Paddy Barrett's?

Pop's Diner

Anyone remember this toyshop in Dublin? I remember having fond memories of the shop being taken there occasionally to get toys if it was a special occaision etc. I'm pretty sure the shop doesn't exist anymore but I was wondering if anyone here knew the location where this shop used to be? I have an idea it was somewhere near Capel St. but I'm not sure. Better still does anyone know what shop exists there now , if any (maybe it's apartments now!)? It'd be nice to take a trip back there and see the place again for old times sake.

Matt Bianco

I remember it alright - loads of Airfix models and model cars

As for as I can remember it was on Mary Street where Accesorize is now just before the entrance to Jervis Street shopping Centre

tk123

yeah I rememeber it too - it was a cut above Hector Gray's for a treat They had a counter at the back with glass cases for watches, lcd games, binoculars etc and the other counter was at the front. I think Matt is right about the location - it was just past M&S on Mary Street

vektarman

Matt Bianco wrote: »

I remember it alright - loads of Airfix models and model cars

As for as I can remember it was on Mary Street where Accesorize is now just before the entrance to Jervis Street shopping Centre

Wasn't that where Eltoys was? I remember the glass cases full of airfix models etc. I even bought a Raleigh Chopper there:), as did this journalist on the last line of his feature.
http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/the-raleigh-chopper-129431.html

Edit: Could it have been the same shop? I knew it as Eltoys but it may have been known as Paddy Barretts as well, AFAIK it had an 'island' of toy shelves down the centre of the shop.

lord lucan

vektarman wrote: »

Edit: Could it have been the same shop? I knew it as Eltoys but it may have been known as Paddy Barretts as well, AFAIK it had an 'island' of toy shelves down the centre of the shop.

Sounds like the Barretts i remember,the 'island' of toy shelves rings a lot of bells!

xanthor

Pop's Diner wrote: »

I was wondering if anyone here knew the location where this shop used to be? .

It was basically where the front entrance to Jervis St Shopping center is now. IE: Demolished long since.

It closed... i think... in 1993, at least that's the last time i remember being in there.

ScribesQuill

tk123 wrote: »

yeah I rememeber it too - it was a cut above Hector Gray's for a treat

That's probably why I don't remember it so, Hector Gray's was where I go t my treats, plastic soldiers and rubber dinosaurs

NostalgicDublin

it wasnt as far up as jervis entrance , accessorize is more like it , but could be back as far as marks and sparks entrance, i remember it well , it was brown in colour outside i got all my tomytronic games in there, it was a magical place as it had toys all year round, which was a novelty in them days , remember waiting for xmas so clearys arrnotts and roches got their toys in ? but paddy barrats was amazing, i remember the counter down the back in the corner with all the electronical stuff in it liek tomytrocnic , the digital watches , big trax and frogger, most of which ive since bought again on ebay lol , anyone got any memories of it ?

xanthor

Rambling/nerdy post follows:

NostalgicDublin wrote: »

it wasnt as far up as jervis entrance , accessorize is more like it , ...., anyone got any memories of it ?

I believe you're correct... i think the entrance to Jervis was a Quinnsworth?

One that stands out is going there one Birthday to get a Valkyrie, but the shop being closed due to either a bombscare or gas leak. Lived out in the sticks those days, and couldn't wait another week... so i broke down and got the Convertors version of Multiforce in Easons. (I should've waited)

There was one xmas eve the street was so packed, people couldn't move.
Getting into the shop was impossible

Other than that, unfortunately, i tend to associate it mostly with toys i couldn't have, and words such as 'no'. Although the place was on the small side, they seemed to squeeze a lot of toys in, many on shelves i couldn't even reach. The displays in the windows were sometimes interesting though... was the closest i could get to some of those toys.

In later years, the place wasn't as big a deal to me. When my parents were doing a bit better, we moved nearer to my Grandparents. So, it was easier to get toys out of both parties. In fact my Grandparents were 10 minutes walk away... and there was a Toymaster 10 minutes walk in the other direction, any lack of toys in previous years was more than made up for.

I think the last thing i bought in there was around 1993, when they had the American versions of some G.I.Joe figures that had their accessories revised for the European market. They used to stock things like that quite often... including apparently some TFs imported from China that weren't otherwise available here, but i don't remember that at all for some reason.