Bookshop of the Year

November 17, 2011

The Bord Gáis Energy Book Shop of the Year Award has been won by The Crannóg Bookshop in Cavan. Proprietor John McEvoy received his award trophy together with a credit for €5,000 worth of free electricity from Bord Gáis Energy at the gala awards dinner in The RDS on November 17th.

The Crannóg Bookshop opened its doors in 1996 since when it has become an integral part of the community in Cavan Town, so much so that according to proprietor, John McEvoy, the shop is simply and affectionately known as “The Crannóg”. McEvoy, an alumnus of that amazing academy of bookselling, Waterstone’s Dawson St, identifies the hallmarks of a great bookshop as range, customer service and ambience. As any visitor to The Crannóg can see, this is a bookshop with a distinct identity. A warm embracing physical space filled with a broad and eclectic range of titles so rarely seen in bigger shops, this is a shop the denizens of Cavan are very lucky to have in their midst. From a class field of excellent bookshops from all over the country, The Crannóg emerged as a worthy winner. Congratulations to John and his staff.

The ten bookshops shortlisted were:

Ulster:
Crannog Bookshop, Cavan
Eason Letterkenny

Munster:
The Killarney Bookshop, Killarney
Vibes & Scribes Bookshop, Cork

Connacht:
The Clifden Bookshop, Clifden
Castle Book & Card Centre, Castlebar

Leinster:
Bridge Street Books, Wicklow
Stone House Books, Kilkenny

Greater Dublin:
The Rathgar Bookshop, Rathgar
Village Books, Malahide