Dolls

  • Aileen Sweeny’s ‘The Bubbauns’
    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 worse repair. Jack in real life was Bob and … Read more
  • Anne O’Leary’s Crolly Dolls
    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 12 inches in height, with short sandy-brown hair, and … Read more
  • Gillian Cantwell’s 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 talked by pulling a cord in her neck when … Read more
  • Patsy McGuinney’s doll wardrobe
    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.
  • Ellen Worrall’s holiday souvenir dolls
    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 are cottage industry or artisan-made.  We are planning a … Read more
  • Maya Sunario’s Fashion Dolls
    Maya Sunario Collection. Born and raised in Indonesia, Maya Sunario’s love for dolls first began when she was given her first fashion doll, Sindy, a British fashion doll created by Pedigree Dolls & Toys in 1963. She then discovered Barbie dolls, made by its rival, Mattel Inc. In the 70s, playing with these dolls felt like a privilege as the import charges to Indonesia … Read more