Charity number: 20205452
Exploring the diverse Stories of Children & Childhood
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.
When We Were Kings and Queens of the Road: Catherine Agada Joseph
As a young girl in secondary school, I used to walk for 30 minutes every morning at 7am to school, and another 30 minute walk back home at 4pm. It never felt like a 30 minute walk because many other children in my neighbourhood also attended the same school. We would all wait for each… Continue reading When We Were Kings and Queens of the Road: Catherine Agada Joseph
When We Were Kings and Queens of the Road: Una Mullally
Across the Greens of a Concrete Suburb Walking to and from school as a child in the late 1980s and early 1990s was always about a succession of shortcuts. This journey began by crossing the park behind Super Valu in Deansgrange, a place of spring chestnut trees, winter frost, and autumn swallows. Then, up Kill… Continue reading When We Were Kings and Queens of the Road: Una Mullally
Holiday Souvenir Dolls and Their Place in Tourism
By Kayla D’Amato When considering the holiday souvenir dolls collected for many years by Ellen Worrall (now in the ownership of MoCI) See: questions begin to appear such as are they authentic? Do they represent stereotypes? Or are they accurate depictions of the imagery of the country in which they came from? To answer such… Continue reading Holiday Souvenir Dolls and Their Place in Tourism
Beatlemania, Mods and Hysterical Teenagers – Irish Style
By Ciara Molloy On 7 November 1963, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr performed two shows in the Adelphi Cinema on Middle Abbey Street to more than 5,000 Irish fans.[i] Mobs of ‘screaming teenage girls’ had greeted previous Beatles’ appearances in Leicester,[ii] and in anticipation of similar incidents in Dublin, Operation Beatles was… Continue reading Beatlemania, Mods and Hysterical Teenagers – Irish Style
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.
The Museum of Childhood is a pioneering museum – a new and welcome destination and resource for Ireland. A 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 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
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.
Dul i dteagmháil linn:
Ríomhphost: info@museumofchildhood.ie
Fón: +353 87 681 6760
The Museum of Childhood Ireland is a member of the following organisations:
The museum is the proud recipient of the following Awards to date
The Heritage Council:
County Winner: Tipperary, 2022 ( In collaboration with Tipperary Heritage and Tipperary Revitalisation)
County Winner: Dúnlaoghaire/South Dublin 2021
Kids in Museums, International Digital Awards 2020
INACS, International Awards 2020, 2021, 2022
And for Engage Kilkenny
The Museum of Childhood Ireland’s commitment is to Empowering young people
Our commitment to supporting young people in Ireland comes at a time when children and youth are facing significant challenges. By empowering children and youth, providing a supportive, inclusive community and platform, islandwide programmes to help foster friendships in communities, and looking at sustainability in the round, we help build a brighter, better future for all.