The Museum of Childhood Ireland, Músaem Óige na hÉireann, proudly launches Kings and Queens of the Road / Ríthe agus Banríonacha an Bhóthair,a new book gathering dozens of personal memories and reflections that illustrate how Ireland’s roads, pathways and public spaces have and continue to shape childhood, community and imagination across generations.
From the Museum of Childhood Ireland, Músaem Óige na hÉireann and Robert Burns, with her own travel to school story in art commissioned from Molly Buí Hennessy, and support from the Ireland Funds, the book brings together stories from people across the island of Ireland and beyond.
The book offers a rich portrait of how child independence, safety and freedom have evolved over time, and are profoundly linked to our public spaces, and offer a deep insight into what the journey, often a relatively unsupervised by adult space, meant to people as children.
Inspired by the Museum’s belief that listening to children changes how we see the world, Kings and Queens of the Road, Ríthe agus Banríonacha an Bhóthair invites readers to think about what our streets and public spaces say about us, and what kind of society we’re shaping for the future.
Drawing on recollections from the 1930s to the present day, the publication reveals how children’s journeys have changed, in an age of cars, e-scooters and climate awareness. These small expeditions, whether to school, to friends’ houses or for play, were formative experiences that shaped identity, independence and community connection.