Sometimes, the best LEGO hauls aren’t planned, they just find you.
Not 500 metres from where we almost bought Redmond’s Forge’s new premises (before choosing Arklow instead), we stumbled across something extraordinary: a Rathnew LEGO collection that stopped us in our tracks. The original plan? Pop in, grab one set, the majestic Sanctum Sanctorum 76218 for €155, and be on our way.
Reality had other ideas.
Within 30 minutes (which was meant to be 5), we found ourselves loading the car with four big sets:
- LEGO Icons Loop Roller Coaster (10303)
- Ninjago Destiny’s Bounty (70618), possibly the most beautiful Ninjago ship ever made (this ship was even featured in Duckbricks video today reviewing the Orlando Brick Co warehouse)
- A bag of LEGO Mindstorms instructions, sets, and pieces
- And of course, the Sanctum Sanctorum (76218)
We also left with something else, a spreadsheet. A temptation list, if you will, of the many other sets in their collection for us to consider buying, and buy we will. And, in the middle of all this LEGO talk, came a shared dream: both our families, me, Luke, and Rose, and them, with their two kids, have always wanted to build massive LEGO cities. We ran out of space, so we bought our warehouse; they ran out of space too… and now we offered that if they ever want to use the warehouse for building, the invitation is open.
Luke even came away with a great PS5 game recommendation from their kids. LEGO, gaming, city-building, what’s not to love?
From Rathnew to Newcastle (Sort Of)
Leaving Rathnew, we headed for the short Newcastle, or so we hoped. Turns out, it was Dublin’s Newcastle, not the close-by Wicklow one. This meant driving past our own house, and in doing so, we witnessed the dramatic sight of a forest fire raging along the M50 at the Brides Glen turn-off. The air was hazy, the flames licking up the hillside, not something you expect on a LEGO run.
Carnage & Venom Await
When we finally made it to Newcastle, we picked up the last part of the evening’s haul. Carnage and Venom helmet sets for €100 for the pair, built and complete with boxes and instructions. We already had Venom sealed, so now we could keep our sealed copy pristine and still enjoy displaying the built one. Carnage was the missing set, and now he’s ours.
The Tooth Fairy Dilemma
Driving back home, the day still had one more laugh in store. Luke had lost a tooth, and proudly declared he would put it under his bed for the tooth fairy.
I asked, “Are you sure that’s wise? If the tooth fairy has to lift your bed to get the tooth, she might drop it, and you might fall out. Wouldn’t it be better to put it under your pillow?”
Luke, Rose, and I burst out laughing at the mental image of a tiny fairy struggling to lift a bed. Rose then declared that when she loses her first tooth, she’ll also put it under the bed, just for the fun of it – which caused more hysterics in the car.
An Evening to Remember
From an unplanned single-set purchase to a car loaded with LEGO treasures, new friendships, game tips, fire-side drama (quite literally), Marvel helmets, and tooth fairy comedy, the Rathnew & Newcastle run was one for the books.
Sometimes, LEGO hunts are about more than just the bricks. They’re about the people, the shared passions, the unexpected detours, and the memories you build along the way.
