Any non-native of Ennis will find it amusing that there is an actual shop called 'The Somalia Shop'. This charity shop is the grand-daddy of all charity shops in Ennis, has been there since at least the early nineties. I love the disorder of the place, at first glance you see an abundance of useless paraphernalia, and admittedly there is a lot of trash. But if you take a longer look around, and root around in the mounds of books/tapes/clothes, you might just find a gem. I recall rummaging through unlabelled boxes as a teenager, not knowing what I was going to find (or if I was going to find anything!). And who knows? Someone might just be looking for that spare plastic microwave cover, that unmistakable Mother Theresa print, or sequined owl?
A few years ago, I'm not sure when, a new breed of charity shop emerged: the type that markets old, forlorn, forgotten apparel from past decades as 'vintage'(!). Dublin is the number-one culprit, with poor hipsters being diddled into paying extortionate prices for Dublin City Marathon tees from the '90s, when you could grab it for a €1 in Ennis' Somalia Shop! What does vintage mean anyway? Does it not just mean 'old'? Or does it mean different things to different people (with more or less pretentiousness)? What I am getting at here is charging an appropriate price for the 'product'. The Somalia Shop in Ennis is one such place,they do not slap ridiculous prices on things: they know as well as you do, that you are not going to pay €8 for an old Guinness Book of Records.
When people donate/dump things to a charity shop the majority are just happy to be rid of the stuff and/or glad that the shop in question might raise a few quid from it. I'm not dissing charity shops, and because the Somalia Shop is still open, I presume they are still making money. I still enjoy going there, finding little gems from time to time. The staff are lovely, and Mary has been manager from day one. Some of the things I have picked up include: Yves Saint Laurent scarf (actually real) for €2, 'vintage' jewelry, tons of great handbags, scarves, and interesting once-off kitsch crockery/glassware. Keep the traditional charity shop ethos alive and donate your old stuff or drop in next time you're in town, you never know what you'll find!
Other Charity Shops in Ennis:
Three of these are in close proximity to one another (St Vincent de Paul, Cancer Society, Somalia Shop), and Enable Ireland, Oxfam Books are both on Parnell St Upper (nearer to the Square).
The Society of St Vincent de Paul shop is great for books (ie. NOT chick-lit or Readers Digest back-issues). At 5 for €2 you can't go wrong, especially for a bit of summer reading.
Oxfam is excellent for special-interest books, popular fiction/non-fiction and vinyls/CDs.
Enable Ireland has brilliant window sales with new and nearly-new designer gear, if that's what floats your boat.
The Irish Cancer Society shop has household furniture, a wide range of specialist books, crockery, clothes, shoes, and accessories.
Clare Care is located on Harmony Row opposite the De Valera Library.
Top 5 tips for doing the charity shop run in Ennis:
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Check the opening times, usually your best bet is to go early as they don't always open or close when you expect!
Bring a bag with you (saving trees etc man!).
Have plenty coins, I don't think they like breaking €50s, or even €20s.
When donating things make sure clothes are packed neatly (or that similar items are packed together), that there is no actual rubbish in the bag, and that you drop-off the bag in when there is someone there in case it gets dumped or stolen.
Enjoy the hunt, remember rummaging is an art in itself: girls can be very good at this, knowing what you like can give you a sharp eye for hidden gems :-)
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x T.E.R
The Somalia Shop is located near the Wood Quay car-park, and opens until 4:30/5pm most Monday-Saturday.
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