About Us

Charlie Byrne's Bookshop, located in the heart of Galway City, stocks over 50,000 used, new and remaindered titles on subjects ranging from popular fiction to Irish interest to art and archaeology. We also stock recently published titles by local authors, by Irish novelists and poets, and on local and national history.

Books as Furniture:

Charlie Byrne's also sells used books in larger quantities to be used as decoration or "furniture" in restaurants,pubs, shops, etc.

We will work with your design needs and your budget to assemble a collection for you. For more information, please ring Charlie or Vinny at +353 91 561 766.

Book Groups:

We're happy to order copies of recently-published books for your book group, at a discount of 10%.

Some titles your book group might enjoy are The Time TravelerÕs Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, This Blinding Absence of Light by Tahar Ben Jelloun, Breakfast at Tiffanys by Truman Capote, The Master of St. Petersburg by J. M. Coetzee, and The Boy in Striped Pajamas by John Boyne.

Libraries:

We give a 10% discount to library buyers.

Gift Vouchers:

Available in any amount. Click here for more information.

Locations:

Shop:
Charlie Byrne's Bookshop is located in the Cornstore Mall, on Middle Street in Galway, near Shop Street and the Augustinian Church.

New York Review of Charlie's

Here's a brief history of the shop in 12 chapters!

1. In 1989, Charlie returns to Galway after an absence of some years. He begins to wonder if there might be a life beyond that of the field archaeologist and its nomadic lifestyle.
Breaking news... The Pedlar, the great second-hand bookshop in Quay Street of his college years is no longer in business...an opening ..an opportunity.

2. Set up a bookstall in the West End trading market in Munster Avenue. This is a useful beginning. Firstly, it is your first meeting with the community of inveterate book people who will travel anywhere to find that "special thing" and who are delighted to have a new outlet to feed their mania. Secondly, you get to spend some quality market time with the denizens of the legendary Hibernian Bar who will spread the word; "The bookseller is a decent man"

3. Hear of a small shop coming available in nearby Dominick Street. After much tentative deliberation, you take it. You fit the shop out yourself and the kindness of friends, family and strangers is prevailed upon to supply books for stock. On the first day of business, you are sweeping the street outside, two young gobshites (there is no better word) enter and rob a book each. They were not seen but every book was known and two were missing. Bad start. Carry on.

4. Things settle down. Slowly, the word spreads of a small bookshop across the bridge beside the Galway Arms that has an interesting, eclectic selection of good books at very reasonable prices. The notion of bringing books in for credit is established. What could be better than bringing in your old (good) books for part exchange and walk away with some fresh new gems to shore up against life's difficulties?

5. One regular, enthusiastic customer (with baguette and extravagant pony-tail, this was 1991, let us not forget) wonders if there are any vacancies. The shop does not allow for more than one staff member at a time for the very good reason that there then isn't enough room for the customers. Lunch times and days off are offered. Vinny accepts this as an interesting and useful addition to his relaxed, post-university lifestyle.

6. The counter space in the shop is too precious to waste on having a till so a small sweet box under the counter is used to fulfil this function.(Well, Amazon.com did begin in the Bezos family garage). This not withstanding, a historic day occurs next Christmas eve when the glass ceiling of £100.00 (Irish punts, mind) is finally shattered. You have a few drinks in Taylor's Bar by way of celebration.

7. A rat is disturbed due to an adjacent building operation. Obviously traumatised, he chooses as his final resting place the space behind the Irish fiction shelf in the shop. The book paradise now stinks to high heaven. You tear the place apart and eventually find and remove the offending rodent. You begin to think of a move. The love affair with Miss "Quaint, Small and Charming" is definitely over.

8. In January 1992, Charlie Byrne's moves to Middle Street into the premises now occupied by the Kappa Ya Restaurant. The relative cathedral-like dimensions of the new shop necessitates a full staff. We are joined by Noreen Collins, Jarlath Henehen and Sharon Whooley. The shop is officially opened by Prof. Padraig O' CŽide, a customer of long standing and a great example of the previously mentioned sufferers of "the gentle madness" of bibliomania.

9. Business carries on. You become better known. Word spreads slightly further. A man from the New York Times turns up to photograph the shop for an article for the paper. The article never appears. Books are bought and sold. A consistent, loyal customer base is established in a new place. You enjoy them enjoying the shop. The shop becomes stuffed to saturation point with books. The words small and quaint begin to recur.

10. It is summer 1995. A premises becomes available in the Cornstore across the street. It is procured and things move on to a different level. Space beckons and something of the possibility of what is achievable suggests itself. Some walls are broken through by Pat Fitz and Bernard Hegarty (the Futon Shop, anybody?). An open-plan shop with in built nooks and crannies that give it the necessary character emerges. It is blessed by the late, much-lamented John O'Donohue and a keg of Guinness is expertly dispensed by Charlie's brother James. The customers agree that this is the proper, maybe even the only, way to launch a bookshop in Ireland. In time and as they come available, further units are added, giving us the shop as it is today.

11. March 2001. An invitation comes from the Arts Centre to take over the selling of books at the Cœirt Literary Festival. You accept and set up, with the expert help of Angie Taylor, a bona fide bookshop in the foyer of the Town Hall Theatre for the duration of the festival. This is a great success, as the bookshop becomes a resource in itself, providing a meeting place for the writers to engage with their audience and vice versa. Books are launched, signed and of course, sold in this space throughout the week. Needless to say, as it is a festival, it is also great fun and certainly beats working. This partnership has proved enduring and continues to this day.

12. May 2008. You are re-launching your website and this little potted history is required by the new designer. You immediately agree that this is a good idea and accept the task. You prevaricate. Excuses are made and drinks are had. Further promises follow. Procrastination is put on the long finger. You are further indulged. Eventually, somewhat shamefaced, you complete the task. Everyone gets over it. You note that in November 2009 the shop will be in business for twenty years. A celebration beckons. James Byrne has already offered to supply the keg of Guinness. See you there.

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