Dubray Books

Dubray Books began in 1973 as a single bookstore in Bray, County Wicklow, founded by Helen Clear. In 1988, her daughter Gemma and Gemma’s husband Kevin took over and expanded the business into a group of stores. That family history remains part of the identity of a bookseller that describes itself as a specialist retailer and builds its offer around knowledgeable staff and reading recommendations.

The company says it has 13 stores. The locations it names include Grafton Street, Dundrum, Rathmines, Stillorgan, Swords, and Liffey Valley in the Dublin area, as well as Cork, Galway, Blackrock, Dun Laoghaire, Mary Street, and Waterford. The Grafton Street store spans three floors and is a short walk from St. Stephen’s Green, a useful landmark for visitors exploring central Dublin.

Each store may carry up to 15,000 titles, according to the company, across categories that combine new releases and classics. The catalog covers different genres and age groups, including fiction, children’s books, and titles with an Irish focus. If a book is not available at a particular branch, staff can order it without an extra charge for the service, giving shoppers another option beyond the titles on the shelves that day.

Personal recommendations are central to the experience. Booksellers help customers explore genres, find a new read, or choose a gift; the monthly Dubray Staff Recommended Reads brings together titles the team has read and reviewed. For younger readers, Dubray Favourites highlights new children’s books selected by the children’s booksellers, offering parents and families a more focused place to start than browsing the full catalog.

Readers looking for a more tailored search can use the Personal Shopper service or Dubray’s book subscriptions. These options provide reader-focused suggestions or recurring deliveries, alongside one-time purchases in stores and online. The website explains each service and the available titles, and also lets shoppers browse by category and availability.

Cards, gifts, stationery, and toys round out the book selection. A visit can cover the search for a novel as well as a small gift for a celebration, all in one store. Online shopping extends the selection beyond what is on a particular branch’s shelves, while the store network keeps Dubray connected with readers in several Irish cities.

In Dublin, a local business directory identifies the flagship Grafton Street store at number 36 and another branch at 39 Mary Street; the company also lists several locations in the wider area. Check the official store locator before visiting, since each branch displays its own hours and contact details. Dubray combines the reach of a national bookseller with the feel of a neighborhood shop: a broad selection, special orders, and in-person recommendations.