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You are here > Visitors Information WATERFORD > DAY TRIPS
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Waterford City and County has something to offer for every visitor. We have reccommended the following things to do in Waterford:
City Hall |
Garter Lane Arts Centre |
Holy Trinity Cathedrals |
Edmund Rice Centre & Museum |
City Walls and Reginald's Tower |
Waterford Crystal Factory and Gallery |
Waterford Heritage Genealogical Centre |
Waterford Pottery and The Dyehouse Gallery |
Waterford Treasures at the Granary Museum |
Ardmore High Cross |
Lismore Castle |
Lismore Heritage Centre |
Ring |
Dunbrody Visitor Centre |
Waterford County Musuem |
The Hook Wexford |
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
Garter Lane Arts Centre
The Garter Lane 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.
LOCATION: Garter Lane Arts Centre, Address 5 and 22a O'Connell Street, Waterford
OPENING TIMES: Mon-Sat 10am-6pm
PRICE: Free admission to exhibitions
CONTACT: (051) 855038
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.
Edmund Rice Centre & Museum
Experience the history of the 18th Century Waterford through the story of a remarkale man, Edmund Rice founder of the Christian and Presentation Brothers. A compelling and emotive experience with interactive displays. How one man responded to the greatest needs in the world.
LOCATION: Mount Sion School, Waterford City
OPENING TIMES: Weekdays 9am - 5pm, Saturdays 10am - 2pm.
PRICE:
CONTACT: www.edmundrice.ie.
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, it's 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 ticket with Waterford Treasures available
CONTACT: (051) 73501
Waterford Crystal Factory and Gallery
Waterford’s number one attraction. The glasswork'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 firsthand. 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: Waterford Crystal Factory and Gallery Cork Rd., 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: Prices Tour €5 adults, €2.50 students, free for children under 12. Free admission to audiovisual presentation and gallery
CONTACT: (051) 373311
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.
LOCATION: Waterford Heritage Genealogical Centre, Patrick's Church, Jenkins Lane, Waterford
OPENING TIMES: Hours Mon-Thurs 9am-5pm; Fri 9am-2pm
PRICE: Prices Free admission; basic search fee €40
CONTACT: Phone (051) 876123, Fax (051) 850645
Web: www.waterford-heritage.ie
Waterford Pottery and The Dyehouse Gallery
Liz McCay is both the resident potter 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: Waterford Pottery and The Dyehouse Gallery, 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
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: Waterford Treasures at the Granary Museum, Merchant's 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 €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
Ardmore
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.
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.. Contact Elegant Ireland tel. (01) 475-1632; www.elegant.ie.
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
Lismore Heritage Centre
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.
LOCATION: Lismore, Co. Waterford
OPENING TIMES: Apr-Oct daily 9:30am-5:30pm; Nov-Mar Mon-Fri 9:30am-5:30pm
PRICE: Admission €4 adults, €3 seniors, €2.50 children, €8 family
CONTACT: (058) 54975. Web: Lismore Heritage Centre
Ring
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.
Dunbrody Visitor Centre
Purchase a passenger contract ticket, dated 18th of March, 1849, and follow in the footsteps of a group of Famine Emigrants bound for New York. Find on board a database of 2.5 million individual passages of Irish immigrants to the United States from 1845-1880 from all ports in Britain and Ireland. Encounter Captain Williams or a member of his crew and talk to some of his passengers telling their harrowing stories of being forced to emigrate. Experience the sights, smells and sounds of a wooden sailing ship, full of people crossing the ocean.
LOCATION: JFK Trust, New Ross, Wexford
OPENING TIMES: Open seven days, all year round, full disabled access.
PRICE:
CONTACT: Tel: (056) 58797, Fax: (056) 63384, Email: jfktrust@iol.ie, Web: www.dunbrody.com
Waterford County Musuem
Waterford County Museum 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
The Hook Wexford
The Hook Wexford - an unspoilt scenic historic peninsula. Rich in culture and tradition. Ideal location for unwinding leisure breaks and family holidays or specialist activities. A warm friendly welcome awaits all our visitors!
CONTACT: Web: www.thehook-wexford.com/
LOCATION: The Hook Peninsula is in the South West of Wexford.
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