Between the Shelves

Kennys Bookshop & Art Gallery in Galway is one of the most celebrated independent bookshops in Ireland, widely recognized not just as a retail store, but as a global pioneer in e-commerce and a major cultural institution. The story begins with a university romance. Desmond Kenny, a native Galwegian, and Maureen Canning, from Mohill, County Leitrim, met on their very first day at University College Galway (UCG). Upon graduating, they married. With few jobs available during World War II, the young couple decided to open a bookshop—a move friends and family considered an act of financial madness. With a £100 bank loan and books donated by relatives, they opened Kennys Bookshop on November 29, 1940, on High Street, Galway. They rented two rooms, living in the back room and running the shop out of the front. To survive, they had to be incredibly inventive: they operated a lending library, ran a second-hand schoolbook exchange, and Desmond traveled on the road selling books directly to county libraries. In the 1950s, Maureen began introducing locally handmade Irish crafts (rugs, sweaters, ceramics) to add color to the shop. This naturally attracted visual artists. In 1953, they hosted their first art exhibition, hanging paintings directly over and among the bookshelves. By 1968, the art collection demanded its own space. Desmond and Maureen converted the living room of their family home in Salthill, effectively opening the first commercial art gallery in the West of Ireland. Their inaugural formal exhibition featured legendary Irish painter Seán Keating. . By the 1970s, five of the Kennys' six children had entered the family business, each expanding a different arm of the trade (such as establishing a dedicated Book Bindery in 1974). The shop became a famous gathering place for local poets, bibliophiles, and international authors. Famous faces like Edna O'Brien, John McGahern, Seamus Heaney, Kate O'Brien, and Frank O'Connor were frequent visitors, and Kennys began a tradition of photographing every writer who walked through their doors. In the early 1980s, the family bought the High Street building they had been renting for 40 years, along with the building behind it on Middle Street, connecting them into a massive, multi-story literary maze. Their expertise in Irish literature led to the US Library of Congress appointing Kennys as its official Irish book supplier. Long before major multinational corporations came to dominate internet commerce, Kennys made history. In the summer of 1994, collaborating with Barry Flanagan (founder of Ireland On-Line), they launched Kennys.ie. It was Ireland’s first ever e-commerce website and only the second bookstore in the entire world to sell books online. They beat Amazon to the web by a full year. Because they already had an international database and a product that was easily shippable, the digital venture exploded, allowing them to ship rare, second-hand, and new Irish books to collectors across 150 countries In 2006, after 66 years on High Street, the family made the monumental and emotional decision to close their historic city-center doors to pivot fully toward their massive online trade and wholesale operations. In 2009, Kennys consolidated everything—their retail shop, the art gallery, and their vast warehouse of hundreds of thousands of volumes—into their current premises at Liosbán Retail Park (just outside Galway city center). True to the spirit of the shop, the matriarch Maureen Kenny fully backed the move before her passing, famously stating, "You have to move with the times." Liosbán Retail ParkTuam RoadGalwayH91 N5P8IrelandTel : +353 (0)91 709350Email : books@kennys.ie

Books at One in Louisburgh, County Mayo, is the trailblazing flagship location that launched Ireland’s unique community-focused bookshop network. Established in 2016 through the backing of the philanthropic One Foundation, the shop was transformed from two derelict buildings on Bridge Street into a stunning, high-end "destination bookshop." As a social enterprise, its mission goes far beyond selling books; it is designed to act as a vital social and creative hub to combat rural isolation and foster regional regeneration. The Louisburgh shop blends the charm of a cozy, traditional independent bookstore with impressive modern resources: Upstairs, the shop features a modern co-working hub with high-speed Wi-Fi, desk hire, and a meeting room, and downstairs an art gallery showcasing changing exhibitions by regional artists, all offering beautiful views stretching out toward the land and sea.The real magic of the Louisburgh branch lies in its packed weekly calendar of inclusive, community-driven events. On any given week, the space is alive with activity, including community groups like Caintagus Comhrá (Irish conversation circles), knitting clubs, Ukrainian-English language integration classes, film nights, alongside regular meetings of the West Mayo Writers’ Group, who gather in the upstairs creative space to share and critique new work. Children’s Storytime is also a very popular event which takes place on the last Saturday of every month in the children’s room. Nestled dynamically along the Wild Atlantic Way between Croagh Patrick and the Mweelrea mountains, the Louisburgh flagship stands as a glowing blueprint for how a local bookstore can successfully serve as a town's cultural anchorBridge Street, Clooncarrabaun,Louisburgh,Co. Mayo,F28 YW28“Every bookshop has a story. Between the Shelves tells them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Castle Bookshop (often just called Castle Books) in Castlebar, County Mayo, is a beloved independent bookstore that has served as a central cultural and literary anchor for the West of Ireland for well over three decades.Its history is a story of a small, traditional family business growing into a multi-faceted creative hub and independent publishing powerhouse.The shop was originally founded as a traditional family-run enterprise on Castle Street in Castlebar. For its first twenty years, it operated primarily as a classic local book and card center.During an era when large corporate chain stores began dominating the high street, the shop carved out a deeply loyal following by focusing heavily on community connection and stocking a dedicated, comprehensive selection of regional history, local folklore, and books written by Mayo authorA major turning point for the business came in 2012 when David Brennan, a qualified accountant who was born and raised in Castlebar, took over the family business.Under Brennan's leadership, the vision for the bookshop expanded dramatically. The goal was to transform a traditional retail space into a vibrant community gathering point. In 2022, the business made a monumental move, expanding from its original footprint into a prominent Main Street/Market Street location in Castlebar.The new home of Castle Books brought its own layers of rich local history. The shop moved into the former 19th-century studio of Thomas Wynne, one of Connacht’s most famous pioneering photographers.The family meticulously preserved the historic, airy character of the building while modernizing the layout:The Ground Floor: Houses a traditional independent bookstore, heavily emphasizing local Irish interest, new releases, classics, and an extensive Irish-language section.The Upper Floor: Features a bright café under historic skylights, serving coffee and locally produced cakes.The "Wall of Wool": In a charming nod to traditional Irish merchant history—where bookshops historically shared spaces with haberdasheries and drapers—the upper floor features a dedicated yarn section selling ethical and cruelty-free wool.The Art Gallery: The walls are continuously lined with a changing gallery of works by contemporary regional artists, interspersed with historical prints of Wynne’s original 19th-century photography.Recognizing the massive amount of untapped writing talent emerging from the West of Ireland, David Brennan founded Mayo Books Press in 2020, operating out of the bookstore.The publishing house was established to provide a high-quality professional platform for local history, poetry, creative non-fiction, and memoir. It has quickly grown into a widely respected independent publisher, collaborating with regional editors and authors to produce award-winning titles that capture the rural Irish experience. Alongside the physical press, their sister site, mayobooks.ie, became a vital global e-commerce portal, shipping local Mayo literature to the global diaspora.Today, Castle Books is widely regarded as one of the premier literary hubs in Connacht. It is heavily involved with regional arts movements, working alongside local festivals like the Wild Atlantic Words literary festival. Backed by community grants (including the Books at One community fund), the shop uses its unique space to host free weekly creative writing classes, local board game evenings, and intimate book launch events, ensuring it remains the true beating heart of Castlebar's cultural community.Castle Street & Main Street, Castlebar, Ireland, Co. MayoLinks mayobooks.ie  thecastlebookshop (094) 902 4422 thecastlebookshopcastlebar@gmail.com

Books at One has become one of the most respected independent bookshops in Connemara, serving both the local community and the many visitors who travel to the region each year.Founded by bookseller Louisburgh-born Tess Doran, the shop was established with the aim of bringing a carefully curated selection of books to one of Ireland's most scenic and culturally rich regions. Rather than operating as a conventional retail outlet, Books at One developed as a literary and cultural space reflecting the history, landscape, and artistic traditions of Connemara.Located in Letterfrack, at the entrance to Connemara National Park, the bookshop benefits from a unique setting. Visitors from Ireland and abroad pass through the village on their way to Kylemore Abbey, helping the shop build a reputation far beyond its local population.The Connemara ConnectionThe history of Books at One is closely linked to the literary heritage of Connemara. The region has long attracted writers, artists, historians, and scholars inspired by its:rugged landscapeIrish-language traditionsfolkloremusicstorytelling cultureAs a result, the shop developed a strong emphasis on:Irish historylocal studiesIrish-language publicationsnature writingcontemporary Irish fictionMore Than a BookshopOver time, Books at One became a gathering place for:readerswritersartistswalkerstouristslocal residentsIndependent bookshops across Ireland have faced increasing competition from online retailers, yet Books at One has survived by offering personal service, specialist knowledge, and a carefully chosen range of titles that reflect the character of the west of Ireland.A Cultural LandmarkToday, Books at One is regarded as an important part of the cultural life of Letterfrack and Connemara. Like other renowned Irish independent bookshops such as Charlie Byrne's Bookshop and The Reading Room, it demonstrates how independent bookselling can thrive when rooted in a strong sense of place and community.An Unusual FactFew bookshops in Ireland enjoy such a dramatic setting. On a clear day, visitors can browse books in Letterfrack and then walk among the mountains of Connemara or along the Atlantic coast within minutes—a combination that has helped make Books at One a destination in its own right.Contact info 087 333 4627 letterfrack@booksatone.ie

Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop is an iconic cultural institution located in the heart of Galway City. Widely considered one of the finest independent bookstores in Europe, it is famous for its labyrinthine layout, vast inventory, and deep-rooted support for the Irish arts community.The shop’s history is a classic tale of organic growth. In the summer of 1989, founder Charlie Byrne began selling secondhand books from a modest weekend market stall on Munster Avenue, using stock donated by friends.By November of that year, he moved the business into its first brick-and-mortar home: a tiny, filled-in archway premises on Dominick Street. Despite its minuscule footprint, the shop quickly built a reputation for meticulous curation, stocking high-quality, reasonably priced secondhand volumes on Irish history, archaeology, and poetry.As the collection grew, so did the need for space:1992: The shop moved across the River Corrib to Middle Street, operating on an upstairs-downstairs layout.1995/1996: The bookstore made its final, definitive move across the road into The Cornstore Mall on Middle Street (occupying a space formerly held by the Shield and the Gig bookshop).Over the last three decades, as adjacent retail units within the Cornstore became vacant, Charlie Byrne’s simply absorbed them. This piece-by-piece expansion created the sprawling, seven-unit maze that exists today.The shop is a paradise for browsers, famously designed so that "the book you need finds you, rather than the other way around."The Outer Wall: Before even stepping inside, visitors are greeted by a distinctive, wrapping wall of external shelves loaded with secondhand bargain books.The Scale: The shop holds an estimated 100,000 to 750,000 volumes (depending on how much of the massive off-site backup warehouse is counted).The Specialities: The maze is divided into dedicated rooms for literary fiction, history, art, and an extensive children's section.The Mix: While secondhand, antiquarian, and publisher overstock (remainders) remain the core identity of the business, the shop also stocks brand-new titles, particularly if the author is local or the subject matter relates directly to Irish culture.Managed by long-time bookseller Vinny Browne, Charlie Byrne's functions as a community living room and a major focal point for Galway's artistic identity:The Cúirt Festival: During the annual Cúirt International Festival of Literature, the shop runs a famous pop-up branch at the Town Hall Theatre. Over the years, legendary international and Irish authors—including Seamus Heaney, Edna O’Brien, Allen Ginsberg, and John Banville—have spent hours signing books and mingling with fans at their stalls.Launches and Events: It is the premier venue for West of Ireland book launches. It maintains a busy schedule of evening poetry readings, historical lectures, and weekly children’s storytime clubs.The shop has been highly decorated over the years, winning The Irish Times "Best Bookshop in Ireland" award and being crowned the Best Independent Bookshop in Ireland at the British Book Awards (The Nibbies).Proving its continuous evolution, the shop recently utilized a community development grant from the Books at One foundation to fully refurbish its main interior event space, ensuring this beloved labyrinth remains the beating heart of Galway’s literary scene for decades to come.Charlie Byrne’s BookshopThe CornstoreMiddle StreetGalway H91AH7ACharlie Byrne’s WarehouseUnit 5, Oranmore Business ParkOranmore H91 P03Vinfo@charliebyrne.ie091 561766