SHOPPING CENTRES ARE centres of joy.
Whether you’re a child or an adult, there’s something for everyone.
Here are a few things that can usually be found in an Irish shopping centre:
1. Dodgy rides outside the supermarket
You’d beg your Mam for 20p, before admitting defeat and just sitting on the lifeless pony until you were made get off.
2. An unnecessary fountain
Throw in a penny for good luck, or fish out a few if nobody was looking.
3. A dusty looking icecream counter
Slush puppies will be had, rain or shine.
Flickr/robandstephainelevy
4. Old people on benches
Just watching the world go by.
Graham Hughes/Photocall Ireland!
5. Wheelie cars for kids
The holy grail of all toddlers.
6. Too many department stores
An Irish shopping centre is always anchored by one or more of the following: Penneys, Dunnes (both food and homeware), Debenhams, or formerly, a Roches (never forget).
Graham Hughes/Photocall Ireland!
7. Lads offering to bring your trolleys back for the money
Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland
8. Trees inside
Graham Hughes/Photocall Ireland!
9. Radio station always broadcasting from inside or out
Facebook/Blanchardstown Centre
10. A dirty brown and cream colour scheme
Flickr/infomatique
11. A Carraig Donn
Never any craic when you’re a kid.
12. …Previously a Dynasty
Ah, the days of ten bangles for a pound.
Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland!
13. Some ‘monument’ outside
Has zero meaning but fun to play on.
Flickr/Infomatique
14. A car in the middle of the centre to be won
Leon Farrell/ Photocall Ireland
15. A ‘fashion show’ of a busy Saturday afternoon
Blocking the exact shop you want to go to.
LEON FARRELL/PHOTOCALL IRELAND
16. …Or any bit of ‘hoo ha’
Facebook/Whitewater
17. Photos of people shopping on the walls
Eamonn Farrell/Photocall Ireland
18. Charity workers packing your bags and shaking their buckets
Emotional blackmail.
Shutterstock
19. A stall for paintballing or country getaways that you feel bad walking by
Facebook/The Park Hotel Dungarvan
20. 3 different pharmacies and a Boots
Just IN CASE.
