Get ready to ignite the joy of learning about Ireland’s vibrant culture and heritage with “Happy Families – Exploring Ireland”, a newly launched card game by Moya Sands, daughter of acclaimed folk singer Tommy Sands.
The “Happy Families – Exploring Ireland” card game
The newly launched card game “Happy Families – Exploring Ireland” is the brainchild of proud Co. Down native Moya Sands. Offering a winning blend of entertainment and education, this game is designed to teach families about Ireland’s rich culture, stunning natural landscapes and fascinating folklore.
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If you’re familiar with the classic card games “Happy Families” or “Go Fish”, this new Ireland-inspired game is based on the same principles.
Each colourful playing card in the “Happy Families – Exploring Ireland” deck represents one of seven “families”: Irish cities, Irish landmarks, Irish food, Irish musical instruments, Irish traditions, Irish mythology and Irish symbols. The player’s ultimate goal? Collect all the cards within a “family” and gather as many families as you can!
While the rules are easy to grasp, the game is sure to sharpen skills in observation, memory and strategy.
The vibrantly illustrated cards avoid overwhelming young players with excess information but serve to spark curiosity in the topics covered in each card. They’re also a gateway to the accompanying booklet, which is jam-packed with information to enhance your knowledge of Ireland. Conveniently, this booklet is available in six languages (including Irish). A set of stickers is also included in every pack!
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“This game”, Moya explains, “will deliver fun-filled family moments while operating as an invaluable educational tool that enables the players to delve deeply into the rich heritage of the island of Ireland using a unique, interactive approach”.
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The card game earned a glowing review from this Irish ex-pat:
“My children are Irish although growing up in London and this game has been a fantastic way to introduce them to Irish stories, places and customs, and it’s a lot of fun to play too. It’s beautifully illustrated and is already a firm favourite in our family. Highly recommend.”
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“Happy Families – Exploring Ireland” is available to buy on the Happy Clan website (www.happy-clan.com) and can be enjoyed by families of all ages. The game is currently retailing at the discounted price of €17.99 (plus P&P). If you lose the booklet, don’t worry you can download it directly from the company website.
Well-known musician Moya Sands
Moya Sands is the daughter of legendary folk singer and peace activist Tommy Sands. An accomplished singer and fiddle player in her own right, Moya shared the stage with her father for many years, captivating audiences across the globe with the enchanting music of Ireland.
“Coming from a musical family background, I was brought up with a strong sense of the importance of treasuring and preserving culture, both our own and those of others.”
Her background in English teaching drew out a passion for imparting knowledge, particularly using play as a means of passive learning. Moya was keenly aware that at the heart of any good game lies the understanding that young minds retain more information when having fun.
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Now a devoted mother of two young children (Keián, nine and Niya, six) and living in Barcelona, Moya sought to merge her cultural and educational expertise with a heartfelt desire to share her knowledge of her homeland with her kids.
This desire intensified during the COVID-19 lockdowns when the family could not make their usual visits to Ireland. And so Moya set about putting an Irish cultural twist on a traditional card game and soon “Happy Families – Exploring Ireland” was born. To market the game, she established the company “Happy Clan” in Barcelona.
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Journey into the depths of Ireland’s enchanting culture and heritage with this exciting new card game by Moya Sands at Happy Clan!
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