Welcome. Fáilte!
Charity number: 20205452
The Museum of Childhood Ireland is breaking new ground by reimagining what it means to be a “Museum of Childhood.” At present, there are museums of childhood which focus on toys and nostalgia; there are also children’s museums that offer various activities based on educational and scientific principles and there are social history museums that address some aspects of childhood from a historical perspective. The Museum of Childhood Ireland adopts a wide-angle approach to childhood that is both islandwide and international in scope. As there is no singular narrative that captures childhood experiences in Ireland, we present an inclusive and holistic view of historical and contemporary childhood that inspires critical reflection and stimulates important and timely conversations about childhood in all its complex forms.
Over the last three decades, the varied history of children and childhood in Ireland has come to the fore of our collective cultural consciousness in ways that are too frequently dark and deeply disturbing. We are in many important ways still coming to terms with the legacy of the outdated belief that “children should be seen and not heard.” At the Museum of Childhood Ireland we believe that all children should be seen and heard. Our primary objective is the establishment of a national institution that can take the lead in creating a new vision for the way in which children are cherished and respected in Irish society.
Latest Posts
Photography and Irish Children: A Window into Childhood Fashion
By Mary Hatfield (Hatfielm@tcd.ie) Photographs provide a rich and detailed source for exploring children’s lives and their place and role in Irish society. Even a brief glance through historic photograph collections indicates the many ways Irish childhood was constructed and experienced across different periods, classes, and localities. Since the invention of photography in the mid-nineteenth… Continue reading Photography and Irish Children: A Window into Childhood Fashion
Children’s Clothing in Modern Ireland
By Mary Hatfield (hatfielm@tcd.ie) One of the many sources that historians of childhood use to gain insight into childhood in the past is clothing. How children were dressed, and what was considered fashionable for children manifest something of the cultural ideas and values of a particular historical moment. For example, in contemporary culture we distinguish… Continue reading Children’s Clothing in Modern Ireland
Marginalia & The Pollard Collection of Children’s Books
An Interview with Tony Flynn Tony Flynn is a Ph.D. candidate researching marginalia and inscriptions left by early 20th Century child readers in the Pollard Collection of Children’s Books at Trinity College Dublin. He has previously written articles and reviews for Books Ireland and Inis Magazine, among others. He works as Facilities Coordinator at MoLI.… Continue reading Marginalia & The Pollard Collection of Children’s Books
12 Irish Children’s Literature Authors
As the festive season is upon us once again, we face the reality of having to brave the cold Irish winter to buy our loved ones their Christmas gifts. Considering this, I have put together a list of 12 Irish Children’s Literature authors to guide you in your book-buying frenzy this year. Though many of… Continue reading 12 Irish Children’s Literature Authors
Bloomsday 2017
Joyce and music. Intergenerational, family friendly Bloomsday. Children are especially welcome! You are cordially invited to join us for tea, cake and a chat from 11am on the morning of Friday 16th June. We have a gorgeous main display, and several mini displays, centred on the music featured in/ which inspired Joyces work. Pick up… Continue reading Bloomsday 2017
Bloomsday 2018
See our display on James Joyce books for children at our office in Dún Laoghaire. Call by from 11am for readings from these for young children. Drop by from 2pm to also hear readings from Ulysses by our volunteer team and project friends. We’ll be dressed up for a stroll later in the day around… Continue reading Bloomsday 2018
Bloomsday 2019
Royal Marine Hotel, Dún Laoghaire. The Museum of Childhood Ireland Project Bloomsday Talk 2019. ‘Joyce, Childhood and Dublin: ‘a new and complex sensation’ (P 66)’ with Professor Anne Marie D’Arcy. Introduced by Majella McAllister. Date: June 15th. Time:7-8.30pm. Location: Dún Laoghaire suite at the Royal Marine Hotel. We are delighted to welcome Dr Anne Marie… Continue reading Bloomsday 2019
Children in War, 2020-21
The Basque Children of ’37 12 month Islandwide touring exhibition This year the MCI Project in partnership with BCA 37 UK, presents the 3rd in our series on Children in War: The Basque Children of ‘37. This year the MCI Project in partnership with BCA 37 UK, present the 2nd of our Children in War… Continue reading Children in War, 2020-21
Children in War 2017
Tomi Reichental, I was a Boy in Belsen. Please join us for an evening with Tomi Reichental. Where: At our office, 94 Lower Georges St. Dún Laoghaire. Time: 7pm until late Date: Wednesday Nov 8th 2017 We are honoured that Tomi is to give the inaugural talk for the Museum of Childhood Ireland Project on… Continue reading Children in War 2017
