WAHS Annual Lunch 2010 - Braving the elements

Despite sub-zero temperatures, just over 50 members and friends made their way- some on foot-to Dooley's Hotel where they received a warm welcome.
Mulled wine and non-alcoholic beverages were available on arrival. The guest of Honour was Her Worship The Mayor of Waterford, Cllr. Mary Roche. She was presented with a copy of the latest edition of Decies, the journal of the society.

One has to admire those who came from the county, in particular our guest speaker, Julian Walton. Julian spoke about the hazards of the local history lecture, based on personal experience, both as lecturer and audience. A lesson to be learned: always be prepared for the unexpected, never rely on technology, always have a plan B!

Decies 66 just published!!!

The latest edition of our journal is out! and will be available in local bookshops as soon as the weather permits... Members will, as usual, get theirs through postal delivery.

Jack Burtchaell & Waterford-Bristol Connections

On Friday 26th November local historian Jack Burtchaell gave an illustrated lecture on Bristol, and the similarities and links between Waterford and Bristol over the centuries... and to this day, since a visitor from Bristol was in the audience that night.Jack Burtchaell with Frances Riley from Bristol. Jack is showing a book just published, of great interest to those involved in historical research:

WAHS End Of Year Activities: Lectures, Lunch, and Decies

The month of November is usually quite a busy one for us. In the last week of the month we have a lecture, our Annual Lunch, the publication of Decies,( the Society's Journal), and this year we are holding and extra lecture in early December.

The Lecture Season continues on Friday 26th November with local historian Mr Jack Burtchaell on the topic: ‘Waterford and Bristol Connections’.

The Annual Lunch, open to members and friends, will take place on Sunday 28th November at Dooley’s Hotel, The Quay, commencing 12.30 with mulled wine/soft drinks reception, and lunch at 1.30. Our after-lunch entertainment, ‘Hazards of the Local History Lecture’ will be provided by a member of the Society, well-known local historian/broadcaster Julian Walton.

Members will be able to collect their copy of the Society’s journal, Decies 66, on the day. Extra copies of journal will also for sale at the price of €20.00.

The Society has added an extra lecture to its winter schedule, to coincide with an exhibition on Waterford and the ESB, which will run in Waterford City Library from 1st to 22nd December 2010. Mr Brendan Delaney, Manager of Heritage and Archives, ESB, will lecture on ‘Ardnacrusha and Waterford’ on Friday 3rd December, at Waterford Museum of Treasures, Hanover Street, 8 pm. There will be no charge on that night to non-members as the event is kindly sponsored by the ESB.

The Viking Ship Project

Having seen that Éigse Slieverue was organising a visit to the Viking Longboat Project, some of us tagged along and discovered the project behind-the-scenes.

The Viking Ship Project is part of the Viking Triangle Project. It is partly funded by FÁS, Waterford Chamber of Commerce, as well as other sponsors.

Michael Power, guide for the day, explained that those involved in the building were first chosen among the newly unemployed... but they had no knowledge of shipbuilding! The project manager, Michael Kennedy, whose name is associated with the Dunbrody Famine Ship, was the only shipwright on the project. Then other tradesmen were allowed to join, some are carpenters. In order to learn the trade, they first worked on the building of a Newfoundland dory using oak and Honduras pine, then repaired a boat built in WIT for the Atlantic Challenge, whose ribs were crushed when it was moved, and another local fishing boat.

The plans are based on the Viking Ship in Roskilde
The timber is locally sourced, here are the stacks of oak, from the Carlow area.
The model is built from the ground up, and timber is shaped from this model.
The timber is steamed in order to bend in shape
Traditional tools and methods are used. This is a shipwright's adze and a
smoothing axe

The hull will be clinker-built (a traditional method) to ensure watertightness. It is hoped that construction will be finished by June 2011. Looking forward to seeing her in all her glory!!!

Dr Dáithí O Currain & Dr Pat McCarthy Lecture on the War of Independance

WAHS October Lecture was held in Dooley's Hotel on the Quay, as Waterford Museum of Treasures was one of the venue for the Imagine Festival on Friday 29 October last.

Dr Dáithí O Currain and Dr Pat McCarthy gave a most interesting lecture focusing on the local casualties in the War of Independence.