All the fun of an Irish antiques fair: ‘It was either this or golf’

The Royal Marine Hotel in Dún Laoghaire is the venue for the South Dublin Antiques and Vintage Fair. It is held every two months or so and attracts the largest number of stallholders in the countrywide fairs organised by Antiques Fairs Ireland and Vintage Ireland.

On August 2nd, there were 38 stallholders scattered through the spacious ballroom, adjacent reception room and the balcony surrounding the ballroom. “About one-third of our stallholders come from the north of Ireland and about half of them have shops or booths in commercial outlets,” says Darcy, event co-ordinator of Antiques Fairs Ireland and Vintage Ireland.

The remaining stallholders – selling an eclectic range of bric-a-brac, vintage jewellery, silver and glassware, cutlery, paintings and small items of furniture – are hobbyists or former antique shop owners. The atmosphere is relaxed and uncluttered as buyers of all ages and interests view the assembled items which also include coins, vintage postcards, badges and toys.

Darcy at the fair. Photograph: Tom Honan

Iittala, a glass hand-blown pheasant by Oiva Toikka. Photograph: Tom Honan

Many of the stallholders are media shy but some are more willing. Dan Huey from Hueys Antiques in Loughgall, Co Armagh is here with a range of bookcases, side tables, a small chest of drawers, nesting tables and occasional chairs.

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“People are interested in small furniture that fits into homes better. Anything that has a use sells well, such as trunks, chests of drawers, side tables,” says Huey. He gets most of his stock from house clearances and auctions in England. “We don’t have to pay customs or VAT on what we buy in the UK mainland, which gives us a bit of an advantage when buying there,” he says.

Many of the dealers based in the Republic stopped buying at auctions in the UK after Brexit and now travel to mainland Europe instead. One hobbyist stallholder from Waterford explains how, following their retirement, she and her husband began buying at auctions and markets in France when on holidays. “It was either this or golf. We do four or five fairs a year and car boot sales too,” she says.

Philip Hann from Bazaar Antiques, Mullingar.
Photograph: Tom Honan — Philip Hann from Bazaar Antiques, Mullingar. Photograph: Tom Honan

Philip Hann, who runs Bazaar Antiques in Mullingar, moved to Longford from England six years ago. “I’ve been buying antiques since I was in my twenties and started dealing about 20 years ago. We have a house in France so we buy a lot in France and Belgium,” he says, pointing to a Ralph Lauren lamp for €250 and a carved Chinese stone vase for €65 on his stall. Hann, who takes part in about 20 fairs a year, says vintage jewellery sells best.

Deirdre McKenna from Kinsealy is at the Dún Laoghaire Antiques Fair for the first time. “I came looking for a ring but I bought a pendant,” she says, showing us the pendant with an amber stone that she bought from Hann for €20.

Tara Collins, a silversmith and antique dealer from Cork is a regular at the Antiques Ireland and Vintage Ireland fairs around Ireland. “It’s a great way of networking. And if I don’t have something one day, I can make it or source it for a later date,” she says.

Louise Donohoe at the fair. Photograph: Tom Honan

Louise Donohue, who runs Louise Donohue Antiques in Sallins, Co Kildare, comes to the fair to pick up pieces of porcelain, glassware, ceramics and small pieces of furniture to sell in her shop. “I’m a French polisher and I’ve lots of young customers who buy functional pieces like small secretaire desks to use when working from home,” she says.

Declan Curley has a stall on the balcony selling matchbox model cars either loose for €10 or in their original boxes for €65. “They are all my own toys which I collected. People who are reliving their youth buy them, or collectors wo are missing pieces,” he says.

Sandra Graham, another retired hobbyist dealer, comes to Dún Laoghaire from Co Antrim. “There is a better market for selling here but you wouldn’t make a living from it,” she says. Her stall has a range of intricate designed and painted Beswick and Royal Doulton dogs and Beatrix Potter characters alongside an oriental Imari style cat for €78.

And for those keen to catch the last of the summer garden furniture and architectural salvage auctions, Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers in Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny, has about 200 lots in their garden furniture and outdoor auction on Wednesday, August 12th, at 1pm. There will be everything on offer from antique Belfast sinks, wrought-iron field gates and Victorian railings to granite troughs and terracotta chimney stacks. Among the garden furniture and statuary is an ornately designed stone bird bath (€120-€180) and a circular Victorian cast iron patio table (€150-€180). Viewing of items on Monday and Tuesday, August 10th and 11th, 10am-5pm and on Wednesday, August 12th, 10am-noon.

vintageireland.eu, fonsiemealy.ie