Books Upstairs

Books Upstairs Books Upstairs is Dublin's oldest independent bookshop, trading in the heart of the city centre since 1978.
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Books Upstairs is Dublin's oldest independent bookshop. Established in 1978 and trading in Dublin city centre ever since, we have an extensive selection of stock across the humanities as well as a vast Irish interest section which includes poetry, fiction and history. Events:

Books Upstairs happily hosts book launches on site contact [email protected] for enquiries.

“A book that resonates with an emotional tremor” - the words of Cathy Sweeney who joined Adrian Duncan in conversation t...
09/09/2026

“A book that resonates with an emotional tremor” - the words of Cathy Sweeney who joined Adrian Duncan in conversation to launch his latest novel, A Thought Without Collision last night. Huge congratulations to on the publication of yet another stunning book and huge thanks to the lovely crowd who joined us to celebrate 🙌

Some photos from a gorgeous launch for Sarah Maria Griffin’s new novel Strange is the Light on Monday night. Anna Carey ...
09/09/2026

Some photos from a gorgeous launch for Sarah Maria Griffin’s new novel Strange is the Light on Monday night. Anna Carey gave a beautiful introduction followed by a beautiful speech from Sarah and a reading from the book which brought the house down! This story of intense friendship, tangled secrets, and betrayal is as completely original and masterful as we’ve come to expect from Sarah’s writing. Signed copies are in stock now and you will not be disappointed 💥

sarah maria griff Anna Carey Titan Books Gill Hess Assoc.

We are thrilled to be hosting yet another launch for the inimitable Jan Carson. This new collection of micro-fiction, No...
08/09/2026

We are thrilled to be hosting yet another launch for the inimitable Jan Carson. This new collection of micro-fiction, No Vacancy: Hotel Stories, from No Alibis Press, is inspired by numerous hotel visits over recent years and features illustrations by Rory Jeffers. Filled with Carson’s wit and characteristic surrealism, No Vacancy captures the uncanniness of temporary spaces in which strangers coalesce. Introducing Jan Carson Writer on the night will be Cathy Sweeney, author of Breakdown.

All are welcome to attend and refreshments will be served. Attendance is free but booking is essential - via booksupstairs.ie/events

This Week’s Bestsellers 🤫1. The Silence of October by Sharon Guard2. All Them Dogs by Djamel White3. Lives of the Saints...
08/09/2026

This Week’s Bestsellers 🤫
1. The Silence of October by Sharon Guard
2. All Them Dogs by Djamel White
3. Lives of the Saints by Mícheál McCann
4. Fruit Fly by Josh Silver
5. Ordinary Saints by Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin
6. Hyperpolitics by Anton Jäger
7. The Disappearers by Marlon James
8. A Nation Once Again by Paul Howard
9. Said the Dead by Doireann Ní Ghríofa
10. Life of M by Rachel Cusk

Join us for the launch of Louise C. Callaghan’s new poetry collection on 29 September at 6pm. All are welcome and there ...
07/09/2026

Join us for the launch of Louise C. Callaghan’s new poetry collection on 29 September at 6pm. All are welcome and there will be opening remarks from Jean O'Brien & Enda Wyley ✨

04/09/2026

We wish Sebastian Barry would visit us every day! Here he is introducing his new book The Newer World 🩵

Some photos from our evening with Djamel White last night. We dived into his extraordinary book, All Them Dogs, in a rea...
03/09/2026

Some photos from our evening with Djamel White last night. We dived into his extraordinary book, All Them Dogs, in a really lovely conversation with a really lovely crowd. It was such an honour to celebrate Djamel’s remarkable achievement and recognition on the longlist for 2026’s Booker Prize. We talked about the book’s unforgettable central character Tony Ward, its momentum and escalating tension, its emotion and tenderness as well as its violence and brutality. Djamel is such an exciting voice in Irish literature and as special as it was to celebrate on our very small stage at Books Upstairs, it’s more exciting still to see it be celebrated on a global stage 💖We love this book. Thank you Djamel and thank you everyone for coming.

What a star-studded summer it has been! We have been lucky enough to host more launches, conversations, and readings ove...
01/09/2026

What a star-studded summer it has been! We have been lucky enough to host more launches, conversations, and readings over the last few months than any summer before. Here are some of our highlights
🌟🎤📚
Thank you to all the authors, speakers, and audience members who have made all of these events so memorable. We hope to see you again soon…

Dermot Bolger Imperfect Beings Launch

TOLKA Issue 11 Launch (feat. Sara Baume, Jan Carson, Michela Esposito, Georgie Evans, J.S. Loveard, Darragh McCausland)

Caitríona Lally Home Economics Launch

Niamh Campbell Make Strange Launch (feat. Anne Enright)

Betsy Cornwell in conversation with Liadán Hynes on Ring of Salt

Caroline Palmer Workhorse Launch

Max Lury in conversation with Ian Maleney on No Ghosts

Billy Ramsell Render Poetry Reading

Martina Evans Drunken Driving and Leanne Quinn Landscape with Question Launch

Keith Ridgway in conversation with Niamh Donnelly on Dooneen

Kate Forsyth in conversation with Deirdre Sullivan on fairytales

Sally Hayden’s This Is Also a Love Story is more relevant than ever as we see increasing displacement and inequality ar...
01/09/2026

Sally Hayden’s This Is Also a Love Story is more relevant than ever as we see increasing displacement and inequality around the globe.

We were honoured to host Sally Hayden in July, in conversation with journalist Sorcha Pollak, to shine a light on the love stories she has encountered along the frontlines. This Is Also a Love Story powerfully examines connection and self-sacrifice in the face of immense adversity and so dares us to see the human in each other.

Many thanks to Sally & Sorcha Pollak for such an excellent discussion and to the audience were so engaged and put up with a very hot room during the heat wave…

This Week’s Bestsellers ✏️1. All Them Dogs by Djamel White 2. Life of M by Rachel Cusk 3. Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burk...
01/09/2026

This Week’s Bestsellers ✏️
1. All Them Dogs by Djamel White
2. Life of M by Rachel Cusk
3. Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
4. Hyperpolitics by Anton Jäger
5. Land by Maggie O’Farrell
6. Shades of Red by Vivienne McKechnie
7. The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
8. Where Are the Kings by Donal Ryan
9. Fruit Fly by Josh Silver
10. The Most Normal Woman by Roisin Kiberd

Address

17 D'Olier Street
Dublin
DUBLIN2

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6pm
Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 6pm
Sunday 1pm - 5pm

Telephone

+353 16778566

Website

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