Released on: May 1, 2008, 4:51 am

Press Release Author: Mark Dunphy/Dunphy Public Relations

Industry: Entertainment

Press Release Summary: Travelling exhibition to be hosted by 13 Local Authority
Museums around the country.

Press Release Body: Thursday, 1 May 2008 - Minister of State at the Department of
Health and Children, Mr. Brendan Smith T.D., will this evening launch a national
travelling exhibition celebrating childhood in Ireland over the 20th Century, at
Cavan County Museum, Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan.

Hosted by the Local Authority Museums' Network (LAMN), 'Seen But Not Heard (Feictear
Ach Ní Cloistear) - A Century Of Childhood In Ireland' celebrates some of the many
lifestyle changes as experienced by successive generations of children growing up in
Ireland. Themes covered include education, health, work, play and memories.

A series of workshops and activities has been built around the exhibition to provide
children with a unique opportunity to glimpse the childhood that their parents,
grandparents and great-grandparents experienced.

This is the first national exhibition to be commissioned by the LAMN, which consists
of the 13 Local Authority Museums based in Cavan, Carlow, South Tipperary, Cork,
Louth, Clare, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Limerick, Mayo, Monaghan and Waterford. The
exhibition will travel to each County Museum over the course of the next three years
beginning with Cavan.

"The topic of childhood is an area with which everyone is familiar", stated Mr.
Brian Walsh, LAMN Chairman.

He continued, "Over the last 30 years we have seen unparalleled changes in Ireland
and this is best illustrated in the lives of children. For instance, the changed
economic need for children to work may not now be of necessity but rather for social
purposes, while the nature and manner of many of the presents that children now
receive are a far cry from those of previous generations. The once popular Christmas
present of an apple or orange has now been succeeded by perhaps a laptop and mobile
phone."

Mr. Walsh noted that the manner of the exhibition highlights these dramatic changes.

"One of the strengths of the exhibition is the use of strong photographic images and
reminiscences collected by the local authority Museums. The interplay of memories
and images capture the changing nature of childhood in a manner that is immediate
and personal, and one that contributes to a moving experience", he stated.

Dominic Egan, Curator, Cavan County Museum, explained that the exhibition is certain
to recall a moment in everyone's childhood.

He continued, "Anyone who attends the exhibition is likely to be reminded of their
own childhoods, whether it be that fleeting memory of a school day long forgotten,
playing games on newly mown grass, the reverential hush of a Sunday mass. The vivid
thoughts and memories that are evoked through this truly interactive exhibition will
also enable people from outside Ireland to learn about the many varied aspects of
growing up on this island over the last century."

"We have also developed a series of educational packs aimed at students to help them
learn more about live as a child all those years ago in a fun and informative way.
Children of all ages can enjoy the interactive games and activities, which will be
incorporated into the exhibits", concluded Mr. Egan.

The exhibition, which has received sponsorship from The Heritage Council and The
Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, will travel to each LAMN member over the
course of the next three years beginning with Cavan, before moving on to Kerry
during the summer, and then Letterkenny, Clonmel, Monaghan and Dundalk with further
dates and venues to be confirmed.

Further information on the exhibition and the Local Authority Museums involved is
available from www.lamn.ie or Dominic Egan, Curator, Cavan County Museum at
049-8544070.

-ENDS-

Note to Editor:
- Mr. Brian Walsh and Mr. Dominic Egan are available for interview. To arrange
please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 086-8534900 or
media@dunphypr.com
- High-resolution images from the exhibition are available on request
- About the LAMN - The Local Authority Museums Network consists of the 13 museums
around the Republic of Ireland, which are funded by local authorities. Each museum
is represented on this network by its Curator. These 13 people meet throughout the
year to discuss how best to promote and protect the cultural heritage and historical
richness of their regions. It was through the collaboration of this network
together with funding received from The Heritage Council and The Department of Arts,
Sport and Tourism that this exhibition was made possible

Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
www.dunphypr.com
00353-868534900 (mobile)
00353-656839692 (fax)

Web Site: http://www.dunphypr.com

Contact Details: Dunphy Public Relations, Connolly, Ennis, County Clare, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0) 86 853 4900 Email:media@dunphypr.com