm too complacent!

The new Kenny's looks great. Don't know when I'll next be near Galway, but it's on my list.

Os.

Oh good Lord - it's the first I've heard about Kenny's! What wonderful news.
It certainly doesn't have the charm of the original shop, but I'm swooning at the thought of all those books. I know where I'll be spending most of my time when I'm next in Ireland (in January)!

Thanks for the tip, Sharon!

No worries, citizenkelly! I'm delighted to be the bearer of good news.

Still haven't been over there yet! Shame on me.

The shame is that Kenny's and Charlie Byrne's are no longer a stone's throw (or less) from each other. I see that the new Kenny's advertises itself as being mostly second hand.... How I wish I were there in Galway....