Woodbine Books celebrates today

Woodbine Books in Kilcullen is celebrating its first birthday today, writes Brian Byrne.

To mark the occasion, the business is offering free tea and coffee to all customers today.

In the 12 months since it was established by Dawn Behan and Aidan Cunnane, the bookshop has become a mecca for all lovers of the written word and a key generator of customer footfall in lower Main Street.

In addition to the normal business of selling books, the operation has shown the importance of the independent bookshop sector, which can provide a more interesting stock than the chains that are often obsessed with the best-seller end of the market.

Woodbine Books has also been the case of living a dream, because operating such an enterprise is what the owners had long wanted to do.

With the help of their indispensable Saoirse (above), events held in Woodbine and by the business have included book club meetings for young people, taking part in the annual Book Week at Scoil Bhride (below), story-telling sessions, and meetings with authors.

The most recent big event was the local area launch of 'The Cottingley Secret', the latest historical novel by local author Hazel Gaynor.

We wish Dawn and Aidan well today, and look forward to seeing further growth in their business over the next 12 months.

Drop in and say 'hi'.