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Plans for an Irish Wake Museum in Waterford

Plans for an Irish Wake Museum in Waterford
WLR News
WLR News
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Plans for a new Irish Wake Museum for the Viking Quarter are now underway.

Eamonn McEneaney, a Waterford City historian and the director of Waterford Museum of Treasures, speaks about the ideas for a fifth museum.

The museum will celebrate the traditions of an Irish wake and will be located in houses around Cathedral Square.

History of the houses

Three of the houses in the area were originally built in the 1460s as a place for elderly people who were waiting to die.

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The men who built them were obsessed with death and built chapels so that their souls would be safe once they passed away.

The people who lived in the house got up three times every night to pray to the dead.

Ireland and death

Eamonn and Damien spoke about Irish people's unique attitude towards death and touched on the topic of a "good funeral."

They discussed how nowhere else in the world announces death notices on the radio. They also spoke about Irish traditions in relation to wakes and funerals.

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To listen to the full conversation, click the link in this podcast.

For more Deise podcasts, click here.

 

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