New IT shop and bookshop opens in Wexford village

A new IT shop and bookshop recently opened up in a rural Wexford village…

Inglenot is the brainchild of Michael Gilbert and it was was originally set up back in Somerset in 2018. Michael was born in Bangor, Co. Down, but he left the North more than 40 years ago to study at a University in England.

Like many of his contemporaries, he got stuck over there — but he always wanted to move back to Ireland. Last year, he decided to move to Carrig-on-Bannow, County Wexford.

“Having stayed in Carrig, purely by chance, on our first house-hunting visit, we were lucky enough to find a house in the village that suited us perfectly after hunting right across the South coast,” he told Wexford Weekly.

Last year, another opportunity arose to acquire a premises in the rural Wexford village too. Inside of it is a unique one as it’s a mix of both an IT shop and a bookshop. From a technology side, Inglenot provides computer and technology support, helping individuals and businesses solve IT issues, improve digital systems, manage websites, and use technology more effectively through practical guidance and technical services.

“After working in IT for a long time, I had become frustrated by the jargon in the industry. I felt I could use my knowledge and experience to help people get the most out of their tech using plain language. Having moved to Carrig last year, the plan was always to start it up again,” he explains.

A lover of books from all different genres, Michael decided that adding a bookshop to the village was a thing that he’d love to do too. Bookshops can be key for small rural communities. Not only can do they support literacy and learning, they also create a space for social connection and community engagement:

“Having moved to Carrig last year, the plan was always to start it up again. It seemed ideal to add a wee bookshop into the mix; I have always loved books, and you can never have too many bookshops. It’s been a slow start, so far, but that’s given me time to get my head around what I have and how to sell it,” he said.

Footfall to the new IT shop and bookshop has been slow so far, but they are located behind what will be the new village shop in Carrig-on-Bannow, which will be opening soon — and will no doubt, help with increased footfall to his business too.

Now aged 66, Michael doesn’t intend to form a career out of Inglenot, or the bookshop. Instead, it’s something to do — a passion project, a new adventure, and a “dream since forever”:

“I’m not looking to make a career of this; at 66, I’m supposed to be retired, but the idea of doing the things you’re supposed to do when you’re retired doesn’t appeal at all. This is a new adventure, let’s see where it goes. There is a potential for an online shop, but I would much prefer to have people find things by chance; that’s the joy of bookshops, after all.” he said.

Along with the IT shop and bookshop, there’s also a collection of paintings at the premises.

“There’s a collection of paintings by an English friend. She came to visit last spring and this winter and created a series of abstract landscapes in poured acrylic which capture to essence of places like Curracloe Strand, Colclough Walled Garden and the Saltees. It took a bit of persuasion to get her to let me exhibit them here, but it seemed the right place to show them, so here they are,” he said.