Some Sundays are made for relaxing, others for building. But today, this Sunday was made for the thrill of the chase, a full-blown LEGO haul adventure across four counties, three successful pickups, and one flaky flake-out that taught us (again) the golden rule of second chances: don’t give thirds.
It all started early. Very early.
Stop One: Clonee – A Big Box with Big Surprises
The morning kicked off in Clonee, at The Paddocks, where we met a guy with a mixed box of LEGO for €105. We weren’t quite sure what to expect, the photos were promising, but you never really know until you’re face-to-face with the bricks. And what a face it was. This box was overflowing. Packed full of colour, structure, and possibility.
Among the pile were parts of a full LEGO train set, a handful of LEGO City builds waiting to be pieced together, and even a few mini builds that looked fresh from an advent calendar or polybag. There’s something magical about a mystery haul. It’s the grown-up equivalent of a lucky bag, except this one came with wheels, track, and the promise of an evening spent sorting, cataloguing, and dreaming.
Luke, ever the LEGO City architect-in-training, was particularly excited by what looked like a full police station facade and a digger arm. Rose had her eye on a pink scooter. As for me? That train track alone was worth the early rise.
Stop Two: Kilkenny Meetup – Six Star Wars Beauties
Then came the day’s crown jewel: a €320 Star Wars mega-haul sourced from a Facebook Marketplace listing out of Waterford. The seller kindly agreed to meet halfway in Kilkenny, and we were on the road by 10 am.
What awaited us were six pristine LEGO Star Wars sets from 2019 and 2020, all retired, all in great condition, and all ready for display and rebuild:
- 75243 – Slave I (20th Anniversary Edition) – €155
A legendary set made even more desirable with the exclusive 20th Anniversary Princess Leia minifigure, now valued at €100 on her own. Boba Fett’s iconic ship is always a showstopper, and this one is already slotted for pride of place next to our UCS Star Wars sets. - 75246 – Death Star Cannon – €20
A compact scene-builder set, but with that moody laser turret and the Death Star technician minifig, it’s pure atmosphere. - 75249 – Resistance Y-Wing Starfighter – €85
Bright, bold, and with Poe’s blue markings, this was Rose’s surprise favourite. It’ll fly again soon over our LEGO Tatooine. - 75263 – Resistance Y-Wing Microfighter – €10
The smaller sibling to the above, but no less charming. - 75268 – Snowspeeder – €20
Another Hoth classic to add to our slowly expanding Empire Strikes Back winter battlefield. - 75299 – Trouble on Tatooine – €30
A mini-scene from The Mandalorian that includes the Child and Mando — two figures no Star Wars collector can ever have too many of.
All in, it was a haul packed with value. Retired sets like these rarely come up as a bundle, and when they do, they’re usually split or overpriced. This seller knew their stuff, but they were fair. And we were thrilled to get them all.
Stop Three (Sort Of): The Haul That Got Away
Now, let’s talk about the one that didn’t happen.
This was meant to be stop number three, a €200 haul with more Star Wars, a LEGO Christmas tree, some random bulk LEGO, and the Holy Grail: LEGO Ghostbusters Ecto-1. It was on Facebook, and we’d been in contact on Saturday evening. All signs pointed to green, we went down to the location. Until they went shopping and didn’t come back. Or maybe they did, we’ll never really know. They asked us to give them a second chance and collect it on Sunday, and we agreed 1pm Sunday at their house, on the drive back from Kilkenny, but their phone was off. By 1:20pm, we gave up. A dead phone and a “fell asleep” message 10 minutes later didn’t help.
As mentioned, this was actually the second time this seller pulled this trick. We’d given them the benefit of the doubt once. Not again. As they say: Once bitten, twice shy. There’s no third time in LEGO hauls, not when a dozen other bricks are calling your name from somewhere else in Ireland.
Stop Four: Ringsend – Into the Man Cave
Next up was Ringsend, a short hop towards town but a whole different world. Tucked behind an unassuming door was what can only be described as the man cave to beat all man caves. Darts, Table Tennis, TV, Neon Lights, Star Wars figures, sealed sets, loose sets, shelves of BrickHeadz, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Technic, Creator Expert, it was like stepping into a private LEGO museum.
We were there for one specific set: 40631 LEGO Brickheadz – Gandalf the Grey & Balrog for €25. This one had been on my BrickHeadz watchlist for months. Not just because it’s no longer available, and thus rare in stores, but because of the sheer character it captures. Gandalf’s frown, the Balrog’s flaming whip, it’s perfect.
Luke was in awe. As we stepped out of the cave, he looked up and said, “Daddy, can we have one of those places to hang out?” And just like that, another dream was born, a future room at Redmond’s Forge designed by Luke, powered by imagination, and filled with the bricks we’ve collected along the way, the playroom he wants, and the gym he wants to build his muscles.
Three Wins and One Lesson
All in, this Sunday was a roaring success. Three pickups, each one memorable:
- Clonee for the City/Train mixed box, pure building potential.
- Kilkenny/Waterford for the Star Wars set jackpot.
- Ringsend for the BrickHeadz and man cave envy.
And as for the fourth? It’s now part of the folklore. Another story we’ll tell while we sort the Slave I wings or build out a micro-fighter squadron. In this hobby, you win some, you skip some, and you always keep the boot space clear.
Back at Redmond’s Forge, the new sets are being photographed, scanned, catalogued, and carefully stored or displayed. Luke and Rose have already claimed build duties for at least two of today’s arrivals. And me? I’m just delighted to add these gems to our ever-growing LEGO Museum and LEGO City.
Until the next haul — happy building.
