Last Friday morning
our worst nightmare came true when museum staff arrived to discover that the
upstairs bathroom had overflowed sending large volumes of water crashing
through the ceiling onto museum exhibits beneath.
This area has only
been completed a few weeks ago and also contained the archaeology section of
our new Brenan exhibition, so it was a heartbreaking sight to behold.
The walls contained
some of our most important drawings and paintings by artists such as Sarah
Purser, Power O’Malley, Maud Power and rare 19th century sketches
and watercolours of Dungarvan. Part of
our new Brenan exhibition was beneath the deluge containing valuable
archaeological sketches, letters and pamphlets.
The curator and museum staff took immediate action to
move display cases and remove the pictures from the walls while the water was
still pouring down. The museum committee
cannot thank the staff enough for their tremendous efforts working in such an awful
mess of water and debris.
Thanks to Paulus, Miriam, Tony, Danny, Patricia and Barry. A big thank you to Joanne Rothwell, Waterford
City & County Archivist who came to our rescue and offered advice and practical
assistance. Our thanks to museum
committee members Paul McLoughlin and Chrissy Knight O’Connor who helped with
the clean up. Thanks also to Tara
McAndrew CE Supervisor, Conor Nolan, Waterford City Arts Officer, Gabriel Foley and the
council staff.
