Sir, – As joint owner of an independent bookshop in Ennis, specialising in local authors and publishers, we are still keeping our heads above water. Ours is a small family business, and with reference to Manchán Magan’s article on Shakespeare and Company in Paris (Arts Ideas, February 20th), we have tried to replicate the atmosphere of that amazing shop, but with a west of Ireland slant.
There are only about 25 independents left in the country, but we have stuck with the business through thick and thin, driven mostly by our love of books.
We would like to extend an invitation to Mr Magan and other book lovers to visit us at the Ennis Book club Festival next weekend and to do some “tumbleweeding” in Ennis rather than Paris. – Yours, etc,