On my way to Dublin I regularly stop to stretch my legs at The Outlet Village, Banbridge. Crescent shaped in two rows, it allows patrons to walk a wide open air pathway between the stores. Like all cities, towns and shopping malls, there are the marks of recession with shops closing. This particular outlet, dressed the windows of these empty units, taking away that depressing look.
Several units were used for other purposes to draw in the crowds.
On 10 July, I stopped for my usual walk, a coffee and a freshen up.
It was with fascination and delight that I discovered The Big Brick Exhibition in Unit 27.
Every item on display was pieced together at the hands of one young man: 25 year old Michael Finan of Banbridge, Northern Ireland.
A Collection of Lego Models, which he began at 5 years of age.
Ole Kirk’s House 910 pieces
Old Kirk’s House, was not normally on sale to the public. It was a gift for employees at Lego, but Michael was fortunate to purchase it on eBay.
I attempted to make a spur of the moment video on my phone. Alas I used portrait instead of landscape mode and it picked up all the background noise, which I am not clever enough to filter. A gallery of photos will have to suffice.
In 1999, a Christmas gift from an aunt & uncle set him on the pathway of Puzz 3D jigsaws. Their gift: a 1438 piece 3D jigsaw of Big Ben. Feeling daunted be began with the smaller Normandy House, a mere 225 pieces. It was enough, Michael was hooked! At this stage, he has built most of the Puzz 3D jigsaws that have been produced to date.
Here is a small selection:
The exhibition will be open to the public during business hours until 27th August 2014.
UPDATE: I forgot the most difficult Lego model of all to make…
Darth Maul was the most difficult to build and Michael told me it fell over at one stage during the building, so he began all over again – all 1,868 pieces. R2D2 had 2,127 pieces, but Yoda (if memory serves me correctly) had a massive 3,075!
Love the characters at the bottom – legos are great fun but bad for the vacuum cleaner
Shackman, my typos were proof that I am not up to date with these characters.
What an incredible exhibit! I love the Taj Mahal lego.
Gigi, my photos do not do them justice.
What a collection ~ loved the Eiffel Tower.
BTW: It should be “R2D2” (D as in Danny Boy) and “Yoda.”
Thank you, Nancy. I have updated my errors.
I still have my massive Lego collection in the attic, I loved it way more than my children did! When they move out I will convert one of their bedrooms to a Lego village
Barbara, I remember your Lego collection and you deep in concentration, building away!
Wow, totally impressive, might try to take it in when in Dub next month.
XO
WWW
WWW, if you are travelling north to Banbridge, let me know and I’ll meet you there.
Fantastic! Is he an engineer now?
Tilly, he is still at College.
Yes, what is he doing now?
Brighid, Michael is still studying.
What fun! My brother got the Lego stuff when we were growing up.
We were the Meccano era, but Elly had plenty of Lego.
Incredible stuff. Isn’t it amazing how creativity dwells until a medium comes along as a means of expressing it.
When it came to craft work, I was a late starter. Now, not alone do I enjoy all needle art, but love to share and enthuse others.
Some young man that!
That he is!