Every haul has its own rhythm, and this week’s LEGO adventure turned into one of those days where the miles rolled by, the boxes stacked high, and the stories to be told stretched far beyond the bricks themselves.
Lunchtime in Knockbridge – The Warm-Up Haul
The day began with a lunchtime rendezvous in Knockbridge, Co. Louth. A box of mixed LEGO was the opening act, a quick pickup but the kind of deal that sets the tone for the journey. Handshakes, smiles, and the thrill of what treasures might be hidden in the pile. This box was only the beginning.
Drogheda – A Mega Find in a Car Park
From Knockbridge, I headed down the road into Drogheda, where a much bigger pickup was waiting. In a busy car park, I loaded into the boot one of the most exciting bundles I’ve secured in recent weeks:
- 200+ LEGO minifigures
- 45kg of loose LEGO
- 7962 LEGO Star Wars Anakin Skywalker & Sebulba’s Podracers (2011)
All at a fantastic price.
But what made this stop so memorable wasn’t just the LEGO. The seller recognised me – she had read the blog and seen the Redmond’s Forge Facebook posts. We ended up chatting about the plans for the LEGO museum, its progress, and even future possibilities. Then came something unexpected: she asked if I was looking for volunteers to help with builds. Her youngest son, who was there at the handover, jumped in eagerly, volunteering himself on the spot. His excitement was infectious, and as he mentioned that he had more sets and minifigures tucked away, I realised a return trip to Drogheda might well be on the cards.
Sadly, I had to cut the conversation short to head back to Dublin 18 in time to collect Luke and Rose from summer camp at 2pm. With them along for the ride, the second half of the haul adventure was about to begin.
Ringsend – A Trusted Supplier
Once reunited with the kids, our next stop took us to Ringsend. Here, from a familiar and trusted supplier (this was our third meeting), I picked up more gems: some classic LEGO Ninjago and Space sets. As always with this seller, the LEGO was spotless, the sets complete, and the booklets neatly included. The kind of reliability that makes repeat buys easy.
Castleknock – A Missed Connection
From Ringsend, we took a detour toward Castleknock for another arranged pickup. Unfortunately, this one didn’t materialise. After 15 minutes of waiting in the car park, it became clear it was a no-show. Disappointing, but that’s part of the haul game, you win some, you lose some.
Aughrim – The Big One
The final destination of the day was Aughrim, deep into Wicklow, and it turned out to be the true headline haul. When we arrived, another treasure trove was waiting:
- A couple hundred more minifigures
- 14 large storage boxes of LEGO sorted by colour
- 60 manuals for the sets, also colour-sorted
Payment was made in part cash, part Revolut, and we spent the evening carefully loading the car. It was here that the seller added a surprise twist. Before we left, she handed €20 each to Luke and Rose. Their joy was unmatched. As I strapped down the boxes and bags in the back, they were already dreaming aloud about how they’d spend it, Rose planning for an Our Generation doll, Luke eyeing up more LEGO.
It was nearly 9:30pm by the time we finally turned the car toward home, headlights cutting through the Wicklow night.
Balancing LEGO, Work, and Football
What struck me most looking back on the day was the balancing act. In between car park pickups and LEGO talk, there were AI consultancy calls that I had to handle, a quick turnaround to drop Luke at football training, get Rose a bath, and then back to the road for the Aughrim leg. It felt like three worlds colliding, work, family, and LEGO, all weaving together into one seamless story.
Reflections on the Road
Driving back, I couldn’t help but feel grateful. Yes, the LEGO was exciting, hundreds of minifigures, rare sets, kilos upon kilos of bricks. But it was the people who stood out. The generosity of sellers. The joy of the kids receiving their surprise gifts. The enthusiasm of a boy who wanted to volunteer at the museum.
These hauls are about more than just LEGO. They’re about connections, community, and generosity. About how strangers become supporters, kids become co-builders, and every mile driven across Leinster becomes part of a bigger story we’re building together at Redmond’s Forge.
