This article is from page 4 of the 2012-06-26 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
IT MAY look suspicious when a group of strangers meet up in car parks and at bus stops around the county to hand over packages and large goods, but the new phenomena is a lot more innocent than it first appears.
These people have met through a Facebook page that gives away used good for free.
“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” explained Ennis woman Tina Whelan, the brainchild behind the operation.
The Facebook page “Clare free to a good home” allows people advertise items that they no longer require and want to give away for free.
Everything from a three piece to a bicycle, phone to a playhouse, and even some wedding dresses have been given away.
With over 1,500 friends Ms Whelan set up the closed page as the original “open” page was too difficult to police.
“People were messing and causing offence so we closed the first page after 50 to 60 days and then set up the closed page that people have to ‘like’ to access,” she explained.
There are now rules associated with the page, such as the amount of items any one person can claim. People are only allowed to claim one item a day from the 50 to 60 items a week that are posted.
There remains a few minor arguments from time to time, Ms Whelan admits, but nothing too serious that the administrators can’t manage.
People also ask for items they may need from the other members.
Last week one man asked for old fertiliser bags so he could go to the bog and fill his turf.
Within hours he had four to five offers.
“Another girl came on looking for a wedding dress and someone gave her their dress which was worth over € 2,000,” said Ms Whelan.
“In the first week one girl came on looking for a mannequin. I thought she will never get that, but she had three to four offers.
“It has just taken off. I am absolutely stunned at the reaction. People tell me they are now addicted to the page,” she added.
Since the page was launched last week more than 2,000 items have been given away.
“Children’s clothes are the biggest draw,” said Ms Whelan.
And as children finish up at school this week, the woman behind “Clare free to a good home” has set up a new page where parents can offer school uniforms, books and other materials to other parents.
“I am encouraging people to swap on this page so everyone benefits,” she said. Clare School/Book Uniform Swap has already had a lot of hits and a number of followers.
And while “giving stuff away” may be at the core of Ms Whelan’s first two pages she has set up a third that allows employers advertise jobs in Ennis.
“Ennis regular jobs for regular people” contains what she describes as “ordinary jobs that don’t require degrees or qualifications”.