A first for Ireland, the Museum of Childhood Ireland puts children and childhood – past and present – at the centre of life. This extraordinary destination gathers together the wonderful, challenging and diverse strands of the ever-evolving story of childhood.
Dublin Comic Con, 11th and 12th March 2023. What an incredible, Creative, Inclusive, and Playful family day out! The atmosphere was electric ⚡️ We met tons of old and new friends. Wonderful superhero creation in the all day workshop too! 🦸♀️🦸♂️🦸 We were delighted that Basak Ellibes from the Istanbul Toy Museum, Karol O’Connor, Action… Continue reading MoCI at Dublin Comic Con 2023
Books by Patricia Lynch. Patricia Lynch, children’s writer and journalist, was born in Cork c. 1884. She is best known for ‘The Turf-Cutter’s Donkey, first published in 1934, and illustrated by Jack Butler Yeats. Her semi-autobiographical A Story-Teller’s Childhood was published in 1974. She died at Monkstown, Co Dublin in 1972. Ryan’s Fort, 1961, illustrated… Continue reading The Turfcutter’s Donkey & Ryans Fort
Book, by Mary Flynn. Cornelius the rabbit lives in Tang, located near Ballymahon, Co Longford, where author Mary Flynn was born. Hardback. Published by The Talbot Press Limited, 89 Talbot Street, Dublin in 1946 Illustrated by artist Eileen Coughlan (1909 – 1990) from Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath. Eileen studied at the Metropolitan School of Art. Her… Continue reading Cornelius in Charge
Book by Elizabeth Brennan A charming, whimsical story about the alignment of the North, South and West Winds in the face of the evil East Winds. Featuring poems and stories about fairies and leprechauns ,delightfully illustrated by Irish artist Naomi Heather. 8 colour illustrations, and 52 line drawings. Hardback, Metropolitan Publishing Ltd, Dublin and London… Continue reading The Wind Fairies
Art work. Dreaming. Mono print, by artist Adelle Hickey. * This black on ivory mono print of a little dress looks at the experience and journey of loss and grief. My father passed away when I was two years old. While I have no memories of him, his death cast a shadow of sadness, grief… Continue reading Dreaming
Sculpture. We are so Lightly Here (2018) Aiseirí, by artist Bonnie Kavanagh* We are so Lightly here is a sculptural piece derived from Aiséirí, Bonnie’s work referencing the Tuam Babies. It is of hearts fused together on a stoneware plinth, honouring all the children who died and were interred in Mother and Baby homes in… Continue reading We Are So Lightly Here
‘The Book of Saint Ultan’, is a collection of pictures and poems by Irish artists and writers. One of the first books printed by Colm O’Lochlainn, The Candle Press, Dublin, 1920. Katherine MacCormack (Editor) Eight tipped-in plates, with several pen and ink drawings by Jack B. Yeats, A.E., Grace Henry, Paul Henry, E.F. Solomons, Mary Duncan,… Continue reading The Book of Saint Ultan
Book by Patrick Weston Joyce Patrick Weston Joyce, a noted Irish cultural historian, is the author of a Child’s History of Ireland. Written especially for children, it covers Irish history up until the mid-nineteen century. It has been carefully preserved and handed down. The inscription inside the back cover, is to the original owner of… Continue reading A Child’s History of Ireland
By Sokeen The sound of cars slowly creeps into my dreams, light shines through the cracks in my painted wooden blinds. I slowly raised my head off the pillow that I had rested my head on overnight and that now had a sizeable dent where my head was and. I flung my blanket aside and… Continue reading Bloomsday 2022
Batgirl at Comic Con Dublin 2022! Our museum team member Sorcha with items from the MoCI’s collection. Thank you Dublin Comic Con for an amazing weekend. 💥A fantastic atmosphere and everyone was so friendly and helpful ❤️ #dublincomiccon #dublincomiccon2022
By Jolanta Burke Updated / Tuesday, 14 February 2023 09:06 Songs are not just songs – they are lines of words that repeat in our heads with a tune to accompany them. They are like thoughts, and it is sometimes hard to differentiate our thoughts from the songs that get stuck in our heads on… Continue reading Reflections On . . . Love Songs and Wellbeing
By Edgar Debel In this research I wanted to look at Direct Provision in Ireland and its consequences on children and their lives. What is direct provision?Direct Provision is a system in place in Ireland which handles people who seek asylum and refugee in the country. In this system people are accommodated in what are… Continue reading Children & Direct Provision
Use these videos to help children understand their rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. (61) UNCRC Scotland – YouTube (61) Rights of the Child Segment 1 – What are Childrens Rights – YouTube
This online gallery from the Early Childhood Voices Conference 2022 is a wonderful snapshot of children’s voices from around the world. Children were asked to create a drawing of themselves talking to someone and then their insights and discussions about their drawing were authentically documented. Click the link below to view the gallery. Children Draw… Continue reading Young Children’s Voices Expressed Through Their Drawings
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
12 month islandwide touring exhibition. Champion of the Child: Janusz Korczac. Date: Thursday 26th April Time:7.30pm Venue: The Studio, Lexicon Library Dún Laoghaire. This is the 2nd in our series on Children and War, from the Museum of Childhood Ireland Project, and our first 12 month travelling exhibition. The exhibition will travel from Dún Laoghaire,… Continue reading Children in War 2018-2019
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
Royal Marine Hotel, Dún Laoghaire. The Museum of Childhood Ireland Bloomsday Talk 2019. ‘Joyce, Childhood and Dublin: ‘a new and complex sensation’ (P 66)’ with Professor Anne Marie D’Arcy. Introduction: 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 D’Arcy to… Continue reading Bloomsday 2019
The Museum is an exciting, physical and on-line hub where people of all ages – island-wide and beyond – are inspired to learn, play, reflect, and grow. It invites you to explore how key events and experiences of childhood had impacts here and far beyond our shores.
When children are seen and heard, we learn, we understand, we grow – and we are a better people, a better country, because of it. Children are not simply apprentice adults. They are equal and vital human beings – and just like people in middle or older age – they are at a precious moment in their lives. They possess their own unique perspectives, feelings, and contributions. When shared, these unique testimonies complete our world.
When we discover and interact with the histories and voices of children across Ireland, we get a fuller view of childhood, and of Ireland. And because children are meaningfully involved in the planning and running of the museum, the experience for visitors, scholars, groups and supporters is all the more authentic and rich.
This pioneering museum is a new and welcome destination and resource for Ireland. Its diverse and enlightening programme of displays, archives and events reimagines how children can be truly cherished and celebrated in Irish society. It’s a rich resource to inspire critical reflection and timely conversations about childhood – from its dark and disturbing past traumas to its more inventive and joyful narratives – and the extraordinary magic of possibility that childhood can be.
Contact Us
email: info@museumofchildhood.ie
Phone: +353 87 681 6760
Ag insint scéalta leanaí & óige.
Rud nua in Éirinn, cuireann Músaem Óige na hÉireann an bhéim ar leanaí agus an óige – san am atá thart agus san am i láthair. Cruinníonn an áit iontach seo na snáitheanna iontacha, dúshlánacha agus éagsúla de scéal na hóige le chéile.
Is mol spreagúil, fisiceach agus ar líne é an Músaem ina spreagtar daoine de gach aois – ar fud an oileáin agus níos faide i gcéin – chun foghlaim, súgradh, machnamh a dhéanamh agus fás. Tugann sé cuireadh duit iniúchadh a dhéanamh ar an tionchar a bhí ag príomhimeachtaí agus eispéiris na hóige anseo agus i bhfad thar ár gcósta.
Nuair a fheictear agus a chloistear leanaí, foghlaimímid, tuigimid, fásann muid – agus is daoine níos fearr muid, tír níos fearr, mar gheall air sin. Ní daoine fásta printíseachta iad páistí. Is daoine cothroma agus ríthábhachtacha iad – agus díreach cosúil le daoine meánaosta nó aosta – tá siad ag tráth tábhachtach ina saol. Tá a gcuid peirspictíochtaí, mothúcháin agus barúlacha uathúla féin acu. Tá ár ndomhan iomlán mar gheall ar na teistiméireachtaí uathúla seo
Nuair a aimsímid agus nuair a dhéanaimid idirghníomhú le stair agus guthanna leanaí ar fud na hÉireann, faigheann muid léargas níos iomláine ar an óige, agus ar Éirinn. Agus toisc go bhfuil baint ag leanaí le pleanáil agus reáchtáil an mhúsaeim, tá taithí na gcuairteoirí, na scoláirí, na ngrúpaí agus an lucht tacaíochta níos barántúla agus níos saibhre fós.
Is acmhainn nua d’Éirinn é an músaem ceannródaíoch seo a bhfuil fáilte roimhe. Samhlaíonn a clár ilghnéitheach agus soléite de thaispeántais, de chartlanna agus d’imeachtaí conas is féidir leanaí a chothú agus a cheiliúradh i sochaí na hÉireann. Acmhainn shaibhir atá ann chun machnamh criticiúil agus comhráite suntasacha faoin óige a spreagadh – óna tráma dorcha agus suaite san am atá thart go dtí na scéalta is airgthí agus níos áthasaí – agus draíocht na féidearthachta a d’fhéadfadh a bheith san óige.
