First Museum News Letter Out This Week:

This week sees the issue of our first News Letter. This booklet will be sent out to museum members 3 times a year and will help to keep them in touch with events and happenings within the museum. A calender of events will be printed in each issue therefore members will be aware of all important dates.

In this issue we have included the events for the first 4 months of 2010 and also  

The Museums Plan for 2010.

• Launch our revamped website
• Improve and expand our schools programme
• Introduce information packs for schools
• Commence using twitter, facebook and Web 2.0 technologies to promote the museum.
• Translate the contents we have into other languages
• Install conservation standard lighting within the museum
• Initiate a purchases fund for historic objects we wish to buy
• Contribute to the Museum and Web-International Conference 
• Expand our handling object area
• Mount 2 temporary exhibitions in Spring and Autumn
• Participate in European Nights of the Museum (May)
• Participate in Heritage Week (August)
• Participate in Féile na nDéise (April)
• Participate in Waterford Festival of Food (April)
• Continue with the ongoing survey of visitors in a bid to improve our service to visitors
  

 We welcome feedback from our members and the public and any comments will be taken on board.

Waterford Adult Education Centre Visit The Museum

Some Of The Group From The Adult Education Centre

Last Monday we had a group of 28 students along with their teachers from the Adult Education Centre in Waterford. The students from many different parts of the world were very impressed with our museum. A number took a great interest in the history of industry in the area, and Ernest Walton was a popular topic with some more of the students.
Even though a lot of these  students don't have a great understanding of our language, they found the  photographs and artifacts very interesting and they thoroughly enjoyed their visit.

Family Afternoon At The Museum: Children's Activities & Family History

Sunday 6th December 2009 - 2pm to 4pm

Helen Moynihan, the museum education officer (ably assisted by Karen Cottier) is putting a great effort into organising a family afternoon in Waterford County Museum on the 6th December 2009. As well as a range of activities for children we will also be laying on some tables where adults (and children) can find out about how they can trace their family tree.

The event will run between 2pm and 4pm. As ever admission is free and all are welcome :)

Children's Events

• Colouring In
• Quizzes
• Craftmaking
• Special Children's Exhibition
• Storytelling with Nicholas Graves
• Possible appearance of Santa Claus
  

Family History
Find out who your ancestors were and how they lived. Martin, Eddie and Willie will be providing advice on:

• IRA Records
• The 1911 Census
• Researching Military And Naval Ancestors
• Waterford County Archives
• Griffiths Valuation
• Local Parish Registers
• Family History Software
• Family History Research Online (Thanks to Janet of the Waterford Genealogy Mailing List for the handout.)

The above programme is only a preliminary one and is subject to change. As we arrive closer to the date we will publishing the final programme in the museum newspaper notes and on this blog.

For more details contact the museum
Email: history@waterfordmuseum.ie
Phone: 058 45960

Waterford County Museum Wins Heritage And Environment Award

The WLRfm sponsored Community and Voluntary awards attracted over hundred different groups / entries this year. Waterford County Museum was honoured for its efforts to preserve the history of Dungarvan and County Waterford and took the Heritage and Environment Award.

We are delighted to win the award, it is a real recognition of all the hard work that our committee, members, staff and sponsors have invested in the organisation. Our thanks to all of the many local voluntary and business organisations that assisted us with projects over the course of the year. A particular thanks to the Waterford Community Forum for organising such a great night. You can download our competion entry (5 Mbyte .pdf file) online. It gives a great idea of the work we are currently doing and our future plans. Any organisations interested in sponsoring our future work can contact us at the museum. We also accept donations through our paypal account.

Congratulations To Abbeyside Scouts
We would also like to congratulate another local group, The 4th Waterford, Abbeyside Scout Group, one of Ireland oldest Scout groups, they won the Children and Youth Award. Three of the current museum committee are still involved with the scout group and it is great that the scouts got this long overdue recognition.

A Photo From Past - The Perfect Christmas Present

Children Playing In The Snow, Abbeyside

Stuck for ideas this Christmas. Visit our image archive at http://www.waterfordcountyimages.org/ and pick out a great present at a very low price.We have over 1200 images available for sale covering people, places and sporting events in the Waterford area. This would be an ideal gift for a family member at home or abroad. The proceeds of all sales go towards the upkeep of the museum.

Museum Curator Willie Fraher Speaks At Waterford Heritage Seminar

On Thursday, November 5th a Seminar on the Heritage of County Waterford took place in The Park Hotel, Dungarvan.  A large crowd was present to hear the Welcome Address by Dungarvan Town Council Mayor, Damien Geoghan and Opening Address by Waterford County Council Mayor, Nora Flynn.

The Curator of Waterford County Museum, William Fraher was in attendance and he spoke on The Work of  Waterford County Museum.  Included in his speech William spoke of the past achievements of the Museum which include:-

• Heritage Council Publication Of The Year Award 2002
• Museum And The Web 2002 - Shortlisted Best Research Website
• County Waterford Community And Voluntary Awards - Winner Of The Heritage Section 2006
• Museums And The Web, Albuquerque 2006 - Best Small Museum Website
• 45 Major Exhibitions
• 140 Public Lectures 
• Published 4 Books

 He also spoke of the plans made for the coming year, including:-

• Launch Our Revamped Website (February 2010)
• Improve And Expand Our Schools Programme
• Construct A Version Of Our Website For Mobile Phones And PDA's (Summer 2010)
• Install Conservation Standard Lighting Within The Museum
• Initiate A Purcases Fund For Historic Objects We Wish To Buy
• Contribute To The Museums And The Web - International Conference (April 13 - 17, 2010 in Denver, Colorado, USA)
• Expand Our Handling Objects Area
• Mount 2 Temporary Exhibitions In Spring And Autumn
• Participate In European Night Of The Museums, Heritage Week, Feile na nDeise and Waterford Festival Of Food

The Curator concluded his speech by welcoming everyone to visit the Museum to see for themselves the great work that is being done.  A request for donations was also made, with an assurance that any donation would be handled with the utmost care and to conservation standards.

Dungarvan Swimming Pool Memorabilia

The Swimming Pool In Dungarvan C.1950

We recently received a donation of items in respect of the local swimming pool, which was a big part of the social life in the town for many years. The donation was received from Jim Lawn whose father Tony was Secretary of the club.

Items Donated Included:

• 2 Cash Receipt Books.
• Booklet on the Rules & Regulations of the Munster Branch of the I.A.S.A.
• Printed Envelope of the Dungarvan Swimming Club for coaching subscriptions.
• Application Forms for the I.A.S.A  Munster Championship.
• Records of Expenditure for the club.
• Letters in regard to a Gala being held by the club.

Pictures of the building of the pool can be viewed on our photographic image archive. Unfortunately by the mid 1970's the pool was described as beyond repair, and it was closed.

Museum A.G.M.

The Museum held their A.G.M. on Thursday the 29th October. The following people were elected for the coming year.

President: Nioclás O Griofáin
Vice-President: Helen Moynihan
Secretary: Martin Whelan
Treasurer: Mary Giblin

Committee Members:
William Fraher, Eddie Cantwell, Jim Shine, William Whelan, John Daly, Josephine McCarthy, David Hourigan, Roberta Whelan.

The newly elected President thanked out going President  Eddie Cantwell for his work and time during the last 3 years.

Membership for the coming year  was set at €15. We will be issuing the first of our newsletters in the near future, which will be sent to all fully paid up members, keeping them up to date on  exhibitions, talks, and any other events  happening within the museum.