Object of the Week - Advert for ‘Power’s Special Whiskey’ 1940s

This ‘Finest Old Irish Pot Still Whiskey’ was bottled by Thomas Power & Co, St Brigid’s Well Brewery, Dungarvan and supplied from another brewery.

Object of the Week - Bar Drinks Tray - ‘Guinness for Strength’ 1940s

This design was produced by artist John Gilroy (1898-1985) who worked for the advertising agency S.H. Benson.  They were employed by Guinness in 1929 to come up with an advertising campaign that would have popular appeal and help to sell Guinness.

The scheme worked and slogans such as - ‘Guinness for Strength’, ‘Guinness is Good for You’ and ‘My Goodness My Guinness’ became household phrases.

Object of the Week - World War I Field Glasses

These field glasses from WWI were later used during the Revolutionary period by one of Liam Lynch’s men in the Cork No 2. IRA Brigade.

Lynch was an officer during the War of Independence and Commander General during the Civil War.  He was shot on the 10^th of April 1923 on the Knockmealdown Mountains and died later that night in Clonmel hospital.

The blood stained jacket he wore when he was shot is on display at the National Museum of Ireland, Collin’s Barracks, Dublin.

Museum Annual General Meeting

The museum AGM will take place on Thursday the 25^th of October at 8pm in the Waterford County Museum, Friary Street, Dungarvan.

Peter Crotty ‘The Iron Man’ Written by Tom Keith

A new biography about the boxer Peter Crotty (which was compiled and edited by Tom Keith) was recently launched.  The book is available to purchase in local outlets.

The museum has a collection of Peter Crotty’s memorabilia.

Object of the Week - Portrait of William Spencer Cavendish (1790-1858), 6th Duke of Devonshire. Lithograph by Chares Baugniet (1814-1886).

Baugniet was a Belgian artist and lithographer who specialised in portraits of notable people in Belgium, France, and England.  In the 1840s he settled in London and became a leading society portrait painter.  He did portraits of Prince Albert, Charles Dickens and many more. 

The 6^th Duke of Devonshire was responsible for the reconstruction of Lismore Castle in the early and mid 19^th century employing William Atkinson and later Sir Joseph Paxton.  He was also instrumental in the rebuilding of Dungarvan in the early 19^th century providing a new bridge, square, quay and market place.

“We always vote Redmond in this house” - The Redmonds and Waterford, a political dynasty 1891-1952. A Lecture by Dr Pat McCarthy.

Waterford County Museum are delighted to welcome back Dr Pat McCarthy for this most informative talk on the Redmond’s.  This is sure to grab the attention of all.

The Redmond family dominated Waterford politics for sixty years.  John Redmond represented Waterford at Westminster.  He also represented the County in Leinster House.  Redmond resigned his parliamentary seat in Wexford to fight Parnell’s old seat in Cork but was decisively beaten in the by-election.  He went on to challenge Michael Davitt in a bitter electoral struggle in Waterford.  The Waterford people supported him until his death.

After his death John Redmond’s son William, held the seat, and was returned in the General Election that year.  It was the only seat won by the Irish Parliamentary Party in the South of Ireland - a testimony to the enduring bond between the Redmonds and Waterford.  Elected to Dáil Éireann in 1923, he formed and led the ill-fated National League in 1926 and after the demise of that party he joined Cumann na nGaedheal.

After his sudden death in 1932 he was succeeded by his widow, Bridget.  For almost twenty years she worked tirelessly for her constituents and also played a role on the national stage in Dáil Éireann.

Pat McCarthy’s book on the Redmonds is a wide-ranging study, and offers a new insight into the political career of John Redmond and his family.  Pat who is by now no stranger to Dungarvan, is a native of Waterford City, holds a PhD and an MBA from UCD and worked for many years in the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector.  He is the author of The Irish Revolution, 1912–23: Waterford (Dublin, 2015) and Waterford and the 1916 Rising (Waterford, 2016).

His talk takes place at the Dungarvan Harbour Sailing Club on Wednesday the 17^th of October at 8pm.  There will be an entry fee of €5 and as always, all are welcome, bring along your book for Pat to sign!