Mucky Picnic, Lucan (2026)

18/12/2025

When I say I have no words to describe how this experience changed me, I mean it. ✨

I am so grateful to Mireia from and for entrusting me with the important role of Irish elf. 🥰 I spent four magical days in Ruka, Finland.

What an honour and a privilege to be able to share such special memories with families visiting Lapland. 🥹 I had so much fun introducing everyone to Pepper the Elf (short for Peppermint! 🙃) The Lapland elves are wonderful people, as are my fellow Irish elves Mischief and Fircone who were on this trip with me. 🤗

Photos and videos will never be enough to explain how wonderful this adventure is. It’s the feeling you get when you experience it for yourself. It’s the joy, the sparkle, the stillness in the snow. It’s your inner child peeping out of the trees to throw snowballs at you! It’s the hugs you get and the happiness you feel, not just from the families but from within yourself. It’s a warm glow that fills you right up. 🤍

I can’t wait to go back again, if I am lucky enough. 🥰✨

09/12/2025

Hello everyone! 🥰

I’m so excited (and also feeling slightly deranged) to share that I signed up to run the Dublin Marathon in October 2026. For a very important and wonderful cause! 💖

As many of you know I have taken a break from doing my play sessions. I miss them so much you have no idea 🙃 It has honestly left a void in my life while I take this personal leave! I took up running again to help get me through this time and look after myself, and that’s how I ended up here. More determined than ever. 😊

My 5 year old daughter was my first source of inspiration, because after she went to cheer on the marathon runners this year, told me I had to sign up for next year. 🤣 On top of this, I really wanted to continue making a difference and bringing play to families, despite not running classes for the time being. I knew as soon as I saw on the charity list for the marathon, that was where I wanted my time and effort to go! 🥰

I can absolutely vouch for the importance of play, because it is my life. I have seen first-hand how play connects children not only to others, but also to themselves. I have seen how children light up with creativity and joy. Play is self-expression, adventure, escape. Play is magic. ✨

Children in Hospital - who I have followed and admired for a number of years - provide vital support, fun and play to children and families that so desperately need it. I am honoured to have been accepted to run on their behalf and to raise funds for their charity. 😍

I am looking forward to this challenge - having run 10k as my furthest distance so far 😂 - and I hope you’ll join me on this mad journey.

CIH have set up a fundraising page for me and any donations are very greatly appreciated. I have put the link in my bio if you’d like to visit! 🥰

Thank you and see you on the roads!! 🏃‍♀️
Claire 🌈

21/08/2025

This is a tough post to write, there were tears. 💔

I love my job and it brings me so much joy, which is why it was so hard to make this decision. But - for now at least - due to personal reasons I will be stepping away from my classes. There have been a lot of big changes in my life and my family’s life lately, and I feel at this point it is important to take this time so I can better support them, and myself too.

Mucky Picnic is like my third baby. I have made so many memories and so many friends through my work. When I set up my Instagram during lockdown I didn’t know what adventures it would lead me on, but these surprises have shaped Mucky Picnic, and shaped who I am, in ways I couldn’t have imagined.

From my first classes in September 2022 - when I was trying to drag a 6 month old in a car seat and tuff trays across a community centre carpark - to travelling the country, featuring in newspapers and even winning an award for my Play for Palestine programme. I cannot express how much this all means to me, how much your support and friendship has made me feel whole. 🤍

I will still be somewhat active on here and keep in touch with everyone, sharing play and activity ideas, etc. But I won’t be taking any bookings and unfortunately this also means I won’t be back in Kidspace from September. It has been so wonderful working there over the last few years: I’m so grateful to have had the space there to be creative and I was always met with so much encouragement and kindness. I really hope to be back there some day soon - thank you for being my second home. 💛

I will miss everyone so much and all the fun we have each week, but I know I’ll be coming back again, so hopefully you will all stick around for then. ☺️

Thank you thank you thank you. I couldn’t have gone on this wonderful journey without you, and don’t worry, the journey isn’t over yet! See you soon. 🫶

Claire 🌈

21/07/2025

Today I spent some time in emergency accommodation with a group of wonderful, creative, welcoming children. They made beautiful art works, came up with new recipes in my kitchen and got very, VERY messy in the slime (definitely a favourite today!) ❤️

One of my favourite things about my work is bringing joy to children and their families in difficult circumstances. To see them laugh and feel joy, to see them let go and light up. To see them be children, as children should be.

It is always so bittersweet because as much as I love this work we should never have let this happen. We should never, ever have forgotten that we are a community. We are responsible for each other - we look after each other. Families shouldn’t be fleeing their homes because of violence, war, genocide, famine, homelessness, poverty. Families are being broken apart because of greed, injustice and highly infectious apathy.

Speak up for your friends, speak up for your neighbours. Speak up for strangers. But please speak up.

We are all human.
Hold on to your humanity, and don’t ever let it go.

Claire 🌈

27/06/2025

That’s a wrap on another school year at ! What an absolute pleasure it has been to spend each week with the loveliest messers - so many are now moving on to preschool and school! 🥹

Best of luck to everyone on whatever journey it is they are taking after this break. My eldest is starting primary school too so lots of big changes this way too! I’m in complete denial. 😅

Thank you to Celine in and all her lovely team for having me again (putting up with my mess 🤣) and Gillian for her support all throughout the year. 🥰

I’ll be back in Kidspace in September and I can’t wait to hear about all your summer adventures then!

Thank you and have a fantastic summer. ☀️

Claire 🌈

24/06/2025

What a Monday!! 🥰

I was delighted to be back in in Birr yesterday for their summer fun day. ☀️ The sun was beaming down (we were so lucky!) so the kids could have their lunch outside for an actual picnic beside the Mucky Picnic. 🤪

I had lots of creatures and critters out for a summer forest and garden theme. 🌺 The children cooked up a storm in the forest kitchen and made wonderful flowers cakes, biscuits and breakfasts! We also had busy artists making snake print paintings, mini architects and engineers building tall towers and budding zoologists learning about lots of new animals. 🥰

It was such a joy to bring some mucky fun to the preschool’s end of year summer party. These wonderful kids had great imaginations, and they were so friendly and full of beans! They’re going to do amazingly in big school and as will the younger group when they follow along next year. 🥰

Big thank you to Eimear and her wonderful team for welcoming me back again to make an absolute mess of the place! 😆 Hope the teachers all have a fantastic and well-deserved break this summer. 🥰

Claire 🌈

18/06/2025

I can’t believe there’s just 2 more Fridays left at until we break for summer!! 🫠

I’ll be there at 10:15am on Friday morning, in my usual mucky corner. 😜 As always dress for mess: you too as the babies just LOVE to share their mess with you! 😂 Class is suitable for 6 months +. No need to book, and no need to clean up after which is the best bit. 🤪

While I’m not at Kidspace during the summer the gang have an amazing mix of events coming up to keep the little ones entertained. This includes their super summer camps so be sure to check them out if you’re looking for something to do. ☀️

See you on Friday! 🙌

Claire 🌈

13/06/2025

Today is International Day of Play and this year’s theme is ‘Choose Play - Every Day’. I’m all for a Day of Play! I mean christ, make every day a day of play.

But did you know it was the United Nations that founded this day? Because they care so much about ‘all children’. And ‘all children’ should choose play every day, right? It sounds so uplifting doesn’t it.. but it absolutely wreaks of hypocrisy, when we come to realise that ‘all children’ is conditional.

What choices are afforded to the orphaned child crying for their mum’s lost embrace?
Or the baby scrambling for air under the rubble?
The starved children with aching bellies and arachnid bones?
Children scattered from their family like shattered glass?
Tiny bodies caged, neglected and forgotten by our useless self-serving ‘leaders’?
Little ears ringing from the sounds of bombs, sirens and screams?

Who is giving these children choices?
The choice to live a happy, fulfilled life?
Why do we have a choice, and why don’t they?

Choice is a privilege.
Don’t abuse it. BLOODY USE IT.

Use it to give EVERY child the life they deserve.

Use it loudly - it is far too late for whispers.

10/06/2025

I’m still absolutely buzzing from the fabulous ReLove Pop-Up that was on at the weekend in Maynooth!! And I’ll be back there again this week with the Maynooth Toddler Group! 😍

The group meets every Thursday at 10:00am at the Maynooth Community Space. It’s located in Carton Retail Park near the Range. It’s just €5 per family and there’s no need to book! Just turn up ready for mess. 😆

Next up I’m in in my usual spot! I’m set up from 10:15am to 11:15am. It’s nearly summer holidays so be sure to get your mess in soon! ☀️ No need to book for Kidspace, just turn up and the session is included with entry. 🥰 🎨

Where will I see you this week?

Claire 🌈

Mucky Picnic

18/12/2025

09/12/2025

21/08/2025

21/07/2025

27/06/2025

24/06/2025

18/06/2025

13/06/2025

10/06/2025

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