‘I have the dresses... I’m happy to help’
BRIDAL SHOP GIVING AWAY 100 DRESSES TO THOSE HIT BY DUBLIN CLOSURE
AN Arklow bridal boutique owner is giving away 100 bridesmaid dresses to brides affected by the sudden closure of a Dublin-based store last week.
Following the news that Wedding World in Marino closed without notice, Bernie O’Farrell of B Couture in Arklow has offered her stock of sample Dessy bridesmaid gowns to those 200 brides who have been left high and dry.
‘I stopped dealing with the Wedding World supplier Dessy three years ago after this shop popped up and was selling the same dresses much cheaper than I could,’ said Ms O’Farrell.
‘I hate to hear of anyone going out of business but there is no way that anyone could keep going selling at such low prices. The brides have put down big deposits and now have no dresses. I have the dresses sitting in the shop since then so I’d be happy to see them go to good use,’ Ms O’Farrell said.
‘I have the sample dresses here, approximately 100 of them, and I would love to be able to help some of these brides out. Myself and some other retailers are bringing the dresses to one place so the brides can meet us and we can try and get them sorted,’ she said.
Following her appearance on Liveline with Joe Duffy last week, Ms O’Farrell said that she was shocked how her gesture has received such attention.
‘I didn’t think that it would get such attention at all. People have been so nice and given me such lovely comments, but really it’s not about me. I just wanted to help if I could in any way. Anybody would do the same,’ she said.
Ms O’Farrell clarified that the dresses are only offered to the brides directly affected by the Wedding World closure as they are at the loss of their deposits and gowns.
A spokesperson for Dessy said that the company is owed ‘a significant amount of money’ and was critical of Ms O’Farrell’s decision to give her old stock away.
Michele O’Neill claimed that the dresses were still owned by Dessy but Ms O’Farrell said that when she tried to return them three years ago, she was told to keep them.
Ms O’Neill also criticised Ms O’Farrell for ‘ trying to jump on the media bandwagon’.
‘I didn’t ask for any media attention for this and it wasn’t about getting publicity. They came to me. I just wanted to help the brides and if I can do that in some way, then I’m happy,’ Ms O’Farrell said.
Ms O’Farrell will be meeting with brides today, from noon to 6 p.m. at the Croke Park Convention Centre in Dublin.