A collection of 25 1950s miniature costume or souvenir Crolly dolls in the museum’s collection shows a variety of costumes, fabrics, and materials. These dolls came to us in excellent condition allowing us to see the incredible handiwork of the factory workers who created them, often young girls and women in Crolly, Donegal and Spiddal, Galway.
Blonde piper girls
Brunette piper girls
Two girls with black hair
Three dolls in box including “Irish Colleen” (left), and “Irish Piper” (right)
The three male dolls
The collection of girl in red hoods
The more modern plastic dolls
Two girls wearing turquoise shawls
A red-haired girl with a red skirt
A girl with a red headscarf and short dress
The red-hooded doll with a tag from the old Dolls’ Hospital

The Doll Hospital, Dublin was opened by Tommy Noyek in 1938 , and closed 1977.
“Yes, It’s one of the original’s made by Crolly for the old doll hospital. It’s nice to see the original from a historical point of view. Made from (cardboard, paper mache technique) & hand painted they were generally stapled together. ”
Melissa Porter-Nolan
Melissa Porter-Nolan and her husband Christy ( Dr Ted) opened in 1984 and closed in 2015. They moved from George’s St in 2012 to Powerstown Hse, Sth William St. They closed the shop in 2015, continuing to sell online until December 2020 right through covid. Christy, Melissa’s husband died 3/1/21, and the business never reopened.
https://www.thejournal.ie/dublin-doll-teddy-hospital-closing-2179701-Jun2015
Tommy Noyek
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/tommy-noyek-1.80214
Re doll in photo above:
The doll has a tag labelled “Gabrielle Castlebellingham”. This doll is potentially linked to the “Gabrielle” factory that operated near Bellingham castle from the mid 1950s-70s.
If anyone has information on this doll or the factory please contact me at info@museumofchildhood.ie
With thanks, Lauren Kavanagh, Researcher