Dublin book shops

The recent closure of Chapters book shop in Dublin adds to the growing list of second hand book shops which have shut their doors in recent years. I remember Webbs book shops which were to be found in the 1960s on Bachelor’s Walk and Aston Quay, Dublin. That second mentioned book shop had book stalls outside the shop with well stacked book shelves inside. Its companion shop on Bachelor’s Walk closed some time before the other premises and their closure marked the end of the quayside bookshops which were once so popular in Dublin. For a book vulture like myself the years I spent in Dublin were particularly enjoyable. I worked in Baggot Street, close to Parsons book shop on Baggot Bridge which had become a Dublin literary landmark under the guidance of its owner May O’Flaherty. May, who started the book shop in the late 1940s, was always known as Miss O’Flaherty and with her behind the counter was the County Galway native, Mary King. Both appeared to be of a similar age and for book buyers they were founts of literary knowledge, ever helpful and enthusiastically advising of the works of Irish writers of merit. It was in Parsons that I met Mary Lavin, a gracious woman and a wonderful writer as well as observing, but not approaching, the poet Paddy Kavanagh on one of his regular visits to May O’Flaherty’s emporium. Parsons wasn’t a second-hand book shop but I do recall Miss O’Flaherty’s interest in the writings of Mervyn Wall and her acquisition of many remaindered copies of his books which she encouraged all and sundry to read. The aging Liam O’Flaherty who lived in nearby Court apartments was a very occasional visitor to Parsons and after I met him there he generously signed for me copies of all of his books about two years before he died. Parsons closed in 1989, while another second hand book shop which I visited at least twice a week lasted for another few more years. This was Greene’s book shop in Clare Street which was a second hand book shop with a Post Office on the ground floor and book shelves on the stairway leading to two second hand book filled rooms on the first floor. It was a wonderful place to spend one’s lunch hour and provided many exciting book finds during the 10 years I worked in the Baggot Street office. Sadly Greene’s book shop closed some years ago, as did Fred Hanna’s on Nassau Street directly opposite Trinity College. Hanna’s was a new and second hand book shop, presided over by Fred Hanna who died 11 years ago. The book shop was opened in the 1840s and taken over by Fred’s grandfather in 1907. Fred joined the business in 1951 and remembers his father who had succeeded his own father in the business buying up a substantial part of the Carton library from the Duke of Leinster. I recall attending book signings in Hanna’s by Edna O’Brien in the late 1970s and buying second hand Seamus Heaney signed books long before Hanna’s book shop closed in 1999. Another wonderful second hand book shop was Carraig book shop of Blackrock, Co. Dublin founded by Alfred Day in 1968. Carraig Books closed down in the early part of 2020 but I understand it is still carrying on business online. One of the most famous Irish book dealers of recent times was Kennys of Galway who withdrew from their High Street premises some years ago and are now to be found in an industrial estate on the Tuam Road, Galway. Galway is also home to Charlie Byrne’s book shop in Middle Street, a highly regarded second hand book shop which is probably entitled to be called the most interesting and best shop of its kind in Ireland. Charlie Byrne from County Longford trained as an archaeologist and first set up a book shop which I remember many years ago in Dominic Street, Galway. Charlie Byrnes has now become a Galway literary landmark in the same way as Kennys was some years ago when located on High Street. For the bibliophiles the opportunity to satisfy his or her search for second hand books is becoming more and more difficult. However, the loss of second hand book shops has in some way been softened by the holding of book fairs which were understandably not held during Covid 19. The Dublin book fair is a monthly event, while the Belfast and Cork book fairs are major annual events. Other book fairs are held annually in Fethard and Wexford, while the annual Graiguenamanagh book fair extending over a weekend is another event which attracts a lot of visitors to the County Kilkenny village. As the second hand book shops close a new retailing experience is opening up with the advent of charity book shops. Oxfam book shop in Parliament Street Dublin and a smaller Oxfam unit in Rathmines are worth a visit. Here in Athy we have the Lions Book Shop, opened approximately 10 years ago, where Alice Rowan works as a volunteer on behalf of the Lions Club. It provides a much-needed place for recycling books no longer required and by doing so helping Athy Lions Club charities while giving adults and young persons alike the opportunity to acquire reading material at extremely reasonable prices.