We run a wide range of events from book launches to art competitions throughout the year.
Check out our video below in which the Village Books Book Club talks about 'The Chosen' by Arlene Hunt for TV3's Ireland AM.
Village Books - One of the Top Ten Book Shops in Ireland!
Village Books is one of the top ten book shops in the country as voted for by you, the customers! After a four week long public vote, we were shortlisted for the Bord Gais Energy Book Shop of the Year Award 2011. The award ceremony took place on Thursday, 17th of November and was a very exciting evening for everyone involved (Dorothy and Mary pictured below).
We would like to extend our warmest congratulations to The Crannog Bookshop in Cavan who, in the end, walked away with the title of Best Irish Book Shop 2011.
Thank you all, for your support and for voting.
There was great excitement in the bookshop on Tuesday November 10th when TV3 came to film our bookclub for a segment to be aired on Ireland AM. The book up for discussion was 'The Chosen' by Arlene Hunt. The programme will be broadcast on Tuesday November 15th at 9.15am on TV3.
'Malahide Has It' Festival July 2011
As part of this year's 'Malahide Has It' Festival, VILLAGE BOOKS hosted a couple of events on the Village Green. With our Junior Art Competition, Story Time and Where's Wally, there was plenty to keep the kids entertained.
The Junior Art Competition was an enormus success. We had over one hundred entries of a very high standard with drawing depicting popular storybook characters. Some of our favourites included; The Three Little Pigs, The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Diary of a Wimpy Kid characters. The overall prize went to Mia O'Grady for her drawing of Denis The Menace. 
The Story Time tent was hugely popular with kids of all ages. Storyteller extraordinaire, Mary McNamara kept them engrossed with tales ranging from the ever-popular Roald Dahl classics to the lesser-known story of 'The Three Little Wolves and The Big Bad Pig'.
Keeping an eye on the festivities was Wally, start of the 'Where's Wally?' books. If you happened to catch him and talk to him, you received a voucher for a FREE Where's Wally Mini Book to be collected from VILLAGE BOOKS.
We had a fabulous weekend and we can't wait until next year's festival!
This year we decided to get involved in Independent Booksellers Week - celebrating independent bookshops, great books, strong reading communities and the idea of shopping locally. To mark the occasion and to show our appreciation to our customers for the support they have given us over the years we ran a couple of events.
On Wednesday 22nd of June we offered 10% off all adult fiction and on Saturday 25th of June we offered 10% off all children's books. On Saturday of 25th June we also hosted Story Time in the bookshop.
We invited local children to hear tales told by the wonderful Mary McNamera (below). They were enthralled by stories about tigers and monkeys but in particular, 'The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig' was most captivating.
Story Time was such a great success that we have decided to make it a regular event. Keep a look out on our blog for updates on the next Story Time session!
World Book Day & World Book Night 2011
On Thursday 3rd of March, Village Books was inundated with children looking forward to collecting their FREE World Book Day book. Set up to celebrate books and reading, we are firm World Book Day supporters and supply all 7 specially produced World Book Day books.
Satuday 5th of March saw the first ever World Book Night. We decided to mark the occasion by having a wine reception where customers could peruse the shelves, after hours, while enjoying a glass of wine. We were also joined by World Book Night 'givers', Patrick Duffy (left) and Havisham & Malaprop, who had copies of Seamus Heaney's 'New Selected Poems 1966-1987' to give away.
Check out the Havisham and Malaprop blog, where those who received copies of the book are invited to comment and discuss the event. (Havisham and Malaprop left)
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The Fingal Annual Writers' Festival
Last year's Writers' Festival took place in October. Village Books was there to support the authors, Stuart Neville ('The Twelve') and Kevin McCarthy ('Peeler') on opening night in Malahide Library. With discussion, coversation and a question and answers session, a great night was enjoyed by all.
As part of the Malahide Has It weekend, Village Books invited a special guest to take part in the festivities. Wally (of 'Where's Wally? fame) spent the afternoon wandering around the village green and Malahide village. If you were lucky enough to spot him you were presented with a voucher for a free 'Where's Wally?' mini book, to be redeemed in the bookshop.
In July we held a junior art competition. Those that entered had to create a picture involving their favourite story book characters, using whatever materials they liked. Sponge Bob and Captain Underpants were very popular. An illustration of 'Hicory Dicory Dock' stole first prize by 10 year old Dara Fine.
Inspired by Michelle Jackson's third novel, 'One Kiss In Havana', we decided to bring Cuba to the bookshop... as well as Michelle and 'just a few' book lovers. Michelle signed copies of her new novel to a packed shop, full in the flow of mojitos and salsa beats.
The fiesta continued next door in That's Amore where a fine spread of Cuban cuisine was enjoyed by all. This was followed by a salsa lesson which we like to think justified the big slice of cake afterwards.
Some of our Junior Book Club members choosing their Christmas presents.
Check out our video covering the events we hosted as part of the 'Malahide Has It' Festival 2011.
The video below covers the events we hosted as part of the 'Malahide Has It' Festival 2010.
Click below to see what we've been up to.
Village Books, Townyard Lane, Malahide, Co Dublin
t 01 845 5073 e info@villagebooks.ie www.villagebooks.ie