Lifestyle – Half a century of nourishing the ancient craft of book binding is reason enough for celebration – but as STEPHEN CORRIGAN discovers equally exciting is the start of a whole new chapter.

In the almost 50 years since Kenny’s Book Bindery opened its doors, technology has seen off a fair few traditional crafts, but the art of book binding in Galway is taking on a whole new lease of life.

Last year marked the beginning of a new chapter for the business as it passed to the next generation of binders and moved to a new home – its third since Gerry Kenny founded the bindery in Salthill in 1974.

Now one of just a handful of traditional binderies left in Ireland, Kenny’s is reaping the rewards of a long-standing commitment to quality and innovation – and as Gerry’s daughter Caroline reflects on a year at the helm with her husband, Troy Redmond, the future looks bright for this second generation of Galway binders.

Caroline’s route into the trade bears a striking resemblance to her dad’s, as she explains.

“My dad’s dad just told him it would be good for him,” laughs Caroline, adding that her father wasn’t keen on going into his parents’ business, Kenny’s Bookshop, and so he did an apprenticeship in Dublin before returning to Galway to start the business.

“Dad didn’t want to go to college, and I didn’t want to go to college either. I was already working in the bindery all the time so it was just the way to go, but he said you can’t just walk in here – you’ll have to learn something, so I went off to do an apprenticeship in Dublin after my Leaving Cert in 2008.”

Despite promises that it wouldn’t be the case, Caroline soon discovered she was the only woman among the 28 people on the course at Bolton Street – but among her classmates, she managed to find her future husband, Dublin man Troy.

“I was one of the 27,” laughs Troy, who joined the business just before it moved to a new premises in Liosbán Business Park in 2021 – not far from where it had been located since 1995.

“It was by pure fluke we met,” says Caroline.

Troy’s background is in printing, and he had been working at that for ten years before joining the bindery.

Gerry retired in 2021 after a heart attack, and having returned to good health, Caroline says he’s happy to watch what they’re doing with the place.

“Well, I’d never heard him say he’s proud of me before but he’s told me he’s proud of me,” says Caroline with a laugh.

“I never thought he’d retire. He worked every day; last summer was his first summer off in 50 years and he enjoyed every minute of it. He’s really enjoying helping from afar,” she continues.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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