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markets · Sunday 19 July 2026 · 10:00am 
Words Bookfest Car Boot Sale
At Dublin City Centre · Various locations, Dublin 2
At Dublin City Centre · Various locations, Dublin 2
A free summer morning in Dublin city centre, a good pair of walking shoes, and the patience to flip through a crate of paperbacks - that is all it takes to get the most out of the Words Bookfest Car Boot Sale. This annual event draws together book dealers, private sellers, record collectors and general enthusiasts who set up from their car boots and trestle stalls to sell used books, vinyl records, comics and collectibles. It is the kind of market that rewards browsing slowly: you are as likely to surface a battered first edition as a forgotten 1970s LP or a stack of vintage paperback thrillers for a euro each.
The mix of sellers is broad - some are specialist dealers with curated stock, others are regulars who have cleared out a spare room and brought the interesting bits along. Used books are the backbone of the event, ranging across fiction, non-fiction, Irish history, cookery and children’s titles. Vinyl records and CDs draw a dedicated crowd early in the morning, and there are usually collectibles, comics and oddities scattered through the stalls as well. Entry is free for browsers; sellers pay a pitch fee to participate. Because it is an outdoor event, it is weather-dependent - a dry July Sunday morning is ideal for it.
Dublin city centre is well served by bus and LUAS. The LUAS Red and Green lines connect from the suburbs and cross-city routes run frequently on Sundays. Dublin Bus routes converge on the city centre from all directions, and it is a short walk from Connolly or Heuston stations for those coming by rail. Cycling is straightforward via the Grand Canal and city-centre cycle lanes, and Dublin Bikes docking stations are dotted around Dublin 2. Driving into the city centre on a Sunday is manageable compared to weekdays, but city-centre car parks on streets like Drury Street or Setanta Place fill up on a busy morning - arriving before 10am gives you the best chance of parking and the first look at the stalls.
A morning at the car boot sale pairs well with a walk along the quays, a visit to Merrion Square, or a browse in one of the city’s independent bookshops on Dawson Street. There is more to see in Dublin and across Co. Dublin.
Heading to Dublin City Centre in Dublin? Dublin has plenty more to see. Read the Dublin area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.