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Paddy Leonard, 28 Sep
Little Acorns Bookstore in Derry has been longlisted for the 'An Post
Bookshop of the Year' category at this year’s An Post Irish Book
Awards.
[INS: :INS]
Twelve bookshops across the country have been longlisted in the annual
literary event that celebrates and promotes Irish writing and authors
to the widest range of readers possible.
The ‘An Post Bookshop of the Year’ category is designed to acknowledge
the significant role played by independent bookshops and local branches
of bookshop chains in helping their local communities to find and
savour the titles of their choice. Previous winners include Kennys
Bookshop and Art Gallery, Galway in 2021 and Bridge Street Books,
Wicklow in 2022.
The longlist of twelve bookshops around Ireland for 2023 are: 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.
Customers were asked to vote for their favourite bookshops and to
explain the reason for their choice. The bookshops that received the
most votes were then longlisted and invited by the judges to enter a
written submission.
Mystery shoppers will now visit the twelve bookshops as part of the
judging process to establish the shortlist of six bookshops. The
shortlist will be officially announced on the 19th October. ]The
overall winner of ‘An Post Bookshop of the Year’ will be presented with
their trophy at the An Post Irish Book Awards event on 22nd November
along with a prize worth €15,000 from An Post Commerce.
Each year, the An Post Irish Book Awards bring together a vast
community passionate about books – readers, authors, booksellers,
publishers and librarians – to recognise the very best of new and
established Irish writing talent and 2023 will be no different. Other
categories in the An Post Irish Book Awards include Novel of the Year,
Children’s (Junior and Senior), Cookery, Crime Fiction, Popular
Fiction, Non-fiction, Sports, Short Story, Poetry, Teen and Young Adult
and Irish Language.
Brendan Corbett, Chairperson of the An Post Irish Book Awards, said:
“Bookshops are at the core of communities’ all throughout Ireland and
act as a cultural and social hub for many. We introduced this category
to highlight the significant role Irish bookshops play, not only to
their communities and readers, but also to the Irish book business.
“I’m delighted to see such deserving bookshops on the longlist and wish
them all the best of luck.”
[18-08-23_Feile_Little_Acorns_06-1695898983706.jpg]
Jenni Doherty pictured in her book store at Gt. James Street, Derry.
(Photo: Jim McCafferty Photography)
Chair of Bookselling Ireland, Dawn Behan, said: “Booksellers have such
an important role connecting readers with books they love and it truly
is wonderful to see them getting recognition.
“Bookshops foster a love of reading in communities, especially for
those new to the word of literature, helping them find titles they will
enjoy. The An Post Bookshop of the Year award acknowledges Irish
bookshops and it’s great to see such a diverse longlist.”
Commenting on the important role bookshops play in local communities,
Garrett Bridgeman, Managing Director of An Post Mails & Parcels said:
“Bookshops are an integral part of local and wider communities
throughout Ireland as their accessibility with ecommerce has changed
immensely in recent years. 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.”
All lured! @AnPostIBAS longlist for #BookshopoftheYear Huge thanks
to public vote! @BridgeBooksDro1 @bridgebookshop #CastleBooks
@ClifdenBookshop @HalfwayUpBooks @KerrsBookshop @libersligo
@LittleAcornsBks @MaynoothBooks @OMahonysBooks @talesfortadpole
@TertuliaBooks https://t.co/RxKDc9hc1j
— Little Acorns Bookstore (@LittleAcornsBks) September 28, 2023
The shortlist for all categories in the An Post Irish Book Awards 2023
will be announced on 19th October, while the winners will be announced
on Wednesday 22nd November.
A television programme will be broadcast on RTÉ One television in
December and will culminate in one of the 2023 winning titles being
announced as the ‘An Post Irish Book of the Year 2023’.
An Post is also continuing with their hugely successful #ReadersWanted
campaign, celebrating the value and joy of reading and encouraging
everyone to pick up more books, more often. Simply search for the
hashtag online to get involved.