By Dr Supriya Baijal Introduction Growing up in India, I never stumbled upon enchanted wardrobes or magical portals in the books I read. Instead, I found lively fables, moral lessons, and clever folk tales—often featuring talking animals, wily tricksters, or noble kings. Stories like those from the Panchatantra or Tinkle charmed me with vivid illustrations… Continue reading Why We Don’t Dream Like That: Rethinking Childhood and Fantasy in India
Tag: Child
Olivia Daly’s Harry Potter Doll House 2015
From an upcycled Barbie house “My daughter Olivia who was 12 years old, and I designed the Harry Potter* house together. She was a big Harry Potter fan for years. She listened to the audio books most nights (she has dyslexia but had a passion for a good story). The movies had also been watched… Continue reading Olivia Daly’s Harry Potter Doll House 2015
When We Were Kings and Queens of the Road: Michael Farry
7 year old Michael Going to and from School 1952-1961 According to Google Maps it’s 1.9 kilometres and takes 25 minutes to walk from where we lived in the railway cottage, through Carrowleam and Shancough, to Rockfield National School. So our daily route to primary school was just over a mile. I think it usually… Continue reading When We Were Kings and Queens of the Road: Michael Farry
World Book Day 2025!
Happy World Book Day 2025! The theme of 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… Continue reading World Book Day 2025!
Our second in person meeting, January 2025
On 03 January 2025 we had our second in person meeting at the Office of the Children’s Ombudsman in Dublin. 10 CAT members participated, and Harry Shier and Hadjer Taibi facilitated. Our special guest was Eemer Eivers from the MCI Education Team. It was a packed agenda: Thanks to our hosts the Office of the… Continue reading Our second in person meeting, January 2025
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
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
Letter From A Witch
Speaking of witches!“I received this letter from a witch* 46 years ago, when I was aged 5 and scared of witches, this one in particular. She went to a lot of effort to ease my fears, though I’m still not sure I’d trust someone who uses green ink to invite someone to meet them for… Continue reading Letter From A Witch
Cuala Press Print
Beatrice Moss Campbell (Lady Beatrice Glenavy RHA ) 1881-1970.* Hand coloured Cuala Press Print in original frame, to illustrate the poem ‘Prayer for a Little Child’ by Winifred M Letts 1882-1972.** West of Ireland scene, with child, mother, fisherman, animals and fairy. Prayer for a Little Child “God keep my jewel this day from danger;From and… Continue reading Cuala Press Print
Berney’s little wooden Dresser and Tea Sets
Berney’s father made the dresser for her in the 1930s when she was a small child. It received new coats of paint in the 1960s and again in 1970s as it came back into use in the family, with Chinese blue Willow china crockery, and other dolls’ tea sets, on its shelves. Berney was born… Continue reading Berney’s little wooden Dresser and Tea Sets