Hello, this is David’s youngest, Robin.
You may have noticed and been disappointed by the lack of updates on the site recently.
It is with a heavy heart that I have to inform you all that the sole maintainer of this site over the past 15 years, David Parks, lost the fight to cancer and passed away last week.
David was a consistent, hard-working person who put a great deal of care into his craft, and built this website as a resource, from the ground up since 2010 on his own.
Along the way, he faced many hurdles and road blocks, but they never stopped him from pushing forward and keeping the site going, and it quickly became a very useful resource for many across the country, pushing beyond the initial target audience of collectors, quickly becoming an asset for anyone looking to attend various events, from antique fairs and auctions, to car boot sales and much much more.
The site recently reached 5 million visits, a figure he wasn’t sure he’d ever reach, and there were great things planned – like a 2nd Edition to the Collect Ireland guide book – but time was against us and there was nothing that could be done.
David will be sorely missed, by his family and by his friends, but his work will not soon be forgotten.
For now, this site will remain in a read-only state, so as to preserve his past work, but this isn’t necessarily the end – I won’t rule out the possibility of taking on the responsibility to maintain this site myself, but unfortunately there are only so many hours in the day and I am very busy with my own responsibilities.
To all who have made it this far, for as long as you’ve been with us on this journey, thank you.
Collect Ireland 
Dear Robin,
I am so very sorry to hear your sad news of the late David, your father, may he rest in peace. Almost shocking news, since none of my contacts seemed to be aware of his illness.
He very efficiently and quietly helped many of us organising fairs and auctions over past years, yes, he will be sorely missed by all.
It is very good of you to let us know of David’s passing. May I offer you and each of David’s family deepest sympathy on his passing.
Sincerely, Mary Flood, Organiser, annual Kilkenny Book Fair.
So sorry for your loss 🙏 RIP
So sorry for your loss. The amount of work involved in updating the site over so many years was a massive undertaking. RIP.
Hi Robin,
our condolences to you and your family on the loss of David.
We never met him but we corresponded by email on several occasions. David was always helpful and courteous. His work and site was a great help to us when we ran our car boot sale and was very much appreciated.
He will be sadly missed by so many.
Best Regards,
Eddie and Ibi Guiry
Dear Robin I am so sorry to hear about the passing of your father, the site was very special, in this crazy online fake and fast world it was a trusted source and site to come browse you could tell it was carefully managed by your dad and goes to show the incredible man he was I didn’t even know him but the legacy he built will not be forgotten, may he rest in peace and you take care and mind yourself, Mia smith
To David Parks family and friends,
I’m so sorry for your loss.
Thanks to your father for all the time and effort that he put into the site. It was/is a great resource.
Best wishes
Angela Brennan
please accept my condolences, his hard work was appreciated and attention to detail brilliant.
I sent posters that he adjusted so that they were readable on mobile phones and he must have worked 8 days a week !
I only do the odd fair now but it was a site I always recommended.
once again please accept my sympathies
Patrick Bradley
So sorry to hear about your Dad’s passing i only got to chat to him over the years online regarding posts and found him extremely professional helpful person and was the only site I ever found with up to date information and covering such a wide range of information, he will be sorely missed by all the antique vintage collectors and sellers in Ireland and far beyond may he rest in peace
Mary Havern
Sincere condolences on the loss of David. It was with great sadness that I recently learned of his passing.
The site became a go to source for me, as I’m sure it did for many others.
I spoke with a David just twice, by phone, and he was a very friendly and diligent man. He was very proud of Collect Ireland, and rightly so!
It is a wonderful resource and it would be fantastic if it could be maintained.
Having listened to David talking about how much time and effort went into building and maintaining the site, I was happy to subscribe in the past, and would be happy to do so again.
Meanwhile, I’ll remember David and keep him in my prayers.
May he Rest in Peace.
Ray Sutton, Rummage, Roscommon.
I am very sorry to hear of the death of your father. He provided a very useful platform for collectors, dealers and auctioneers. His presentation was very professional but also entertaining.
Best wishes
Ian Whyte
To hear of passing of your your father made me very upset , I chatted with your dad a lot about Carboots and his passion for all train related items .
what he did for Carboots and antiques will be never matched .
He will be missed
Cork Carboot Sale FB
I am so sad to hear of David’s passing. I have been retired for several years now, so had not been in touch with David recently, but he provided an invaluable service, and was always helpful and supportive while I was running Vintage Ireland. My condolences to his family.
Joan Murray (formerly of Vintage Ireland / Antiques Fairs Ireland