The little workshop left behind: How Cork's toy soldier factory is battling to stay on the map
Established by Lars Edman in 1975, the Prince August Toy Soldier Factory is best known as Europe's only toy soldier factory. Picture: Dan Linehan
They say a good soldier never leaves a man behind.
This might help explain why Lars Edman is feeling abandoned amid growing uncertainty about the future of his business — Ireland’s only toy soldier factory.
What was once a bustling time of year for his bespoke enterprise, Christmas now only attracts a modest footfall to the old-world attraction located in the Múscraí Gaeltacht village of Cill na Martra in Cork.
While many children have turned away from traditional toys in favour of video games and smartphones, Lars believes the real death knell for his business came with the arrival of the N22 Macroom/Baile Mhúirne bypass on December 9, 2022.
“There has been a severe drop off in the visitors centre, and the main reason for this is that the Macroom bypass has severely impacted us," Lars says.
His requests to erect signage along the bypass to promote the existence of his business to tourists, visitors, and other motorists, have been rejected on numerous occasions.
"Just being able to get signage would be a huge help and absolutely mind blowing," he told the
"I have been on to the council. There was a time when you could put up your own signage and it was left there. I put up tourist signs and they were taken down within 14 days when the bypass opened. They looked identical to the official signs.
"We got away with it before, but now they have a private company doing the service on the bypass. I’ve tried another place around the bypass, but the signage comes down pretty fast.
“I’ve been told I need 50,000 visitors before I can have signage. I had 20,000 in 2019, which I thought was quite decent, but it’s still not enough.”
Mr Edman says the refusals contrast sharply with the erection of numerous signs directing motorists to the site of the Cúl na Cathrach ambush, which is marked by a monument and an information point detailing the historical event.
The ambush, which took place on February 25, 1921, led to an IRA truce and eventual treaty talks. It was one of three major ambushes leading up to this point, which included Kilmichael and Crossbarry.
"It is particularly sour when you are refused signage. We have been totally forgotten about here by the authority, who have chosen instead to put up signage for an ambush site," Mr Edman said.
"I don’t know why the council is supporting something that is not protecting any jobs. They put up signs for an ambush, yet they can’t do anything for us. This wasn’t a nice event. People got killed, and that’s not something that should be celebrated.
Established by Mr Edman in 1975, the Prince August Toy Soldier Factory is best known as Europe's only toy soldier factory. It offers visitors the chance to enjoy demonstrations of traditional casting methods and even learn the art for themselves.
But while military fans once flocked to the factory during the festive season, shopping centres and online shops are now the first port of call for Christmas shoppers.
The Swedish native has done his best to embrace the shift to online buying habits. His figurines, which include everything from to revolutionary leader Michael Collins, are enjoyed all over the world, but while online is providing his business with a lifeline, he misses the rush of visitors coming through the doors — especially in the run-up to Christmas
“I don’t know if we will ever recover the numbers we had before. When people are on a high speed road it’s more difficult to get them to stop."
Before the bypass, the factory benefitted from “walk-ins” of all nationalities.
“In the 90s, we got a lot of Americans in particular in who were very good spenders," he said.
"Many of them spent thousands on hand-painted chess sets. Even though these were expensive, they flew out the door. Our American visitors are the reason we stock hand-painted soldiers. Many didn’t want to buy our casting kits because they didn’t have time to make their own, so they wanted them ready made.”
He described how the business, which employs nine staff, has evolved over the years.
“We have had to adapt. These days we have extended our range of stock to Christmas decorations, fairies, and comic book heroes, to name but a few. When it comes to toy soldiers, the girls are more interested in the workshops than the boys. Girls seem to be more clever with their hands, which is something we see a lot.”
But even with the significant challenges such as the bypass, competition from online, and high-tech games, Mr Edman says there is still a market for toy soldiers.
"There are many adults who come to take up the hobby of collecting toy soldiers again after the family is raised and they have more time on their hands. This is the time when many of them go back to playing with toy soldiers.
"It’s a very therapeutic activity that is really stimulating for the brain. The results are very positive for dementia patients too. It’s the satisfaction of completing something that is most rewarding for people.
"We have customers coming to us for as long as 50 years.”
So fortunately, Lars Edman’s army at the Prince August Toy Soldier Factory lives to fight another day or, in this case, another Christmas.
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