Covid-19

MCI commissioned these uniquely hand-crafted hanging decorations from Elizabeth McFadden, Buncranna, Co Donegal. Spotted on her Facebook page during 2020, they are now in the museum’s collection.

COVID-19 in Ireland and the impact of the pandemic on Children

Initial Pandemic Response in Ireland

Ireland implemented its first major COVID-19 restrictions on March 12, 2020, when then-Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced the closure of all schools, colleges, childcare facilities, and cultural institutions. This marked the beginning of Ireland’s pandemic response, which proceeded in phases:

  • March 12, 2020: Initial nationwide school closures announced
  • March 27, 2020: Full nationwide lockdown implemented, with stay-at-home orders
Impact on Children’s education

School Closures and Remote Learning

  • Schools remained closed from March 12 through the remainder of the 2019-2020 academic year
  • Remote learning was implemented nationally, though with varying levels of effectiveness
  • Schools reopened in September 2020 with safety measures, but faced additional closures in early 2021 during subsequent waves
  • The Department of Education developed a COVID-19 response plan for safe reopening of schools

Children’s Wellbeing

  • Studies showed increased anxiety, stress, and behavioral issues among Irish children
  • Limited social interaction affected development, particularly for younger children
  • Access to support services was disrupted, including mental health resources
  • Socioeconomic disparities were amplified, with disadvantaged children facing greater challenges in remote learning environments

Museum of Childhood Ireland’s Response

The Museum of Childhood Ireland launched “Project 2020 Together, Le Chéile” for children, specifically in response to the pandemic:

  • March 17, 2020 (St. Patrick’s Day): Initial project launch and call for submissions
  • June 4, 2020: Online exhibition launched featuring children’s artwork, poetry, and stories reflecting their pandemic experiences,
  • September-December 2020: First physical exhibition at the Art Center in Illinois, USA
  • December 2020: First outdoor physical exhibition opened at Killarney House and Gardens, Killarney National Park
  • March 2020: Second outdoor physical exhibition opened in Limerick in Perry Square

The project emphasised giving children islandwide, and worldwide a voice during the crisis and documenting their unique pandemic experiences through creative expression. The museum recognized that children faced particular challenges during lockdown and aimed to provide a platform for processing their emotions through art and storytelling.

The initiative expanded internationally throughout 2020-2021, including exhibitions with INACS (Italy) in December 2020, on ViMuseo from January 2021, and at the Udaaya Museum in Nepal from January 2021.

Children’s Voices Project 2020 & 2021 Together, Le Chéile

Project 2020 Exhibition

Project 2021 Exhibition

Press Release

The museum made generous financial donations to children’s charities in Ireland, and in Italy via The Red Cross and also bought 100’s of fabric masks made by Saoirse Ethnic Hands on Deck, Cork, distributing them to organisations where children were in need such as Enable Ireland Children’s Services.

See also the artist Ann Wingfield’s response tom pandemic masks in our collections here: I’m Smiling

COVID-19 Impact on Child Poverty in Ireland

Pre-Pandemic Context

Before COVID-19, Ireland already faced significant child poverty challenges:

  • In 2019, approximately 8.1% of children in Ireland lived in consistent poverty
  • About 15.3% of children were at risk of poverty
  • Single-parent households faced particularly high poverty rates (around 17.1% in consistent poverty)

COVID-19’s Economic Impact on Families with Children

The pandemic exacerbated existing inequalities and created new financial pressures:

  • Employment Disruption: Sectors with high concentrations of low-income workers (retail, hospitality, services) were disproportionately affected
    • Parents in these sectors faced reduced hours or job losses
    • By mid-2020, unemployment reached nearly 30% at its peak
  • Income Support: The Irish government implemented emergency measures:
    • Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) provided €350 weekly to affected workers
    • Enhanced Illness Benefit for those with COVID-19 or required to self-isolate
    • Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (later Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme)
  • Financial Strain: Despite supports, many families reported:
    • Difficulty meeting basic expenses (food, utilities, housing)
    • Increased household debt
    • Housing insecurity due to rent/mortgage difficulties

Specific Impacts on Vulnerable Children

The pandemic had differentiated impacts across socioeconomic groups:

  • Digital Divide: During school closures (March-June 2020, January-March 2021):
    • Approximately 25% of students lacked adequate devices for remote learning
    • Many disadvantaged households had limited or no broadband access
    • Studies showed learning losses were greater among disadvantaged children
  • Food Insecurity:
    • School meal programs disruption affected approximately 250,000 children
    • Food poverty increased by an estimated 10% during the pandemic
    • Food banks reported 70% increase in demand from families with children
  • Housing Conditions:
    • Children in overcrowded or inadequate housing faced additional challenges during lockdowns
    • Homeless families in emergency accommodation faced particular hardships
    • Approximately 2,300 children were homeless during key pandemic periods

Long-Term Concerns and Recovery

Research indicates potentially lasting effects:

  • Educational gaps widened between advantaged and disadvantaged children
  • Mental health impacts were more severe among children from lower-income households
  • Economic recovery has been uneven, with many vulnerable families still struggling

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) estimated that without continued intervention, child poverty rates could increase by 2-3 percentage points in the pandemic’s aftermath, potentially reversing previous progress in reducing child poverty in Ireland.

Government response has included targeted supports for vulnerable families, but advocacy organisations continue to highlight the need for sustained investment to address the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on children experiencing poverty.

COVID-19 Impact on Child Safety and Abuse in Ireland

Overview of Trends During the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns in Ireland created conditions that significantly impacted child safety and protection:

  • Initial shutdown (March-May 2020): When restrictions began, there was an immediate drop in child protection referrals as children lost contact with mandated reporters (teachers, healthcare workers, etc.)
  • Post-lockdown surge: When restrictions eased, services experienced significant increases in reports

Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Statistics

Domestic Violence
  • Reported domestic violence incidents increased by approximately 25% during 2020 compared to 2019
  • Women’s Aid reported a 43% increase in contacts to their helpline during the first lockdown
  • Approximately 3,450 children contacted Childline specifically about domestic violence during 2020, representing a 25% increase

Child Protection Concerns

  • Tusla (Child and Family Agency) data showed:
    • Initial 30-35% decrease in referrals during early lockdown (March-April 2020)
    • Subsequent increase of approximately 20% above normal levels when restrictions eased
    • By late 2020, referrals were running 10-15% higher than pre-pandemic levels
  • ISPCC (Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) reported:
    • 25% increase in contacts to Childline during peak lockdown periods
    • Significant increases in calls related to family conflicts, mental health, and abuse
    • Over 70% increase in contacts regarding online safety concerns

Contributing Factors

Several pandemic-related factors contributed to increased child safety risks:

  • Increased household stress: Financial insecurity, unemployment, and confinement
  • Isolation from support networks: Reduced contact with extended family and community supports
  • Reduced visibility: Children had limited contact with teachers and other mandated reporters
  • Digital risks: Increased online activity led to greater exposure to online predators and cyberbullying
  • Service disruptions: Child protection services operated at reduced capacity during peaks of infection

Service Response Challenges

Ireland’s child protection services faced significant challenges:

  • Initial difficulty conducting in-person assessments due to COVID-19 restrictions
  • Backlog of cases developed during periods of highest restrictions
  • Transition to remote/virtual service delivery was uneven across regions
  • Court delays affected child protection proceedings

Government and Agency Responses

Irish authorities implemented several measures to address these concerns:

  • Designation of child protection workers as essential services personnel
  • Emergency funding increases for domestic violence services (€160,000 additional funding announced in March 2020, followed by €1.6 million in June 2020)
  • Adapted referral and assessment procedures to maintain critical services
  • Public awareness campaigns about reporting concerns
  • The “Still Here” campaign to remind victims that services remained available during lockdown

The long-term impacts of pandemic-related trauma and disruption to protective services continue to be monitored, with many experts concerned about lasting effects on children’s wellbeing and development, particularly among those already vulnerable prior to the pandemic.

All photos copyright the Museum of Childhood Ireland