Charity shop with a very large second-hand book department.
Of all the 26 Sue Ryder Foundation shops in the Republic, the Carlow branch - one of the charity's largest - has by far the biggest and the best-quality stock of second-hand books. The entire first floor here is given over to 'The Book Shop'. There is a huge selection: lots of mass/mid-market paperback novels, but also literary fiction, classics, and a large and varied stock of non-fiction, all very well categorised and nicely set out in an airy and spacious room, with plenty of places to sit while you browse through your prospective purchases. Most of the books are priced between €1 and €5. Inevitably, there is a lot of fairly standard charity-shop stock, but also some genuine quality.
The shop is right in the centre of town, by Dublin Street's junction with Tullow Street, and only a short walk from Carlow bus station. Carlow railway station - a bit further away, but still within easy walking distance - is on the Dublin-Waterford line, which also serves Kilkenny, and has quite a frequent service, with extra trains on the Dublin-Carlow part of the route. Carlow is just off the M9 motorway, which gives easy road access from Waterford. The town has bus services to Dublin (routes 4 and 736), Waterford (4, 73 and 736), Athlone (73), Wexford (376), Arklow (800), Naas (880), New Ross (887), and Kilkenny and Athy (897). The impressive ruins of Carlow Castle are just a short stroll from the shop, down towards the River Barrow. Booker T 02.08.25
Open at advertised times
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Appointment necessary
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