Museum Member's Annual Trip 2017

The Museum Member's recent annual trip to Co. Wicklow was a great success.

Our thanks to Christina Flynn for all her hard work in organising the trip.

Object of the Week - Late 19th Century Bible from the Wreck of the Moresby

The Moresby ship was wrecked in Dungarvan Bay on Christmas Eve 1895.

Eugene J. Siebert was an apprentice on board the ship.  He was fifteen years old and had only been on one previous voyage.  Unfortunately he was one of the crew who drowned. By some miracle his Bible was recovered and preserved.  It is now on display in Waterford County Museum.

It is inscribed on the title page 'Saved from the Wreck Moresby Xmas Day 1895' and inside the front cover is 'Eugene J. Siebert July 1894 With Chrissie's Love'.

Eugene is buried in the Moresby mass grave in St. Mary's Church of Ireland, Dungarvan.

Eugene J. Siebert, Moresby Crewman.

Object of the Week - Leather Hat Box, 19th Century

This hat box is stamped with the maker's name 'Wiseman, Saddler, Auckland'. The saddlery firm was founded in 1861 by James and Alexander Wiseman.

There is an owner inscription on the brass lock 'Mr John Bell, V.S., Clonmel'. Bell was a veterinary surgeon who lived at Abbey Street, Clonmel.

West Waterford Festival of Food April 2017 Launch of New Exhibition in Waterford County Museum - 'Picturing Childhood'

Waterford County Museum has launched a new exhibition 'Picturing Childhood', drawing on images from the Museum's extensive archives, featuring childhood from the late 19th century to the end of the 20th century.

This exhibition will open during the West Waterford Festival of Food, and will then continue during normal Museum opening hours.  All very welcome.


Venue:          Waterford County Museum, Friary Street, Dungarvan.

Date/Time:    Friday 21st April 2017 10am-5pm
                      Saturday 22nd April 2017 1pm-5pm
                      Sunday 23rd April 2017 1pm-5pm
                      Thereafter during normal Museum opening hours 10am-5pm Monday to Friday 

Admission:   Free

Museum staff members Danny Kiely, Michael Fitzgerald and Bridge O'Sullivan.

Object of the Week - Angel on Painted Canvas Formerly in Abbeyside Church, Early 20th Century

This fragment of painted canvas was part of an elaborate scheme which was fixed to the wall behind the high altar in Abbeyside Church.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries this type of detailed decoration in canvas, but more often stencilled or painted, was common in most churches and it can be seen in old photographs of Abbeyside Parish Church, and St. Augustine's and St. Mary's in Dungarvan.  We have no information on who carried out the work in Abbeyside.

The painted canvas was removed during major renovations to the church in 1972.

21st to 23rd April 2017 - Local Historic Photographic Exhibition

There will be an exhibition of photographs from the Tomás agus Kathleen Walsh Collection in association with Helvic Head Lifeboat Station.

Venue:              Dungarvan Harbour Sailing Club

Dates/Times:    Friday 21st April 2017 at 8pm, Saturday 22nd at 11am, Sunday 23rd at 11am    

New Exhibition - 'Picturing Childhood'

We are currently preparing a new exhibition titled 'Picturing Childhood', drawing on images from the Museum's extensive archives featuring childhood from the late 19th century to the end of the 20th century.

This exhibition will open during the West Waterford Festival of Food and will continue during normal Museum opening hours.  Admission is free.

Object of the Week - Illuminated Address Presented to Canon Denis Whelan D.D. by the Students of St. John's College, Waterford, 1919

The address was presented to Canon Whelan to mark his departure to take up a new post as Parish Priest of Kilsheelan.  The address notes that he was thirty years in St. John's College holding the posts of Dean, Professor, and President of the college from 1910 to 1919.  It is signed by David Power, Andrew McGrath, John Hickey and Patrick Reddin.

Canon Whelan was a member of the Augustinian Order, hence the photographs of Abbeyside Church and the Friary Church which are attached to the address.  Canon Whelan died in 1934.