Social Media – The Museum of Childhood Ireland

2 days ago

A big thank you to the committee of the Delvin St. Patrick's Day Parade in Westmeath for sharing some fantastic photographs of their past parades from their archives and parish magazines, from around 2006-2010. See more at the link below. What is St. Patrick's Day like where you live? Has your local town or city big plans for the celebrations this year? Do you have photographs of your recent or past St. Patrick’s Day celebrations? We'd love to hear from you. You can reach us on our socials or by emailing cbrowne@museumofchildhood.ie.#museumofchildhoodireland #músaemóigenahéireann #láfhéilepádraig #stpatricksday #ireland #localmemoriesDelvin St Patrick's Day Festival … See MoreSee Less

St. Patrick’s Day Memories: Delvin, Westmeath – The Museum of Childhood Ireland

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St. Patrick’s Day Memories: Delvin, Westmeath A big thank you to the committee of the Delvin St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Westmeath for sharing some fantastic photographs of their past parades from…

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The Museum of Childhood Ireland

2 days ago

Great seeing you at Comic Con Dublin 2025!Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th March, Thank you for your interest in the Museum of Childhood Ireland’s Barbie Project! Imagine, craft, document, display…Craft homemade/handmafe outfits for your doll. We can’t wait to see what you come up with! Use whatever skills you have at your disposal, whether it be sewing, knitting, crochet, lacemaking or painting. There are no hard and fast rules (except keep it PG please, this project is for all ages to participate in and enjoy) 1. Sign up with us at info@museumofchildhood.ie 2. Document what you are making for your doll on an ongoing basis, and tag us. We are looking forward to seeing your progress!3. When you’ve finished, (let us know by Feb 1st 2026) send a brief description for your doll and outfit/s to be in with a chance for your work to go on display at Comic Con 2026! Email: Info@museumofchildhood.ie The Exhibition of the project is Spring Comic Con 2026, so you’ve plenty of time to work on your outfit/s. If you want to make it a collaborative project with friends and intergenerational family members, even better! Don’t forget to enter our Raffle for a Barbie Dreamhouse to upcycle/makeover! Find inspiration on the Museum of Childhood Ireland’s website where we have begun the documentation of some of the Barbies in our collections: museumofchildhood.ie/barbie-dolls-in-the-hanley-collection/museumofchildhood.ie/fashion-dolls/museumofchildhood.ie/avril-oreilly-barbie/To get you started we have provided links to doll clothing patterns you can download and print for free, sized to Barbie, Sindy and Skipper proportions. www.molendrix.com/strihy1.htmlchellywood.com/category/barbie-patternsHappy crafting! Huge thanks to Dublin Comic Con for welcoming us so warmly again this year. The two day event is always such brilliant fun and so engaging for all ages!#dublincomiccon #barbie #BarbieCollector #barbiecostume #barbiestyle #creative #creativity #museumofchildhoodireland #músaemóigenahéireann #crafts #dolls #fashion #reuse #sustainability Dublin Comic Con … See MoreSee Less

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The Museum of Childhood Ireland

4 days ago

“For most of my early childhood my family of 6 lived in a one-bedroom flat on the 9th floor of a tower block in Inchicore. When I was 9 we moved to a new 3 bedroom house in Ballyfermot.Our new home was one of 5 new builds at the end of Rossmore Road. There was also a whole street of new houses around the corner in Rossmore Drive. Our house seemed huge after our one bedroom flat and we ran from room to room trying to work out what would go where. Everyone was excited for a new beginning.I joined the local Majorettes, who didn’t do baton twirling or have pompoms to wave. We simply learnt to march up and down a hall in preparation for the St Patrick’s Day parade. We had a uniform of white pleated skirt, green polo neck and an orange headband.We were all told to bring our uniform to a training session so we could get a photograph for our parents. I didn’t have the regulation polo neck, but we managed to make it work (I’m second from the left in this picture). One of the other girls didn’t have a hairband. and to ensure we all got a photo in full costume, the girl on the left was allowed to borrow a hairband from another girl. Clearly neither she, nor our trainer had any idea how to put a hairband on and the finished result is unlikely to take pride of place on anyone’s mantlepiece.On the day of the parade, we were given huge flags to carry. The usual crowds turned out to see the parade and everyone waved and cheered. It was exhilarating being part of it all, despite the flags being so heavy and unwieldy.The thing I value most about my time in Ballyfermot is the friendships I made. I lived there for 3 years, but many friendships have endured despite a 45 year gap. It is wonderful to have people in your life who have a shared history and who validate your memories of times and places gone by.”#stpatricksday #museumofchildhoodireland #músaemóigenahéireann #ireland☘️ museumofchildhood.ie/st-patricks-day-memories-joanna-hill/ … See MoreSee Less

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The Museum of Childhood Ireland

6 days ago

Seachtain na Gaeilge 2025, Músaem Óige na hÉireann ‘An té nach bhfuil láidir ní foláir dó bheith glic.’ Translation: He who is not strong has to be clever. Seachtain na Gaeilge 2025. Músaem Óige na hÉireann, Museum of Childhood Ireland. seanfhocail #seachtainnagaeilge #gaeilge #múinteoir #leabhargaeilge #pháistí #teanga #oideachas #scolaíocht #dalta #education #ireland 👉https://museumofchildhood.ie/seachtain-na-gaeilge-snag/ … See MoreSee Less

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The Museum of Childhood Ireland

1 week ago

“A boy of about eight years uttered a short sentence in Irish to his sister. The man called the child to him and drew forth from his dress a little stick, commonly called a scoreen, and put a small notch in it with a little penknife. Upon enquiring, we were told that it was done to prevent the children speaking Irish and every time a child attempted it, a nick was placed in the stick.When the child reached a certain number, summary punishment was inflicted by the schoolmaster. We asked the father if he did not love the Irish language. Indeed, the man scarcely spoke any other. “I do,” said he, “sure it is the talk of the old country and the language of my father and the speech of the mountains, lakes and glens where I was bred and born. But you know,” he continued “the children must have learning and as they teach no Irish in the national school we must instigate them to talk English.”The Irish language was one aspect of Gaelic culture which appeared to be in terminal decline in Galway in the late nineteenth century.In 1800, there were more Irish speakers globally than speakers of Swedish, Finnish or Dutch.Throughout County Galway at that time, practically everyone was an Irish speaker, many having no command of English whatsoever. The Anglo-Irish gentry were sometimes exceptions, as were parts of Galway City where English was strong, and pressure was beginning to grow on the Irish language. By 1850, portions of the south east of County Galway had become largely English-speaking and by 1900, much of the area to the east of Lough Corrib had English as the predominant language and many young people knew no Irish. By the 1911 census, almost all monoglot Irish speakers left were found in isolated areas west of Lough Corrib. The reasons behind this decline were manifold.Firstly, the Famine disproportionately affected the poorer more Irish-speaking west. As well as this, in a county where emigration was a likely outcome for a child once they reached adulthood, English was seen by many as helpful, Irish as an impediment. There was also a negative attitude amongst many members of the clergy and politicians like Daniel O’Connell towards the language, while schools did not teach Irish at all at this time. All of these factors played a huge role in cementing the perception of English as being civilised and modern compared to old-fashioned Irish. The following story, told by folklorist William Wilde, father of Oscar and long-time resident of Galway, displays this attitude clearly. When arriving to an unnamed Connemara village in the 1840s, Wilde described how:"A boy of about eight years uttered a short sentence in Irish to his sister. The man called the child to him and drew forth from his dress a little stick, commonly called a scoreen, and put a small notch in it with a little penknife. Upon enquiring, we were told that it was done to prevent the children speaking Irish and every time a child attempted it, a nick was placed in the stick.When the child reached a certain number, summary punishment was inflicted by the schoolmaster. We asked the father if he did not love the Irish language. Indeed, the man scarcely spoke any other. “I do,” said he, “sure it is the talk of the old country and the language of my father and the speech of the mountains, lakes and glens where I was bred and born. But you know,” he continued “the children must have learning and as they teach no Irish in the national school we must instigate them to talk English.” In 1893, Conradh na Gaelige (The Gaelic League) was set up. Douglas Hyde, the son of a Protestant rector from Co. Roscommon, was amongst its founders and he regularly visited Connemara where the language was at its strongest. Many emigrants had returned here to Galway in the late nineteenth century, bringing the English language with them, however, and even west Connemara was struggling to maintain Irish as the community language. The newspaper of the Gaelic League, ‘An Claidheamh Soluis,’ stated: "Irish remains spoken on the rugged slopes of the Twelve Bens but beyond, to the west, it has retreated from more open country, leaving behind but scattered traces. The grandparents will generally have the native tongue fluently at their command. The parents will be at home in either language, but speak English, unless to their elders. The children are not unable to follow an Irish speaker, but rarely use an Irish phrase themselves unless they cannot help it."Many Galway people were determined to arrest the slide in the language and worked hard for its revival. This included Mícheál Breathnach, a native of An Lochán Beag between Spiddal and Inverin, who wrote and travelled widely, spreading the idea that Irish should be treated with the same love and respect as all modern European languages. Tomás Bán O Conceanainn was another strong Galway advocate of the language. The native of Inis Meáin was the Gaelic League’s main organiser in County Galway and at one stage collected $20,000 for the organisation on a tour of America. In 1909, Coláiste Connacht was founded in Spiddal, an early example of an Irish language college where thousands flocked to learn the language.The League set up hundreds of branches throughout the country, many of the teachers being native speakers from Galway. After the turn of the century, unthinkably, Irish had started to come back into fashion amongst many, particularly the Catholic middle class and those who favoured an independent Ireland. This was of undoubted benefit to Galway. By 1911, nearly everyone could speak English and yet over 54% of the county’s population indicated that they could speak Irish also, easily the highest proportion of any county. People interested in the language flocked to the area to test out their command of the language with the native speakers. This was helpful to the economy, but also began to positively impact how people felt about their native tongue.A 1913 Oireachtas celebrating the Irish language brought thousands of visitors to the capital of the west, each determined to do their bit to revive and streghten their native tongue.For more stories of Galway, see my book 'The Little History of Galway.' In all good bookshops or pick up a signed copy at: www.etsy.com/ie/listing/1867494645/little-history-galway-ireland-colmPictured is Taoiseach Éamonn de Valera at the unveiling of the statue to the famous Galway native and Irish language author, Pádraic Ó Conaire, one of the main organisers of the aforementioned Oireachtas.Picture courtesy Advertiser.ie. … See MoreSee Less

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The Museum of Childhood Ireland

2 weeks ago

Happy World Book Day 2025! The theme for this year is Read Your Way. Here at the Children’s Rights Team of the Museum of Childhood Ireland, we think this ties into a really important right that all children on this island have. Article 30 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child guarantees each and every child the right to use their own language. Literature can be a very important part of language including the Irish language as well as the many other languages spoken by the children of this Island. Reading can also take on different forms, for example many people may choose to listen to audiobooks. Please share below what languages you will be reading in today! #museumofchildhoodireland #músaemóigenahéireann #workdbookday #worldbookday2025 #ireland #gaeilge #childrights #language #languagematters #UNCRC #readyourway … See MoreSee Less

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The Museum of Childhood Ireland

2 weeks ago

Join Our Children’s Advisory Team!We are seeking new members to join our Children’s Advisory Team (ages 10-17). Our team ensures that the views of children and young people have top priority in the development of the Museum of Childhood Ireland. Be part of a team, share your ideas, influence the museum’s future, and help shape it!Interested? Find out more here: museumofchildhood.ie/we-are-the-childrens-advisory-team/ … See MoreSee Less

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The Museum of Childhood Ireland updated their cover photo.

2 weeks ago

The Museum of Childhood Ireland's cover photo … See MoreSee Less

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The Museum of Childhood Ireland

3 weeks ago

Community Engagement Team researcher, Danielle Ford, reflects on Teddy Boys and Girls youth culture in the 20th century …… "The Teddies were not merely a British phenomenon. ‘Eccentrically dressed’ youths were criticised in The Irish Times for scuffles at a disco in Malahide in 1954. Dublin Teddy Boys had quaffed hair, drainpipe trousers, crepe-soled shoes called ‘brothel creepers’, a flashy waistcoat and draped jacket with a velvet collar and bootlace tie. Noting that the Dublin youths are ‘said to be more peaceful than their London counterparts’, the paper reported that their ‘extreme’ behaviour had still caused local vigilantes from barring suspected Teddies from entry. Later that year, the newspaper columnist blamed the Teddy Boys for a police baton charge near Christchurch Cathedral on New Years’ Eve, where six people were injured and shop windows were broken.Lack of parental control was attributed as a factor behind the rise in riotous behaviour, but a larger contributing factor was the globalisation of radically new cultural trends. The release of films such as ‘The Wild One’ in 1955 and ‘Rock Around the Clock’ in 1956 saw a burst of rebellious youth subculture that provoked fights at film screenings.The photograph below is taken from Ken Russell’s series ‘The Last of the Teddy Girls’, which historians can take as a chronicle of youth subcultures and an insight into the extent to which they were determined by gender. Russell’s collection is one of the first detailed studies of female subcultures in the 20th century, originally lost, until they were rediscovered in the archives of a photo library in 2005 and exhibited at the Proud Gallery in London."To enjoy Danielle's full post, click here: lnkd.in/eeRK-Knu#youth #youthculture #globalisation #childhood #children #museum #teamwork #inclusion #placemaking #accessibility #lundymodel #Ireland #MuseumofChildhoodIreland #MúsaemÓigeNahÉireann #History #Contemporary #islandwide #diaspora #IrishDiaspora #culture #heritage #childrights Irish Museums Association The Heritage Council … See MoreSee Less

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The Museum of Childhood Ireland

3 weeks ago

Intergenerational art/craft workshops in 1. Pinwheel making (our symbol!). And 2. Puppet making with #museumofchildhoodireland #músaemóigenahéireann ‘s Sinead Lynch, over the past two Saturdays: museumofchildhood.ie/tir-na-nog-tir-na-hoige-mci-childrens-art-craft-create-workshops/ preparing for #stpatricksday #fabercastell #children #childhood #stpatricksday #museum #art #craft #creativity #museum #pinwheel #puppet #ireland #tírnanóg #tirnanog #tírnahóige #leookelly #sonnycondell Faber-Castell Ireland IrishMuseums DunLaoghaireTown.ie … See MoreSee Less

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