June 15th 2025 will go down as one of those unexpected, brilliant days.
The plan? A relaxing Father’s Day with Jill and the kids. The reality? A full-blown LEGO hunt across Dublin, fuelled by great food, good deals, and a bit of spontaneity.
Brunch, Playground & The First Call
We kicked things off in Stepaside, grabbing brunch at Fire & Stone; I would highly recommend their breakfasts divine by the way. Then letting Luke and Rose loose in the playground facing the restaurant. Sunshine, tea, chats with Jill, and happy kids, Father’s Day was off to a perfect start.
Then my phone buzzed.
Three different DoneDeal sellers I’d messaged got back to me, all within the space of 30 minutes. The treasure map was being drawn in real time. Thanks again to Falzer and DoneDeal for being the unsung heroes of these hauls; it’s where so much of Redmond’s Forge gets built from.
With deals locked in, we loaded up the car and set off.
Stop 1 – Clonsilla: 17 Sets for €230
Our first appointment was time-sensitive. We had to be in Clonsilla before 4:30PM. For €230, we struck a deal for 17 LEGO sets, plenty that will bolster both the Museum and City collections, even if three sets were already in the vault. You don’t argue with these kinds of opportunities. Every haul adds pieces, minifigures, and options for future builds.
Here’s a quick snapshot of that haul:
- Strong City, Creator, and Minecraft representation.
- A nice handful of full instruction booklets.
- A couple of duplicates (which may find their way into trading, selling, or alternative builds).
- Overall? Excellent value for money and lots of museum material.
Stop 2 – Cabra: The Third Run
We swung over for our now familiar seller and third visit to Cabra. For €65, we secured:
- 8 sets
- 27 Nexo Knights CMF polybags (an excellent score, particularly for the museum’s Nexo section)
The Cabra runs are fast becoming one of my favourite repeat spots. A great seller, fair pricing, and solid additions to the Forge’s growing archives.
Mini-Stop – Dundrum: Match Attax Time
After Cabra, we cut back towards Dundrum. I’d promised Luke a treat: some new Match Attax cards for his binder. Dundrum Shopping Centre, but Eason’s let us down this time; sold out – but Tuthill’s came to the rescue. We grabbed 6 packs (€18) and Luke spent a very content evening organising and cataloguing his new cards at home. Tesco’s covers parking if one spends €30 so purchased the latest LEGO Ninjago and LEGO Technic magazines plus some stationary. Pitstop over back to the hunt.
Stop 3 – Clonskeagh: The Final Surprise
The last leg of the treasure hunt brought us to Clonskeagh, where we scooped up:
- 5 LEGO storage boxes full of LEGO and Duplo
- 4 large baseplates – 2 LEGO, 2 Duplo
- One LEGO Friends manual (41441 LEGO Friends Pet Clinic Rescue)
- All for just €30.
For that price, it’s an absolute steal. There’s plenty of Duplo and LEGO Friends for Rose’s collection, Lego for Luke’s and we’ll sort through the rest over the next few days to assess what can be salvaged, cleaned, and restored.
Home, Baths & Bed
With the hauls safely secured, we grabbed some Chinese food from Shan Suey House in Balally, (great quality, fair prices) and finally made it home.
Rose was first into the bath. Luke and I grabbed our showers. Then, exhausted and happy, everyone headed to bed.
A Perfect Father’s Day
This wasn’t the day I planned, but it was the kind of day you remember. Great food, the best company, spontaneous adventures, and plenty of treasure for Redmond’s Forge.
Happy Father’s Day to all.
Happy memories for all of us.
