The timing couldn’t be worse.

With the 2025 Christmas shopping season kicking into gear, one special independent bookshop has been forced to close its doors after toxic mould and fungi was discovered underneath the shop floor.

Inanna Rare Books in Skibbereen, owned by Holger Smyth, will be closed for six months after the shelves inside started sinking, revealing that the floor joists were wet and disintegrating along the two outside walls.

The Masonic Hall in Mardyke Street was renovated by Inanna Rare Books just years ago with the help of many local West Cork businesses.

Carpenters removed the top of the floor to look for the cause of the level drop and discovered a layer of mould growing beneath. A fungal growth was also creeping up behind the shelving along the outside walls – a situation that meant that almost 20,000 rare books has to be immediately removed and placed in safe storage.

‘We might just have to do it all again’

“Our stewardship of the Masonic Hall is deeply rooted in my belief that historical buildings can always be saved,” said Smyth.

“We were rewarded for our commitment by visitors from Ireland and all over the world who come home to West Cork and who were in awe of the beautiful space, hidden away for decades from locals.

“Now we have to remove all our stock, all the art, the bespoke furniture has to be dismantled, the lighting has to be removed and all of it stored off-site until the rotten floor is replaced. A mountain needs to be climbed but we hope to be back and we ask for your patience…. we do not know how yet but we might just have to do it all again.

“If you want to support our family-businesses in town during the renovation-period, which can take six or seven months, please visit the amazing Bookshop-Cafe my wife Nicola is passionately running in its 15th year now at 44 Bridge Street, Skibbereen.” added Holger.

You can also order rare books online this Christmas at inannararebooks.com.