Ireland's bookshop of the year may be in Waterford

Waterford City's The Book Centre has been longlisted for the national An Post Bookshop of the Year Awards as part of this year’s An Post Irish Book Awards.

The Book Centre is one of 12 bookshops across the country in the running to be Ireland’s Bookshop of the Year, after a public vote which asked customers to nominate their favourite bookshops nationwide.

The Book Centre has been bringing joy to readers and writers in Waterford City for 55 years, operating from the iconic former Savoy Cinema in the heart of the city.

From housing books in every genre you can dream of, to hosting book launches and signings, live performances, social events, regular Irish language and bookclub meets, a cafe and a bar, The Book Centre may be Waterford's busiest bookshop.

Online submissions for a reader-based shortlist of bookshops are now open, giving The Book Centre's customers another chance to get the store the title of Ireland's Bookshop of the Year.

The Bookshop of the Year category has been described by award organisers as an acknowledgement of the significant role played by independent bookshops and local branches of bookshop chains across Ireland, who help their local communities to find and savour the titles of their choice.

A shortlist of six bookshops will be selected by an independent judging panel from the longlist by Tuesday, October 22, based on written submissions made by the public at https://www.irishbookawards.ie/an-post-bookshop-of-the-year/.

The overall winner will then be announced at the An Post Irish Book Awards on Tuesday, December 1, where they will be presented with a trophy and a prize worth €5,000 by An Post Commerce.