Cork is full of brilliant bookshops.

But only one has made it onto the national stage this year.

Fiona Farrell’s Leaf and Bower in Ballincollig has been longlisted for the prestigious ‘An Post Bookshop of the Year’ award, part of the An Post Irish Book Awards — a nomination made all the sweeter as it comes directly from its loyal customers.

 

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The twelve bookshops longlisted for 2025, announced today, are:

Antonia’s Bookstore, Trim, Co. Meath
Bridge Books Dromore, Co. Down
Castle Book & Card Centre Castlebar, Co. Mayo
Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop, Co. Galway
Chapters Bookstore, Dublin 1
Genius Juniors, Ennis, Co. Clare
Leaf and Bower, Ballincollig, Co. Cork
Liber Bookshop, Sligo town
Tales for Tadpoles, Bray, Co. Wicklow
The Book Centre, Waterford
The Company of Books Ranelagh, Dublin 6
The Maynooth Bookshop, Co. Kildare

The shortlist of six bookshops will now be selected by an independent judging panel that includes Maria Dickenson – Chair of Irish Booksellers Association, Tony Purdue – Key Account Director at HarperCollins Publishers and Sheila O’Reilly – Project Manager for Booksellers Association.

The shortlist will be officially announced on October 22nd. The overall winner of ‘An Post Bookshop of the Year’ will be presented with their trophy at the An Post Irish Book Awards event on November 27th along with a prize worth €15,000 from An Post Commerce.

“For generations, Irish bookshops have been an essential part of our culture. They offer welcoming spaces where readers can explore and celebrate stories of every kind. Booksellers play a crucial role in Ireland’s literary landscape, bringing people and books together in ways that truly matter. It’s inspiring to see their dedication recognised, and the 2025 longlist reflects that passion and diversity.”