A news snippet from one of my many mailing lists:

We can now reveal that after 40 years, Irish Books & Media will be closing its doors at the end of February, 2007. Irish Books & media came under pressure from corporate giants swallowing up smaller publishers or raising order minimums to 100 copies. The trend made already slim margins in wholesaling even smaller, forcing the firm to carry larger inventories than they could afford or to order at too low a discount for resale purposes. Add to that the declining dollar and an uphill battle against the tripling of freight costs and the stage was set for a fight which, despite enormous personal financial sacrifice, became a lost cause.

As part of the closure process, thousands of titles have been listed on line at 50% off. Here is an excellent opportunity to buy gifts for birthdays and next Christmas or simply to add to your Irish library. And you'll be helping Ethna to reduce or eliminate her inventory which is critically important if she is to emerge from all of this without going bankrupt. But don't delay - there may be only one or two copies available for many of the titles. To avoid disappointment, visit Irish Books & Media right away. The URL is: http://www.irishbook.com/vIndex.htm Click on Clearance Sale in the left margin and an alphabetized index will come up. Also, keep in mind when you are browsing that Irish books & Media offers music, videos, calendars and other products. Everything must go.

Na, looks like shes shut up shop and gone home already

Click ordering is not working

I placed a phone order with them recently; they were having some website problems then (perhaps still?). Anyway, it's a toll-free call in the U.S.

I have just used the website and it seems to be working okay.

Is drochscéal sin. Airím Irish Book Shop Angela Carter uaim fós, agus b'iadsan an t-aon cheann amháin eile i Meiriceá, go bhfios dom.

Is cuimhin liom Angela freisin! Ach tá Caitlín ag litriocht.com an-deas ar fad freisin, agus ní bhfuair mé ach seirbhís den scoth ón gcomhlucht sin riamh.

Is maith an grianghraf é sin!

Is fearr liomsa é ná an ceann eile freisin.

That is very sad that she has to close down shop :(

Beir bua agus beannacht

Tá bróm orm freisin. I just placed an order and told them so. Last year I had a stopover in Minneapolis and did not have enough time to make a visit. Now, I wish I had. IB&M has been great in all things Irish. They will be missed! Fortunately we still have celticreader.com, litríocht.com, and the Daltaí store. Who would have thought that in 2006 we would get TG4 Online and in 2007 lose Irish Books & Media.

Before someone jumps on it, I typed m instead of n - Tá brón orm freisin!

yes, you wouldn't want a colt on you, not to mention a capall......áigh!! (brom. orm)

GRMA, a Dhéiridh, don focal nua: bromach - colt!

Nach mór an trua é sin.. Rachaidh mé ar thóir leabhar nó dhó anois..