Charlie Byrne's Bookshop

Charlie Byrne's Bookshop www.charliebyrne.ie
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Located in the heart of Galway City, Charlie Byrne's stocks over 70,000 pre-loved, new and bargain books on subjects ranging from popular fiction to Irish interest to art and architecture and much more.

We have a one secondhand copy of 'The Price of my Soul' by the wonderful Bernadette Devlin. It's hard to sum up Bernadet...
11/08/2026

We have a one secondhand copy of 'The Price of my Soul' by the wonderful Bernadette Devlin.

It's hard to sum up Bernadette Devlin in a few words, but she is an extraordinary individual, a political activist, and an incredible advocate of civil rights.

You can find the book on the Charlie Byrne's website for €20 linked here: https://charliebyrne.ie/product/the-price-of-my-soul/

Tomorrow is the big day - our window mannequin has togged out in support of the Galway Camogie girls, hoping to continue...
08/08/2026

Tomorrow is the big day - our window mannequin has togged out in support of the Galway Camogie girls, hoping to continue the county's winning streak in Croker tomorrow! We believe in you ladies! Gaillimh abú!!

Syncretism is the fusion of beliefs and cultures to produce a new hybrid, often with a result greater than its component...
08/08/2026

Syncretism is the fusion of beliefs and cultures to produce a new hybrid, often with a result greater than its components. The Hellenistic world blended with Asia, the Anglo-English with the Saxon peoples and recently Europeans with the peoples of the American continent.

The most common reason for this fusion is the spreading of religious ideas, and in the case of the Christian world, this could result in 'heresy'. Early Christian Ireland was no exception to this blending. The mixture resulted in fine artwork and stone carvings present throughout the country.

'Figures from the Past - Studies on Figurative Art in Christian Ireland' is an excellent book that explores unique structures such as High Crosses (Celtic crosses) and other elaborate religious iconography.

We have one signed hardback copy for sale for €40 on the Charlie Byrne Website linked here: https://charliebyrne.ie/product/art-in-christian-ireland/

Every now and then a person reaches a new standard and, in the process, they instantly become the benchmark for that sub...
07/08/2026

Every now and then a person reaches a new standard and, in the process, they instantly become the benchmark for that subject; leaving the field forever changed.

When it comes to nature books, the polymath Tim Robinson set the equivalent of the four-minute mile - that new level to which everyone afterward will be compared to, and the genre was permanently altered for the good.

'Stones of Aran' a masterpiece of landscape writing, cartography, and geography and remains one of the most comprehensive and meticulous examinations of a single location ever written.

We have one first edition hardback available for sale for €40 on the Charlie Byrne Website linked here: https://charliebyrne.ie/product/stones-of-aran-labyrinth/

Unlike the Achaemenids, the Chinese, the Greeks or the Romans, the early Irish were poor in their ability at siege warfa...
04/08/2026

Unlike the Achaemenids, the Chinese, the Greeks or the Romans, the early Irish were poor in their ability at siege warfare - when the Normans invaded they quite literally solidified their new gains with earthen and stone castles - most which stand today, even if partially in ruin.

These structures would function as strategic points to govern from, as areas to martial out of or act as defense strongholds to fall back to. 'The Medieval Castles of Ireland' by David Sweetman is an extensive book detailing the history and development of Castles throughout Ireland during the Medieval age.

We have one hardback copy for sale on the Charlie Byrne Website for €25 linked here: https://charliebyrne.ie/product/castles_of_ireland/

We are very happy to introduce our good friend Adrian Martyn's magisterial study 'The Surnames of County Galway' which h...
01/08/2026

We are very happy to introduce our good friend Adrian Martyn's magisterial study 'The Surnames of County Galway' which has just been published and runs to 8 volumes of extensive research into the history and lineage of the most common and important family names of County Galway.

There are hundreds of Surnames and their histories included in this very thorough and ambitious work. This project is clearly a labour of love for Adrian and his passion for his subject shines out on every page. He has, in these volumes, contributed hugely to our understanding of Galway's story and we simply must applaud his scholarship and commitment to this unique series over many years. As he says himself, 'The facts of our history matter because we have no other'.

We congratulate him.

When people think of the Irish struggle for independence, they don't normally think of county Roscommon; they typically ...
31/07/2026

When people think of the Irish struggle for independence, they don't normally think of county Roscommon; they typically think of Dublin, the General Post Office and biscuit factories 😉

The actuality is that county Roscommon played a pivotal role in the revolution and the guerilla warfare that resulted in the Anglo-Irish treaty of 1921. 'For Ireland and Freedom' is a classic text, first published in 1964, and it tells the story of this contribution to independence.

We have one copy of the 2nd edition available for sale on the Charlie Byrne Website for €25 linked here: https://charliebyrne.ie/product/ros_2nd/

Ever get the feeling someone is watching you...?From all eras and genres we have collected a window full of faces. Metic...
29/07/2026

Ever get the feeling someone is watching you...?
From all eras and genres we have collected a window full of faces. Meticulously put together over months and months by Charlie from books in the shop and the warehouse, there are countless famous portraits filling up the window shelves. Can you spot anyone you know?

Yesterday was a historical day with a match that resulted in the end of a 75 year wait. In Croke Park, on the 26th of Ju...
27/07/2026

Yesterday was a historical day with a match that resulted in the end of a 75 year wait. In Croke Park, on the 26th of July - Mayo won Sam.

The GAA's founders in 1884 could not have imagined that its headquarters would become such a sporting-icon that could host 80,000 spectators on a match day, and that these grounds would become synonymous with Gaelic Athletic Games.

Croke Park is a stadium that punches far above its weight and is the focal point for the most iconic GAA moments. In its 135 years, it has hosted not just Gaelic games, but international events such as music concerts and Rugby Union games.

But it is not all glory; Croke Park has seen its share of atrocities, tragedies and sorrowful days. Tim Carey's 'Croke Park: A History' is a detailed paperback showcasing the dramas that made this location a legendary field.

We have one copy available for €10 on the Charlie Byrne Website linked here: https://charliebyrne.ie/product/croke-park-a-history/

For this weeks Rare Book of the Week, we have a signed copy of John Healy's 'The Grass Arena'. There are few stories as ...
24/07/2026

For this weeks Rare Book of the Week, we have a signed copy of John Healy's 'The Grass Arena'.

There are few stories as unique as depicted in this book; it lays bare a raw world of brutality and savageness.

Healy began his life with an abusive father, moving onto a stint in the army, a career in boxing and an eventually spiral into alcoholism and homelessness. This leads him to alife in a lawless violent subculture and brawls in the Grass Arena. His fifteen years of homelessness end when he is arrested and sentenced to prison, where he discovers an unlikely talent that saves his life.

We have one signed paperback copy available for €30 on the Charlie Byrne's Website linked here: https://charliebyrne.ie/product/the-grass-arena-signed/

Address

The Cornstore, Middle Street
Galway
H91AH7A

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 8pm
Friday 9am - 8pm
Saturday 9am - 6pm
Sunday 11am - 5pm

Telephone

+35391561766

Website

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