Current Initiatives

Books at One Community Prize Fund

July 2025

Supporting independent bookshop owners in helping bring creative ways to connect with their local communities

The Books At One Community Fund, supported by The One Foundation, was launched to support independent bookshop owners in helping bring creative ways to connect with their local communities, where they may not have had the resource or finance to do previously.

Whether through inclusive cultural events, youth workshops, or storytelling festivals, the initiative will assist independent bookstores across the isaldn of Ireland, to bring innovative ideas to life which will benefit their local communities.

Each winning independent Irish bookstore will receive a grant of up to €5,000 to deliver a unique community engagement initiative that reimagines how bookshops can serve as creative and social hubs across Ireland.

In July 2025, we announced that 21 independent bookshops in Ireland have received grants as a part of a €100,000 Books At One Community Prize Fund.

Text Recipients of the Books At One Community Prize Fund 2025

  • The Secret Bookshelf, Carrickfergus, Antrim

  • Antiquity @ The Time travellers, Skibbereen, Cork

  • Banner Books, Kilrush, Clare

  • Fermoy Books, Fermoy, Cork

  • Leaf and Bower, Ballincollig, Cork

  • Midleton Books, Midleton, Cork

  • Philips Bookshop, Mallow, Cork

  • Quay Books, Limerick City, Limerick

  • Bridge Books, Dromore, Down

  • Books Upstairs, Dublin

  • Charlie Byrne’s, Galway

  • Kennys Bookshop & Art Gallery, Galway

  • Dingle Book Shop, Dingle, Kerry

  • Woodbine Books, Kilcullen, Kildare

  • The Reading Room, Carrick On Shannon, Leitrim

  • Roe River Books, Dundalk, Louth

  • Castle Books, Castlebar, Mayo

  • Bookworm, Thurles, Tipperary

  • Halfway up the Stairs, Greystones, Wicklow

  • Tales for Tadpoles, Bray, Wicklow

  • Red Books, Wexford Town, Wexford

The winning ideas will be brought to life over the coming months, across towns and cities with events and activities that put people and stories at the heart of community life.

About Books at One

Books at One is a community-focused social enterprise that supports independent bookstores in Ireland to create welcoming in-store spaces where people can gather and engage in cultural and social activities, above their love of books and reading, supporting local social connections & engagement.

Supported by The One Foundation, the initiative started with a store in Louisburgh, Co. Mayo, and then expanded Letterfrack, Co. Galway; each tailored to the needs and energy of their local communities.

Beyond the retail, Books at One focuses on engaging the local community, often hosting reading groups, author events, and workshops, emphasizing that these magical spaces can also be as much about conversation, creativity, and community inspiration, as they are about selling books.


For further information or to check out the updates on these projects, visit www.booksatone.ie or visit @books_at_one on Instagram.