Two of the oldest houses in Ireland will soon be home to a new museum in Waterford.
The Museum of the Irish Wake is expected to be open to the public by March 2023.
Waterford’s newest Museum will trace the customs, traditions and superstitions associated with death from the earliest times to the 20th century.
Work is ongoing there at the moment to conserve the features of the original buildings on Cathedral Square, which were used as alms houses and a shop/living space in the late 1400s.
The house was opened on Nov 2nd (All Souls Day) in 1478 and residents were obliged to get up 3 times during the night to pray for the souls of the dead.
The site was visited by the Minister for Heritage, Malcolm Noonan, over the weekend and funding of €150,000 was granted for elements of the project.
Speaking to WLR News, curator of Waterford Treasures Museum, Éamon McEneaney says it will be a fantastic addition.
The Museum will be home to an array of objects associated with death in Ireland which the Waterford Museum of Treasures has been collecting for 10 years.
"I think what local museums should so is tell he history of the place but don't be trying to be a national museum and cover everything," Éamon said.
He added that he thinks the newest addition will be unique across Ireland.
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