The Museum of Childhood Ireland were invited to the Harold’s Cross Village Community Council’s Age Well initiative and Festival. Their neighbourhood ( in collaboration with several Residents Associations and Dublin City Council) hosted an Age Well programme of activities for people who are older, who may have been particularly impacted by COVID, but also who generally benefit from local social and other neighbourhood supports.
The coffee morning connected with the Village Festival, and took place over the weekend of the 20th and 21st May. The Festival theme this year was Play, and Reconnecting through Play. By and large, though not exclusively, it focused around Harold’s Cross Park, and supported engagement across the community.
So at McGowan’s, Harold’s Cross, we focused on reminiscences from the 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s, and around toys, street games, celebrations and play, linking conversation on street games, with ‘hand-held’ items from the museum’s extensive collection.
Katia our team member began with a presentation on play based on her research, which got everyone talking. The museum team moved about between the groups, with the handling collections, helping stimulate powerful conversations. There was real interest too in the museum’s research and mission, with many offers to get involved with the museum.
