Thomas the Tank Engine is tops for West Cork readers

GRAHAM Norton's debut novel Holding has been pipped to the post as the most borrowed book in West Cork libraries by two children's titles.

According to figures released from Cork County Council, the most borrowed book in West Cork libraries last year was a Thomas the Tank Engine book by Rev W Awdry. 

The number one spot was held by Fergus which is about a little traction engine that always likes to do things right.

In second place was Presents for Dad: Stage 1+: More First Sentences by Roderick Hunt, part of the successful Oxford Reading Tree series of books. 

Norton's acclaimed novel Holding, which was inspired by stories, characters and places from his native West Cork, was the third most borrowed book. 

Other Irish writers that appear in the Top 10 include Dermot Bolger, whose book The Lonely Sea and Sky was the fourth most borrowed while Colm Tóibín's House of Names came in seventh place. Sheila O'Flanagan's What Happened that Night was the ninth most borrowed book.

International authors featuring in the Top 10 included Anita Shreve, whose novel The Stars are Fire was the fifth most borrowed book, followed by Dean Bakopoulos in sixth place with his novel Summerlong. 

Other children's books that made the cut included Mr Good by Roger Hargreaves and Hetty Feather by Jacqueline Wilson.

‘While we cannot get a breakdown for each town as this information is not extractable from our system, our colleagues in Dublin were able to get us the overall Top 10 from the 10 West Cork branches,' explained a Council spokesperson.