City Hall

The City Hall is the headquarters of the local city Government. It is a late-18th Century building, housing local memorabilia. Some of this information includes information on the city's charter, which was granted in 1205. There is also a display dedicated to Thomas Francis Meagher. Meagher was a leader in an 1848 Irish insurrection. He was sentenced to death but eventually escaped to America. He then fought in the Civil War and earned the rank of brigadier general. After this he went on to be appointed acting governor of Montana.

City Hall's other treasures include an 18th-century Waterford glass chandelier, a complete dinner service of priceless antique Waterford glasses, and a painting of Waterford City in 1736 by the Flemish master William Van der Hagen.

LOCATION: City Hall,
The Mall,
Waterford
OPENING TIMES:
Mon-Fri 9am-1pm and 2-5pm
PRICE:
Free admission
CONTACT:
(051)73501

Lismore Castle

Driving on the Cappoquin road you can catch fine glimpses of the majestic Lismore Castle. The castle in perched high on a cliff above the River Blackwater. It dates back to 1185. Most of the present castle was added in the mid-19th century

Today the 8000 acre estate of gardens, forests, and farmland is the Irish seat of the duke and duchess of Devonshire. Their primary home is in England. Although the castle itself is not open for tours, the public is welcome in the splendid walled and woodland gardens.

The castle can be rented, complete with the duke's personal staff, to private it includes dinner, afternoon tea, breakfast.

LOCATION:
Lismore,
Co. Waterford.
OPENING TIMES:
Mid-Apr to mid-Oct daily
1:45-4:45pm
(058) 54424
PRICE:
Admission to gardens €4 adults, €2 children under 16

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Tramore

is the South East's leading holiday resort, with a complete range of facilities for the visitor to leisure activities such as surfing, hiking, horse riding and golf. As a seaside resort, amenities include sea and freshwater angling, canoeing, diving, surfing and sailing. There is an excellent indoor swimming pool and leisure complex adjacent to Tramore's famous amusement park.

Garter Lane Arts Centre

is one of Ireland's largest arts centres. It occupies two buildings on O'Connell Street. No. 5, the site of the former Waterford Library, holds exhibition rooms and artists' studios, and No. 22a, the former Friends Meeting House, is home of the Garter Lane Theatre, with an art gallery and outdoor courtyard. The gallery showcases works by contemporary and local artists.

The centre is housed in a Quaker meeting house that was built in 1792. The entrance gives no idea of the size of the 18th century building behind. Garter Lane Arts Centre, is in many ways the centre of artistic and cultural life in Waterford. It presents regular visiting exhibitions of art. The adjoining Garter Lane Theatre features regular theatrical presentations.

LOCATION:5 and 22a O'Connell Street,
Waterford
OPENING TIMES:
- Sat 10am-6pm
PRICE:
Free admission to exhibitions
CONTACT:
(051)855038

Waterford Crystal Factory and Gallery

Waterford's number one attraction. Theglasswork's was founding in 1783. The business was closed due to the devastating effects of the famine in 1851. It was revived in 1947 and is now synonymous with crystal. There are more than 2,000 employees making it the largest crystal factory in the world and the major industry in Waterford.

The visitor centre is 2km out of Waterford city on the Cork road. There are staff on hand to explain things to you. There is a free 17-minute audiovisual presentation on the glass-making process and an excellent, 35-minute tour of the factory to see it first hand. From mouth-blowing and shaping of molten glass to delicate hand-cutting.

Note: Children under 10 are not permitted on the factory tour. Reservations are not required. You can also purchase the crystal direct from the Factory. There is a huge selection to choose from.

LOCATION:
Cork Road,
Waterford
OPENING TIMES:
Apr-Oct daily 8:30am-4pm;
Nov-Mar Mon-Fri 9am-3:15pm.
Showrooms
Apr-Oct daily 8:30am-6pm;
Nov-Mar Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
PRICE:
Tour €5 adults, €2.50 students, free for children under 12.
Free admission to audiovisual presentation and gallery

CONTACT:
(051)373311
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Ring

is a very picturesque area and is approximately 6 miles from the Dungarvan. It is located on the Helvick Head. The Gaeltacht area is synonymous with the Irish Language. These Gaeltacht areas are mainly found in rural Ireland and hold strong Irish Traditions and are Irish-speaking areas.

To visit the Gaeltacht is to experience a unique culture while enjoying the many crafts, restaurants, pubs and outdoor facilities, which the area has to offer. If you wish to enjoy a strong tradition of Irish culture, Ring is the place. You can enjoy a Ceili dance, traditional Irish music. The love of Irish music, song, dance and language is infectious in Ring.

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Lismore Heritage Centre

is in the old town Courthouse. The centre is used to tell the history of Lismore. St. Cathage founded the town in 636. Items in the centre include the Book of Lismore, which dates back 1,000 years. There is also the Lismore Crozier dated to 1116. Both these items were discovered hidden in the walls of Lismore Castle in 1814.

The centre also has an exceptional award-winning multimedia presentation, showing local history and attractions, legends, follies and walks along the River Blackwater. There is a souvenir and gift shop adjacent to the Heritage Centre.

Lismore Heritage Centre has an award winning audio visual display of Lismore history (in English, French, German and Italian) in which your host Brother Declan (alias Niall Toibin) takes you on an enthralling journey through time, starting with the arrival of St. Carthage in 636 and bringing you right up to the present. There is also a new exhibition space dedicated to the life and works of Robert Boyle'The Father Of Modern Chemistry' and author of 'Boyles Law'.

LOCATION: <Lismore,
Co. Waterford.
OPENING TIMES:
Mid-Apr to mid-Oct daily 1:45-4:45pm
PRICE:Admission to gardens €4 adults, €2 children under 16
CONTACT:(058)54424 Email: lismoreheritage@eircom.net

Waterford Heritage Genealogical Centre

The centre is located in a small lane between George’s and Patricks street. It is next to the ruins of the French Church. This centre specializes in tracing county Waterford’s ancestry. There are Church registers dating from 1655 and other surveys, rolls and census lists are used as resources. You can also learn from an audiovisual presentation, which examines the heritage of the people of Waterford.

OPENING TIMES:Patrick's Church,
Jenkins Lane,
Waterford
LOCATION: Hours Mon-Thurs 9am-5pm; Fri 9am-2pm
CONTACT:
Prices Free admission; basic search fee €40
PRICE:
Phone (051) 876123, Fax (051) 850645
Web:www.waterford-heritage.ie

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City Wall and Reginald's Tower

The Vikings originally built Waterford’s City Walls. This has been dated to around 1000 AD. King John extended them two centuries later. The wall stretches from the Palace Garden to Spring Garden Alley. They can also be seen on Patrick’s Street and Castle Street. The most interesting relic of the walls is Reginald’s Tower.

This was built by the Normans in the 12th Centaury on the site of a Viking wooden tower. The tower is circular and topped with a conical roof. The walls are 3metres thick and the tower can be seen at the eastern end of the Quay. It is Irelands oldest standing building in continuous use. It can still be seen dominating the Waterford skyline. It is a most impressive view at night time, when the tower is fully floodlit. Over the centuries, its been a fortress, a prison, a military depot, a mint, an air-raid shelter, and now a museum.

LOCATION:Reginald's Tower,
The Quay,
Waterford
OPENING TIMES:June-Aug daily 9:30am-9pm;
May and Sept daily 9:30am-6pm;
Oct-Apr daily 10am-5pm
PRICE:
Prices Admission €2 adults, €1.30 seniors, €.80 children. Combined ticketwith Waterford Treasures available
CONTACT:
(051)73501

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Ardmore

is south of Helvick Head and on the coast road. It is a popular seaside resort with a Blue Fag beach. There are some pretty pastel coloured buildings on the main street. Ardmore may well be the oldest Christian settlement in Ireland. St. Declan founded it in the middle of the 4th century, well before St. Patrick came to Ireland.

There are many structures`composing the monastic settlement. St. Declan's Oratory is one of these and you can freely explore it on your own. There is also a fantastic round tower, arguable one of the finest in all of Ireland. There are also the ruins of a medieval cathedral and nearby, St. Declan's well and church. Tradition has it that the small stone Oratory, situated in a cemetery high above the town, marks St. Declan's burial site.

Waterford Pottery and The DyehouseGallery

Liz McCay is both the residentpotter and the gallery director of this combined venue, where you'll find not only her own unique "Waterford Ware," inspired by a black ceramic style discovered in local Viking excavations, but also contemporary paintings and prints by many of Ireland's leading visual artists. The gallery hosts seven or eight exhibitions per year.

LOCATION: Dyehouse Lane,
Waterford.
OPENING TIMES:
Hours Shop and gallery open Mon-Sat 10:30am-5:30pm, or phone for appointment
PRICE:
Free admission to exhibitions
CONTACT:Phone Pottery Tel: (051) 878166,
Gallery Tel: (051) 850399
Web:www.waterfordpottery.com; www.dyehouse-gallery.com

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Holy Trinity Cathedrals Waterford

has two impressive cathedrals, one Catholic and the other Protestant, both built by the same architect, John Roberts. Roberts lived from 1714 – 1796. John Robers is responsible for nearly every significant 18th-century building in and around Waterford. Holy Trinity on Barronstrand Street is the oldest Catholic and the only baroque Cathedral in Ireland and boasts 10 unique Waterford Crystal chandeliers. It also boasts a fine carved pulpit and painted pillars with Corinthian capitals. It's open daily 7:30am to 7pm. The Anglican or Church of Ireland Holy Trinity Cathedral (conveniently nicknamed Christ Church) on Henrietta Street has a most peculiar spire and only clear glass, because its first bishop and rector disliked stained glass. It is built on the site of an 11th Century Viking Church. While the medieval cathedral was being demolished, a remarkable collection of 15th century Italian priests’ vestments were uncovered.

Waterford County Musuem

is a non-profit voluntary organisation based at St. Augustine Street, Dungarvan, County Waterford. The aims of the museum are: To preserve the history of County Waterford. To acquire and preserve individual items or collections of local interest. To educate the public about Waterford local history.

To publish various books and pamphlets on items of historical and local interest.In recent years we have been at the forefront of technological innovation in the Irish museum sector. In 2002 the web site was short-listed among the top five research museum web sites in the world at the sixth annual Museums and the Web conference in Boston. It followed up this success by being awarded Best Publication for Visitors at the Irish Museum Of The Year Awards 2002.

LOCATION:
St. Augustine Street,
Dungarvan,
County Waterford.
OPENING TIMES:
Monday To Friday 9am to 5pm (Open Saturday 2pm to 5pm during Summer months)
PRICE:
Free
CONTACT:
Tel:(051) 37331,
Web:www.waterfordcountymuseum.org

Waterford Treasures at the Granary Museum

This impressive heritage centre and museum, housed in a converted granary, unfolds Waterford's history from its earliest Viking origins to the present. An exceptional collection of Viking and medieval artefacts are on display.

The Granary, however, is no ordinary museum of artefacts. It is an ambitious state-of-the-art multimedia experience aimed at all ages, and launched with a three-dimensional audiovisual sea voyage viewed from the hull of a Viking boat actually rolling with the waves you're watching. The Granary was named the Irish Museum of the Year in 1999-2000.

There’s a lot to see and to learn here; and the building and conversion itself is truly beautiful. There's also a gift shop and cafe.

LOCATION:
OPENING TIMES:June-Aug daily 9:30am-9pm; May and Sept daily 9:30am-6pm; Oct-Apr daily 10am-5pm
PRICE:Admission €5 adults, €4 seniors and students, €2.50 children, €16 family. Combined ticket with Reginald's Tower available
CONTACT:(051)304500.
Web:www.waterfordtreasures.com

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Clonea Strand

An extensive popular sandy the beach at Clonea beach is wide and more then a mile long, sloping gently. The beach is lifeguarded throughout the bathing season. This beach area is Blue Flagged and during the summer months is patrolled by County Waterford Life Guards. The nearby Clonea Strand Hotel and Leisure Centre has an indoor heated swimming pool and gym. There is also ‘The Play Loft’ where you can enjoy bowling, pool, and arcade games along with the indoor soft play area. Clonea beach can be accessed by driving from Dungarvan east on the R675 towards the coast following signs for Clonea.

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Mount Melleray

Make arrangements to visit both the Mount Melleray Scout Centre and Mount Melleray Cistercian Abbey. Located north of Cappoquin, Mount Melleray Abbey is a Cistercian Abbey founded in 1832 by a group of Irish Monks who had been expelled from Melleray in Brittany, France. It is still a fully functional monastery and is open to visitors seeking quiet reflection and those who want to see something of a daily routine. It is will worth a visit. At the Abbey, pay a visit to the Church and the visitor’s centre. Enquire about using some of the facilities in Mount Melleray Scout Activity and Sport Centre, Cappoquin, County Waterford. Originally a boarding school attached to the Abbey of Mount Melleray it was acquired by the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland in 1979 and opened as a Scout Centre. Assault course, Pioneering, Orienteering Course (maps available), Ariel runway, Sports, Bouldering wall, Basketball courts, Handball alleys, Games room, Multipurpose hall, Big screen TV with ample seating. Both are just a short hike along the forest path from the Campsite.

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Dungarvan

Dungarvan is one of Ireland's gems - a bustling market town of more than 10,000 people perched on Dungarvan Bay beneath the Comeragh Mountains. The salmon run past the 14th century church tower and up the rushing Colligan River to lay their eggs in the gravel beds beyond the town. King John's Castle. That's Robin Hood's King John. Built in the early 1200's, Dungarvan's ancient castle is just now the scene of archaeological digs.Dungarvan is a thriving seaside market town nestled beneath the mountains of County Waterford. Strategically located on the South Eastcoast of Ireland.

A large population live in Dungarvan's hinterland of prosperous farms and villages, and these people also shop, work and socialise in the town which is the administrative headquarters for County Waterford. Dungarvan was an important commercial centre as far back as the year 600 A.D. and probably for the same reasons that it flourishes now: a central position along Ireland's Southern coast, an industrious and friendly population, and the sheer joy to be had living in such a bountiful place. Visit the Dungarvan Museum in the Old Town Hall on Friary St., the Art Centre in the Old Market House, or the Library on the quay looking across at Abbeyside, stay overnight in Abbeyside Scout Den either camping or indoors ask the Site Warden. Avail of a heated Swimming Pool in the Park Hotel. Shop til you drop in the Shopping Centre or see a film in the Cinema.

Walking Tours of Waterford City

Walking tour of one hour duration, through the regional capital and Ireland’s oldest city, including two cathedrals, four national monuments, and a gallery of rogues and rascals, delivered in a witty, entertaining style, by a master storyteller whose name is Jack Burtchaell. He wears his scholarship lightly and yet in retrospect many visitors appreciate that they have just spent an hour with someone very special in a city which has a history to match his telling of it. Jack is the 2002 national winner of the Irish Touring Guide Award.

Dunmore East Adventure Centre

With over 15 years of experience, our centre has become a leader in the area of activity sport providers in Ireland. We cater for all ages and abillities, and contiue to offer new activities and courses as our customers' requirements change each year.

Activities include: Dinghy Sailing, Adventure Camps for Youths, Powerboating and Birthday Parties.
Contact: 00353(0)51 383783
www.dunmoreadventure.com