Bookworm, Thurles, celebrates 30 Years!

Bookworm Bookshop is celebrating 30 years in business in Thurles this year. The shop, which was established by John Butler in April 1993, has survived several Féile, recessions, financial crashes, broken windows, floods, burst pipes and the relentless threat of online retailer giants to build a reputation as one of the best independent bookshops in Ireland.

Irish Group

Bookworm began trading on Westgate in the former famous pub premises known for generations as ‘Hugh Ryans’

From small beginnings the business has relocated to bigger premises twice since then and has been at its current location at No.1 Parnell Street since January 2000.

Crafters Group

Customer service has always been to the fore at Bookworm and every effort is made to source the books people require no matter how obscure or difficult to source. The shop strives to cater for as broad a range of interests as possible for every age group and while it is only possible to stock a fraction of the books currently available, practically any book in print can be ordered.

Author Donal Ryan at Bookworm

Over the years the product range at Bookworm has grown and diversified to include greeting cards, musical instruments and accessories, and sewing and knitting materials. In 2008 an in-store café was added. This has proven extremely popular for locals and visitors alike and is an ideal meeting point for book clubs, school groups, local office staff or anyone looking for a relaxing spot while they browse! Bookworm hosts a weekly ‘Grúpa Cainte agus Comhrá’ every Tuesday morning and local crafters group every Friday. Bookworm also hosts a monthly ‘Memory Café' for dementia sufferers, their carers and families.

Francis Brennan at Bookworm

Bookworm has hosted many events over the years including book launches, author readings, poetry evenings and musical performances. Among these the midnight launch parties for several ‘Harry Potter’ novels are still fondly remembered by many of the hundreds of people who queued to get their hands on the first edition of the latest book in the series!

A Harry Potter Launch Night from 2007

John Butler says that the reason Bookworm has survived for thirty years is down to the huge local support the business has received from day one. “We are so grateful for all the support the shop has received from the people of Thurles and Tipperary over the years. We could not have survived without it and we never take that support for granted.”

To mark this auspicious milestone Bookworm hosts 30 ‘Happy Hours’ this Friday and Saturday 26 & 27 May with 30% Off thousands of books throughout the shop. 

Tin Whistle Group

*SPONSORED CONTENT