It’s more than 80 years since Kennys’ Bookshop was established in Galway, with the business later expanding to include an art gallery and book bindery. Sarah and Tomás Kenny who now run the bookshop are deeply aware of its history, but like the two generations that preceded them, they are also looking to the future and happy to innovate, as they tell JUDY MURPHY.

When Tomás Kenny started helping out in the family bookshop and gallery in Galway City as a child, his tasks included involved polishing the bannisters of the three-storey building, and washing glasses after the monthly exhibition openings.

“We were always told child labour laws didn’t count when it came to family,” he recalls with a laugh as he and his sister Sarah explain what it’s like being the third generation to run this Galway institution.

Sitting in the office of the gallery and bookshop in Liosbán Retail Park, surrounded by antique books and contemporary paintings, they agree that while it’s a responsibility, “it’s also an honour” to steer the company into the future, something they seem to be doing with passion and vision.

Since Covid, they have been hosting literary events, with guests ranging from Joseph O’Connor, the Aislings, Mike McCormack and Donal Ryan who returns next week to mark the launch of his latest book, Heart be at Peace – the event is sold out. They are also selling a limited-edition of the novel.

While Tomás has worked fulltime in the business for the past 23 years, Sarah took a different path, although she’d served her time there as child – as did all her cousins. Right now, one of their cousin’s sons has a summer job there.

Sarah became their first fulltime marketing person seven years ago, having worked for more than a decade for Tourism Ireland, in Dublin and in Amsterdam.

Kennys’ Bookshop was set up in 1940 by their grandparents, Des and Maureen, who had met at UCG. Soon afterwards, they expanded it to include an art gallery and, later, a book bindery. It grew into a family business, employing five out of their six children. Sarah and Tomás’s father, Tom, ran the gallery – and still works there at the age of 80 – while their uncles Conor and Dessie worked in the bookshop, their aunt Monica was in accounts and their uncle Gerry ran the bindery. Their late aunt Jane, a teacher in the city, was the only sibling not to join. And their older sister Karen, worked there for years before moving to head up the Simon Community in Galway.

All the older generation except Tom have now retired. Their cousin Caroline runs the bindery, which is located nearby and which marks its 50th anniversary this year.

For decades, Kennys’ Bookshop and Art Gallery on High Street was a focal point for book launches and art openings. Then, 15 years ago, they moved the entire operation to Liosbán.

“We still meet people who say, ‘we miss ye from the city centre’,” says Sarah. But they agree that moving allowed them to expand the business in ways that might not have happened otherwise, aided by the Kenny name and reputation

“A lot of what we are doing is building on the previous two generations,” says Tomás. “That was one of the things we had as a starting block and we’re lucky.”

Their predecessors had always embraced innovation and change.

“Granny used to say, ‘you have to move with the times’, and when we do that, we are always encouraged to,” Sarah remarks. Her marketing role involves  “driving traffic our way – you have to work on it constantly. When people get there, they realise we’re good but it’s about raising awareness and driving traffic to the website”.

They see themselves as “providing people with an alternative to Amazon”, explains Tomás, who adds that in the city centre, “Charlie Byrne’s is an extraordinary bookshop and we are not trying to compete with it”.

Pictured: Tomás and Sarah Kenny in the bookshop, where they are aiming to build on the achievements of previous two generations. PHOTOS: JOE O’SHAUGHNESSY