What’s Your Pick? Irish Readers Encouraged to Vote for Their Favourite Bookshop

What is it you love about your local bookshop?  Is it the great advice, the friendly welcome, discovering that ultimate read or that touch of magic you get from a half hour well-spent in a haven of words?

Now is the time to show your support for your local bookshop by voting for it to win the prestigious title of ‘Bord Gáis Energy Bookshop of the Year’.

There are over 300 bookshops in Ireland and this competition, now in its third year, recognises the importance of bookshops and the central role they play within communities throughout the country. A survey conducted among Bord Gáis Energy Book Club* members showed that despite the many alternative ways there are to access books now, bookshops remain king and… 

- The majority of people surveyed prefer to  buy their books from bookshops

- Over 65% of those visit a bookshop at least once a month and a quarter of people pay weekly visits to a bookshop

- Bookshops continue to be key players in local communities according to the survey, as more than half of people surveyed agreed that their local bookshop was an important feature of their community.

Booklovers all over Ireland are being asked to vote for their favourite bookshop at www.BGEbookshopoftheyear.ie until October 18^th.  Voters will be in with the chance to win great prizes including book hampers, iPads, goodie bags and an all expenses paid trip to the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards where the overall winner of the Bookshop of the Year will be revealed.

Last year’s winner, Hilary Hamilton from Bridge Street Books in Co. Wicklow spoke about the boost the award gives booksellers, “We were amazed and thrilled to win the title Bord Gáis Energy Bookshop of the Year 2012, it was so lovely to get recognition for all the work we do.  The support from our customers was greatly appreciated”.

Emma Walsh, Books and Reading Sponsorship Programme Manager with Bord Gáis Energy said, “This category has become a firm favourite in the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards in recent years, giving book lovers nationwide the opportunity to celebrate their local bookstores and the important role they play in communities.  Bookshops are very special places and booksellers work very hard to bring magic to the experience they provide for their customers. We want to celebrate and support all that they do”. 

Bert Wright, administrator with the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards also said, “Bookshops have long been the cornerstone of the Irish book industry and we are delighted to support the celebration of this. We urge everyone to lend their support and cast a vote for a cherished bookshop in their area”. 

A shortlist of five bookshops across five regions Munster, Ulster, Connacht, Leinster and Greater Dublin, will be announced on 31^st October and the winner will be announced at the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards ceremony on 26^th November.

To vote, and to find out more see www.BGEbookshopoftheyear.ie