Seen and Heard - A Museum of Childhood Ireland, Músaem Óige na hÉireann, exhibition, workshops and panel discussion exploring the history of children's rights in Ireland - from Cáin Adomnáin to the present day.
Venue: Birr Library, Wilmer Road, Birr, Co. Offaly
Date: Saturday 16 August 2025, 10.30am-3.00pm
Admission: Free
Seen and Heard Drop-in Workshop Access: No booking required – open to all ages
Seen and Heard Panel Discussion: Free but booking essential via museumofchildhood.ie
This Heritage Week, discover how Birr, Co Offaly became the birthplace of one of the earliest child (and international humanitarian) protection laws - Cáin Adomnáin. Take part in creative drop-in workshops with artist Fergal McCarthy from 10.30am-12.30pm. In the afternoon, join our panel of historians and children's rights advocates who will trace the development of children's rights; from early Irish law to today (1.30pm-3.00pm). Kindly funded by The Ireland Funds.
Chairs
Marie Baker, former Supreme Court Judge and current chair of the Electoral Commission
Eoin Murphy, a Youth Activist, recently nominated for the Joe Drennan LGBTQIA+ Young Trailblazer of the Year GALAS Award
Panel
Dr James W Houlihan, retired solicitor from Birr and local expert who has written a PhD on the Cáin Adomnáin
Donnah Sibanda Vuma, Migrant Victims Support Project Coordinator with Doras, the Limerick-based NGO
Eamonn Carroll, Cork-based solicitor whose expertise is in the areas of family law and child advocacy
Mairead McDevitt, Dublin-based Youth/community worker, environmental and human rights activist