Michael Farry on Reading in Childhood

A school photo of Michael age 7 A short piece on reading in primary school with a special mention of the Famous Five, Enid Blyton series Books were scarce in rural Sligo in the 1950s and early 1960s when I attended our small village two-teacher school. There was plenty of other reading material of course.… Continue reading Michael Farry on Reading in Childhood

When We Were Kings and Queens of the Road: Alan Lambert

The early morning walks to school that I experienced in the late 1970s have never really receded into the past, as they are revived every time I connect with any part of the Metals, the lanes that run parallel to the railway lines from Dalkey to Dun Laoghaire. As we lived near Sallynoggin, at the… Continue reading When We Were Kings and Queens of the Road: Alan Lambert

Blessed Are The Children, John Kingerlee 2004

Blessed Are The Children, Work by John Kingerlee, 2004. Artist John Kingerlee was born on the 17th of February 1936. Her lives on the Beara Peninsula in West Cork, and is a non-conformist at heart John Kingerlee was born in England in 1936. His Mother was related to Hogan’s from county Cork. In 1982 he moved from the… Continue reading Blessed Are The Children, John Kingerlee 2004

Puppet Show, Seó Puipéad and Dominican School

Christmas 2024 The Museum of Childhood Ireland were at Bloomfields Shopping Centre on December 13th for a festive day with McCormick’s Puppets, featuring seasonal performances between 1:00 and 4 pm! Santa had arrived, but where was Rudolph the Reindeer? And what was Crocodile up to? Plus, we all met Cheeky Monkey and snapped a photo… Continue reading Puppet Show, Seó Puipéad and Dominican School

Film & TV Toys

Display in BOI, Dún Laoghaire, December 2024 on Toys influenced by Film and TV Shows in the 60s, 70s, 80s. Toys I received as gifts at Christmas “I grew up watching TV and going to the cinema every chance I got. There were plenty of repeats of The Lone Ranger on television in the 60s,… Continue reading Film & TV Toys

Walter and Louisa Reid’s Letters at Christmas

Letters addressed to Mrs Reid, 53 York Road, Kingstown ( Dún Laoghaire) in 1872 and 1875 from her son and daughter, Walter and Louisa Reid. The envelope of treasured keepsakes also included and a calendar from 1877. Donated to Museum of Childhood Ireland by K Fahey. Museum of Childhood Ireland Collection, reference number: EC02. Date,… Continue reading Walter and Louisa Reid’s Letters at Christmas

Rediscover Timeless Tales

Rediscovering Timeless Tales: The Enduring Magic of Joan Aiken, Mollie Hunter, and Violet Needham Introduction: An Invitation to Revisit Forgotten Classics I often return to books from my childhood—the kind of stories that offered wonder, excitement, and a hint of danger. It’s like reconnecting with an old friend: comforting, familiar, but always full of surprises. Recently,… Continue reading Rediscover Timeless Tales

15 year old Henri’s diary deciphered

Robert Henri, formerly known as Robert Henry Cozad, or as a child, Bob, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio to John J Cozad, and Teresa Gatewood. His father founded the town of Cozad, which he gave his name and lived with his family and other settlers at the 100th Meridian in Nebraska. As noted in the… Continue reading 15 year old Henri’s diary deciphered

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3rd 2024 focuses on the theme: ‘Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future.’ The leadership of persons with disabilities is epitomised by the global disability rights movement’s slogan “Nothing About Us Without Us”. It connotes the basic requirements of participation,… Continue reading International Day of Persons with Disabilities