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The Bookshelf in Newry has been longlisted for 'An Post Bookshop of the Year' at this year's An Post Irish Book Awards. It is one of 12 bookshops from around Ireland to make the longlist for the 2026 awards.
The category recognises the role played by independent bookshops and local branches of bookshop chains in helping their communities find the titles they want. Customers were asked to vote for their favourite bookshops, and those with the most votes were longlisted. The bookshops have now been invited by the judges to submit a written entry.
An independent judging panel chaired by Maria Dickenson will select a shortlist of six bookshops, which will be announced on 22 October. The overall winner will receive a trophy at the An Post Irish Book Awards event on 1 December, along with a prize worth €5,000 from An Post Commerce.
Chapters Bookstore in Dublin won the category last year, while Little Acorns Bookstore in Derry took the title in 2024.
Sinéad McCorry, Chairperson of the An Post Irish Book Awards, said: "We are particularly delighted to see such a strong and geographically diverse group of bookshops represented on this year's longlist". She said bookshops are "More than just places to buy books, they are cultural hubs that spark creativity".
Cian Byrne, Chair of Bookselling Ireland, said: "For generations, bookshops have been an important part of Ireland's cultural life, providing welcoming spaces where people can discover new authors, revisit old favourites and share a love of books."
The An Post Irish Book Awards recognise Irish writing talent in a range of categories, including Novel of the Year, Children's, Crime Fiction, Popular Fiction, Non-Fiction, Sports, Short Story, Poem, History, Teen and Young Adult and Irish Language.
More information on the Bookshop of the Year process is available at irishbookawards.ie
