Perhaps that's because ultimately, this isn't just my story to share. It is the story of so many people in Ireland, and so many people across the world. The story of people trying to make sense of life, to hold on and to have hope during troubled times.
--Ruairí McKiernan, Hitching for Hope: A Journey into the Heart and Soul of Ireland (Chelsea Green)
Is now a good time to consider hope as a viable business strategy? Maybe it is. The third annual Irish Book Week is currently underway, marking "the contribution that bookshops make to Irish culture, the economy and the revenue." In anticipation, chair of Bookselling Ireland Heidi Murphy asked book lovers to "show your support in a practical way, because shopping with your local bookshop is the most effective way to ensure their survival and success, and that really is something worth celebrating."
Because it is still #2020--a year that has earned its own nefarious hashtag--IBW is complicated, of course. The week began with news that Dublin city council had greenlit a controversial plan to convert the house made famous by James Joyce's story "The Dead" into a hostel ("Could Irish Book Week have got off to a worse start?"). Then Ireland enacted a new Covid-19 lockdown, requesting that people stay at home and non-essential shops close for six weeks, with a review after four. Northern Ireland had imposed tighter restrictions last week, with hospitality venues closing but most shops allowed to remain open.
Still, IBW did manage to get off to a cracking start:
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| At Bridge Street Books | |
Halfway up the Stairs, Greystones: "Happy #IrishBookWeek everyone! Celebrate by visiting your local bookshop and buying an Irish book--there are so many wonderful books out at the moment...!"
Bridge Street Books, Wicklow: "Today marks the start of Irish Book Week... a week long celebration of bookshops in Ireland and, well, books! To celebrate, we have put together a week of Irish book reading, great Irish authors not only for this week, but for Christmas and beyond. Whether you want to read alone, or share, there is a book for everyone!"
But there were also omens:
Banner Books, Ennistimon: "It is Sunday and we are open. The weather is fine, it is #BookshopWeek, we have bunting and SO MANY fabulous books. I might have got it wrong yesterday when I said we'd be open for all seven days of Bookshop Week, since level 4 or 5 is looking more and more likely--in fact, my saying we'd be open could have jinxed the whole country, so apologies for that. With the threat of lock down looming, today might be a good day to get in your reading material, just in case."
And then, as they say, sh*t got serious:
Maynooth Bookshop, Kildare: "Like most bookshops we will be closing our doors to the public again this evening for 6 weeks and switching to selling online and over the phone. If you enjoy browsing the shelves of a bookshop now more than ever is the time to support them."
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| Book orders ready to go at Kennys Bookshop | |
Kennys Bookshop, Galway: "Our last day open for browsers in the bookshop & art gallery for 6 weeks! Rest assured we'll continue to process orders from behind closed doors. Our thanks for all the custom & support of us & other Irish businesses.... And so it begins. Stay safe everyone."
Gutter Bookshop, Dublin: "Phone ringing constantly, 300 e-mails in the inbox... here we go again... #lockdownmeltdown. We're currently about 48 hours behind processing orders, we'll get you sorted as quickly as we can. Patience is a wonderful virtue.... Just left work. Both shops offering click & collect from tomorrow or post outs from Cow's Lane. Felt like Xmas Eve in Temple Bar--not sure having the craic whilst huddling together for warmth was exactly the plan we were going for but there we go..."
Meryl Halls, executive director of the Booksellers Association of the U.K. and Ireland, tweeted: "We hoped we wouldn't have to use these images again, but.... For book-lovers in Ireland and Wales, remember your bookshops are open for business, even if closing temporarily. They'll love hearing from you and recommending your perfect gifts."
As the new lockdown measures began, Bookselling Ireland's Murphy told the Bookseller: "Our message to the book-lovers of Ireland is that bookshops are open. We know how important book-reading was to people during the initial lockdown. We know that customers want to shop early and we know that people are shopping earlier than ever for Christmas. Bookshops will rise to the challenge, and via phone, e-mail, websites and social media they will be taking orders for delivery or click and collect for their immediate area to continue to supply Ireland’s book lovers."
I've been reading Ruairí McKiernan's great new book about hitching across Ireland, looking for signs of hope. He recently told the Irish Times: "We often don't appreciate what we have until it's gone. When bookshops closed at the end of March, I was offered a reminder of this universal truth.... Since the country re-opened I've made it my business to visit as many bookshops as possible and I'll soon reach number 40 on my list.
"In these bookshops, I've experienced something much more important than seeing my book on the shelves.... The experience has reminded me there is much more to bookshops than meets the eye, for our bookshops are lighthouses for connection and imagination. In an increasingly virtual world starved of meaningful human connection, bookshops should be celebrated and supported like never before. I for one won't be taking their existence for granted again."
Cause for hope, indeed.