Museum Members’ Christmas Dinner

The dinner this year will be held in The Interlude, Davitt's Quay on Sunday the 16^th of December at 7 30pm.  The cost including entertainment and spot prizes is €27.

Names and money to be paid on or before Tuesday the 11^th of December.  We look forward to seeing you on the night.

Object of the Week - Poster advertising a performance of a Dungarvan band called The Royal Aces at the Town Hall c. 1960s

The band members were: Matt Hayes (guitar), Michael Power (drums), Dessie Baumann (band leader and trumpet), Jim Atkins (bass), John Bulfin (sax), Tom Atkins (guitar), Vincent Byrne (trombone), and the manager was P Foley.

Cancellation of Talk on Louisa Marchioness of Waterford

The talk on Louisa Marchioness of Waterford which was due to take place on Wednesday the 21^st of November at the Dungarvan Harbour Sailing Club has been cancelled until the New Year due to unforeseen circumstances.

Sorry for the inconvenience caused and we will let you know the new date as soon as we know it.

Object of the Week - Waterford County Gazette, April 1953, Vol I, No. 8

Tom Tobin (1926-1989) was born in Shandon Street, Dungarvan.  As a young man he developed a talent for writing and worked at the Dungarvan Observer and Dungarvan Leader.  He opened a bookshop in O'Connell Street, Dungarvan and developed an interest in photography.

In 1953 he wrote Echoes from the Decies: A Waterford scrapbook.  He started the Gazette in 1953 which sold for 3 pence.  It had a mixture of local news, historical articles and photographs taken by himself.

This issue was a special edition to mark the hosting of An Tóstal in Dungarvan.  This festival celebrated Irish culture and was aimed at locals and tourists and ran from 1953 to 1958.

Dungarvan Adult Education Centre Visit to Waterford County Museum

On Wednesday the 14^th of November a group of people doing a VTOS course in the Dungarvan Adult Education Centre visited Waterford County Museum as part of their tourism module.

The group were given a tour of the museum and their visit was enjoyed by all.

Object of the Week - Poster for the Protestant Young Men's Society, Dungarvan, no date, early 1900s

The poster details the rules and gives a list of members.  The Secretary was A.V. Lyons and the Treasurer was Thomas W Cooke, the jeweller of Main Street.

A number of the members were prominent business men of the period such as Hardwick, Millar and Siberry.

LOUISA MARCHIONESS OF WATERFORD (1818-1891): A BICENTENARY ASSESSMENT. An Illustrated Lecture by Julian Walton.

Louisa was a daughter of Lord Stuart de Rothesay.  Beautiful, artistic and religious, she married Henry Beresford, 3rd Marquess of Waterford, who had hitherto been renowned for his reckless and spendthrift behaviour.  She was noted for her humanitarian endeavours, especially during the Famine.  During a long widowhood in England she developed her artistic talent.

Julian Walton is a retired secondary school teacher and librarian.  He has worked at Waterford Heritage Genealogical Centre, Waterford Cathedral Library and the UCC Library.  He writes and lectures on the history of County Waterford and is currently researching the history of Curraghmore.  Julian is also very well known as a radio broadcaster from his many years presenting ‘On This Day’.

Waterford County Museum are delighted to have Julian back again with this most interesting lecture.  It takes place in the wonderful setting of the Dungarvan Harbour Sailing Club at Davitts Quay on Wednesday the 21^st of November at 8pm.  There is a €5 entrance fee and all are welcome.

Happy Retirement

We would like to extend our best wishes to long time museum staff member Michael Fitzgerald on his recent retirement.  Michael has been a familiar face at the museum to locals and visitors for many years.

His particular interest was in the image archive which has now grown to include over 7,000 pictures relating to Dungarvan and the county.  Always enthusiastic to answer queries in relation to photographs, family and general history, he will be greatly missed.

New Museum President

At the recent museum AGM William Fraher stepped down after completing his term of office and Christina Flynn was elected as the new President.  William thanked his fellow committee members for their commitment to the museum and to the museum community employment staff.

He noted how 2018 was a particularly busy year for museum activities and in particular he referred to the award winning Gallows Hill Community Archaeology Project led by Chrissy Knight O'Connor and Eddie Cantwell.  The results of the project have changed what we knew about the early history of the town and has engaged local people with their past.  In order for this project to proceed in 2019 a major sponsor is required and we would love to hear from any interested parties.

He also referred to the forthcoming guide to the Waterford Greenway which has been a project led by Willie Whelan and has contributions from some of the county's best known historians and photographers.  This book will be launched before Christmas.

Object of the Week - Poster for Radio Éireann's Question Time held in the Ormonde Cinema, Dungarvan 1953

The host was Eric Boden, a Dubliner who had worked in Radio in Canada and in the United States.  He presented a popular radio programme on Radio Éireann.  He was joined by a group of 'Radio Éireann Stars'.