Waterford City & County Council wishes to advise the public that the playground at Walton Park, Dungarvan will be closed to all users until 20th December 2023 to facilitate the installation of new equipment.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
The Waterford Gallery of Art on O’Connell Street is the home of one of the oldest and best civic collections of art in Ireland. The Waterford Art Collection, founded in 1939, includes artworks by some of Ireland’s most renowned artists including Paul Henry, Jack B Yeats, Mainie Jellett, Sir Frederic William Burton and Evie Hone. Established and maintained through the incredible generosity of individual donors and charitable organisations, the gallery is delighted to receive several new donations from two of the leading figures of the Irish art world.
David Britton, the former director at Adam’s Auctioneers and owner of the Frederick Gallery with curator and art historian, Karen Reihill, have personally gifted to Waterford a selection of works which will feature in exhibitions from early next year. One of the incredibly significant, and rare donations, is a folio entitled ‘Short Course Waterford 1949’. This beautifully made handbound book includes original linocuts by various well-respected artists from the time including Christopher Campbell, R.J. Hobbs, Patrick Heney (Padraig Ó hÉanaigh), James Manning, John Pearce and more. It is a delight and tribute to see the works return back to their home of origin.
Alongside this donation is a limited edition ‘artists working proof’ illustration by Elizabeth Rivers which was created as the main image for the book, ‘The Man Who Invented Sin’ (1948), by Sean O’Faolain. This commissioned artwork was completed for The Devin Adair Company in June 1948 and Rivers remained friendly with Sean and Eileen O’Faolain for the remainder of their life. Rivers, who was born in England but spent the majority of her life in Ireland and on the Aran Islands was also close friends with artist Hilda Roberts, one the founding figures of the Waterford Art Collection and Gallery. Roberts taught at Newtown School from the late 1920s alongside husband and headmaster, Arnold Marsh. The Waterford Gallery of Art currently features a free exhibition, ‘Arnold & Hilda’ exploring their life and work.
Britton and Reihill have also presented to the Collection a large and curious etching entitled ‘Toad and Spider, early morning June’ (1979) by Patrick Hickey. The artwork was identified as an item amiss from the gallery’s sizable collection of prints and etchings obtained from Dublin’s ‘Graphic Studio’ in the late 1970’s.
The folio, illustration by Rivers, and etching by Hickey will feature in the gallery’s ‘Prints and Drawings’ exhibition opening February 14th 2024. This opening is parallel to an accompanying exhibition launching on the same day in the gallery which celebrates the one-hundred-year anniversary of the founding of the Friends of the National Collections of Ireland. ‘100 Years of the FNCI’ will showcase the 10 substantial donations the FNCI have gifted to the Collection since their foundation in 1924 as well as an early painting by Sarah Purser, the initiator of the FNCI and resident of Dungarvan for 25 years.
Lastly, in acknowledgement of the research and development of an Olympic themed exhibition due to open in the gallery next summer, the collection has kindly been gifted a pastel work entitled, ‘Man of Sweden’ created by Christopher Campbell. This personal and masterly executed work is a portrait of Chistopher’s brother Laurence, who was also a recognised artist whose paintings feature in the Waterford Art Collection.
Art, including architecture, literature, music, painting and sculpture, were included as part of the Olympic Games between 1912 and 1948. The Waterford art Collection includes works by many artists (such as Christopher Campbell) that took part in the Olympics during these dates including artworks by silver medal winner Jack B Yeats, and bronze medal winner Letitia Marion Hamilton.
The Waterford Arts Office and Waterford City and County Council are incredibly thankful for the generosity and consideration shown by David Britton and Karen Reihill in supporting the work and programming of the gallery in the coming year and assisting the future development of Waterford’s prized art collection.
The Waterford Gallery of Art is open to the public Wednesday to Saturday, from 10am to 5pm and admission is free for all.
Luke Currall
Visual Arts Co-Ordinator
The Waterford Gallery of Art
lcurrall@waterfordcouncil.ie
Dungarvan can expect a very special visit from the ‘man himself’ as Santa is due to switch on Dungarvan’s Christmas lights on Sunday, November 26th.
Dungarvan Shopping Centre, in association with Waterford City and County Council, has compiled a festive programme in the lead up to the big event.
Making his grand entrance in a fire engine, Santa will be escorted by local Vespa club, Only Fools and Scooters, and met by the Deputy Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Declan Doocey.
Commenting on the event, Gerry O’Connor, Manager Dungarvan Shopping Centre, said we’re delighted to partner with Waterford City and County Council to light up Dungarvan for the festive season.
“Dungarvan looks great throughout the year. It really is the perfect destination for shopping, leisure or for a bite to eat, but when the lights go on, there is a fantastic festive atmosphere.
There is lots of activity planned in the Plaza and Grattan Square and it really is the perfect time to bring the family into town, young and old, to soak up the wonderful Christmas ambience.”
Santa will arrive in Grattan Square in a fire engine and make his way to the Plaza to meet the Deputy Mayor, of Waterford City and County where he and the winner of the Christmas colouring competition in the Dungarvan Leader will switch on the Christmas lights at approximately 5pm.”
WLRfm will be broadcasting live from 3pm to 6pm with Andy McCloskey and there will be loads of prizes and giveaways. There’ll also be a Christmas Carousel in the Plaza to keep the youngsters entertained throughout the evening.
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Waterford City & County Council proposes to undertake the construction of a 3km long pedestrian and cycle improvement scheme along the R675 Tramore Ring Road between Riverstown Roundabout and Newtown Roundabout, Tramore.
The proposed works include:
The objective of the scheme is to prioritise pedestrian and cycle movements over vehicles and to provide a safer and more attractive connection between the three primary schools, the secondary school, sports ground, and the numerous housing estates along the scheme extents.
The drawings together with the information leaflet are available for inspection on Waterford City and County Council’s consultation portal at consult.waterfordcouncil.ie and is also on display in our Customer Services Departments in Bailey’s New Street in the City and Davitt’s Quay, Dungarvan from Tuesday 3rd October 2023 to Tuesday 31st October 2023.
The Council will consider any submissions or observations made in writing regarding the proposal.
Submissions should be made on the Council’s Consultation portal or by writing to James Cummins, Staff Officer, Active Travel Team, Waterford City & County Council, Menapia Building, The Mall, Waterford or by email to jcummins@waterfordcouncil.ie to be received by Tuesday 31st October 2023.
Please note that comments, including names of those making comments, submitted to the Council regarding this process will form part of the statutorily required report to be presented at a meeting of the elected members. Accordingly, they may also appear in the public domain.
This week Waterford received the coveted Purple Flag accreditation, which represents the gold standard of the management of evening and night-time economies.
n recognition of Waterford’s commitment to creating a dynamic, secure, and vibrant evening and night-time economy, the Purple Flag accreditation process is similar to the Green Flag Award for parks and Blue Flag for beaches.
This prestigious award highlights Waterford’s blend of entertainment, dining, and culture, all the while ensuring the safety and well-being of residents, and visitors in the evening and night-time economy, between the hours of 5pm and 5am.
As part of the accreditation process a full assessment was held in Waterford on July 21st.
The judging panel was welcomed by Metropolitan Mayor, Cllr. Jody Power to the Vestibule in the Theatre Royal, which was followed by a walk about of the city to showcase the amenities and diverse offerings of Waterford.
The walkabout featured some of the city’s key cultural amenities including a tour of the Theatre Royal and the Irish Wake Museum. The panel also visited key venues which exemplify supporting an entertaining, diverse, safe and enjoyable night out, including Dooleys Hotel, Tullys, Momo, The Apple Market, The Woodman, Momo, Zanzibar and The Reg.
Jim ‘Flash’ Gordan, Proprietor of Revolution and Chair of the Purple Flag Committee said, “We are delighted that Waterford has, once again, received Purple Flag accreditation.
“In essence, it consolidates Waterford City’s vibrant, bustling and safe night-time offering. It’s important for tourists and locals to not only have a great choice of pubs, restaurants, cultural amenities and social venues to experience, but also to feel safe in their surroundings.”
Julie Walsh, Purple Flag Administrator with Waterford City and County Council added, “The success of the evening and night-time economy is vital to Waterford’s economic success. This award recognises that Waterford has a strong and diverse offering, making it a popular city destination.
“The Purple Flag project brings local businesses and stakeholders together who work closely with the Local Authority and An Garda Síochána to promote Waterford. I would like to extend our gratitude to them for their invaluable insight and assistance in the application and assessment process.”
Waterford’s submission also recognised the vital work of the Water Marine Search & Rescue, the strong and diverse partnership between local businesses and stakeholder groups, and the successful use of the distinctive quarters and the public realm.
There are one hundred Purple Flag destinations around the globe across the UK, Ireland, Sweden, New Zealand, and Australia. This includes world renowned tourist destinations to small market towns.
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The BMX Pump track comprises of a 120-metre-long beginners track and a 420-metre advanced track and is the ideal amenity for BMXers to test their ability to ‘pump’ speed from the track using the rollers
As part of the project, Waterford City and County Council consulted with BMX Ireland and Cycling Ireland for advice on the specification for a BMX Pump Track and to ensure the most authentic ‘pump’ experience for its users.
Cathaoirleach of the Dungarvan / Lismore District Cllr. Pat Nugent was delighted to officially open the track and said “It’s wonderful to see the addition of such an accessible, high calibre track to the park. The feedback from Cycle Ireland, BMX Ireland and the local visitors to the park has been so positive.
“The amenities in this park have flourished and the Learn to Cycle track, performance area, skatepark, BMX Pump track and the imminent completion of an adult exercise area are all fantastic additions to the community landscape and will encourage people of all ages to get out and about and try something new in a safe, family-friendly outdoor area.”
Waterford City and County Council secured funding of €195,000 under the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Sports Capital Programme.
Peter Jones, Waterford Sports Partnership commented, “The input of Cycling Ireland and BMX Ireland was invaluable throughout the process. In consultation with their members, we were able to deliver a top-class track that is as accessible to beginners as it is challenging to advanced riders.”
Kieran Kehoe, Director of Services with Waterford City and County Council added, “As a Smarter Travel Town, Dungarvan is leading the way in providing outdoor cycle and walking facilities to encourage a more sustainable and healthier lifestyle to all ages. The Local Authority will continue to invest in such amenities so that the benefit can be reaped by everyone in the town and surrounding areas.”
The Pump track was constructed in a sustainable manner, applying the principles of the circular economy in terms of reuse of materials and life cycle costing. Recycled aggregates were used in the build-up of all slopes, banks and ramps and these were provided by quarries in the Dungarvan area.
Works were completed earlier this month by contractors Trailbreaker, along with VeloSolutions which developed the plan for the track.
Waterford Chef, restaurants and produce is set for the spotlight on the Taste Waterford Kitchen Stage at the upcoming Waterford Harvest Festival this September 8th to 10th in Waterford City.
A host of Chefs will be taking to the Taste Waterford Kitchen Stage which will be located in the courtyard at Garter Lane Theatre for two full days of cookery demonstrations from noon to 4pm daily.
Getting the kitchen stage fired up first at noon on Saturday, September 9th is the Chef Patron of Michelin-starred House Restaurant at the Cliff House Hotel, Ardmore, Tony Parkin. With over 22 years of experience in the culinary world, Parkin’s approach is shaped by an array of global influences, working in a number of internationally renowned restaurants, including Noma, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, and Northcote. Tony will be showcasing how to create his signature lobster dish, caught from Ardmore Bay.
At 1pm Jenny Flynn, Executive Chef of Faithlegg Hotel will be preparing Chicken Supreme with crisped skin using poultry from Comeragh Mountain Farm, foraged seaweed salt, and drizzled with a Dunhill Honey and tarragon glaze, all on a bed of pumpkin risotto. Jenny is a true believer in local is best, and her demos bring lots of foodie passion. With a chance to try her dish – you’ll be inspired by Jenny’s cooking and wanting to source your own local food.
At 2pm Stephen McArdle and Morgan VanderKamer from Waterford’s hotly tipped establishment Union Wine Bar & Kitchen. Head Chef Stephen will create a dish showcasing fish from Billy Burke Fish & Poultry, with Morgan, a trained sommelier, talking about wine for what occasion, and the importance in the hospitality industry. The perfect fusion between creating a quality, local dish and how the wine can sing with it.
Taking Saturday’s demo’s to a close is Donia Sikora of Avo Café, the champions a wholesome lifestyle, recognising the profound influence of diet on our well-being, vitality, and daily vigor. Donia will be preparing her version of the classic breakfast, with a ‘Garden Gate chickpea omelette’ being the star attraction in a dish that encompasses the finest, natural ingredients.
On Sunday, September 10th at noon Head of Food at the award winning GrowHQ in Waterford City JB Dubois. JB manages the award-winning zero-waste café – delivering local, organic and seasonal dishes everyday. And when using homegrown food, the distance from their plot to plate is an impressive 112 steps. He’s not just preparing a delicious and local dish, JB will inspire you to cook with seasonal ingredients, reducing food waste, and even reusing edible food waste – like turning vegetable skins into crisps. After this demo, you’ll feel encouraged to make sustainability a key part of your cooking, and enjoy a healthier lifestyle.
At 1pm Irish-Israeli couple Nicola Crowley and Dvir Nusery from Mezzo in Tramore will take you through an easy recipe to cook bourekas – cheesy puff pastry parcels, with Knockalara and Knockanore cheeses, and pickles, perfect for lunch boxes and picnics.
The 2pm demo offers an exciting collaboration between two award-winning Taste Waterford members – Kamila Bystrzonowska from Momo Restaurant and Liam McDonnell of Legacy Irish Cider. With slow cooked pork in cider, served with bread from the Seagull Bakery and local pickles, it’ll demonstrate how you can use cider at home to enhance flavours.
Taking the Taste Waterford Kitchen Stage demos to a close at 3pm on Sunday is Husband and wife team Mary and Billy Sharpe of Irish Gourmet Butter. With many award wins under their belts, including the prestigious Blas na hÉireann Awards, they’ve dedicated their passion to elevating this simple ingredient and in this demo they showcase how quality butter can enhance food. Their son Head Chef Harrison Sharpe of Elbow Lane in Cork will demonstrate three recipes – caramelised carrot soup, gin-glazed vichy carrots, and tandoori carrots with yoghurt. Along with using a host of local suppliers, including Ardmore carrots and Blackwater Distillery Gin, it’ll be the perfect way to end this year’s Taste Waterford Kitchen – hearing about and tasting what’s great about Waterford produce.
The Waterford Harvest Festival is being supported by Waterford City & County Council and organised by GIY with the Taste Waterford Kitchen Stage sponsored by Waterford’S Local Enterprise Office.
The festival offers an array of entirely free events for everyone to enjoy. There will be two live music stages and in addition there will be vast array of entertainment and tings to see, do and eat throughout the festival weekend. Highlights include ‘Food Matters’ food sustainability talks where some of the country’s most esteemed food writers, chefs, activists, journalists and business people, it’s guaranteed to be an educational, engaging and entertaining debate each day.
For the food fans Waterford’s rich food heritage will be key, celebrating the City’s diverse restaurants, eateries and producers. The best of Waterford’s food and drink will be centre stage at the giant Harvest Festival Market which will traverse across Waterford’s wonderful squares and interconnecting streets.
In the Junior GIYer’s zone which will take over O’Connell Street families will enjoy the Wooly Farm where children can learn more about our furry and feathered friends. Artist Aga Krym will create a new living art installation with Slí Waterford based on the UN sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger. In addition Cool Food School and GIY will be hosting workshops on seed sowing, growing and cooking food and Monty Potts will be on hand to help out plus there will be art workshops, Fun Drums and at Waterford City Library there will be story-telling, colouring sessions, the Waterford Honey Show will be open for visitors and more.
The Waterford Harvest Festival is funded by Waterford City & County Council and is a weekend-long celebration taking place from Friday 8th to Sunday 10th of September and will see the city come to life with markets, special dining events, panel discussions and plenty more. For further details and to browse the full programme of free entertainment and events see https://harvest.giy.ie/
#WaterfordHarvest
#FoodMatters
In an awe-inspiring effort, firefighters from Waterford City Station are gearing up to embark on an extraordinary journey – a challenging expedition to conquer the 5 highest peaks in the UK and Ireland, within a tight 48-hour window.
Set to kick off on the 6th of September, the mission aims to raise funds for a cause close to their hearts: the Irish Cancer Society.
The journey will see the Waterford men commence their adventure at the foot of Mount Snowdon in Wales, before moving on to Scafell Pike in England, then conquering the grandeur of Ben Nevis in Scotland.
But their journey doesn’t end there – after scaling the three highest peaks on island of Great Britain, they will make their way back to Ireland to ascend Slieve Donard in County Down, concluding their quest at Carrauntoohil in County Kerry. It’s a feat that demands not only physical prowess but also strategic planning and much determination.
Every penny raised through this challenge will go directly towards supporting the Irish Cancer Society’s vital work, making a real difference in the lives of those affected by cancer.
Participant Firefighter, Willy Walsh, commented : “We have already made progress toward our fundraising goal. Through various collections like city-wide bucket collections over the past few months, we’ve managed to raise approximately €8,000. However, our target is set at €10,000, and we are looking to the Waterford community for further support.
We have set up a JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/wcfs and any donation, no matter the size, will make an impact and help us reach our goal.”
From August 17th 2023, Pay & Display parking times will change in Dungarvan at :
Due to poor quality water results, a temporary bathing prohibition notice has been put in place for the Main Strand in DunmoreEast.
The prohibition will remain in place until compliant water quality results are returned.
Waterford City and County Council apologises for any inconvenience caused.
From August 17th 2023, Pay & Display parking times will change in Dungarvan at :
Protecting the water supply in Dungarvan is a vital focus for Uisce Éireann with further works planned as part of its programme to drive down leakage and reduce the number of bursts and unplanned outages impacting the community.
Uisce Éireann, in partnership with Waterford City and County Council is replacing over 1km of ageing and problematic backyard service connections with modern water mains, which will allow for 125 households to be connected to the new system.
The works, which are due to begin next week, are a critical step in conserving this precious resource and reducing high levels of leakage which have been a significant source of disruption and outages for customers. This vital project will bring benefits to homes in St Thomas Street, Fitzgerald’s Terrace, St Brigid Terrace, St Martin’s Terrace (cul-de-sac), Keating Street and Mitchell Street by providing a more resilient and robust water supply.
Backyard services are typically found in older areas, often installed to the rear of a customer’s property and usually made of cast iron or lead. Due to the age and deteriorating condition of the pipework, they are often a significant source of leakage and supply disruption for customers. Backyard services are usually shared, running through a number of neighbouring properties making it difficult to detect and repair leaks. Where properties share a connection, leaks and bursts affect all connected properties, resulting in low pressure and/or outages.
Uisce Éireann would like to thank all customers in Dungarvan who have engaged and assisted us in the provision of our back yard services programme which will not only result in significant water savings but will also reduce the number of bursts and outages impacting customers. These projects are only successful if all customers on a shared water connection support and facilitate these vital works so that the old and leaking mains can be decommissioned.
Speaking about the benefits of the project, Joe Carroll, Infrastructure Delivery Programme Manager at Uisce Éireann said: “Old backyard service connections are a huge source of leakage and continue to impact communities right across Ireland, causing low pressure and supply disruption. Replacing these old water mains and service connections in poor condition will eliminate existing leaks and significantly reduce the amount of clean drinking water lost into the ground.”
Joe added: We would like to sincerely thank the community in Dungarvan for facilitating these works and working with us to provide a more secure and reliable water supply for generations to come.”
These works will be carried out by Shareridge Civil Engineering Ltd in partnership with Waterford City and County Council on behalf of Uisce Éireann.
Uisce Éireann is responsible for delivering public drinking water and wastewater services for the people of Ireland. We are committed to enabling communities to thrive by continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support sustainable growth and development, providing safe drinking water, and enhancing the environment. To find out more visit www.water.ie
The beach wheelchair is free to use and is available seven days a week.
Introducing the initiative, Pauline Casey, Sports Inclusion Disability Officer with WSP was delighted with the response to the introduction of the beach wheelchair. “We have had a fantastic response to the introduction of the beach wheelchair at Tramore. Users of the beach wheelchair have let us know that its addition has made all the difference to how they can access Tramore’s Blue Flag beach.
“Now the addition of an online booking system will make it easier and more accessible for those with mobility issues to book in advance.
“We have a beautiful beach and prom area, but it’s not always been accessible to everyone. The beach wheelchair gives users and their families and friends the opportunity to enjoy Tramore beach together.”
Cllr. Lola O’Sullivan, Chair of the Waterford branch of Irish Water Safety also welcomed the online booking system. “The beach wheelchair has been a great success since we introduced it in 2021, however its availability was never a certainty. Now users will be able to visit the booking portal and book a specific time that suits them.
“I’d encourage any person with a disability or infirmity who up to now hasn’t been able to experience the best of Tramore beach to visit the site and register. Nobody should be excluded from enjoying all that our coastline has to offer.
“I’d also like to thank the Local Authority and the local businesses for their continued support in bringing this great facility to Tramore, in particular T-Bay Surf Club and Molly’s Café.”
The beach wheelchair is for use within the designated Lifeguard Area on Tramore Beach. between 10am and 5pm and is free of charge.
To book visit https://www.waterfordsportspartnership.ie/beach-wheelchair/ or email pcasey@waterfordsportspartnership.ie
