Sheare Street Social Club (Abbeyside)

From Stage to Screen (for one night only)

Having been delayed due the pandemic, we are pleased to announce that the Sheare Street play by Jim Culliane, will be shown on Thursday 30^th June 2022 @ 7pm (for one night only) at the Dungarvan SGC cinema. Tickets are available from the Museum and they cost €10 each.

Phil O' Donnell Exhibition

  Phil  O' Donnell Exhibition

 'Witness to Revolution Collecting IRA Statements for Co. Cork'

These witness statements were collected by Dungarvan man Phil O' Donnell , who was employed in the 1950's by the Bureau of Military History to collect these witness statements and interviews from Cork Republicans. This exhibition is now on display at the Museum.

 

Stories from Old Newspapers

 Waterford Star 4^th November 1916

CAPPOQUIN MEN KILLED

“News has been officially received at Cappoquin that Private Thomas Collins, aged 20years, of the 7^th Leinster Regiment No. 10378, has been killed in action on September 9^th.   The deceased, who had one year and seven months service, was the son of Corporal John Collins, R.G.A, B.E.F France, and was a native of Barrack Street Cappoquin.  He had been through many engagements, including the Dardanelles.  Prior to joining the army he was a faithful and popular employee on the Chearnley Estate at Salterbridge, and sympathy is expressed for his parents and relatives. The sad news also reached Cappoquin that Private William Hackett, of the Royal Irish Regt, was killed in action about the same date.  He had rather short service, and was one of the quietest men reared at the Old Chapel Street, Cappoquin”

Collins has no known grave, but he is listed on pier and face 16c on the Thiepval memorial in France. William Hackett was in the 6^th battalion and died on 9^th September service number: 9806. He was born in Lismore and enlisted in Cappoquin.  Has no known grave but is listed on pier and face 3A on the Thiepval Memorial in France.

 

 

Museum Closed

On Wednesday 22^nd of June 2022 County Waterford Museum will be closed for the entire day, due to the ESB working in Friary Street.  We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.  The museum will be opened on the Thursday 23^rd   for normal business hours.

 

Re-scheduled Museum Visit / Trip

The first Museum visit / trip for 2022 to Cappagh House and Gardens courtesy of  the Chavasse family. Unfortunately  the trip has had to be re-scheduled due to unforeseen circumstances.and will take place on Saturday 18th June.

Here are the updated details:

Date: Saturday 18th June

Time: Arrive Cappagh 10.30am

Cost: €5 (including refreshments) will be collected on the day

Places Limited to 25 - Places must be booked in advance

Please Phone (058) 45960 

Email:    info@waterfordmuseum.ie

Own Transport required.

 

 

 

The late Dervla Murphy

Waterford County Museum was saddened to hear of the passing of Dervla Murphy of Lismore.              The renowned and intrepid travel writer, global trailblazer and author of over 25 books. One of the most popular films with visitors to the Museum is “Who Is Dervla Murphy” produced by Mixed Bag Media, released on June 16^th 2010 in association with Waterford Arts Office.

We extend our sympathy to her daughter Rachel, her grandchildren and to all Drevla’s extended family and friends.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam

Stories from Old Newspapers

 Waterford Advertiser 24 July 1895

‘An Interesting Sketch of Bonmahon’

The half ruinous, out-of-the-way, little village of Bonmahon…on the coast of county Waterford; which bare and desolate as it looks at first sight, has within each reach beauty enough to satisfy the soul of any tourist who can admire a view where for miles and miles there is scarcely a tree worthy of the name, and whose spirits are proof against the depressing influences of ruin and desolation – for Bonmahon represents the wreck of an industry – the industry of copper mining in the south of Ireland. The result, as it affects the landscape is melancholy, but picturesque; rows of empty, decaying houses, meet the eye on every turn; scarcely a hilltop but is crowned with the crumbling ruin of an engine house, the tall, dilapidated chimneys standing out black against the sky, and surmounting grey heaps of mining refuse. Thirty or forty years ago Bonmahon was a stirring prosperous little place, with a thriving population of over 2,000 persons, dependent on these mines.

Skilled miners had been imported from Cornwall, but there was also a considerable native population. The Bonmahon mines…were finally abandoned in 1882; English miners returned whence they came, and the poor Bonmahon men emigrated in great numbers to the United States; a large contingent of them having settled Butte City, Montana. At present the chief industry of Bonmahon is a creamery, the property of Mr James Watts, who is also the proprietor of the principal shop in the Place.

Bonmahon might be a paradise for artists, if they did but know it; for besides the cliff scenery…and the mountains…And if the artist’s taste should happen to lie rather in figure painting; he need not want for models…The inhabitants…are certainly not below the average as to good looks – Pretty, black-eyed girls; bent old crones, bare-footed and brief of skirt, stooping under creels of seaweed, tall, thin, melancholy-eyed men, with fine features…brown-legged and brown-eyed little boys abound; and they have, alas, the picturesqueness of extreme poverty. If you enter into conversation with them, you will hear pitiful stories of want, and suffering, and emigration, and loss. But poor as they are, they are remarkably honest.