Visitors to Museum

Tommy and Katelyn Walsh on their visit to the Museum. They were very excited when they saw the latest addition to our Children's corner, they had great fun playing with the dinosaurs.

Tommy and Katelyn with the Dinosaurs

1760 Map of Dungarvan

A map of Dungarvan dated 1760 is now on display in Musem

The map which has recently been restored to mark the granting of a charter to Dungarvan by King John in 1215 is the first detailed map of the town to survive. For this reason it is an important historical document which will be a lasting memorial of the 800 celebration.

The map was made by Charles Frizell and his son Charles Frizell Junior. The Frizell's were a family of leading map-makers in 18th century Ireland. Charles Frizell Snr. came from Co Wexford and his sons Charles and  Richard followed their's father's profession as surveyors and map makers.

To the right, the image shows a very small section of the map. If you are passing the Museum at any time and would like to view the map in its entirety  you would be very welcome. Admission is free.

Bob Frizelle and his wife Karen visited the Museum to view the restored map.
Bob is a descendant of the map-maker Charles Frizell.

July 3rd Official Launch of Dungarvan 1215

Weekend of Celebrations

Official Launch of Dungarvan 1215



Friday 3rd July 5.45pm 

Flotilla of Boats in Dungarvan Harbour

followed by

Presentation of Charter at Kings John’s Castle

Friday 3rd July 8pm

Historical Talk by Professor Séan Duffy

followed by

Medieval Music by Laoise O’Brien

at

Town Hall Theatre Dungarvan

Admission €5.00 Refreshments will be served.

Saturday 4th July 7.30pm

Medieval Banquet at Crew’s Restaurant

Tickets €35- Limited number still available

Medieval dress not required.
Contact the Museum for tickets 058-45960

30th June 2015 Dungarvan through the Ages

The Lookout Dungarvan  1900

Waterford County Museum will hold a Photographic Exhibition titled
 "Dungarvan through the Ages"

This will be an exhibition not to be missed so don't forget to mark it in your diary.

Venue: Dungarvan Shopping Centre

The Lookout Dungarvan 2000

Date: 30th June to 10th July

Time: 10am -5pm Monday to Friday

Admission is free and all are welcome.

Archeological Survey To Be Carried Out At Gallows Hill, Dungarvan

A Motte and Bailey Fortification Copyright 2002 by Jeffrey L. Thomas
 
On the 11th and 12th July the first geophysical survey of Gallows Hill will begin to answer the speculation that has surrounded the mound for centuries. Speculation has included its use as a gallows, medieval Norman Bailey Castle (Motte and Bailey), Bronze Age barrow, or the Fort/Dun from where Dungarvan is named. As part of July’s 800 year celebration of Dungarvan’s Town Charter, Waterford County Museum in association with residents from the surrounding area have organised a Community Archaeology Project that will attempt to find the answer.

When, after the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1179 resulted in the establishment of a strong base in the city of Waterford. The Normans viewed the Dungarvan area as the gateway through which expansion into Munster by way of the Blackwater Valley could be most easily achieved. With the establishment of the town came the need for an initial defensive structure known as a Motte and Bailey. The structure was made up of a wooden stockade and living quarters on top of a mound within a larger stockade yard at surface level, all surrounded by a defensive ditch.

Gallows Hill is believed by the National Monuments Service to potentially be such a 12th century Norman Motte and Bailey type fortification. The aim of the Gallows Hill Community Archaeology Project is to test the theory with a geophysical survey of the Hill with the help of community Geophysicist Kevin Barton and members of the local community. Geophysical survey is a technique which allows Archaeologists to create maps of archaeological features and traces of human activities beneath the earth’s soil without carrying out an excavation. The results of the survey planned on Gallows Hill could help to establish it as Dungarvan’s oldest standing monument.

The weekend of discovery will commence Friday 10th July at 7pm with a talk by Geophysicist Kevin Barton in the Town Hall. The survey will run all day on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th. Children’s activities will run alongside the project at the Town hall and on site, including a mock dig, Motte/Bailey model making and painting. The day will conclude with a talk/demonstration by Kevin Barton in the afternoon. Unfortunately numbers that can take part in the survey will be limited so do contact the Museum if you live close to the mound and want to get hands on experience. For more information or to register your interest in taking part contact: Waterford County Museum, Friary Street, Phone: 058 45960, Email: history@waterfordmuseum.ie

The Gallows Hill project has been funded by Waterford City and County Council.

3rd July 2015 An Evening of Entertainment

Historical Talk by Professor Séan Duffy

followed by

Medieval Music by Laoise O’Brien

Seán Duffy is Professor of Medieval History at Trinity College Dublin. He is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, from which he also holds a Ph.D. He is a Fellow of the College, where he has lectured since 1993 and is currently Professor/Associate Professor of Medieval History in the School of Histories and Humanities.

Laoise O'Brien has a growing reputation as a virtuosic performer and imaginative concert programmer.

Laoise studied recorder at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam having completed an undergraduate degree on concert flute at the College of Music in Dublin. She also holds a Masters degree in Performance and Musicology from NUI Maynooth. 


Venue: Town Hall, Dungarvan
Date: Friday 3rd July
Time: 8pm
Admission: €5.00
Refreshments served, all are welcome

4th July Medieval Banquet

Limited number of tickets available

If interested in attending the Medieval Banquet in celebration of the 800th Anniversary of the Granting of the Town Charter by King John, please call to the Museum, Friary Street or contact 058-45960 to secure your ticket.

The Banquet will be held at Crew's Restaurant, Church Street, Dungarvan on Saturday 4th July at 7.30pm