Wanda the Walking Doll, 1950s

Advance Doll and Toy Co  “My Wanda, a gift from an uncle in America, is made of hard plastic with eyes that open and close, blonde hair, yellow dress, and a mechanism in her body which connects to wheels on the soles of her shoes. When wound, this makes her “walk”.  Her arms and head… Continue reading Wanda the Walking Doll, 1950s

YEATS, Jack B RHA (1871-1957): The Wren Boys

Hand-coloured Cuala Press print. Framed, 62.5 x 33.5cm (24.6 x 13.2in). Size of print 48 x 19cm (18.9 x 7.5in). Scene depicts a traditional December 26th, Saint Stephen’s Day celebration. Four boys carry a bush decorated with ribbons through a village. Footprints suggest snow, and open mouths suggest the boys are singing the traditional rhyme.… Continue reading YEATS, Jack B RHA (1871-1957): The Wren Boys

Film & TV Toys

Display in BOI, Dún Laoghaire, December 2024 on Toys influenced by Film and TV Shows in the 60s, 70s, 80s. Toys I received as gifts at Christmas “I grew up watching TV and going to the cinema every chance I got. There were plenty of repeats of The Lone Ranger on television in the 60s,… Continue reading Film & TV Toys

Walter and Louisa Reid’s Letters at Christmas

Letters addressed to Mrs Reid, 53 York Road, Kingstown ( Dún Laoghaire) in 1872 and 1875 from her son and daughter, Walter and Louisa Reid. The envelope of treasured keepsakes also included and a calendar from 1877. Donated to Museum of Childhood Ireland by K Fahey. Museum of Childhood Ireland Collection, reference number: EC02. Date,… Continue reading Walter and Louisa Reid’s Letters at Christmas

Randolph Caldecott print

Framed, with a red mount by the Neptune Gallery, Dublin in the 1970s for Susan Browne, who was born in New York to Irish parents. Susan returned age 18 years of age in the early 1970s, to study history in Trinity College Dublin. Randolph Caldecott was an English artist and illustrator and the creator of… Continue reading Randolph Caldecott print

Rose’s Red ‘Booboo’ Car

Rose with the red booboo car, and her mother, Berney in their garden in Limerick, 1961 Rose Doyle’s father made this wagon in the 1960s. It’s not a toddler walker, rather, he meant it as a robust alternative to the dolls’ pram, to be pushed or pulled by an older child in the garden containing… Continue reading Rose’s Red ‘Booboo’ Car

Geraldine and Jean Parry’s Dolls, Christmas 1964

Geraldine, Jean, big sister Kay and their mother Josie From Ballymun to Springhill Ave., Blackrock “My name is Geraldine Parry, I am 63 years old and l Iive in Blackrock, Co Dublin. These dolls belonged to me and my sister Jean Parry, who was one year older than me. The dolls names are Aideen (blonde… Continue reading Geraldine and Jean Parry’s Dolls, Christmas 1964

Peter Kurtish- The Three Sisters’ High Chair, Dalkey

“Originally, the high chair was used by our family in Birkenhead (Cheshire) in the early 1900s for their three daughters. The youngest married in 1938, and moved to Dalkey in 1946. The chair came too for her forthcoming son. Used next by the eldest in Dublin, In the late 1960s the chair travelled to Bangor,… Continue reading Peter Kurtish- The Three Sisters’ High Chair, Dalkey

Maurice Smyth’s Christening robe, 1920s

Smyth family Christening gown: Charles and Elizabeth ( née McGowan) Smyth were Publicans from Dúnlaoghaire, owners of the town’s well loved Smyth’s Pub. The family have resided in Dún laoghaire since the mid 1800’s. Six children were born to Elizabeth and Charles, with Maurice their last baby boy being born in the 1930s. All six… Continue reading Maurice Smyth’s Christening robe, 1920s