Toys

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

world

Spinning top, Lite-Brite and Masters of the Universe inducted into toy hall of fame

The US National Toy Hall of Fame’s new honourees include an object dating to ancient times, a line of muscle-bound action figures and an art set whose medium is colourful pegs.

<p>Lego fans wait in the queue, at the official opening of Ireland's first Lego Store on Grafton Street. Picture: Colin Keegan/Collins</p>

ourview

Irish Examiner View: The building bricks of success

As Ireland's first Lego store opens in Dublin, it is hard to imagine the little plastic bricks have been around for 73 years

<p>"It's been a wonderful 47 years," said John and Jimmy Noonan, who will close their Charleville toy store on June 30. Picture: Larry Cummins</p>

companies

Brothers call time on popular Cork toy store after half a century in business

The doors of Noonan’s of Charleville were first opened by John and Jimmy’s grandparents in the 1890s

economy

Toymaker Hasbro plans to raise prices as costs soar

companies

Lego sales build up on back of rising demand in China

people

These dogs picking out their Christmas presents will cheer you up instantly

Cute babies playing with toys in daycare

Moves to improve toy safety to minimise carcinogenic and cybersecurity risk

The proliferation of online sales has increased the risk of defective and dangerous toys getting into the hands of children

Sun, 12 Dec, 2021

Hakuna Matata: Ryan Tubridy gives a glimpse inside tonight’s Late Late Toy Show

The Lion King is the theme this year and its host says it's time for the children of Ireland to take a walk on the wild side

Fri, 26 Nov, 2021

10 things to do to help children be more eco-friendly

What can you do with the kids to make your home more eco-friendly? Here are 10 suggestions.

Tue, 18 May, 2021

Smyths asks shoppers not to 'panic buy' as videos of large queues appear online

Parents and shoppers have been urged not to 'panic buy', as videos of lengthy queues outside Irish toy shops circulated online in recent days.

Tue, 06 Oct, 2020

Smyths Toys reveal top 10 festive toys for Christmas

Christmas is just 12 weeks away and Santa lists will soon be filled with this year's most-wanted toys.

Mon, 07 Oct, 2019

People loved the 'Greatest Showman' themed Late Late Toy Show

The theme of this year’s programme is 'The Greatest Showman'.

Fri, 30 Nov, 2018

Fire lit, pyjamas on and sweets at the ready - A very special Late Late Toy Show returns tonight

Grab the cosy pyjamas, stick the fire on, crack open that tub of sweets and tune into The Late Late Toy Show to see the magic unfold in front of your eyes tonight.

Fri, 30 Nov, 2018

High levels of chemicals in some children's slime toys exposed

Parents should be wary that some children's slime products may contain higher than recommended levels of a chemical, a consumer watchdog has said.

Tue, 17 Jul, 2018

Furbies, Rubix cubes and Hot Wheels: The toys of our childhood

With the sixth Dublin Kite festival proving a big success at the weekend, we remember a simpler time when our whole world was based around the toys we loved.

Mon, 11 Jun, 2018

Buy toys and electrical goods from reputable sources this Christmas, says National Standards Authority

As we head into the busy Christmas season, we are being urged to buy toys and electrical goods like fairy lights, from reputable sources.

Tue, 12 Dec, 2017

Nationwide bear hunt launched after little girl accidentally donates favourite teddy to charity

A nationwide bear hunt has been launched after a little girl accidentally donated her favourite teddy to charity.

Thu, 07 Dec, 2017

Ireland's favourite Christmas cracker joked revelaed

Ireland's favourite cracker joke has been revealed.

Thu, 07 Dec, 2017

Toy story: 10 toys guaranteed to bring out the kid in all of us

Esther N McCarthy picks ten toys that will get the whole family in the play zone.

Wed, 22 Nov, 2017

Readers Blog: Give Christmas toys for refugee children

Christmas is a time when many people do a clear-out in their homes.

Sat, 21 Oct, 2017

The space invaders - Finding the best storage solution for your kids' toys

Andrea Mara says we all need a good clear out but discovers there is no one good time to declutter and it’s better think of good storage solutions for the kids’ toys instead.

Fri, 30 Dec, 2016

Why Stephen’s Day is underrated

Stephen’s Day, or to give it its proper title Stephenses….es n  Day is an underrated day. (The added es is part of a great Irish tradition of adding ‘extreme possessiveness’ to certain nouns to be sure, to be sure. Another example would be Jameseses Street in Dublin.)

Mon, 26 Dec, 2016

Survive the Christmas stress with the kids at home

Helen O’Callaghan explains how to stay calm despite the chaos this holiday season, from Christmas through New Year’s.

Fri, 23 Dec, 2016

Jonathan Irwin leads Jack and Jill appeal for loose Lego donations

Jonathan Irwin, who is to step down as head of the Jack and Jill Foundation, says it has turned Lego bricks into a new currency to fund home nursing care for sick children.

Wed, 14 Dec, 2016

It's my life: Tric's most memorable Christmas gifts

I’m sure most of us remember that one Christmas when we got ‘The best Christmas present ever’. I’ve been lucky, as over the years I’ve received quite a few which stick out in my memory for all the right reasons, writes Tric Kearney.

Fri, 09 Dec, 2016

These toys will stand the test of time

LEGO and Barbie aren’t the only old favourites that a new generation of children will unwrap on December 25, writes Kate O'Reilly. Here are your childhood blasts from the past.

Fri, 09 Dec, 2016

'Handsome' rugby star makes dream come true for one young fan

A certain handsome rugby star made one rugby fan's dream come true on the Late Late Toy Show.

Fri, 02 Dec, 2016

People LOVED the opening of The Late Late Toy Show

This year’s theme for the Toy Show was the Jungle Book, and everyone was eager to see how Ryan and Co. would open the show.

Fri, 02 Dec, 2016

Online and in the shops...

STARGAZING BY BIKE: For Ireland’s first national Space Week CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory is hosting an open evening of events for all ages tonight to celebrate the Space Week theme Our Planet, Our Place, Our Time. 

Fri, 07 Oct, 2016

McDonald’s make amazing gesture to Cork boy with autism

So lovely!

Wed, 20 Jul, 2016

What do kids want for Christmas? Toys, snow, and an end to the homeless crisis and war in Syria

Second-class pupils at Educate Together in Cork want the usual toys, but also hope for ends to the homeless crisis and war in Syria. They want peace — and snow too.

Tue, 22 Dec, 2015

Online and in the shops

Farming fun: For all those who enjoyed the farming toys on this year’s Late Late Toy Show, check out the John Deere 2108 with Tipping Trailer made by Bruder, €29.99. 

Sat, 12 Dec, 2015

THE LONG READ: Now I have a brain - Barbie and artificial intelligence

With the help of AI, the world’s most famous doll tries to fulfill a timeless dream — convincing little girls that she’s a real friend. What will happen if they believe her? James Vlahossept reports

Sat, 03 Oct, 2015

Girls urged to put Barbie back in box and try Lego

Barbie should be put back in her box to make way for more “creative” toys such as Lego and Meccano that are traditionally given to boys, according to one of Britain’s top women scientists.

Fri, 04 Sep, 2015

Half of dangerous products recalled are toys and clothes

Toys and clothing account for more than half of nearly 2,500 dangerous consumer products recalled or withdrawn from sale across the EU last year.

Tue, 24 Mar, 2015

Anne Frank’s toys on display

Shortly before Anne Frank and her family went into hiding from the Nazis, she gave some of her toys to a non-Jewish neighbourhood girlfriend for safekeeping.

Wed, 05 Feb, 2014

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