If you’re finding it tricky to locate book clubs in Northern Ireland, this post will help. Below we’ve featured 10 book clubs in NI for your perusal.
1. GGI Book Club
Girl Gone International Book Club, or GGI Book Club, is a book club. GGI was originally founded in 2010 by founder Anne Scott and now has chapters in multiple cities across the work, including Belfast in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland’s GGI’s co-managers are Anne-Marie Mackin and Esina Juknaite.
GGI Book Club welcomes women in Belfast looking to connect with other peers who enjoy reading and want to connect with individuals in the area. GGI Book Clubs meetings take place online and in-person and focus on books about themes like female empowerment, friendship, languages and others.
Contact GGI Book Club!
2. Libraries NI Online Book Club
Located in North Ireland, Libraries NI Online Book Club is a book club organized and hosted by the Northern Ireland Library Authority, or Libraries NI. Libraries NI is the largest library authority in the UK and has overseen the library service in Northern Ireland since 2008.
Libraries NI Online Book Club welcomes adults of all genders and backgrounds in the area of Northern Ireland to join their online book club meetings on the last Thursday of every month. Members commit to reading a monthly book, which becomes the subject matter for the month’s book club meeting. Libraries NI Online Book Club has covered books in the past such as “Apples Never Fall” by Liane Moriarty and “We Know You Remember” by Tove Alsterdal, among others.
Reach out to Libraries NI Online Book Club!
3. Books Papers Scissors Book Club
Books Papers Scissors Book Club is a book club created by Books Papers Scissors, an independent bookstore located in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The book store offers a great variety of literature, including fiction and non-fiction books.
The Books Papers Scissors Book Club members meet on the last week of the month at one of two possible book club meetings. Books Papers Scissors Book Club meetings go over the shared book of the month, whether that might a novel by a local Irish author or the latest international bestseller. Any individual interested in joining their local conversations at the book club meeting are welcome!
Speak to Books Papers Scissors Book Club for more details.
4. The Gloss: Belfast
Based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, The Gloss: Belfast is the local chapter of an international network of book clubs that aims to connect women in local areas with other women in their area. The Gloss: Belfast has been known to be a supportive environment that allows women to connect with other peers in a welcoming environment.
Some of the books that The Gloss: Belfast has gone over in the past include “Speak, Okinawa” by Elizabeth Miki Brina and “The Last Story of Mina Lee” by Nancy Jooyoun Kim. Book meetings are held in-person at local venues such as The Garrick on Chichester Street, and there is a £5 fee for interested participants.
Discover more about The Gloss: Belfast!
5. Personal Development Book Club
Personal Development Book Club is a book club that serves men and women local to the area of Lurgan, Northern Ireland. Personal Development Book Club focuses on one personal development book every month. Members commit to reading the book on their own, before coming together as a group on a decided meeting day to speak about the book’s contents and have a general conversation about personal development.
This book club will address personal development topics including motivation, communication, goal setting, and health and fitness. Information about dates and locations of Personal Development Book Club’s meetings can be found on their Meetup.com website. The group is organized by Peter Doak and currently has over 20 members.
Find out what else Personal Development Book Club.
6. Cosmopolitan Book Club
Working out of Belfast, Northern Ireland, Cosmopolitan Book Club is a book club that aims to provide members motivation and opportunity to read different types of literature, whether that is classic literature, non-fiction or short stories. Suggestions for books that Cosmopolitan Book Club should consider including in its monthly schedule are always welcome!
Book club meetings happen on the second Wednesday of every month, at seven in the evening. Most meetings are currently being held online, and members are encouraged to check Cosmopolitan Book Club’s Meetup.com event page for updated details on meeting times and locations.
Look at what else Cosmopolitan Book Club is up to!
7. Willows Reach Wellness Bookclub
Willows Reach Wellness Bookclub is a book club hosted by Willows Reach, a center that provides meditation classes, mindfulness lessons, and yoga sessions to locals out of its Belfast, Northern Ireland location. Book club group organizer Gary Palmer welcomes all adults, men and women alike, to Willows Reach Wellness Bookclub’s book club meetings, which take place in-person at a local coffee shop in Belfast.
Willows Reach Wellness Bookclub’s meetings are held every other Tuesday. Book club members are not asked for a meeting fee but only to purchase the monthly book and a drink. The book club meetings aim to be a productive time to discuss the book of the month and also a place that encourages inclusivity.
Check out Willows Reach Wellness Bookclub’s website for more details!
8. BYC Book Club
Bangor, Northern Ireland is home to BYC Book Club, a book club created by Ballyholme Yacht Club. The yacht club is a reputable organization from which many notable sailors have emerged to compete on the world stage. BYC Book Club welcomes club members to join for a great discussion about the book and an opportunity to connect with other club members in a more social, less competitive atmosphere.
For examples of the books that BYC Book Club is interested in reading, look at “Wintering” by Katherine May and “The Bronze Horseman” by Paullina Simons. The book club meets on the first Thursday every month in the evening at the Ballyholme Yacht Club, in the Main Bar.
Join BYC Book Club for one of their future book club meetings!
9. Ardhowen Book Club
Established in 2020, Ardhowen Book Club is a book club that welcomes all adults who are interested in books and reading to join their book club meetings. Ardhowen Book Club meets every month to speak about a shared book that book club members commit to completing (or reading as much as they can).
“Coming Home to the Four Streets” by Nadine Dorries is one of the books that Ardhowen Book Club has completed in their past book club meetings. The book club is tight-knit and looks forward to connect with other locals living in and around Northern Ireland. Additional information about book club meeting times and locations can be found by reaching out to group organizer Nuala O’Toole through their website.
Connect with Ardhowen Book Club!
10. u3a Book Groups
Individuals in Belfast, Northern Ireland, will benefit from the different offerings that the Belfast University of the Third Age, or u3a, has to offer, including u3a Book Groups. U3a is a social movement that creates social groups for various interests online and invites all adults in the area to participate in one of their many social activities, ranging from sports like badminton to book clubs.
u3a Book Groups offers three different book clubs for interested participants. Each month, the book club will choose a particular reading to do independently over the course of the month before gathering again for discussions during their monthly book club meetings. “Book Group 1” meets at different members’ homes every week on the first Monday of the month. Book Group 2” meets on a Tuesday at Belvoir Golf Club in the afternoon, and “Book Group 3” meets on the first Tuesday of the month in Knockbreda Church Hall. Currently, “Book Group 2” and “Book Group 3” are not taking any new book club members.
For more information about u3a Book Groups, check out their website.