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Waterford City & County Council

Latest News & Announcements

By Waterford City & County Council

Road Closure of John Street entrance to Applemarket, today Monday 19 June 2023

Re: Road Closure of John Street entrance to Applemarket – Monday 19 June 2023

The works that were due to take place Monday the 12th of June have been delayed until today Monday the 19th of June.

Please be advised that vehicular access to Applemarket from John Street/Manor Street will be closed to all traffic today, Monday 19th June 2023 from 9:30am.

This closure is required to facilitate commissioning works for the automated bollards at the John Street entrance to Applemarket. The bollard is now located closer to the junction of Parnell Street and John Street. These automated bollards will continue to operate in the same manner as before and the tag which has been issued for your car will continue to work as normal.

Please be aware of the location of the new bollard when you are entering John Street/Applemarket.

If you have any queries in relation to the above, please contact Waterford City & County Council, Traffic & Parking Department by any of the following:

Phone          0818 10 20 20
Email           contact@waterfordcouncil.ie
Post             Waterford City & County Council, Traffic & Parking Department, Menapia Building, The Mall, Waterford, X91 FXN4

By Waterford City & County Council

Roadworks – R676 Kilclooney to Ballyhest

R676 Kilclooney to Ballyhest

Roadworks in place on R676 Dungarvan to Carrick Road, between Kilclooney & Ballyhest, Monday 19th June to facilitate road surfacing works.

Stop/go system with convoy in operation.

Expect delays. Please use alternative routes where possible.

By Waterford City & County Council

Recruitment: Executive Parks & Landscape Officer

We are currently recruiting for the role of Executive Parks & Landscape Officer.

Waterford City and County Council operates and manages a wide range of public parks, open spaces and public realm areas across both City and County. These vary in scale from small local ‘pocket parks’ in both urban and residential areas to large scale formal public parks along with a number of Nature Parks.

The Executive Parks and Landscape Officer will work as part of the Presentation Team whose remit includes the day to day operation and management of the public parks, open spaces and public realm areas within the urban centres together with planning for the  development and improvement of these areas with a particular focus on the three large urban areas – Waterford City, Dungarvan and Tramore.

Closing date is : 4:00 p.m. Thursday, 29th June, 2023

By Waterford City & County Council

85 drownings last year prompts call for caution near water

As a weekend of aquatic activity approaches, Water Safety Ireland has issued an appeal calling for caution when visiting waterways nationwide. The appeal comes as figures released for 2022 show that 85 people drowned nationwide, an increase of 5 over the previous year. 60 were male, 25 female.

In the last five years, an average of 90 people drowned annually and accounted for nearly 40% of all road and water deaths combined*. (*Road: 714; Water: 449: Total 1,163)

“85 people drowned in 2022, five more than in 2021 and although this is lower than the annual average of 90 drownings every year, it is still a tragic unnecessary loss of life,” commented Minister Heather Humphreys, Minister for Rural and Community Development. “Ireland is currently enjoying warmer weather, however our waterways are still quite cool,” added Minister Humphreys, “Please swim at lifeguarded waterways or in designated bathing areas that are traditionally known to be safe. Stay within your depth, supervise children closely and never use inflatable toys on open water as you can be swept from shore by currents and unexpected breezes.”

“Ireland has some of the most beautiful waterways in the world but people should never overestimate their ability in the water or underestimate the risks.”, said Humphreys. “Drownings can happen quickly and silently and I appeal to people to have regular water safety conversations with loved ones so that we have a safe enjoyable summer ahead.”

NATIONAL WATER SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK (until June 18th):

https://watersafety.ie/national-water-safety-awareness-week/

Water Safety Ireland’s National Water Safety Awareness Week Appeal:

  1. Swim at Lifeguarded waterways between the red and yellow flags. A full list of lifeguarded waterways is available at watersafety.ie/lifeguards. If you cannot get to a lifeguarded waterway, swim at designated bathing areas that are traditionally known to be safe.
  2. Swim within your depth – stay within your depth.
  3. Supervise children closely and never use inflatable toys in open water.
  4. When walking exposed sandbanks be aware that incoming tides can lead to stranding. Carry a fully charged mobile phone in a waterproof pouch.
  5. Wear a lifejacket when boating or angling from shore and make sure that it is fitted with a crotch strap.
  6. If you see someone in difficulty, these simple steps may save a life:
  7. Shout to the casualty to orientate and encourage them to shore.
  8. Reach out with a long object such a branch or a piece of clothing but do not enter the water yourself.
  9. Throw a ringbuoy or any floating object and call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.

Ends

By Waterford City & County Council

Mayoral Reception recognises Waterford Hockey Club

Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. John O’Leary welcomed members of Waterford Hockey Club to City Hall on Friday June 16th to celebrate their successful 2022/23 season.

At a reception across the road from the club’s first meeting 90 years ago the Mayor reflected that, “While yours might be deemed a minority sport in Ireland, it certainly isn’t in Waterford. In fact, hockey is the second most played sport in the world, after football. Hockey gives your 450 members and 25 squads a connection in over 100 countries across the globe.”

He invited the club for a reception to celebrate the Senior Women’s 2nd team winning their league, Senior Men’s 1st team winning the Munster Charity Cup and reaching the Munster Senior Cup Final, the Men’s 2nd team retaining the Munster McClean Cup and adding the Munster Barber Cup to their collection this year.

As well as team accomplishments seventeen members of the club represented their province during this year’s interprovincial tournaments, from under 16s to Masters. Four of which went on to play for their country. Also, two former members are currently training with the Irish Senior Men’s squad.

Mayor O’Leary paid tribute to the volunteer base, “All this in just one season is a serious accomplishment, and a credit to the players, their parents, coaches and the management of the club. Not to mention the fifty plus volunteers who make it all possible.”

-ends-

By Waterford City & County Council

Minister Darragh O’Brien officially opens Ireland’s newest Museum ‘The Irish Wake Museum’ in Waterford

The oldest urban domestic building in Ireland is now home to Ireland’s newest museum which traces the customs, traditions and superstitions associated with death from the earliest times to the 20th century.

The Irish Wake Museum is officially opened today by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien TD.

The Irish Wake Museum located at what was the former Dean John Collyn’s Almshouse, a Retirement Home for old people, called  ‘God’s People’s House’ was founded in 1478 on All Souls Day, 2nd November, the Day of the Dead. The occupants of the former Alms Houses paid for their keep by praying three times a night for the souls of its patrons and the souls of the deceased citizens of Waterford.

Commenting on the new museum Minister O’Brien said, 

“I am delighted to support this imaginative initiative which celebrates how death has always been a community event in Ireland. I’d like to congratulate Waterford City and County Council on another remarkable conservation project demonstrating yet again their commitment to our heritage.  Many people have supported this project, and I would particularly like to mention David Boles, the co-founder of the extraordinary Irish Museum of Time as well as the late Dr Tom and Mrs Marie Cavanagh of the Tomar Philanthropic Trust.

I’d like to also thank the conservation master mason Brian Whelan whose craftsmanship cannot be underestimated. Finally, I’d like to acknowledge all the staff of Waterford Treasures Museums, including Director Eamonn McEneaney, Acting Curator Rosemary Ryan and museum Keeper Donnchadh Ó Ceallacháin, whose hard work and dedication brought this project to fruition as well as the support of the Chairman Des Whelan and the entire Board.”

Mayor of Waterford Cllr. John O’Leary said,

“The Irish Wake is a unique and intrinsic element of Ireland’s heritage. It brings communities together, it is a time to grieve together but it is also a celebration of life. This distinct and historic act is one that holds an air of intrigue and the Irish Wake cultural traditions are held in fascination. The new museum is a distinct tourism proposition in a global sense and added to the award-winning collection of museums in Waterford City it re-affirms Waterford not only as Ireland’s oldest City, but an ancient City which celebrates its own heritage and that of Ireland for its locals and visitors alike.”

The new museum is the latest in the Waterford Treasures collective of Museums at Waterford’s Viking Triangle, it is in addition to the Medieval Museum – the only purpose-built museum specialising in medieval history in Ireland – The Bishop’s Palace, The Irish Museum of Time, Irish Silver Museum, King of the Vikings virtual reality experience and the EPIC guided walking tour of Waterford.

The Museum houses a remarkable array of objects associated with death in Ireland which the Waterford Museum of Treasures has been collecting for the last 10 years and will offer visitors an opportunity to explore rituals that hold global intrigue and that are entirely unique to Ireland on an intimate guided tour experience. In addition, The Irish Wake Museum has partnered with the multi-award-winning Waterford Whisky and visitors will also be able to book tickets to an Irish Wake and Whisky experience.

Director of Waterford Treasures Eamonn McEneaney said,

“The Irish Wake is one of the iconic parts of our national culture and visitors will get to experience a sense of this at The Irish Wake Museum as we trace the customs, traditions and superstitions associated with death from the earliest times to the 20th century.

At the new museum visitors first arrive at the area once occupied by a shop, the rent from which was used to maintain the almshouse, a new audio-visual showcase explores how the Irish landscape was etched by death over six thousand years.

Moving into the almshouse proper, visitors will experience storytelling through six rooms chronologically from the 15th to the 20th centuries, with different themes associated with death being explored. The exhibition ends by urging people as others have for centuries to Memento Mori – remember death – and to paraphrase George Bernard Shaw, to rejoice in life for its own sake and understand that life is no brief candle but a sort of splendid torch which we get hold of for the moment, in order to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.”

In keeping with the spirit of the founders of the almshouse Waterford Treasures will donate €1 from each admission ticket to the Waterford Hospice Movement. The museum is now open to visitors, further details and  advance tickets can be found at www.waterfordtreasures.com

ENDS 

Free to use museum images by Patrick Browne pjbrownephotography@gmail.com & Free to use official opening event images available from this afternoon by noelbrowne06@gmail.com

By Waterford City & County Council

Road Closure of John Street entrance to Applemarket – Monday 19 June 2023

Re: Road Closure of John Street entrance to Applemarket – Monday 19 June 2023

The works that were due to take place Monday the 12th of June have been delayed until Monday the 19th of June.

Please be advised that vehicular access to Applemarket from John Street/Manor Street will be closed to all traffic on Monday 19th June 2023 from 9:30am.

This closure is required to facilitate commissioning works for the automated bollards at the John Street entrance to Applemarket. The bollard is now located closer to the junction of Parnell Street and John Street. These automated bollards will continue to operate in the same manner as before and the tag which has been issued for your car will continue to work as normal.

Please be aware of the location of the new bollard when you are entering John Street/Applemarket.

If you have any queries in relation to the above, please contact Waterford City & County Council, Traffic & Parking Department by any of the following:

Phone          0818 10 20 20
Email           contact@waterfordcouncil.ie
Post             Waterford City & County Council, Traffic & Parking Department, Menapia Building, The Mall, Waterford, X91 FXN4

By Waterford City & County Council

Roadworks – R676 Kilclooney to Ballyhest

R676 Kilclooney to Ballyhest

Roadworks in place on R676 Dungarvan to Carrick Road, between Kilclooney & Ballyhest, Monday 19th June to facilitate road surfacing works.

Stop/go system with convoy in operation.

Expect delays. Please use alternative routes where possible.

By Waterford City & County Council

Housing Minister announces 277 social and affordable homes in Waterford

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien TD was in Waterford today (Friday, June 16th) to announce 277 social and affordable homes at six sites across the city and county.

First port of call was An Garrán in Tramore, where along with Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. John O’Leary, the Minister turned the sod on a new Waterford City and County Council development of 50 A-rated residential units, comprising 6 one-bed, 28 two-bed, 11 three-bed and 5 disabled access two-bed units.

The Minister then visited and met with residents of Slí na Coille, Clúid Housing’s newest social housing development.  The scheme is a mix of houses, apartments and duplexes and provides secure, high-quality homes for 27 families. The residents came from Waterford City and County Council’s housing list and began moving into their new homes in August of 2022.

Mayor O’ Leary said, “It’s heart-warming to visit Slí na Coille.  Having met with the residents there is an evident overarching theme and that is community, the sense of which is palpable.  What started out as bricks and mortar have very quickly been transformed into homes, places of security and belonging for the residents.

“I’d like to commend the dedication of Clúid Housing in bringing this latest scheme to fruition, which brings the number of homes in Waterford owned or manged by them to 231.”

In the city, Minister O’Brien visited Summerfields and met with developers Whitebox Developments.  The development consists of 92 units and form part of Waterford City and County Councils’ Affordable Purchase Scheme, along with the development at Deerpark, which comprises 25 affordable homes. Under the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme, homes are available at a reduced price for first-time buyers whose mortgage and deposit do not cover the price of the home.

At St. Joseph’s the Minister cut the ribbon on an age-friendly housing development on the landmark site of Manor Hill.  The former convent has been transformed into 71 dwellings, with 50 units located within the main building and 21 located in the various out-building clusters on the site, while the former chapel on the site has been repurposed as a community space for multiple uses by tenants.

Over €4.2 million was approved through the Repair and Lease Scheme, funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.  The funding was provided under Housing for All – A New Housing Plan for Ireland.  The Repair and Lease Scheme has been pioneered in Waterford and is a significant driver in providing high quality affordable housing solutions and at the same time has significantly addressed and delivered the return to use of vacant buildings in Waterford.

Minister O’Brien said, “Waterford City and County Council is leading the way in delivering new social and affordable homes, and in particular in tackling vacancy which to be frank is a scourge in many villages, towns, and cities across the country. I can only commend them on what has been a fantastic day, visiting numerous housing developments which are either underway or have just been completed.

“I want to particularly mention the St. Joseph’s development. I visited St. Joseph’s back in March 2022 when works were underway and I am blown away by what I saw today. The progressive nature of this Local Authority has helped to bring that project to fruition and I congratulate everyone involved in it. Housing for All will see us deliver more projects like these, and at scale too,” he concluded.

At St. Joseph’s Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler TD also launched Waterford’s Age Friendly Strategy 2023-2028, saying, “I am delighted to be launching the second ever Waterford Age Friendly Strategy 2023-2028, as we cut the ribbon on an age-friendly housing development on this landmark site. This pioneering development for Waterford, one which I hope to see replicated around the country, sees a former convent and chapel transformed into 71 dwellings and multi-use community space for tenants.

“As Minister for Older People, I look forward to further development of Waterford as a leading age friendly county in the coming years.”

The final visit to Waterford’s housing developments was to Ostmen Place, where the Minster was joined by Waterford Metropolitan Mayor, Cllr. Jason Murphy.  Ostmen Place is a new social housing development consisting of 14 new social housing units in Ballytruckle, providing a mix of one, two and three-bedroom units.

-ENDS-

Free to use images: Noel Browne

3/ 5/6 / 7 – Senator John Cummins, Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler TD, Mayor of Waterford City and County Cllr John O’Leary, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien TD and Marc Ó Cathasaigh TD

8 – At the launch of Waterford’s Age Friendly Strategy were Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler TD, Mayor of Waterford City and County Cllr John O’Leary, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien TD, Waterford City and County Council Chief Executive, Michael Walsh, and members of Waterford’s Older Peoples Council and Waterford City and County Council Community staff.

  1. Sod turning at An Garrán
  2. Ribbon cutting at Slí na Coille.

By Waterford City & County Council

Mayor ‘Reclaims the Waters’

On June 15th, Waterford Metropolitan Mayor Cllr. Jason Murphy set sail from Dunmore East on the Irish Naval vessel, LÉ George Bernard Shaw to ‘reclaim the waters’ in a tradition that dates back centuries.

In 1626, the city of Waterford was granted a new charter by King Charles I.  Known as the Great Governing Charter, it confirmed all previous charters and privileges granted to the city, which had been removed by his father James I, whose accession in 1603 had caused great disaffection.

Under the terms of the Great Governing Charter, the Mayor of Waterford was also conferred with the office of ‘Admiral of the Harbour’.  This empowered the Mayor of Waterford City to hold admiralty courts within the harbour.  As part of this tradition the Mayor fires a ceremonial dart into the estuary where the three rivers meet, claiming the waters for the city of Waterford.

Speaking of the custom Mayor Murphy said, “It’s a great honour to continue this tradition, and the sense of ceremony attached to the occasion is significant.  I’d like to thank the officers and crew of the LÉ George Bernard Shaw, particularly EO Colm Brennan, and also Cpt. Darren Doyle of the Port of Waterford for facilitating us today.”

Mayor Murphy then ‘reclaimed the waters’ by stating, “At this place where the Three Sisters rivers meet, to drive out King Neptune, I will throw this silver dart into the place where the rivers meet, and I declare, ‘According to the Governing Charter of Waterford City, as granted by King Charles I, on behalf of the Mayor of Waterford and Admiral of the Harbour, I claim these waters.’

-ends-

Free to use images: John Power
Captions in file info

 

By Waterford City & County Council

Recruitment: Executive Planner

We are currently recruiting for the role of : Executive Planner

The Executive Planner is responsible for implementing programmes of work in the Planning Department and for providing a multiplicity of planning services and related services. Executive Planner positions are multi-faceted and may include some or all of the following key service areas:

  • Development Management
  • Planning Enforcement
  • Forward Planning and Sustainable Development
  • Gathering and analysis of Statistics on Development

Closing date is : 4:00 p.m. Thursday, 29th June, 2023

By Waterford City & County Council

Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Vacant Traditional Farmhouses

The Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage is running a pilot scheme to provide grants for expert conservation advice to owners of vacant farmhouses in private ownership who are availing of and/or considering the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.

The Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Vacant Traditional Farmhouses will provide a grant of up to €7,500 (ex VAT) to cover the cost of having a conservation expert with proven and appropriate expertise to visit the property, conduct a survey, and compile tailored conservation advice for the property owner. The report will outline the condition of the building, suggest conservation repairs and improvements which would improve the building and enhance the building’s character, energy efficiency, integrity, and amenity.

What kind of buildings qualify

Traditional (also known as ‘vernacular’) farmhouses are a key part of our rural landscape and shared heritage. Sometimes described as ‘cottages’, these buildings generally comprise modest houses constructed using local materials and traditional techniques by ‘ordinary’ people using locally available materials such as thatch, stone, slate, earth, wattle and unsawn timber. Later on corrugated iron, despite its imported, industrial origin, was also used.

Please see the following links for further information: 

https://www.gov.ie/en/service/c8cba-pilot-conservation-advice-grant-scheme-for-vacant-traditional-farmhouses/

https://www.gov.ie/ga/seirbhis/sceim-phiolotach-chomhairle-caomhnaithe-maidir-le-tithe-traidisiunta-folmha/

By Waterford City & County Council

Temporary Road Closure – L7082 Spa Road, Clonmel

Notice is hereby given that Waterford City and County Council, in exercise of its powers pursuant to Section 75 Roads Act 1993, propose to close the following road to through traffic from 19th to 30th June, 2023 to facilitate the Installation of a new Watermain.

Road to be closed:

  • L7082 Spa Road, Clonmel

Diversion Route:

  • Via L3617 Old Spa Road and R678 Rathgormack Road
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