Category: Dolls

A National Treasure, Aileen Sweeny and Family. “These are the ‘Bubbauns’ made by my granny Hannah approximately 90 years ago. My granny was a dressmaker and the family lived over a shop in Ballina, Co Mayo. Much loved and played with by my father Bob and his brother Paddy. The 3rd doll, Jack, is in… Continue reading Aileen Sweeny’s ‘The Bubbauns’

My Crolly Doll Story, Anne O’Leary. “Crolly Dolls of my Childhood. As a child I had three Crolly dolls. The first one was bought for me by my mother for my fourth birthday. I had no idea until recently that she was actually a Crolly doll, because she has no maker’s mark.  She is just… Continue reading Anne O’Leary’s Crolly Dolls

GILLIAN CANTWELL, AGE 3 and 5, WITH CROLLY DOLL AND CHATTY CATHY DOLL Meet Gillian Mary Cantwell and her two favourite dolls from childhood. One photo with her Crolly doll when Gillian was three years old sitting outside her grandparents house and the other at five years of age, with her Chatty Cathy doll who… Continue reading Gillian Cantwell’s Dolls

Homemade wooden wardrobe and hangers, and homemade doll clothes for her Crolly doll, made for seven year old Patsy Mc Guinney, from Seapoint, in Co Dublin by her mum and dad, as a Christmas gift in the 1970s.  The McAllister Collection, Museum of Childhood Ireland.

The Ellen Worrall Collection: National costume / travel or souvenir dolls dressed in the traditional clothing of countries and regions around the world.  The majority of the dolls in the Ellen Worrall Doll Collection donated to the Museum of Childhood Ireland were produced in the 20th century. Many of the dolls are mass-produced, but others… Continue reading Ellen Worrall’s holiday souvenir dolls