An Post Bookshop of the Year

An Post Irish Book Awards offers book lovers across Ireland the chance to choose their favourite bookshop

2023 Winner

Halfway Up The Stairs, Greystones

Halfway up the Stairs is a specialist children’s bookshop based in Greystones, Co Wicklow, stocking the very best books for children of all ages. Their team of booksellers are all passionate about children’s books and love finding the right book for each of their customers. They host regular author events, bringing some of Ireland’s best children’s writers and illustrators to the shop where they entertain and delight young readers.

The search is officially underway to find the ‘An Post Bookshop of the Year’ for 2023. After a hugely successful inaugural year in 2021, the category is now back for the third year running in the An Post Irish Book Awards, the annual literary event that celebrates and promotes Irish writing to the widest range of readers possible.

An Post 2023 Bookshop of The Year Shortlist!

Bridge Books, Dromore

Bridge Books, Dromore

Bridge Street Books, Wicklow

Bridge Street Books, Wicklow

Halfway Up The Stairs, Greystones

Halfway Up the Stairs, Greystones

Liber, Sligo

Liber, Sligo

Maynooth Bookshop, Maynooth

O'Mahonys Booksellets, Limerick

O’Mahony’s Booksellers, Limerick

About the Award

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.

An Post 2022 Bookshop of The Year Longlist!

Click the links to explore each of the bookshops or read the full press release here.

Regional Winners

Key Dates

17th September

Nominations for the An Post Bookshop of the Year will close at midnight and the 12 bookshops around Ireland with the most votes will then be longlisted.

19th October

Mystery shoppers will visit the 12 shops as part of the judging process. Following this, a shortlist of 6 shops will be finalised for the ‘An Post Bookshop of the Year’

22nd November

The overall winner will be presented with their trophy at the An Post Irish Book Awards event. The winner will receive a prize worth €15,000 from An Post Commerce.

Bridge Street Books, Wicklow

An Post Bookshop of the Year 2022

Bridge Street Books is an independent, family run bookshop set in an old house, right in the heart of Wicklow Town. Open since November 1999, the building is full of nooks & crannies where you can hide while browsing an extensive range of books.

“Our bookshops are the lighthouses for every writerly boat on the ocean. Without them we cannot set sail. They are the little churches and heroic temples of our endeavours.”’
Sebastian Barry
Bestselling Author

The An Post Bookshop of The Year at the Irish Book Awards is brought to you by:

With the support of:
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