The original Crolly Doll factory opened in Gweedore in 1939 and was renowned for its excellence in toy making. The dolls took their name from the nearby town of Crolly where the local post office was the main point of export for the business. However, with increasing competition from the Far East, the factory closed in the 1970s. 18 years later Crolly dolls are being manufactured again.
The brand name Crolly has stood the test of time and brings back fond memories for many.
When Bob and Iris Shields lived in Canada people often asked them what happened to the old Crolly Dolls and they realised there was still a lot of interest in the toy. They explored the idea of reviving the business and as a result set up the company Babógaí Croichshlí Teoranta to manufacture and market the dolls.
There are three play dolls in the new range, Catriona, Kelly and Carol. Catriona is the nearest in size to the originally Crolly doll.
Bob Shields says the dolls are available in shops all over Ireland, in the United States as well as in Japan and Europe. The dolls are being marketed as gifts, collectibles, and durable play dolls.
The Crolly Doll revival brings hopes of more jobs to the Donegal Gaeltacht area. The company employs six people but plans to expand to ten staff.keted as gifts, collectibles, and durable play dolls.
Everybody has one somewhere in the attic or in a cupboard somewhere.
The Crolly Doll revival brings hopes of more jobs to the Donegal Gaeltacht area. The company employ six people but plans to expand to ten staff.
Bob Shields is hoping the dolls will prove popular in the run-up to Christmas.
Hopefully, Santa is going to be good to us.
News report broadcast on 1 November 1994.
6 янв 2020
