Organisers of a Readers and Writers Festival in Co Kilkenny which ended last night hope the event will boost efforts to establish Graiguenamanagh as Ireland's "Booktown".
Bookseller Brian Roberts said he had borrowed the idea from Hay-on-Wye, a similar-sized Welsh town (population 1,400 people) where the opening of a second-hand bookshop in 1961 has led to 39 operating today - one for every 36 inhabitants.
Hay-on-Wye attracts over 500,000 tourists a year and holds an annual literary festival attended by 80,000 visitors. Mr Roberts believes that the booktown concept can assist in economic regeneration as booksellers take over vacant shops which are a hallmark of small towns. Labour Cllr Ann Phelan, a member of the organising committee, said "Graiguenamanagh needs an economic boost as the town suffers from an unemployment rate of 14.5 per cent which is three times the national average".
About 20 towns around the world have taken up the idea and now describe themselves as booktowns. At least 13 second-hand and antiquarian booksellers from around Ireland have already established a permanent weekend presence in Graiguenamanagh at four separate venues.
The weekend included a workshop on "How to get Published" attended by 25 local writers and featured poetry readings, book signings and lectures. Among the guest speakers were entomologist, broadcaster and author Eanna ní Lamhna and Daithí Ó hÓgáin, associate professor at UCD, who lectures on Irish folklore.
