More than just toys: Inside Ireland’s first toy library

From piles of plastic  to community activism: Toy libraries are taking hold of Ireland.

Waking your children on Christmas morning to watch them open presents is one of the joys of parenthood. But what happens when the shiny red paper becomes their sole focus?

You take a moment, think about all of the unwanted toys that clutter up your everyday life, and go and do something about it. That’s if you’re Jill Kennon, of course. 

From a Christmas morning epiphany, through to a role at the Cool Planet Experience, via Mary Robinson’s brilliant book, Climate Justice, Jill thought of a solution. 

“We offer a toy lending service - a library for toys,” say Kennon, now Carrickmaccross Toy library, CEO. “We also lend  baby equipment such as lightweight strollers, portable blackout blinds, party items and so on. In addition, we promote play, which has a huge role in healthy child development and positive outcomes for children.”

Carrickmacross Toy Library is not only Ireland’s first and largest toy library in the country, but has also helped to spark the Toy Libraries Ireland movement.

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‘7 steps to setting up your own community toy library’ - RTE

Image Credit
Header image sourced from Toy Library Carrickmines