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Dublin Toy & Train Fair
Imagine, toys for kids that don’t involve a remote control and a flatscreen TV. The toys on show at this year’s Dublin Toy Train Fair hark back to a time when the toys did only part of the work: they needed imagination to make them really come to life.
Miniature cars, train sets complete with sound effects, lights and conductors, dolls’ houses and whole battalions of lead soldiers are some of the treasures on show tomorrow, when 70 standholders will have come from as far away as Lithuania and the Czech Republic. Each dealer might bring up to 500 items, so there should be a lot to see.
Serious collectors will be looking out for unusual diecast models by Corgi and Dinky, construction sets by Meccano and Bayko, lead soldiers by Britains and Crescent, and trains by Hornby, Triang, Trix, Wrenn and Marklin.
The fair, which has been on the go for 10 years, has been a big hit with children as well as with adults wanting to revisit the toy boxes of their youth. It’s also popular with people who’ve come across an old toy in the attic, think it might be special and want to take it somewhere for an expert opinion.
The fair takes place between 10am and 4pm tomorrow at Clontarf Castle Hotel, in Dublin. Tickets at the door cost €5 for adults, €3 for children and €12 for families (two adults and up to three children).
www.dun-laoghaire.com/ dir/toyfair