Mary Fitzgerald
Children’s TV icon enjoying an online revival
MARY FitzGerald inspired a generation of Irish youngsters in the 1980s and early 1990s to collect cardboard boxes, toilet roll inserts, empty matchboxes and used ice-lolly sticks. As that generation search for ways of occupying and entertaining their own children during this lockdown, they may find themselves turning to FitzGerald again.
RTÉ is currently trawling its archive to find episodes of her How Do You Do show that can be put on the iPlayer to help over-wrought parents.
The show was consistently one of the top-rated for children at a time when the viewing public was transfixed by events in Southfork and Glenroe.
Such was its popularity that a companion guide to the series was the second biggest-selling book of 1989, just behind Gay Byrne’s autobiography, The Time Of My Life.
No wonder this period of self-isolation and social distancing has generated a flood of nostalgia for the popular show.
‘I’m flattered that there is such interest,’ Mary declared. ‘It ran for eight seasons, which is a long time in terms of television and when we started, when Zig and Zag and The Den started, we were No.2 in the ratings, just behind The Simpsons. So, a lot of people watched it and remembered it. Someone told me RTÉ were asked to put on old episodes and that started the ball rolling.
‘I suppose it coincides with all these parents who are self-isolating and looking for ways to keep their children occupied and there is this mood to get kids away from devices, the iPads and iPhones, and be more creative.’
Because of the lockdown Mary is inundated with requests for her DVDs and this week posted copies as far away as Canada and New York. A primary school teacher before getting involved in children’s TV, she believes parents are keen to find ways to stimulate their children’s creativity and imaginations and that will give them benefits to last a lifetime. ‘There is evidence that if you can get kids using that side of the brain, it will stand to them later in life,’ she added.
‘I think between the ages of six and nine are the optimum ages for arts and crafts. But I like to think there is something for kids of all ages. Just make sure not to throw away any empty boxes.’
‘It was one of top-rated children’s shows’