New Castle Book Shop has many family features
By Tom Gillespie
AN old 1952 Raleigh bicycle take pride of place outside the new Castle Book Shop on Main Street, Castlebar.
The two-wheeler belonged to the grand-aunt of proprietor David Brennan, and there are other family features in the premises, formally Gussie Wynne’s, which dates back generations.
In particular is the 109-year-old counter and shelving which came from Richard Brennan’s general grocery shop in Aiden Street, Kiltimagh - David’s grandfather.
Twenty-seven years ago, David’s parents, Kathryn and John Brennan, opened the original Castle Books on Castle Street, where former Mayo GAA county secretary, Johny Mulvey, resided.
Both Kathryn and John came from business backgrounds so it was inevitable that Kathryn would go down that route when their children were reared.
She told me: “In 1995 I felt I would like to get into something and the business just happened to come up. We knew Johnny Mulvey from John’s connections with the GAA. It was an opportunity I took. Needless to say I was a bit nervous. I took the chance and thankfully it worked.
“It was a learning curve for me when I look back. I was lucky in that it was at a good time. People were reading and people were supporting local shops. The business evolved and developed in a very positive manner.”
David spoke of the background of the new Castle Books, stating: “The building became available seven to eight years ago. It is in a very good location. We decided with a bit of thought to open the book shop. The aim was always to open a book shop like this, with a book shop downstairs and a coffee and meeting place upstairs which would lend itself to people buying a book and going upstairs to read or discuss it. I am delighted to see that is what is happening.”
The building project took seven years and Covid came in the middle of it.
David went on: “The building was in a poor state when we purchased it. It hadn’t been used since the middle 1970s.
"The Four Day Walks had an office in the front portion. They put in a partition wall right at the front but behind that was in very poor condition. There was a lot of work in getting planning permission and clearing the building out.”
Garry Wynne, he said, was very generous in giving him old photographs, taken by photographer Gussie Wynne, and an old camera which is on displayed at the back of the counter.
“It is lovely to have a link with the Wynne family,” he said. “We are the custodians of the building and to have that link with the previous owners is fantastic.”
Books, cards and gift stationary are displayed downstairs while upstairs they have a wool selection and the coffee shop.
The original Castle Books will now be devoted to school books, school and office stationery and a big selection of bargain books.
Kathryn told me that older Castlebar residents recalled fond memories when they visited the new shop.
In particular was the ‘old rickety stairs’ leading to the third storey in the building, which is retained, and back in the late 1950s and early 1960s at Christmas time led to ‘magical Christmas showrooms’.
She also pointed out that all materials used in the renovation of the building were sourced mainly in Castlebar.
David continued: “The counter has got a lot of attention. A lot of people from Kiltimagh came in to see it. One man came round behind the counter to see if the drawers were still there.
"I am very positive about the future. People love buying and reading books.”
David, who has a staff of 12 between the two shops, also runs a small publishing business - Mayo Books Press - through which Andy Moran’s book ‘Andy - Lessons Learned’ was published earlier this year.
Local historian Noel Campbell and journalist John Healy are currently researching material for a history book on Castlebar, which will be published by Mayo Books Press in October to coincide with the Wild Atlantic Words festival in three months time.
A keen cyclist, David, the father of two children Willow (three) and John (nearly one), concluded: “I am delighted to say we have a very large selection of books. There is a lot there for everyone. The children’s section, in particular, is very strong. We have a selection of literature, fiction, Irish and local history.”
The new Castle Book Shop is located at Main Street, Castlebar, and the opening hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday. They can be contacted on castlebooks.ie.