26th - 28th April 2019 Waterford Festival of Food, Dungarvan

Waterford County Museum opening hours during the Waterford Festival of Food are:

Friday          26th April:   10.00 - 17.00

Saturday      27th April:   14.00 - 17.00

Sunday        28th April:   11.00 - 13.00

Waterford County Museum visitors during March and April

We have had visitors to the museum from many parts of the world including New York, Hong Kong and Brazil, as well as many parts of Ireland and the United Kingdom during the past few months.  Several of the visitors left lovely messages in our visitors book.

A person from Hong Kong said "Fabulous exhibition".

Another from Shrewsbury said "Lovely look back through history".

A visitor from Dublin said "Very well presented and interesting".

Some other comments are:  "A step back in time, a memory of family past" and "wonderful photos and detail".

We look forward to welcoming many more people during the summer months.

Walk at 3 to St Mary's Parish Church

On Wednesday last, April 24^th we had the final walk of the series of walks to buildings and places of historical interest. William Fraher gave an introduction to the group in the museum before visiting St. Mary's Parish Church.  Once again, a large group attended and enjoyed the lecture. 

The Talks and Walks at 3 Series on Wednesday afternoons during March and April proved to be a great success with large groups in attendance each week.

Check on our Waterford County Museum website, Facebook and in local papers for further talks in the future.

  

Stories from Old Newspapers

Coming of Age of Richard Keane, Cappoquin House, 7 January 1930

This party was also significant in that it marked the completion, after eight years, of the restoration of Cappoquin House after it was burned by Republicans on 19 February 1923.  For further details see Glascott Symes’s book: Sir John Keane and Cappoquin House in time of war and revolution, Four Courts Press, 2016.

Dungarvan Observer 11 January 1930

There was an enormous gathering drawn from all parts of the county at Cappoquin House on Tuesday night to celebrate the coming of age of Mr Richard Michael Keane, only son of Senator John Keane, Bart, and Lady Keane. The function at which over 200 persons were present, was most elaborate.  Cappoquin House, the stately ancestral home of the Keane family, built in 1760, was burned down in the troubled times…but has since been reconstructed. Except the ornamentation, all the reconstruction work was done by local labour, and the new house is a replica in every detail with the original.  The workers on the estate presented Mr Keane with a handsome new gun to mark the occasion.  The celebration was remarkable for the variety and design of the ladies’ dresses, and the entertainment was one of the more brilliant of the season.  Amongst those present were – Sir Henry and Lady Dobbs, Senator Bagwell and Mrs Bagwell, Captain Alexander, Archdeacon Burkitt, Sir John and Lady Godfrey, Lady Gordon, Captain H and Mrs Smyth, Lady and Miss Musgrave, Mr Beverly Grant Ussher, Mr Henry Villiers-Stuart, Dermot McGillicuddy, Mrs Chearnley, Mr Ambrose Coghill, Mrs De la Poer and party, Rev J Going, Mr T. C. Williams, Solicitor, etc.

Photo of the Week

Can you identify the people in this photo?  If so please let us know.

Adopt a Monument Workshop and Networking Event

Christina O’Connor and Eddie Cantwell attended the Adopt a Monument Workshop and Networking Event with other members of the Adopt a Monument Groups from around the country on Friday last.  The event took place at the Radisson Hotel in Athlone.  Attending also were County Councils, Community Archaeologists and the Heritage Council.  This was an opportunity for Adopt a Monument groups to meet and share stories about their sites and experiences.  The presentations outlined the story of the particular sites and why they applied and were accepted as part of the Adopt a Monument scheme.  As part of the event, along with the other groups the Dungarvan group were asked to deliver a short informal presentation about their site, what they have achieved as part of the scheme and what their future plans are. The group’s achievements and what they hope to accomplish in the future were outlined by Chrissy who was first to speak and did the Museum proud with her talk on the Gallows Hill Project and what Waterford Community Archaeology: Gallows Hill Community Group have achieved to date.  There were then round table talks with Heritage officers and Adopt a Monument personnel which took us into the late evening.

Walk and Talk at 3 on 17th April 2019

Dungarvan Town Park / Lookout / Swimming Pool / St Mary's Parish Church

On Wednesday last, April17^th we had another walk to buildings and places of historical interest. William Fraher gave an introduction to the group in the museum before visiting the Dungarvan Town Park / Lookout / Swimming Pool and St. Mary’s Church of Ireland.

A large group again attended and enjoyed the lecture.