Clothing

“The costume, which fits a child aged approximately 5-7, was made by Maura Hoey, a dressmaker who lived in Blacklion. The Dublin blue wool and cream coloured bánín* wool material was purchased in Bray. Mum did all the embroidery, a skill she learned at the ICA** ( Irish Countrywomen’s Association) in Delgany.” *Irish Wool Báinín from Irish Gaelic báinín , diminutive of bán white.… Continue reading McNulty girls, Greystones, Co Wicklow, Irish dancing costume 1960s+

This is the Irish dancing costume that I wore when I was six years old in Ballyfermot, Dublin, over 60 years ago.  I wanted so badly to be an Irish dancer and tormented my poor mother for a dress, as all the other girls in the local Irish Dancing class had one.  My mother could not afford a new dress so she bought mine… Continue reading Ger Murphy’s Irish Dancing Costume 1970s

A photo of Mary Kenny Feis ready, outside the Mansion House, Dublin. 1980s Mary wore this embroidered orange velvet Irish dancing costume in the 1980s, when she was nine years old and dancing with the Hogan School of Dance, Glasnevin, Dublin. And a record from our collection: Buntus Rince, Gael-Linn. Na Ceoltóiri, May Keogh and Tommy Delaney. Comhairleoir, Maitiú Ó Maoiléidigh Taifeadadh, Studio Peter… Continue reading Mary Kenny’s Irish Dancing Costume 1980s

Lynsey, dressed for a feis “I began dancing at the age of nine with Sandra O’Dea’s Irish Dancing School based in the Phibsboro / Glasnevin area. The school was part of An Comhdháil. I trained twice and sometimes three times a week, preparing myself for the feiseanna held every weekend. I worked my way up to solo dances, taking part in the Dublin, Leinster,… Continue reading Lynsey McCarthy’s Irish Dancing Costume 1990s

Brownie uniform and guiding badges. St Lukes pack, Limerick. Owned by Alison Groves. An Fhothrach Mhór, Lios Póil ,Trá Lí. Co Chiarraí

The Charlotte Raftery Collection, donated to the Museum of Childhood, Ireland, in March 2020, comprises items of children’s clothing, dolls, doll house furniture, miniatures, and childhood ephemera. Research on Charlotte and on her collection is ongoing, with public displays of items from the collection throughout 2022 planned. For a history of childhood clothing in Ireland please see: Charlotte Raftery, ‘The dolls and toys of… Continue reading The Charlotte Raftery Collection.

The Simplicity Pattern Company were manufacturers of sewing pattern guides, under the “Simplicity Pattern”, “It’s So Easy” and “New Look” brands. The company was founded in New York in 1927 during the Great Depression. Simplicity allowed home seamstresses to create fashionable clothing in a reliable manner and at low cost. The patterns were manufactured in the US but distributed and sold in America, Canada,… Continue reading Sewing & Knitting Patterns