Ballynatray House and Garden by Neil Porteous

Our final lecture of the season will be on the magnificant Ballynatray Estate which has been restored in recent years and is now undergoing a further series of improvements by it's present owner, including the restoration of the landscape and a spectacular new garden on the foot print of the old walled garden.  The talk will take place in the Museum on Wednesday March 23 at 8.00 pm. Entry fee of £5, All are welcome.

Museum Spring Exhibition Baking & Brewing In Dungarvan

To conincide with the Waterford Festival of Food, which will run from Friday April 15 - Sunday April 17. we will be mounting an exhibition on brewing and baking in Dungarvan. This exhibition will be on going in the museum for a number of weeks. The core of the display will concentrate on the history of Power's Brewery, using the large Power collection in the museum archive.
 If  anyone has any items relating to brewing or baking in Dungarvan we would like to hear from you.

Donal Moloney Visits Museum

Committee Member Jim Shine with Donal Moloney

A recent visitor to the museum was Mr. Donal Moloney.  Donal's great great grandmother was Abagail Moloney, who was one of Dungarvan's best known business women.

South East Heritage & Culture Awards 2010

Committee Members Mary Giblin, Helen Moynihan, William Fraher,  Nioclás Ó'Griofáin and William Whelan with Senator David Norris

 South East Heritage and Culture awards in association with the Munster Express and Dooley's Hotel was held on February 3 at Dooley's Hotel.  This is the second year of the award which compromises of 4 awards annually compromising of 4 categories and an overall award for the year.
The awards are given out to groups and organisations in the South East who promote the regions Heritage, Crafts and Culture.  The museum was the recipient of the Heritage Group award in the first quarter of 2010.
 A group of the committee members attended the award ceremony.  The Spraoi group were the over-all winners.
Guest of honor for the occasion was Senator David Norris.

Waterford Museum Annual Members Dinner 2011

A Group Of The Members At The Annual Dinner

The museum held it's annual dinner at Crew's restaurant on Friday February 4. There was a very good attendance and the night was enjoyed by all.  A special surprise was arranged to mark the birthday of our President Nioclás Ó  Griofáin.  Museum curator Willie Fraher gave a brief but fascinating account of a 19th century diary written by John Russell of Ballysallagh, Kinsalbeg, which is in the museum collection.  We would like to thank the management and staff of Crew's for the lovely meal.  To view more pictures from the night visit us on facebook

Lecture On The War of Independence & 'The Big House' Hughly Successful

Close to 100 people gathered at the Town Hall Theatre to attend a talk by William Fraher, titled - The War of Independence/Civil War & The Big House in Co. Waterford. The audience was by no means disappointed and were given a fascinating insight with this period from the point of view of the owners of the Big Houses. Of particular interest were the extracts from unpublished diaries manuscripts and letters which William has unearthed during his research.

"It is" he said his intention to pursue the subject matter more fully and appealed for photographs, letters etc.

Proposing a vote of thanks to the speaker, author and historian Seán Murphy complemented William on his talk and the research undertaken.

For those who missed the talk there will be another opportunity to hear it in Waterford in November as part of Waterford Historical & Archaeological Society’s Winter talks programme.

The War of Independence/ Civil War & The Big House in Co Waterford

Waterford County Museums first talk for the New year is certain to generate a great deal on interest. William Fraher has - as usual - focused in on subject matter which is as controversial as it is interesting. William who is curator of the museum which is housed at the old Town Hall Dungarvan is not known to shy away from an historical Challenge and this talk will certainly prove to be as praiseworthy as the numerous others which he has given for the society.
The aim of this talk is to shed some light on a particular aspect of the War of Independence/ Civil War in Co Waterford - That is - how it impacted on the Big House in Co Waterford. The subject has been touched on by various historians of the period, but not in any great detail. William’s indept research will also prove valuable to students with an interest in ‘the Big Houses’ and any learning gained from William’s talk can be generalised into many fields of research.
William felt it would be interesting to see the subject from the Anglo-Irish viewpoint and how it impacted on their lives and how it shaped their attitudes to the new emerging Ireland.

As sources he has used original manuscripts and letters which are unpublished, newspapers and witness statements etc. He will also look at how this subject was portrayed in the literature of the period focusing on Emily Ussher of Cappagh House who is now a totally forgotten figure. She and her husband Beverly Ussher were very much nationalists and supporters of the Irish language.
Houses featured in the talk include - Mount Congreve, Curraghmore, Gardenmorris, Comeragh, Whitfield, Annestown, Lismore Castle, Cloncoskeran etc.

This is certain to be a fascinating talk with new insights from original documents recently unearthed by William. There will be a question and answer session after the talk and William will endeavour to deal with as many questions as he can. As usual, the talk is open to everybody and will take place at the Town Theatre on St. Augustine Street on Wednesday 19th January at 8 PM.