Waterford is to get a new festival this summer.
The ‘Waterford International Festival of Time’ is to take place in the City from May 19th to 22nd.
It will be hosted by the Irish Museum of Time.
Waterford has a connection with traditional Swiss watch and clockmaking, which goes back to the 18th century when 1,000 Huguenot artisans fled oppression and settled in the locality.
This settlement became known as ‘New Geneva’ and parts of Waterford still carry the name today.
What's happening for the Waterford International Festival of Time?
It will be a first or Irish audiences and will celebrate both contemporary and historic horology. There will be exhibitors from Switzerland, France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, UK and Italy, as well as homegrown Irish talents.
Visitors will be brought on a trail of discovery, through the works of the likes of Vianney Halter, Andreas Strehler, Bernhard Lederer, Thomas Prescher, Paul Gerber, Patrik Sjögren, Sebastien Naeschke, Ireland’s John and Stephen McGonigle, as well as from several stars such as Christian Lass, Philippe Narbel, Bastien Vuillomenet and Rune Bakkerdorrf, among others.
In addition to the master craftsmen of the watchmaking world, there will be a talk at City Hall by author and former Curator of Timekeeping at the Royal Observatory Greenwich Mr David Rooney. He'll discuss his book, About Time: A History of Civilization in Twelve Clocks.
Speaking of the new festival Eamonn McNeaney Curator of the Irish Museum of Time says:
We know that many of these makers have two and three year waiting lists for watch-making appointments so this really is an incredible opportunity for visitors to enjoy meeting them and follow the trail as it offers a fascinating journey of innovation, discovery and wonders all the way through the five magnificent museums which comprise the multiple award-winning Waterford Treasures complex in the city’s central Viking Triangle.
Tickets and more
The Waterford International Festival of Time will open to visitors at 10am on May 20th and will continue until May 22nd.
Admission to the Festival is included in a ‘Freedom of Waterford’ ticket to Waterford Treasures Museums that gives access to all Waterford Treasures museums and a walking tour. More here.
