HUGELY SUCCESSFUL
WATERFORD GREENWAY BOOK RELAUNCHED FOR TOURIST MARKET
Last Christmas the history book 'The Towns
and Villages of the Waterford Greenway' was launched to widespread acclaim.
Reviewers described the book as ..
"A splendid book, a glossy, table-top,
feel-good, reason to shout out and be proud book"
Liam Murphy, The Munster Express
"The book is a triumph. It's not
just superbly produced and with fascinating illustrations. Above all, the text
is also well-written, cogently presented and designed to last." Professor Ged Martin
The aim of the book was to create an
accessible, well-researched history of the towns, villages and heritage along
the Greenway. As well as taking you off the “beaten track” it also featured a
concise historically accurate history of the railway. The target market for the
publication looked beyond history enthusiasts to include locals wanting to
learn about their native place and schools looking for history projects. With
sales of over 1600 to date the book is now widely available locally.
The publication is now being relaunched for
the tourist market as an attractive souvenir for visitors. Waterford County
Museum hopes to bring the book out of the bookshops and into diverse locations
along the Greenway including coffee shops, bike hire shops, accommodation
providers, and restaurants etc.
The tourism launch by Cllr. Ger Barron took
place at the Woodhouse Estate, Stradbally by kind permission of Jim & Sally
Thompson. Cllr. Barron, one of the driving forces behind the Waterford Greenway,
spoke of the importance of the Greenway to the local economy and the need for
Waterford to continue to improve on what it offered visitors. He welcomed the
book as a production that significantly enhanced visitor enjoyment of the
greenway. Cian Flaherty and Willie Whelan made contributions on what the
project meant for their local history groups. Finally, Jim Thompson spoke a few
words about his connections to Stradbally and how the book helped to promote
the area's history.
DO YOU WANT TO STOCK THE BOOK?
Waterford County Museum are looking for businesses around the county to stock
the book on a sale or return basis. A proportion of the proceeds are retained
by your business and the balance goes to support heritage in the local area. If you have an interest in stocking our
publication, please contact Willie Whelan on 086 2748377 and he will answer any
queries you might have.
CURRENT STOCKISTS
The book priced at €20 is already stocked in the following outlets: Eurospar
Abbeyside, Reader’s Choice, Shalloe's Newsagents, Dungarvan Tourist
Office, Waterford County Museum and Eason Dungarvan (all in
Dungarvan). The book is also available in Mahony’s Shop, Durrow; Cunningham's
Supermarket, Stradbally; Kilmacthomas Post Office; Coach House Coffee; Breakwater
Gift Shop; Dunhill Multi-Education Centre; Fogarty’s Shop, Portlaw; Portlaw
Heritage Centre; Hickson's Centra, Kilmeaden; The Book Centre; Waterford
Medieval Museum; and Lismore Heritage Centre.
This 270-page book is the product of work
by four heritage groups, eleven historians, three photographers and two
illustrators over a two-year period. All profits from this book are being
donated to Portlaw Heritage Centre, Stradbally Church Ruins Committee, Waterford
Archaeological & Historical Society and Waterford County Museum.
Authors contributing to the book
included Eddie Cantwell, Ger Crotty, Cian Flaherty, William Fraher, Chrissy
Knight-O'Connor, Cian Manning, Seán and Síle Murphy, Julian Walton, Martin
Whelan and William Whelan. Photographers for the publication were Eamonn
Bolger, John Foley, and Patrick Kenealy. The original illustrations
were provided by Michael Power and Anne Lannon Power.
The project was initiated and managed for
Waterford County Museum by Willie Whelan. The museum would like to thank Waterford
Council, The Heritage Council and Waterford Leader Partnership
CLG for their support of this project.
