Today was one for the memory books. A rare, beautiful day when LEGO, adventure, and history all came together, and this time, it was just Daddy and Daughter on the road. With Luke off at Beaver Camp in Larch Hill for two nights, Rose and I made the most of the time together… and what better way than a LEGO treasure hunt across Wicklow and Meath?
Stop One: Lawless But Not LEGO-less
Our morning began in Aughrim town, in a scene straight out of a quirky Irish film. The meeting point? The Lawless Hotel, yes, that’s really the name, currently boarded up and marked For Sale. But behind that faded exterior, LEGO magic awaited. A collector had arranged to meet us with a sizeable LEGO Friends haul. Four sets were clearly visible from the moment we arrived, their pastel colours peeking out with that unmistakable charm of Heartlake City. A quick deal, a smile, and the boot of the car was already feeling heavier.
Stop Two: Newcastle’s Expanding Bricks
From there, we rolled back towards Dublin, through the backroads of Wicklow, through Laragh, a quick pit-stop at Lynam’s, and then on to Newcastle, just beside Newtown Mount Kennedy. The listing said 5 kg of LEGO, but the reality was closer to 15 kg by the time we left. As we sifted through the haul, more and more treasures emerged. And then the crown jewel: a LEGO Star Wars First Order Star Destroyer, imposing and perfect for the Museum’s growing fleet. Rose helped load every brick with care and curiosity, asking the names of mini-figures and dreaming up stories for our LEGO City.
Stop Three: The Road to Kells
With Wicklow complete, it was time to loop around the M50 and head north to Meath. Kells, famously linked with the stunning Book of Kells, was our final stop. A historic town and fittingly, the final leg of our modern-day treasure quest. Another collector, another box of wonder, and one more satisfying exchange. As we left Kells, Rose and I chatted about the next additions to the Museum, the stories each set could tell, and what we’d build together next.
A Day of Bricks and Bonding
No tantrums, no rush, just Rose and I, a map of Ireland, in LEGO form, unfolding before us. From a Lawless hotel to ancient scriptural towns, today reminded me that LEGO isn’t just plastic bricks, it’s connection, it’s memory, and it’s legacy. And for this Daddy-Daughter day, it was the perfect way to build something unforgettable, and Luke was with us in spirit, our Force Ghost.
