5.Wild Child Day and Water Heritage Day. Heritage Council’s County Award winner for Down

We are celebrating! Museum of Childhood Ireland are delighted to announce that we have received another County Award – for Down. This was for our series of Wild Child Day and Water Heritage Day events in collaboration with our friends at Sticky Fingers Arts. Thank you to the Heritage Council for the recognition.
Seachtain Náisiúnta na hOidhreachta

Titanic by Gabriel, Co Dublin, age 6, MoCI workshop.

Connections, routes and networks that link our communities. Heritage Week 2024 with the Museum of Childhood Ireland, Músaem Óige na hÉireann.

Naisc, bealaí agus líonraí a nascann ár bpobail

Lá Leanbh Fiáin agus Lá Oidhreachta Uisce

Museum of Childhood Ireland, Músaem Óige na hÉireann celebrating Wild Child Day & Water Heritage Day, on the 24th and 25th of August at SICCDA, Dublin, and with Sticky Fingers Arts in Newry. Bringing Heritage Week to ALL children across our shared Island in our workshops over two days.

On Saturday we will focus on getting outside to observe, play, learn about, and forage for materials.

On Sunday we will make, sail our boats and learn about the rich tradition of water heritage near us and further afield.

A gallery of photos from our two days…

All families, schools can take part in these activites if they live near a body of water, and if not basins of water or puddles after rainfall make great alternatives for outdoors fun wherever you live. The walks can happen anywhere too and at any time!

#SeachtainOidhreachta2024 #HeritageWeek2024

Water Heritage Day

The history and heritage of our shared island have been shaped by the sea and the great Irish rivers, lakes and wetlands. Water Heritage Day celebrates water throughout Ireland, its history and heritage and our connections with it.

Wild Child Day encourages children to look at the world around them differently, to open their eyes to the diverse beauty of the landscape in their area and to get out and explore their locality or even farther afield.  

Museum of Childhood Ireland, Músaem Óige na hÉireann, at SICCDA and Sticky Fingers Arts, are delighted to continue our work together for all children across the island of Ireland on Wild Child and Water Heritage Day.


Tús maith leath na hoibre ( A good start is half the work)

A good beginning with an arts and crafts boat making project ( use biodegradable, recycled materials, and take a photo of your boat)

Newspaper boat making, Co Dublin

Boat Making, Dublin

Boat designing and making, Dublin. Infinity.

Boat designing and making, Newry

Beauty Meadhbh

Flora

Pom-pom

Fishing trawler

Catamaran

Rub-A-Dub-Dub

Furled sails

Making the boom

Ely

Helping hands

Faber Castell materials

Painting stage

Boat hat

Choosing

Cooperation

Sponging technique

Almost finished

Boat designing and making, Newry

Next steps

My ship hat!

Marie Antoinette’s one!

http://www.gogmsite.net/grand-ladies-of-the-reign-o/subalbum-marie-antoinette-n/marie-antoinette-pouff-coif.html

Sailing boats

Ready to sail

Boat making is always serious business!

Everyone worked hard on making boats before we headed outside. Thanks to Faber Castell for the wonderful materials.

Designing, Planning, and making

Materials used: Recycled card and paper, a reused, washed chopstick, crayons, paint, markers, and a paste of water, flour and paint ( to place the mast for the sail in)

…while learning about different types of boats including currachs and coracles, historic timelines for boats and ships through the ages, and even the work that used to be undertaken by children on boats, such as cabin-boy, midshipman, and powder monkey…

https://www.heritagecouncil.ie/content/files/irelands_boating_heritage_seminar_proceedings_2004_746kb.pdf

https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/boat/390719

Willie Roche, cabin-boy. Born May 10th 1869 in Wicklow town, went to see as a child. From ‘A Swords Family Chronicle‘ by John Goggins, Chair of the Genealogical Society of Ireland. Also below see Edwards Swords, from the same family, who went to sea aged 12.

Were there sailors/mariners in your family, or people who made their living from the sea?

Find some useful links here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coracle

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Currach

http://www.tradboats.ie/

https://www.scafom-rux.com/en/scaffolding-blog/the-beginnings-of-shipbuilding

https://www.familyhistory.ie

Launching your boat

Then launch your boat/s. We will launch on Newry’s historic canal, in the pond in St Stephen’s Green in Dublin!

Where will you launch your boat?

“I made a big strong boat to go a very long distance, and I liked learning about children on boats. The blue man is me! He isn’t biodegradable though so I can’t put him in the water.” Seán, age 9

MICK’S fishing Boat, Jamie, age 10

“I made this motor boat because it is like my granddad Mick’s one. I don’t do painting very often. I painted it red and the paint didn’t work out well on the plastic container. I made the outboard motor from a single-use plastic soap dispenser. The fishing net is made out of old material and I made grandad from a toilet roll tube, and some newspaper. His trademark blue hat is a painted plastic takeaway sauce holder and his green scarf is a ribbon from a chocolate box. I was not able to put my boat on the water as too much of it is made from plastic and that would not be good for our seas or marine life. I realise how much plastic we still use. My grandad comes from a long line of Wicklow fishermen, and when he was young he used to catch lots of fish off Wicklow head. Now there aren’t as many fish due to over-fishing by big trawlers. He often finds fish with plastic in them which is very bad for all of us.

Making my boat for Heritage Week made me really think about all of this, and about how much I love the water and how we should protect it.”

A fishing related seanfhocail: Cuir an breac san eangach sula gcuire tú sa phota é (Put the trout in the net before you put it in the pot)

What do you think is meant by this?

A sailing flotilla before departure! String was attached for retrival!

A tiny rowing boat, decorated with a waves pattern, and with a rope to tie it up. Suki, age 13

Nature saving boat, Ella age 5. We can travel by boat instead of on a plane to help the environment.

“Pond boat from two leaves and a stick. You can hardly see it as it is so well camouflaged! I’m 17 now and this reminded me that I used to spend hours doing this when I was young. I felt a bit sad actually. I should do this more often. It really helped me relax, think, connect with nature and myself – and daydream. I honestly travelled the seven seas* in my imagination. Thanks Museum of Childhood.” Senan, age 17

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Seas

“We made two very resilient boats, and they floated for ages on the canal. The weather was really good, no rain and the square cardboard boxes were strong. It took us only about two minutes to make them and they looked good. We played with them for quite a few days which surprised us. We think we will do this again and make films about what we make, maybe write a story… ” Carri and Clara, age 13

“The sailing boat was so easy to make that I made 12 of them. I used paper, sticky notes and little sticks. I didn’t decorate it as it looked so pretty as it was. Some people I made boats for painted theirs. I can imagine being in this boat by myself in the harbour in Dúnlaoghaire. Making paper crafts also connects me and my sister to my dad’s Japanese heritage and boats to my mum’s Kerry heritage.” Mai, age 10

“I put my one in a very, very, very big puddle beside the sea.” Jo-Jo age 5

“My leaf ( sycamore?) and feather (young seagull?) raft worked really well. I put it in the pond at the library in Dún Laoghaire when I went to choose a book.I got another one about boats. When I came out it was still there. I wonder where it will go next! ” Tori, age 5

https://www.treecouncil.ie/native-irish-trees

Walking by the Liffey

Walking by the Liffey

Carrying precious cargo!

St Stephen’s Green

Launching

“As a big local and immigrant, inter-generational group coming together for Wild Child Day and Water Heritage Day in Heritage Week in Dublin, after we’d listened to all the heritage information, history of the Liffey and the Irish Sea, including learning vocabulary in Irish, discussed what we wanted to make, and made our boats, we went on a ‘Wild Child’ and ‘Water Heritage’ nature walk via the Liffey to St Stephen’s Green park to sail our boats on the pond. Afterwards we played in nature. Happy Heritage Week 2024. We all, young and old, loved the whole programme from the Museum of Childhood Ireland, and we are still using the resources. The physical exhibition of the children’s work attracted hundreds of visitors. The MoCI team were brilliant as always and we can’t wait for Heritage week next year!” SICCDA

“Proudly collaborating with our friends in the Museum of Childhood Ireland on exploring the theme of Wild Child and Waterways, we went out with our young artists and playworkers onto the streets of Newry, along the old trodden path of the City’s finest asset, the Newry Ship Canal built in 1742. Telling stories of the waterways by the Albert Basin, we held boat building workshops where children and families gathered recycled materials to design their own ships, boats and all kinds of sea-faring vessels. We spoke about the journeys of the waterways, and the kinds of creatures that live under the water and along the banks. Mustering imagination and creativity, all kinds of creatures were made from clay, and magical pictures and stories were born. The Quays Shopping Center very kindly allowed us to use a unit to extend the workshop offerings to their Summer Visitors. They loved the work so much that some of the vessels and artwork telling the story of the Newry Ship Canal are still on display! Children took part from as far away as Co Longford and Antrim and loved hearing about the heritage of our city and the importance of water in Ireland via museumofchildhood.ie. Play and wildness always factors when we get together with the Museum of Childhood Ireland!” Sticky Fingers Arts

Boat Art

Currach by Anna age 5, Dublin

Wave power

Boats and sealife in clay

Under Sail

A beautiful day for sailing

A Very Happy boat

Fast Rescue

Boat of love

Wind powered

Walking in Nature during Heritage Week 2024, Alex, age 16

Walking in Nature by the Sea during Heritage Week 2024, Alex, age 16

Outdoors – walking in Nature and near Water

Does your boat float? Sink? Are there many waves? Big or small ones? Does the current make them move fast? What direction are they heading? Do you spot anything unusual? Which way is the wind blowing? How do you know?

Look at the history of the canal/river/sea. What body of water is near you?

How used it connect people in the olden days? Which olden days? Can you remember the dates? Does it still connect people now? How?

What do you notice when you look around near, or in the water? Walls, paths, buildings, mud, sand, insects, fish, animals, birds, vegetation? 

Look further away. Do you see hills, mountains, forests, fields, stone walls, hedges, trees, flowers, the sky…Can you name the trees, plants, stones?

Notice today’s weather…

What do you smell? Do you like the scent? Does it remind you of anything?

What textures can you feel? How many different textures can you feel?

What sounds do you hear? 

Is the water salty, fresh water, rain water, or from the tap?

Nature is everything- flowers, stars, sun, wind, rain. I like being outdoors every day. I kept my boat but I made you a picture of what I saw on my walk. Shannon, age 4.

https://www.marine.ie/site-area/areas-activity/education-outreach/explorers-favourite-ocean-facts-and-activities

https://www.treecouncil.ie/native-irish-trees

You might enjoy a project the museum did a few years ago with the Heritage Council on Dundalk Town’s historic Long Walk Trees:


https://museumofchildhood.ie/dundalk-town-centres-historic-long-walk-trees/

Next, Ephemeral* Art, boats

Look around your outdoor area again. Can you partner with someone and work together to make a picture on the ground of your favourite boat, out of found things in nature like twigs, leaves, mud, seaweed etc? Take a photo of your nature creation but remember to put everything back where you found it when you are done! 

*Ephemeral meaning: Lasting only for a short time.

The artist Hannah Bullen-Ryner creates incredible ephemeral land art, especially of animals. See her work here for inspiration:
Hannah Bullen-Ryner.

Our boat is on a stormy sea, Tom, age 8 and Millie age 2, granny Irene, age 75. Shells, leaves, twigs, stalks, a feather and flower seeds.

Our boat is an ancient Roman cargo ship with sails and oars, carrying precious cargo from far away. We made it from scallop shells, small shells, a decorated stone, an ice lolly stick, two bits of brick and a a broken bit of a fuchsia plant for the jewels. We loved hearing all about different boats. We made coracles to float on the water too but the photo was blurry. Noah, age 7, Nora, age 5, dad age 41, mum age 43.

My seaside art is Gráinne Mhaol’s ship. I used different seaweeds, and pebbles to make it. Sarah, age 11.

https://biodiversityireland.ie/app/uploads/2021/09/Biodiversity-Ireland-Seaweeds-Poster-A3-WEB.pdf

More ephemeral art has still to be uploaded….

An island nation – Nature and Water have shaped our history, culture and heritage

Have you visited Ireland‘s Maritime Museum in Dúnlaoghaire? There is so much to see and do there:

www.mariner.ie

https://www.facebook.com/NMMIreland

The meaning of Maritime:

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/maritime

Trasna na dTonnta

Báidín Fheilimí

Wild Child Day

Wild Child Day encourages children and everyone to look again at the world around them differently, to open their eyes to the diverse beauty of the landscape in their area and to get out and explore their locality. 

Nóininí bána ar imeall na habhainn Rachaidh mé síos agus piocfaidh mé ceann Bheadh ​​​​siad go hálainn ar bharr mo chinn  Agus mise i mo Banríon Ar imeall na habhann

Nóininí bána / Daisies, photo from the Museum of Childhood Ireland’s Killarney event, 2021

Variations on the theme for your DAY

On your walk, and/or to sail your boat, look for all the colours you notice and and see how close of a match you can get with something in your paint box? 

Walk around the canal/river bank or seashore. (or garden, local park or nearby trail). Gently move weeds/wildflowers aside, lift up (then replace) seaweed, sticks, rocks, dry leaves, fallen branches. Do you see any insects? (hint: try cool, damp places)

Look for shapes in nature and be amazed at the connections you can make.

Despite the wildness and perfect imperfection of nature, it’s incredible how many things have symmetry. An acorn, a leaf, a blade of grass, a flower, an insect, a shell. Where will you find symmetry next?

On your nature walk, pause frequently. Each time you stop, listen to the different sounds around you and see how many you can identify. 

Blow a grass trumpet: Put a piece of long grass between your thumbs and blow. Can you make a trumpet sound?

Find a dandelion and tell the time! One o’clock, two o’clock…

Dandelion, photo from the Museum of Childhood Ireland’s Wild Child Day Event, Tipperary 2022

https://www.wildflowersofireland.net/plant_detail.php?id_flower=86

Listen to “surface sounds”: Listen to the sounds you make as you walk on different surfaces: grass, dirt, mud, water, gravel, forest floor… Which surface was the quietest? The noisiest?

Can you identify the different songs of Irish birds?

Watch Ornithologist, Seán Ronayne’s inspiring documentary for RTE here:

The Heritage Week Programme for Wild Child Day and Water Heritage Day was devised by the Museum of Childhood Ireland’s Majella McAllister. Her event team included Dakota Oliveria, Delaney Price, and Sam Hayes.