David Condon Finds

There are few things funnier than watching the face of an American visitor the first time an Irish person casually asks: “What’s the craic?” You can nearly see the panic arrive in stages. First, confusion. Then concern. Then the silent question behind the eyes: What kind of country have I landed in? Relax. Nobody is offering you anything illegal. Nobody is asking where to buy anything suspicious. And no, your friendly Irish host has not just turned into a character from a crime drama. This post actually came about while I was working on my local guide to Tralee . That is the funny thing about writing local Irish posts: one idea often leads to another.  You start thinking about visitors, pubs, conversations and the little things people notice when they come to Ireland, and suddenly you remember that we casually use a word that can make an American visitor look genuinely alarmed. What Does “Craic” Mean in Ireland? No, It Does Not Mean That In Ireland, craic means fun, chat, news,...

Cutting the grass shouldn’t feel like a half-day job, but for years, that’s exactly what it was. Our old lawnmower came with a collection bag that needed emptying every few passes. Stop, empty, restart. Repeat. By the time the lawn was finished, I’d lost all interest in the job and still had a pile of clippings to deal with. When it finally gave up, I started looking at alternatives. Mulching mowers kept coming up, but I wasn’t convinced. Leaving grass behind sounded like a recipe for a mess. We even considered robotic mowers, until I realised I’d be digging up the garden to lay boundary wires. In the end, we went with a mulching model from O’Neills Power Equipment in Tralee… and it completely changed how I look at cutting grass. The out-of-place lines you see are just where I pushed the mower off the grass from the centre, they’re not part of the actual cutting pattern. You can see the clean finish otherwise. The lawn also looks greener later in the season, this was an early cut ...

We've all been there at one time or another.  A leisurely trip to the local Farmer's Market suddenly turns sour and brings you to the point of panic. Unexpectedly, a Market Trader and your good self  have made brief eye contact.  He/she has smiled pleasantly with a hopeful look that you will come over and look at their goods on display and possibly make a purchase.   Your heart beat increases exponentially and in your 'fight or flight' state your eyes dart around left and right looking for that distraction that will get you off the hook. You only came down for a loaf of bread and some small cake goodies, you never expected to be caught in the gaze of some small craft maker who wants you to buy from them. 

There was a time when Christmas morning meant pure chaos, tearing through wrapping paper like wild animals, sugar highs by 8 a.m. and that magical feeling that something incredible was about to happen. Fast forward a few decades and… well, the only thing getting torn apart now is your back when you bend down to plug in the tree lights. Somewhere along the line, the magic faded a little. The excitement that used to keep us awake half the night has been replaced by the adult version of Christmas anticipation, waiting for the turkey to defrost properly and praying the power bill won’t double because of those “warm white” fairy lights that you swore were energy efficient. 

Are we in trouble as a planet, as a species? Every single decade since the 1970s we’ve been told the same or similar warning: “In 10 years we’ll be in big trouble if nothing changes.” The bogeyman keeps shifting. Back in the 1970s, headlines warned of a looming new ice age. By the 1980s the panic had moved to the ozone hole and skin cancer. In the 1990s and 2000s it became global warming and rising sea levels. And now, in 2025, it has been rebranded once again as the “Climate Crisis” with most of the consequences already listed — rebranded new buzzwords for a new decade, but the same old gremlins rolled out to scare us into action.

Selling online has been part of my life for over a decade. Like many people, I started with eBay but quickly discovered how much the fees eat into your earnings. Listing costs, final value fees, and PayPal charges all stacked up and by the time I shipped an item, I was often left wondering if it was even worth the hassle. That’s when I first came across eBid.net . The difference? I paid once for a lifetime membership right from the start, so I knew exactly where I stood. No recurring costs, no monthly pressure — just the freedom to sell when I wanted and only a small final value fee when you sell a product.  That decision still pays off today. Notes: I’m writing this post now as I reactivate my stores once again, and I thought it might be useful to share my experience for anyone considering giving eBid a try. This post contains an affiliate link  at the end — if you sign up, I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you. 👉 You might also be interested in a related p...

Every so often, I feel the need to step back from my usual topics and write something that’s been niggling away in the back of my mind for a while. This post isn’t about woodcraft, or even the day-to-day struggles of running a small business, although in some ways, it’s connected. It’s about leadership and how those who are meant to represent us are often doing the exact opposite these days. Sometimes it looks like obliviousness, but more often, it feels like something else.

Why I wrote this Post When the first symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy hit — those strange pin-pricks in my feet and legs, followed by tingling and numbness in random parts of my body — it completely blindsided me. I was worried, confused, and desperate for answers. If you’re feeling the same way right now, you’re not alone. That’s exactly why I wrote this post: to share what I’ve learned, what I wish I’d known sooner, and hopefully offer a bit of calm in what can feel like a very chaotic time. Because those first strange sensations are often just the beginning. Over the past few years, I’ve tried different approaches, tracked my own progress, and paid close attention to what actually made a difference. What started as a personal journey has turned into a detailed, real-world account of using the Revitive Circulation Booster for Peripheral Neuropathy. Everything here is based on first-hand experience — not theory, not guesswork. TL;DR — My Results Using Revitive for Peripheral Neuropat...

Hoping for a Miracle Let’s be honest — if you live with any kind of chronic pain, inflammation, or restless nights, you’ll try just about anything that might help. Tablets, snake oils, electronic devices, praying to your fairy godmother — anything to bring relief from what ails you. I’ve always been a bit sceptical of “miracle cures,” especially when they’re splashed all over social media ads promising to heal you overnight.  Before I go on: I have a series of posts on Peripheral Neuropathy if you'd like to read how I found relief after reading this post.

When you're tight on space, every square inch counts - especially if you're running a small business from home. I needed a way to hang tools, other stock and packaging bits in a way that didn’t involve putting up more shelves or stacking more boxes on the floor taking up valuable real estate.  So, I put together a simple wall-mounted grid panel mostly using bits and pieces I already had lying around, a sheet of mesh I bought, plus a few Amazon extras. It didn’t cost much, took less than 2 hours to prep and install, and has made a massive difference to how I use the current space. The entire job cost about €60 and has cured a lot of headaches for me. Here’s how I did it, and how you can too. Be sure to check out this great post Game-Changing Amazon Tech and Accessories for Everyday Use after you finish reading here!

Beyond the Revitive Circulation Booster, I’ve experimented with several other approaches to ease foot pain and neuropathy symptoms, from specialist socks to, surprisingly, a grounding mat. None of this is medical advice; I’m simply sharing firsthand experience from living with neuropathy day to day. I’ve spent a good chunk of money testing things that might help, mostly out of desperation rather than curiosity. If I can spare you some of the trial and error, then it’s worth writing this. If you want to know exactly what’s worked for me, stick with me and I’ll explain everything step by step.

After writing my first blog post about the Revitive Circulation Booster, (link at the end if you missed it) I thought readers might like an honest update based on a year (and more) of living with Peripheral Neuropathy. It’s been a tough journey, and if you’ve landed here, maybe it has been for you too. I’ve added three updates in total (listed below), written at key intervals to reflect real life progress, slip-ups, and tips that may help. This updated version first appeared on my original blog at davidcondonwoodcraft.ie. (linked below) and has been split up and rewritten for an easier read.  

You’d be surprised how often a simple mistake in a phone number causes delays. Every week I see customers enter their number incorrectly at checkout, sometimes just one digit out, other times so far off the mark you'd swear they were writing an IBAN! Most of the time, small businesses like mine can spot and fix the obvious ones. But sometimes we need to email you for clarification, which can delay your order being dispatched. This post will show you the most common phone number mistakes I see and how to fix them in 10 seconds flat.  Why not check out this post on Amazon Health & Fitness Products  for some great ideas after you've finished here

 Let me ask you something. When was the last time you saw more than one staffed checkout in a major supermarket? Lately, I’ve found myself standing in front of rows of glowing self-checkout machines with no real choice at all. No staffed tills open or a single one with a long queue, no one to talk to, just a machine and a scanner. I’m not against technology.  Far from it but something about this shift feels off. It’s not convenience anymore. It’s replacement. Staff are being sidelined, and shoppers like you and me are being quietly turned into unpaid workers. This post isn’t a rant, but a reflection. What started as a mild irritation has grown into something that bothers me and judging by the conversations I’ve seen online and in person, I’m not alone. Self-checkouts only work because most people are honest. If theft were the norm, these machines wouldn’t exist. That trust is being exploited, we’re expected to do the work and prove we didn’t steal. Looking for some cool...

Thinking about switching from Amazon UK to Amazon Ireland? Here’s what you need to know first. You’re not alone. Since Amazon launched its Irish site, a lot of people have been wondering if it’s actually worth making the move. The short answer? It depends on what you buy, how often you order, and what matters most to you, price, delivery speed, or product choice. In this post, I’ll break down the real differences between Amazon UK and Amazon Ireland, what’s improved, what hasn’t, and how it might affect your day-to-day shopping. Irish shopping update June 1st: If you are comparing Amazon Ireland, Amazon UK and other online sellers, it is also worth understanding the new €3 import charge coming from 1 July 2026 for many low-value goods shipped from outside the EU. I’ve explained what it may mean for Irish shoppers here: New €3 Import Charge for Irish Online Shoppers from 1 July 2026 . ──────────── ✿ ──────────── This post is an updated version of one I originally published on my ma...