Founded in 2006 by Nausheen Ahmad, the wife of the Ambassador of Pakistan to Ireland, and the spouses of other ambassadors, the bazaar was an initiative to give immediate relief to victims of the devastating earthquake in Pakistan.

Gifts and donations from Ireland and traditional food and produce from their home countries were gathered for the first bazaar. Their efforts raised €75,000 to aid earthquake victims. Bazaars of this nature have been held successfully by the diplomatic corps in cities around the world for many years. In 2007 a second successful bazaar was held in Dublin by this team.

The following  three bazaars were ably chaired by, Aglae Hagg of Austria, who was instrumental in the International Charity Bazaar being established as a popular event on the Dublin social calendar.

The success of Dublin’s International Charity Bazaar is due not only to the efforts of the diplomatic corps in Ireland but also to the stalwart support of our many Irish friends. This cohort provides invaluable local knowledge, giving the bazaar a higher community profile and contact base.

The International Charity Bazaar was registered as a company limited by guarantee in 2008 and granted tax free status in 2009. It is expected to be granted charity status by the end of this year.

In its sixth year, the ICBD has evolved from a single-focused event to an ongoing, multi-faceted occasion and has built a strong partnership between members of the diplomatic corps and wider Irish community. Both groups are represented on the Board of Directors and organising committee.

In response to popular demand the International Bazaar has extended its remit each year. Offering an array of interesting foodstuffs and an extensive range of affordable arts and crafts, the bazaar has proved to be a popular occasion for finding exciting Christmas gifts. With the addition of exotic entertainment and children’s cultural activities the 2011 International Charity Bazaar will be as exciting as its predecessors.