We’ve all been there. Smiling graciously as we unwrap our Christmas presents to reveal something utterly useless or unsuitable or, indeed, downright insulting. So this month is a good time for a clear-out of unwanted gifts.
Maria Conway (45) has been on the receiving end of such gifts on many occasions. But this Christmas the mother of two from Northern Ireland, who is now living in Cork, received a “bizarre” medley of “random items” – leaving her wondering if the relatives who posted them “either sent the wrong package or were trying to send some sort of message”.
She sends gifts to family in the UK every year and they send some in return. “I always put some effort into choosing their presents. but unfortunately I can’t say that they do the same as there is never really anything of great interest in the package that arrives here – but, as I say to the kids, it’s the thought that counts,” Ms Conway said.
“However, this year we received a box of gifts which firstly had us crying with laughter and then, later, made us feel quite insulted as all the items were not only totally random and unsuitable, but also second-hand and ranged from hugely oversized T-shirts to used running shoes and some very questionable night wear, which was also second hand.
Trump’s first hours: With each stroke of the pen came seismic hammer blows
‘Nobody took any responsibility whatsoever’: Widow had to pay €70,000 to fix wall damaged by river
Fintan O’Toole: What’s the dirtiest four-letter word in Irish politics? ‘Deal’
Ireland’s 11 billionaires saw their wealth grow by a third to €50bn in 2024
“We will be re-evaluating what, if anything, we send to them next year and, in the meantime, the whole lot will be going straight to the charity shop.”
While his unwanted Christmas gifts were not quite so unexpected, John Nolan (27) will also be making a charitable donation as “there is a limit to the amount of aftershave one man can use”.
“I have a number of elderly relatives and each year, for as long as I can remember, they all send me some sort of toiletry or aftershave set,” said Mr Nolan, who is from the UK and is now living in Dublin. “I also have four sisters and lots of female cousins, who also buy something similar, so, while I am very grateful and delighted with the attention, I just can’t use all the stuff that I get.”
He said he would be boxing them up and making a trip to the charity shop.
There are more than 470 charity shops in Ireland, Charity Retail Ireland says, and the post-Christmas period is one of the busiest of the year for the retail outlets. .
Oxfam Ireland runs an Unwanted Gifts campaign every year after Christmas, encouraging people to donate gifts they do not need or will not use. These donations often include toiletries, perfumes, aftershaves, socks, hats, gloves, board games, books and clothing that might not be the right size.
“We gladly accept a wide range of unwanted gifts as donations, and these have definitely increased post-Covid as I feel that these days people don’t hang on to presents that they don’t want,” Mark Sweeney of Oxfam Ireland said.
“People understand that they shouldn’t just dump items they don’t want or need, so donating unwanted items is actually very on trend.”
If someone has something that they’re not going to use, then it’s great to give it to someone who might need it
Patrycja Pawela, the deputy manager of the Oxfam shop in Ringsend, Dublin, said the shop was “always looking for donations, either unwanted gifts at this time of year or from a wardrobe clear out”.
“So I would encourage people to pack up their unwanted items and pop into any Oxfam Ireland shop, and while they’re there take a look around, as they’ll be amazed at what they might find,” she said.
But while the charity welcomes donations, Mr Sweeney warned that not everything was saleable.
“If an item is not in good condition or is particularly large or unusual, it’s a good idea to call your local Oxfam Ireland shop before dropping it off to ensure we can accept it because, although we try to take everything, there can be some restrictions,” he said.
Over the last three weeks, Enable Ireland’s charity shop in George’s Street, Dublin, has seen a surge in donations, assistant store manager Niall Byrne said.
“After Christmas there’s a big surge of brand new presents and gifts ... candles especially, and hampers. [They’re] full of soaps, essentials that people would need,” he said.
Donating gifts through a charity shop is a way to pass on useful items to those in greater need, Mr Byrne said. “It’s a great thing for us, and I think it’s good that if someone has something that they’re not going to use, it’s great to give it to someone who might need it,” he said.
Further down the street, Ileana Pop, store manager at the St Vincent de Paul shop, has seen a similar surge in post-Christmas donations.
She was standing behind the shop counter, with gift sets and bric-a-brac arranged in front of the till, when we visited.
So, remember that your unloved Christmas stocking filler could be a dream gift for someone else.
“We’re very, very happy to take them, especially because they’re brand new, and they’re selling very well,” she said.
- Sign up for push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
- Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date
- Listen to our Inside Politics podcast for the best political chat and analysis
