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Cllr. Joe Kelly elected Metropolitan Mayor of Waterford

Cllr Joe Kelly elected Metropolitan Mayor of Waterford

At the AGM of the Metropolitan District of Waterford held in City Hall on Monday 24th June, independent Councillor, Joe Kelly, was elected as Metropolitan Mayor for a one-year term.

Cllr. Kelly was proposed by Cllr. Lola O’Sullivan of Fine Gael, and seconded by Cllr. Blaise Hannigan.  Cllr. Kelly’s appointment comes after he had previously served as plenary Mayor of Waterford City & County from 2021-2022, as well as Metropolitan Mayor in 2018.   Also nominated for the position were Cllr. Pat Fitzgerald of Sinn Féin and Cllr. David Daniels, Independent.

Cllr. Frank Quinlan of Fine Gael was elected as deputy Mayor, having been nominated by Cllr. Eamon Quinlan of Fianna Fáil.

Speaking after his appointment, a delighted Cllr. Kelly said:

“I am deeply honoured to be elected as the Metropolitan Mayor of Waterford for a second time. This city & county holds a special place in my heart, and I am committed to representing it with dignity and pride. The importance of the democracy in which we live, and work cannot be undervalued.  It gives all the Councillors here present our mandate to work for those that elected us.

Cllr. Kelly, beginning his fourth term as an elected representative, thanked his family and especially his wife Frances, as well as paid tribute to those Councillors who were not returned in the recent election.  In what was a first Metropolitan AGM without his presence, Cllr. Kelly paid tribute to the late Davy Daniels, a long serving member of the Council who passed away since the last meeting.

The Metropolitan Council is the constituent part of the overall Waterford City & County Council, which represents the Waterford City, Tramore, Passage East and Dunmore East areas and their hinterlands.  There are 18 elected representatives for this district, which is made up of three local government electoral areas, each with 6 Councillors – Tramore & Waterford City West, Waterford City East and Waterford City South.

ENDS

People’s Park Fountain gets contemporary upgrade

The Fountain in the People’s Park was unveiled today (May 29th) by Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Joe Conway.

The new fountain, which has retained the shape and limestone capping of the previous fountain, consists of a 7-metre stainless steel spray ring with 88 individual water jets along with a dynamic colour change lighting display and a water filter system that can be monitored and accessed remotely.

Speaking at the unveiling, Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Joe Conway said, “This is a wonderful addition to the People’s Park, and I’m delighted that so many people will be able to enjoy the calming sound and relaxing ambience that the fountain brings to this space.

“For anyone taking a stroll in the park, having a bite of lunch outdoors or enjoying the play areas for children, the new fountain is sure to be a big draw.

“What was once marshland almost 170 years ago, is now a vibrant, green, biodiverse and family-friendly public space which is on all of our interests to enjoy, respect and preserve.”

In addition to the construction of the new fountain, the Carlisle Bridge which links the People’s Park to Waterford Court House across the River Pill was also reopened.  Carlisle Bridge dates back to 1857 when it was built to provide a pedestrian link between the Courthouse and the People’s Park. The bridge, which is a very earlier example of the use of reinforced concrete construction, was opened by the 7th Earl of Carlisle after whom it was named.

In recent years much of the original iron work and lattice work on the bridge had become heavily corroded and in late 2023 Waterford City and County Council appointed Cumnor Construction to undertake a refurbishment of the bridge, which included the replacement of corroded wrought iron work, a full back to bare metal stripping of the old paint and repainting in colours that would in keeping with those used during the Victorian period.

The bridge was refurbished at a cost of almost €200,000 which was largely funded by grant funding from the Department of Transport’s Bridge Rehabilitation Works Programme.

Commenting on the fountain works, Dawn Wallace, Environment Senior Executive Officer with Waterford City and County Council said, “We are delighted with the results.  The People’s Park is a wonderful public amenity that contains modern, accessible facilities such as the playground, playing pitch, skate park and adult gym, but what makes it particularly special is that it retains the history of the place.

“The bandstand has stood prominently in the heart of the 16-acre park since 1869 along with the Russian canons which were captured by the British Army at the Battle of Sebastopol in 1854.  These significant historical features are now complemented by the new upgraded fountain and refurbished pedestrian access bridge, which means there is something for everyone to enjoy in this expansive natural space.”

The overall cost of the fountain refurbishment was €160,000 and works were completed earlier this month by contractors Fountainworks of Navan with civil support works carried out by Liam Whelan Plant Hire of Dungarvan.

Waterford Digital Story Trail shortlisted in two categories of .ie Digital Town Awards

A digital story trail featuring augmented reality which offers tourists an engaging way to discover Waterford’s rich and fascinating history via their smartphone has been shortlisted in the Digital Tourism and Digital Changemaker categories of the .ie Digital Town Awards 2024

The .ie Digital Town Awards recognise and reward projects with a digital element created by town groups, individuals and local communities.

In February of last year, Waterford City and County Council in partnership with Imvizar, and with Fáilte Ireland funding under the Destination Towns Initiative, launched Waterford’s first Digital Story Trail (DST), which explores the history, culture, and heritage of 15 different locations across the city centre, including Reginald’s Tower, Waterford Crystal, the Watchtower and Arundel Square.

Through the use of augmented reality smartphone technology, visitors and locals can experience Waterford’s past by watching digital animations of characters and architecture appear as if they are in the physical world right in front of them. The trail can be accessed for free by scanning one of the numerous QR codes on signs located throughout the city trail or by visiting visitwaterford.com/digitalstorytrail/

This innovative experience seamlessly combines audio, augmented reality, and a simple-to-use web interface which allows visitors to interact with Waterford City’s rich past. Using a mobile device, visitors are transported to 15 key locations where they can listen to tales from historical figures and witness AR recreations of pivotal moments.

In addition to meeting life-like characters from Waterford’s past, scanning the QR code also provides an audio tale from an historical figure, coupled with interesting facts and a timeline of events. Spanning over a thousand years of Waterford’s history, tourists can listen as Reginald, a Viking King and warlord from the 10th century, as he describes his quest to launch raids all over Ireland and watch as Thomas Francis Meagher, Leader of the Young Irelanders in the 1848 Rebellion, raises the first Irish tricolour.

Waterford’s history of master craft making is also recognised.  Rachel Penrose, the wife of one of the founders of Waterford Crystal, William Penrose, appears in a recreation of an 18th century glass-blowing scene. Trail users can also meet Anastasia Fleming, a silversmith from the late 1700s, and see a reimagined façade of her silversmith shop.

Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Joe Conway commended the initiative saying it truly brings Waterford’s history to life in a fun, engaging and fascinating way.  “With over 1,000 years of history to explore the Digital Story Trail takes the user on an intriguing journey, in which they can meet the characters that shaped Ireland’s Oldest City.”

Orna Holohan, Tourism Officer with Waterford City and County Council said, “The Waterford Digital Story Trail was identified as an ideal way to introduce visitors to the varied stories and characters of Waterford. It provides visitors with free entertainment at any time of the day, taking about one and a half hours to complete.  Users can stop and start at any point, and it purposefully leads people past attractions, shops and café’s to encourage people to dwell longer in the destination.”

The DST has exceeded expectations attracting over 25,000 visitors and boosting the city’s tourism, particularly from international guests. In its first year 75% of users were from Ireland but through promotion international users increased to 43% in 2023 with US, UK, Germany, France and Spain being the top users. Beyond enhancing tourism, the trail has deepened the community’s connection to its heritage, making history more accessible and engaging through innovative technology.

The project’s success has not gone unnoticed. It was featured in the New York Times “52 places to go” list in 2024 and praised on RTE’s Nationwide for its exemplary approach to digital heritage storytelling.

This year’s shortlisted finalists cover the full spectrum of idea development and readiness, with the gala awards ceremony taking place in Athlone on May 24th.

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Image – Free to use Patrick Browne

Anastasia Fleming, an 18th Century silversmith, and Odin Lord of Valhalla with then Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. John O’Leary the launch of the Waterford Digital Story Trail in February 2023.

Waterford Walls Announces its Year Ten Line-up!

Waterford Walls, the beloved festival that has been transforming the city’s walls into vibrant works of art, is gearing up for a monumental milestone in 2024 – its tenth anniversary! And trust us, they’re pulling out all the stops to make this year unforgettable.

Prepare to be wowed as an eclectic blend of talent from all over Ireland and across the globe descends upon Waterford. From the iconic Chris ‘Daze’ Ellis of NYC subway fame to the hyper-realism master Jeks from North Carolina, and Irish favourite Dan Leo, the roster is stacked with 38 awe-inspiring artists. Representing countries far and wide including France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Peru, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, and beyond, this year’s lineup promises to be a true celebration of global creativity. Festival Manager Gabe McGuinness says he is excited to make the programme public after months of preparation: ‘we’re thrilled to be announcing such a jam-packed lineup of artists featuring long-running festival favourites and exciting new names never seen before in Waterford as we celebrate our 10th anniversary.’

The full Year Ten lineup is:

CLAIRE PROUVOST [FRA] | DAN LEO [IRL] | DAZE [USA] | ED HICKS [GBR] | .EPOD [GBR] | HALFSTUDIO [PRT] | HMC [IRL] | HOCK [IRL] |  JEAN ROOBLE [FRA] | JEKS [USA] | JOHN BRADY [IRL] | KAROL [IRL] | KMG [SCO] LAIDBACK [IRL] | LIBERTAD RICE [ARG] | LIDIA CAO [ESP] | LOUIS MASAI [GBR] |LUOGO COMUNE [ITA] | MICHELLE URBAN [DEU] | NASCA UNO [DEU] | NEAN [BEL] NETO VETTORELLO [BRA] | NIALL.OL [IRL] | NOVICE [IRL] | OMIN [IRL] PEACHZZ [GBR] PENS [IRL] | RAME13 [ITA] | RASK [IRL] | ROISIN CLOTHIER [IRL] | SILLYME [ITA] SHANE O’MALLEY [IRL] | STAYLO [IRL] | SUFEK [IRL] | VARIOUS & GOULD [DEU]

But that’s not all – mark your calendars for August 9 to 18 because Waterford Walls is not just a festival, it’s an experience. Dive into a whirlwind of colour and culture with a jam-packed schedule featuring workshops, tours, talks, breakdancing, DJs, movie screenings, and live painting events. This year the festival is also delighted to partner with Wicklow Wolf, who will be serving up their full range of craft beers at its festival hub at The Forum.

Waterford Walls is made possible by the support of a whole host of sponsors and funders including Waterford Council, The Arts Council, Creative Ireland, Waterford Cultural Quarter, the European Festival Association, Colourtrend Paints, Montana Cans, Number 21, Zinnia, Fyrefli, Rapid Cabs and Fitzgerald Power. The embassies of France, Italy, Portugal and Belgium support the participation of artists from their countries.

Join Waterford Walls in commemorating a decade of art, community, and creativity this August. For more details, visit wallsproject.ie or follow on social media. This is a celebration you won’t want to miss!

ENDS

Waterford City and County Council to host range of activities to celebrate Africa Day

Waterford City and County Council, working with Waterford Integration Services, Everyevent and Waterford Cultural Quarter (WCQ), is delighted to announce plans for Africa Day 2024, which will include a range of activities including two music stages, dance groups, market stalls, children’s activities, petting zoo, food tasting and much more to celebrate the occasion.

africa_day_waterford_2024

These activities will take place within the heart of Waterford Cultural Quarter on O’Connell Street on Saturday, May 25th from 12 noon to 4pm.

Africa Day celebrates the richness of African cultures and the contribution of people of African descent to Irish life.  Africa Day celebrations are organised by Irish Aid at the Department of Foreign Affairs in partnership with African embassies in Ireland and local authorities around the country.

Launching Africa Day Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Seán Fleming T.D., said, “I am delighted to launch the programme for Africa Day 2024. Ireland has growing trade, political and cultural links across the continent of Africa. Africa Day is an opportunity to promote those links and learn more about the diversity and vibrancy of African cultures.“The Department of Foreign Affairs is working with local authorities around Ireland on a nationwide programme of events.”

Africa Day is the annual worldwide celebration of the people, cultures, and potential of the African continent. This year, all 31 Local Authorities across Ireland will host various cultural, artistic, and family-friendly events.   These will include contemporary African-Irish culture, as well as family fun days, fashion, art, film, music, dance, and food events, which will take place in towns and cities across Ireland.

To find out more about Africa Day 2024 visit www.AfricaDay.ie or follow Africa Day on social media.

Facilities Updates

Facilities Updates

  • Walton Park, Dungarvan has reopened following recent renovations and repairs.
  • The Multi Use Games Area in An Garraun estate, Tramore is closed for essential repair work until further notice.

Notice of Playground Closure – Walton Park, Dungarvan

Walton Park

Waterford City & County Council wishes to advise the public that the playground at Walton Park, Dungarvan is closed to all users until 19th May 2024 to facilitate the installation of new equipment.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Notice re: Greenway Footbridge, Dungarvan

The Greenway Footbridge adjacent to the Civic Offices, Dungarvan, will temporary reopen tomorrow Friday afternoon. Thanks to all for your cooperation. Please take precaution as temporary surfacing will be in place over the weekend.

The footbridge will be closed for a few hours again on Tuesday morning April 16th. to facilitate permanent macadam reinstatement at location of the works around the air valves.

Reminder : Closure of Public Planning Office

Due to construction works, the public planning office in Waterford City (Menapia Building) will be temporarily closed on:

  • Tuesday 9th April
  • Wednesday 10th April
  • Thursday 11th April

The Planning Office can still be contacted on planning@waterfordcouncil.ie and on 051-849562.

REMINDER: Temporary Closure of former Railway Bridge/Greenway Footbridge, Dungarvan

Irish Water Contractor, David Walsh Civil Engineering Ltd working on behalf of Irish Water will be undertaking essential Maintenance Work on Air Valves next week from Monday April 8th. to Friday April 12th. inclusive on the footbridge adjacent to the Council Civic Offices. Through Pedestrian and Cycling Traffic will be prohibited during this period of time. Such Traffic will be diverted.

See below the Temporary Traffic Management Plan and circulated letter, showing the Diversion on both approaches to the Greenway Footway Bridge.

Temporary Closure of former Railway Bridge/Greenway Footbridge adjacent to Civic Offices,Dungarvan

Irish Water Contractor, David Walsh Civil Engineering Ltd working on behalf of Irish Water will be undertaking essential Maintenance Work on Air Valves next week from Monday April 8th. to Friday April 12th. inclusive on the footbridge adjacent to the Council Civic Offices. Through Pedestrian and Cycling Traffic will be prohibited during this period of time. Such Traffic will be diverted.

See below the Temporary Traffic Management Plan and circulated letter, showing the Diversion on both approaches to the Greenway Footway Bridge.