Waterford County Museum

Photo from Walks and Talks at Three

Audience enjoying lecture by William Fraher entitled "As Others Saw Us: Visitors Impressions of Dungarvan".

Evening Lectures

Our evening lecture season has finished until September next when Julian Walton will be opening the new season of talks.

We would like to thank all those who have supported our talks over the winter and a big thank you also to Dungarvan Sailing Club. The facility on the quay has added a certain ambience and welcome backdrop to our talks, and we hope that they will facilitate us next season.

Thanks also to Seán Organ, WLR-fm for his continued coverage; it is very much appreciated.

Stories from Old Newspapers

Ballyvoile Bridge re-opened August 1923

Munster Express 18 Aug 1923

The first vehicle to cross over the bridge was a float driven by Mr. Thomas Beatty with a load of goods from the Durrow Railway Station. He is proud to have been the first to cross, but now the bridge is being used by every kind of car.

It is now exactly 12 months since the centre arch of the Ballyvoile bridge was blown up. On the same evening the fine structure the railway bridge, so unique in its way, had also one of its arches blown away. It held for some days but...a second arch gave way. This in a few days was followed by the entire collapse of the fine bridge...rising 108 feet above the bed of the ravine.

The second bridge would have suffered a like fate, but Mr Bowen, the Co. Surveyor, with commendable foresight, set to work and placed between the pillars of the broken arch, stout timber baulks.The bridge was built under the supervision of Mr. Tarrant about 60 years ago.

Limestone of excellent quality will form the parapet. These blocks are now in the hands of stone cutters. It is said that the railway bridge is about being began.

It was comparatively unknown to many before the destruction. Now the story of its damage and desolation have gone around the world and this week a letter reached me giving information of an illustration of the bridge in the Melbourne Argus.

If you would like to learn more about the history of Ballyvoile Bridge there is a information on it in the book "The Towns & Villages of the Waterford Greenway" which is available for sale in the museum as well as in shops locally.