Saturday 15th July 2017 - Next History Day at Dromana House 'Now the Day is Over', The Literature of the Big House

On Saturday 15th July 2017 from 10am to 4pm there will be a history day at Dromana House with the following talks; 'The life and writings of Molly Keane' by Sally Phipps, 'The big house, a view from downstairs' by Tom McCarthy, 'Now the day is over - Elizabeth Bowen, Molly Keane, & the fall of the big house' by Eibhear Walsh and 'Ballantyne's Folly, Claud Cockburn's big house novel, a tale of good deeds and skulduggery' by Andrew Cockburn.

Price per person is €70 or for two people is €125, including morning coffee, lunch and afternoon tea. Booking is essential.

Email: info@dromanahouse.com

Object of the Week - Tea Bag from Thomas Power's, 18 O'Connell Street, Dungarvan, Early 20th Century

Thomas Power's business was in operation in 1882 when it was advertised in the Dungarvan Journal:

'Mr. Thomas Power, Baker, Family Grocer, Tea Wine and Spirit Merchant, Blackpool.  This is an establishment where bread of a superior quality is sold. Mr. Power uses only flour of tried quality - and that the bread he produces is good in flavour, and is beyond gainsay, for he has passed the ordeal of the country consumers, amongst whom his bread is a great favourite... farmers are much better judges of what constitutes good bread, than are the denizens of the town.  Mr. Power's vans travel over a large and increasing circuit of the country daily'.

Thomas Power also opened a restaurant at the premises at 18 O'Connell Street.  Powers produced jam with fruit grown in their orchard nearby.  Power's Bakery closed its door for the final time on 16th April 1988.

Saturday 3rd June 2017 - The Big Dig, A Fun Day Out for All the Family at Gallowshill in Dungarvan

On Saturday 3rd June 2017 from 11am to 4pm there will be an archaeological dig which children can participate in at Gallowshill in Dungarvan.  Please ring the Museum on 058 45960 or call in to us in Friary Street for more information and to book a time slot.  Looks like being great fun and very interesting!

Object of the Week - Dried Milk Tin Inscribed 'The Food of Royal Babies', Cow & Gate Milk Powder c.1940's

The company was founded in Guildford in 1771.  In 1900 they started to produce dried milk.  In 1903 dried milk was recommended for babies.  Cow & Gate sold their first dried milk for babies in 1905.  In 1930 the slogan 'The Food of Royal Babies' was introduced to packaging and advertising by the company.

In 1936 the Dungarvan Co-op went into business with Cow & Gate to produce dried milk.  During World War II demand for dried milk products grew resulting in increased output from the Dungarvan factory.  In 1947 Cow & Gate renewed their contract with Dungarvan Co-op which marked a period of expansion for the Dungarvan operation.

Busy Week in the Museum!

Greenway Visitor, Kieran Lineen, Josephine McCarthy

This has been a very busy week in the Museum with a visit from the Deise Day Care Centre to see the 'Picturing Childhood Exhibition', and visits from various school groups, along with lots of other visitors.

On Thursday 18th May to celebrate International Museum Day, we had a very successful and well attended talk about John Betjeman and his poem 'The Irish Unionist's Farewell to Greta Hellstrom in 1922' also known as 'Dungarvan in the Rain'. The talk was extremely interesting and was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Jim Shine, John Daly

Eileen Moloney, Mary Condon, Margot Kehoe

Some of the Audience at the Betjeman Talk

Schoolchildren Enjoying the Museum

Enjoying Refreshments 

Object of the Week - Cigarette Vending Machine, Wills Gold Flake, 1924

The wooden vending machine is stamped with the maker's mark: Clement Garrett & Co., Jessop Street, Sheffield.

In order to obtain the cigarettes 6 pence had to be placed in the slot.

This vending machine came from Walsh's Tobacconist's in Dungarvan.

The Walsh family took over the tobacco and snuff business in Main Street form the Carbery family in 1879. This was on the site of the present Garvey's Supermarket.

Thursday 18th May 2017 - Free Event in the Museum 'Dungarvan in the Rain', John Betjeman & County Waterford

To mark International Museum Day on 18th May 2017 Waterford County Museum will commemorate the poet John Betjeman who died on that date in 1984.  He immortalised Dungarvan in his poem 'The Irish Unionist's Farewell to Greta Hellstrom in 1922', also known as 'Dungarvan in the Rain'.

Venue:            Waterford County Museum, Friary Street, Dungarvan

Date:              Thursday 18th May 2017 

Time:              3pm

Admission:    Free