The Toy Library Circular Christmas (UCC)
Get into the festive spirit at The Toy Library Circular Christmas event, where you can swap, donate, or borrow toys for the holiday season!
Date and time
Location
University College Cork
College Road Aula Maxima Cork IrelandAbout this event
- Event lasts 3 hours
Welcome to The Toy Library Circular Christmas!
Join us on December 8th at the Aula Maxima, University College Cork (11 AM - 2 PM) for a festive and eco-friendly celebration of the holiday season. This unique event is packed with activities for families to enjoy while making Christmas more sustainable and impactful.
What is the "Circular Christmas" Campaign?
The Toy Library’s Circular Christmas campaign encourages families to rethink holiday consumption by swapping or adopting toys instead of buying new ones. This simple act reduces waste, saves money, and promotes a **circular economy**—a win for your wallet and the planet!
Our mission is simple:
For every family to make at least one gift this season a circular toy, sourced through The Toy Library. By doing so, we reduce landfill waste and CO₂ emissions while giving toys a new life.
- At our launch event on November 10th, we recirculated 234 toys, saving over 120 KG of plastic. Let’s make this event even more impactful!
What to Expect at the Event
🌟 Toy Swap and Play
Bring up to 5 toys in good condition (no broken or incomplete items) to donate or swap with others. Didn’t bring toys? No problem—everyone is welcome to take toys home!
🧥 Christmas Jumper Swap
Got a Christmas jumper that no longer fits or isn’t your style? Bring it along and swap it for a "new-to-you" festive jumper! Let's extend the life of our clothing while celebrating the holiday season in style.
🧸 Teddy Bear Hospital
Surgeon Noonan and UCC Medical Society will give your teddy a check-up and ensure they’re ready for donation. Plus, enjoy face painting for kids!
🍪 Cookies and Tea
Enjoy warm drinks and delicious cookies baked by our volunteers.
🎅 Circular Santa
Meet our eco-friendly Santa, who will chat with kids about their Christmas wishes and share fun tips for celebrating sustainably.
🎁 Wrapping Corner
Wrap your newly adopted toys with our sustainable, branded wrapping paper—combining the joy of unboxing with eco-friendly practices.
🎟️ Raffle
Enter our raffle for a chance to win 10 tickets to Airtastic.
How Does the Toy Swap Work?
- Families can donate up to 5 toys (max) and take as many toys as they want. No need to donate anything to attend the event (people can just take what they like).
- Toys must be in very good condition (no missing parts, no broken pieces, it must be a toy you’d be happy for your child to get)
-No extra small toys, no extra large toys (those are better off being listed on The Toy Library online)
- Arrival time between 11 am and 12 pm - swap will take place until 2 pm
- Leftover toys will be donated to Down Syndrome Cork, the Child and Family Support Network, or gifted at a local library Family Fun Day in Carrigaline the following Saturday.
Who We Are: The Toy Library
The Toy Library is Ireland’s first circular economy platform for toys, proudly based in Cork and launched in June 2024.
We are a social enterprise supported by:
- ReThink Ireland SEFIT Fund
- Cork Local Enterprise Office
- CESCA (Cork Equal and Sustainable Communities Alliance)
- Cork City Council
- University College Cork
- Advance CRT (funded by SFI)
Our mission is to make sustainable toy-sharing accessible to everyone, creating lasting social and environmental impact.
🌐 Learn more at www.thetoylibrary.ie
Event Details
📍 Location: Aula Maxima, University College Cork
🗓️ Date: Friday, December 8th, 2024
⏰ Time: 11 AM - 2 PM
Join us for a heartwarming and impactful holiday event. Together, let’s make this Christmas a little more circular!
Frequently asked questions
Yes, attending the event is completely free! We only ask that you register so we can have a general idea of attendance numbers.
Absolutely! We planned it with kids in mind. Children can pick free toys from the stands to take home, enjoy the play area, and even get their beloved toys checked at our charming Teddy Bear Hospital.
Yes, one of our volunteers will be there to supervise the play area. However, parents are still responsible for their children at all times.
Yes, a catering service will provide coffee and cookies throughout the event.
Yes! We’ve set up a cozy, sustainable wrapping station where you can wrap the toy yourself using craft paper and fun stickers.
Yes. You can bring up to 5 toys per event, and remember to pick up any that aren’t adopted. You can also list any leftover toys on our free platform: www.thetoylibrary.ie.
Organised by
The Toy Library is Ireland's first circular economy digital platform for toys, promoting sustainable consumption and reducing waste in the toy industry. Founded in Cork in 2024, it offers families an innovative solution to extend the lifecycle of their kids’ beloved toys.