30 July 2010

I hope to see you at the book stall in the big marquee in Portrane

The great Portrane sale in support of Heart-to-Hand is on this weekend (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)

Patrick Comerford

Yes, it’s back again this year.

The Sale of the Century takes place this August Bank Holiday Weekend, from Saturday, 31 July, to Monday 2 August, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. each afternoon at the great Lynders marquee at The Quay, Portrane, in north Co Dublin.

This great sale has become one of the busiest calendar events in Portrane, and is run each year in aid of “Heart to Hand,” which was set up to care for the poorest of the poor in countries like Albania, Bosnia, Moldova and Romania.

This care includes providing food, medicine, clothes and other forms of humanitarian aid. In more recent years it has also included education and training to help people fend for themselves.

Heart-to-Hand is a non-denominational, voluntary organisation, and each year the Great Portrane Sale raises thousands of euro to help this work.

My cousins, the Lynders sisters, are the best sales team in Ireland. At this weekend’s sale, they’ll try to sell you designer clothes, shoes, jewellery, toys, books, plants, furniture … everything except the kitchen sink to beat the recession.

To get to The Quay, Portrane, take Exit 4 off the M1, continue through Donabate, on to Portrane, and on to the end of the peninsula.

I hope to see you at the book stall in the big marquee some afternoon this bank holiday weekend ... hail, rain or sunshine. You might even join me for a walk on the beach.

www.hearttohand.net