Popular Kerr's Book Shop in Clonakilty has been bought by regular customers

The much-loved store champions local authors like Louise O'Neill 

Páraic Hegarty, Síofra Hegarty and Sinéad Dundon, the new owners of Kerr's bookshop in Clonakilty Picture:Frank Carr

An iconic book shop in Clonakilty that went on the market in March has been bought by a locally based family who intend to continue the business, which has been a fixture in the West Cork town for more than 30 years.

Husband-and-wife duo Páraic Hegarty and Sinéad Dundon, are the new owners of award-winning Kerr’s book shop at 18 Ashe St, in the heart of the town, after a snap decision to purchase a business they had long supported as customers.

Kerr's Bookshop Clonakilty Hodnett Forde. Image: Paul McShane

“Our daughter, Síofra, practically grew up there and when we found out it was for sale, she said the thought of Clonakilty without Kerr’s was “hideous”.

“So I texted my husband Páraic and said ‘Would you like to buy a bookshop?’” Her husband said it would “have to be Kerr’s” and so the two – neither with a retail background – bought the book shop, which comes with substantial overhead accommodation.

We’re delighted and also a bit nervous, as we are new to retail, and certainly new to running a book shop

Kerr's Bookshop Clonakilty Hodnett Forde. Image Paul McShane

She has nothing but praise for the couple they bought it from, Trish and John Kerr, who opened it in 1992, and worked tirelessly to turn it into a thriving business. Trish, who is related to the late Irish author Maeve Binchy, said it had been a great venue “for community, conversation and connections” over the years, and the new owners said they intend to continue that tradition and to build on it. They also intend to focus solely on selling new books at the independent book store, where Trish has always been a strong promoter of local authors.

Trish Kerr with local author Louise O'Neill

“We plan to continue as is for now and we hope the feel and vibe will continue. Kerr’s has always been known for friendly staff and good customer service. People could always call in for a chat with Trish and exchange views about new titles and it’s all of these things that have made Kerr’s unique and which we will continue with,” said Sinéad.

The pair, who live in Enniskeane, intend to run it as a family business, with strong involvement from Síofra who has been learning the tricks of the trade by shadowing staff in the store for the past week, getting to know the stock and the customers.

Meanwhile Sinéad, originally from Charleville, North Cork and an accountant by profession, and Páraic, from Dublin, who works in software, hope to take over the business by July 1.

“If at the end of August, someone walked into the shop and asked when Trish was coming back because they hadn’t noticed the changeover and assumed she was on holidays, that’s what I would consider a roaring success,” said Sinéad.

“Trish has been so supportive and the book shop is her legacy. We’d be so happy to continue that legacy, because the business wouldn’t be there without her.”

The new owners have so far received a very positive reaction from the book shop’s loyal customer base.

“Everyone is emphatic about how important the book shop is to the town. For us it’s daunting, but we are both up for it,” Sinéad said.

The book shop and overhead accommodation went on the market with Andy Donoghue of Hodnett Forde with a guide price of €595,000 but the sale price has not been disclosed. The new owners have no plans yet for the residential element.

The business comes with strong endorsements, as a one-time winner of An Post’s Regional Bookshop of the Year award (2021) and, more recently, the February 2026 Faber & Faber ‘Independent Bookshop of the Month’ in the UK and Ireland.

It’s attracted various celebrity customers such as movie director David Puttnam and actor Jeremy Irons, both based in West Cork.

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