Where, how, or when did you gain an interest in circular activities?

I first made the connection between parenthood and an excess of “stuff”, totally unnecessary waste really, shortly after my first daughter was born. Christmas-time after the first gift or two, her eyes glazed over. And she was more interested in the shiny paper and boxes than what lay inside! Shortly afterwards, I happened to be working with Cool Planet Experience down at the Powerscourt Estate (sadly no more) and I had my eyes truly opened to the state of the planet and what lies ahead unless we drastically alter our own behaviours and massive over-consumption. And Mary Robinson’s brilliant book, Climate Justice, which I read around the same time, served to reinforce that message. 

What does your organisation do?

We offer a toy lending service - a library for toys. We also offer baby equipment such as lightweight strollers, portable blackout blinds, party items and so on! In addition, we promote play, which plays a huge role in healthy child development and positive outcomes for children. 

What is your role within the organisation?

I co-founded Carrickmacross Toy Library and Toy Libraries Ireland, the new national association representing and advocating for non-profit community toy libraries. I now serve as CEO. My role is fully hands-on still, and you’ll find me doing everything from sweeping the floor and cleaning toys, to applying for grants and working on projects to grow the number of toy libraries in Ireland. We recently applied for funding to put together a workshop for school children, which we will be able to deliver in the toy library as well as in classrooms, educating children about the lifecycle of a toy, where they come from and how they are made, as well as what happens when they are finished with it. Play will form an important part of the delivery too, of course! We’re excited to reach audiences that wouldn’t previously have come across a toy library or considered using one.