Clós Súgartha Bhearna-Na Forbacha Playground committee has launched a pop-up shop selling new and pre-owned clothes, accessories, homewares, and gifts as the fundraising drive for a playground in the area gains momentum. The committee recently welcomed the news that Bearna Co-Op has given permission for the playground to be developed at its multi-use games area in Truskey West.
The playground committee is hoping to avail of LEADER funding of up to 75 per cent of the cost of the project, however match funding is required so fundraising for the playground is now a priority.
With the site now finalised, the Bhearna-Na Forbacha Playground Committee has launched its first major fundraising initiative with the opening of vibrant pop-up store, the Nearly New Shop in Bearna.
“We wanted to do something different and a little bit enterprising, something that can use the talents of our voluntary committee so we came up the idea of a pop-up shop where you can buy high quality fashion, shoes, handbags, and gifts that are almost new or are in very good condition,” said Tracee O’Loughlin, chairperson of the committee. “That’s the beauty of it; you never know what bargains you will find in the shop when you pop in to browse — a Coco Chanel bag, a never worn Joanna Hynes designer coat, great Karen Millen, Coast, LK Bennett and Monsoon dresses — which makes it such an interesting place to shop.”
The Nearly New Shop, which is situated in the Matt O’Flaherty pharmacy unit in Barna, is a real treasure trove of pre-loved and new fashion items, including some one-off designer coats, shoes, and accessories, homes decor items, ornaments, photo frames, paintings, children’s clothes and toys, and a fantastic range of books. Savvy shoppers and fashionistas can browse a range of jackets, suits, and occasion dresses from great labels and all at recession-friendly prices.
The committee members work in the shop on a voluntary basis and all items are donated, so every euro people spend in the shop goes directly to the Bearna Furbo playground project. Mayor of County Galway Thomas Welby officially launched the shop last week.
The committee is encouraging the people of Bearna and Furbo to drop by the shop to donate or buy, or just to browse the wide range of stock. “Please support the playground project by bringing along any clothes, shoes, accessories, kids stuff or home decor items, gifts that you are no longer using that we could sell in the shop,” said committee secretary Shauna Cunningham. “It’s a great time of year for spring cleaning and decluttering your home. Everyone has stuff in their cupboards that they aren’t using any more and we can put it to good use.”
Clós Súgartha Bhearna-Na Forbacha Playground committee was established in 2010 by a group of mothers and families living in the Bearna/Furbo parish whose aim is to build a playground in Bearna to provide play facilities for young children in the area.
The Nearly New Shop is open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 1pm and on Saturdays from 10am to 4pm. For more information about the project visit www.bearnafurboplayground.com or www.facebook.com/bearnaplayground
