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.“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.