The Irish book publishers association, Publishing Ireland, has issued a statement on the forthcoming closure of two Waterstone’s bookshops in Dublin city centre.
Publishing Ireland’s statement said:
the announcement that the Dawson Street branch and the store in the Jervis Street Centre are to close with the loss of 46 jobs, follows on the heels of the collapse last year of booksellers Hughes & Hughes, the closure of wholesalers CMD Booksource and the cessation of trading of publisher Merlin/Wolfhound.
President of Publishing Ireland, Jean Harrington said, ‘The closure of two of Dublin’s bookshops further compounds what are very difficult trading conditions for Irish book publishers. Our capital has lost some of its best-loved bookshops in the past few years. The latest closures are very regrettable, particularly in light of Dublin’s recent designation as UNESCO City of Literature.’
The two stores are to close on Sunday as part of a wider closure program at Waterstone’s that will see 20 stores close. Waterstone’s also control the Hodges Figgis stores on the opposite side of Dawson street from their flagship store as well as stores in Cork, Drogheda, Ballymena, Belfast, Newry and Coleraine.
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