Cork bookshop owner: ‘There’s nothing worse than a shop not packed with books’

In the little mall beside the town square in Macroom, there is a gem of a book store that is an Aladdin’s cave of intrigue.

First editions line the walls of Cooney's Bookshop, alongside signed memorabilia from famous authors.

For 45 years, Jim Cooney has been running the shop.

Even when he was a full-time teacher at De La Salle college in Macroom, he kept the shop open two days per week and that has remained the same ever since.

The number of books in Jim’s collection comes to an astounding 35,000.

“I can easily forget where my car is, but I know everything about my books!” he jokes.

Jim has two rooms in the mall that hold a variety of literary zones - a children’s section; Irish books; books on Cork city and county; Irish language books; non-fiction; biographies; autobiographies; history; sport; art and photography; religious; Shakespeare collections and many coveted collectors’ items. He also has an area for CDs and LPs.

At one stage, Jim also had 330 banana boxes full of books, as his collection was ever-growing.

So, where does this love of books come from?

“Ever since I was a child growing up in Kilnamartyra, I loved reading,” he explains.

“As an only child, I spent a lot of time with my books. I collected and traded comics with school friends.

“I started selling the World Books door to door in the 1980s and made enough money to start my own collection and open the shop.

“I went to a book auction in Bandon and bought two car-loads. I started upstairs in the mall when the landlord let me use a room for free for a while.

“I then spent 20 years above a shop in Middle Square and came back here to the mall 22 years ago. It took three weeks to draw all the books down here!”

Jim went to auctions all over the country to stock his shelves, but back then it was hard to acquire good books as people weren’t parting with them. Over the years, that changed.

“Many people have a minimalistic approach to their homes now, and when a person dies, they are happy to get rid of collections and libraries and that’s where I get most of my stock now, from house clearances,” he explains.

Where do you hear about these house clearances?

“It’s by word of mouth,” says Jim. “I give a good price for the books and the word is spread that way.

“I know the shop is overstocked, Jim adds, “but for me there is nothing worse than a book shop that isn’t packed with books.

“Readers love to browse, there something for everyone, and half of the pleasure lies in finding it.

“People always come back because there is always another book to be discovered.”

So, what are the more popular books that he stocks?

“Irish history and local history, out of print history, and early books on subjects like golf techniques and golf clubs and books about fishing flies,” he says. “They’re very popular and in demand.

Among Jim’s extraordinary collection, I spotted signed copies from authors like Edna O’Brien, John B Keane, Jennifer Johnston, Brian Noble, William Trevor, and Seán Ó Faoláin.

Jim says a little-known fact is that Seán Ó Faoláin and his wife Eileen’s ashes were scattered in nearby Gougane Barra.

“I was young and brave in 1976,” Jim says, “so one day in Dublin I rang Seán Ó Faoláin’s house and didn’t he answer and was happy to have me call out and have books signed! He was a very nice man.

“He asked me how the old Macroom Castle was, which was a reference to him being with the anti-treaty republicans who burnt the castle before going west to Ballingeary.”

Jim must have grown attached to many of his books down the years. Is it hard for him to downsize his collection?

“In some ways, yes, there are books that I will find it hard to part with, mostly hardback non-fiction, but I have too many and need to be ruthless with myself.

“Some books have gone past their sell by date, books on travel or gardening for example as people use Google for quick answers.”

Among Jim’s hugely impressive collection are pieces that are kept in a secure location as they are worth quite a lot, including a signed presentation copy of a book by Ben Hogan from 1957 on the modern fundamentals of golf.

According to some, Ben Hogan would be the greatest golfer or all time.

Another treasure that Jim holds dear is American Big Game Fishing by Mrs Oliver C Grinnell, and others, which includes a chapter written by Ernest Hemingway and hand-drawn illustrations.

Written in 1935, there were only 56 deluxe copies made so this is quiet the treasure.

Is the number of readers dropping, in Jim’s opinion?

“Reading was always a minority hobby,” he says, “and many people don’t read as much as it eats into their time.

“But what would be lovely to see would be people going back to reading to their children. Bedtime stories and sitting on the knee for a tale.

“Reading encourages children to use their imaginations. Encouraging teenagers to read good non-fiction would be good to see too.”

What is his own favourite book to read?

“ Animal Farm,” Jim replies, “it’s the best social commentary for every era.”

Cooney’s Bookshop is open on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10.30am to 1pm and from 2pm to 6pm. He lives nearby and is happy to meet by appointment.

Contact him on 087 9621342 or email cooneysbooks@gmail.com.