Books are my business: Leaf and Bower owner Fiona Farrell

Fiona Farrell at Leaf & Bower, her independent book shop on Main Street in West End, Ballincollig, Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

Fiona Farrell is the owner of Leaf and Bower, an independent bookshop in Ballincollig, Cork City, which opened last September.

How did you become a bookshop owner?

I did a degree in English and history in UCC, and a masters in Renaissance poetry. While I was in college, I started bookselling part-time, with Vibes and Scribes in Cork. I became manager of the shop and I was there for 18 years, I loved it. I hit 40 and decided to have a career break. 

Then I got diagnosed with breast cancer, and I went through treatment for that for a year and a half. I had always wanted to have my own business, and that experience revved me up to do it, I thought ‘life is short, give it a go’, and I did.

When I was at college, I used to say ‘is there a job where you could get paid for reading?’ In a roundabout way, that is what this is.

Can you tell more about the shop?

It is quite small so it has to earn its space. I have thought about everything that is in there. Most of my customers are regulars so I’m meeting the same people all the time, you have to keep it fresh and listen to what people are asking for. There is a solid gang of readers in Ballincollig, there are loads of book groups, people here are so into reading. I also have customers coming from Blarney, Macroom, Rochestown, Kinsale. When they hear there’s a new bookshop, people make an effort to visit. We have all the different ages reading different genres, which keeps it interesting.

What does it involve?

Ordering, book-keeping, merchandising, restocking, and social media. The biggest part of my day is making recommendations and chatting to customers. I get such a thrill from that.

If I recommend something and they come back saying they loved that book, I get the biggest kick. It doesn’t feel like work sometimes.

What do you like most about bookselling?

Definitely the customers, I feel like I have made friends in the shop now, that is the loveliest part. Also, I have done a few author events and have met some writers and seeing what that involves is so interesting. I did a few events in June and it gave me a boost. It is something I would like to do more of and I have a few feelers out for authors that I would like to come. I would like to do a poetry evening as well.

What do you like least about it?

I struggled with the book-keeping at the start but I think I have a handle on it now.

I honestly can’t say there is anything I hate about it, I look forward to going into the shop every day, it is brilliant. I wasn’t expecting people to be so invested in the shop, it has been incredible. I really feel like I have built relationships with people, it does feel like a community space now. It has been overwhelming, I get emotional talking about it.

I am really proud of it.

Three desert island books?

The first one would be The Story: Love, Loss and the Lives of Women [edited by Victoria Hislop]. It’s an
anthology featuring 100 short stories by women, and it’s got everyone from Emma Donoghue to Shirley Jackson and Jean Rhys. It’s a gorgeous book and one that I go back to a lot. 

The next one is The Heart in Winter, the new book by Kevin Barry. I’m a long-time fan of his, I think he is fantastic. I loved City of Bohane but I think this is his best one yet, it is beautiful and cinematic. 

The last one would be Can’t and Won’t, a short story collection by Lydia Davis. She is fabulous and I love short stories. I’m trying to promote them more.

Some of her stories are maybe six or seven pages, others might be two lines but what she can do with those two lines is incredible. I dip in and out of that one a lot. You read her stuff and you could be thinking about it for hours afterwards.

Fiona Farrell at Leaf & Bower, her independent book shop on Main Street in West End, Ballincollig, Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

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