Looking Back, Looking Forward

Looking back to 2014, and the last events of the year, starting with Julian Walton's lecture Walking into War, on Friday 28th November 2014.

The society's annual lunch on Sunday 30th of December 2014 in The Granville Hotel was well attended, with a short lecture afterwards by committee member Bill Walsh on That Amazing  Woman's Flying Machine. 

Waterford City & County Manager Michael Walsh, being presented a copy of Decies
 by Chairperson Erica Fay, and Hon Editor Donnchadh Ó Ceallachain.

Chairperson Erica Fay with a bell donated by PRO Michael Maher,
The bell was originally offered by the late Seamus Reale, cousin of Micheal's,
following a request for a Chairman's Bell by the late Kevin P Hall when he was elected last April,
The bell will be engraved with both their names.
l to r: Michael Maher, Erica Fay, Simon Hall

Sharing memories, Simon Hall and Ann Cusack

Members of the Condon family

The Upton family

Catherine & Tom Pettit, Ann Gunning

Oliver Manning, Cian Manning, Raymond Murphy.

Erica Fay, WAHS  and Pat Nolan from the Kilkenny Archaeological Sociaty

Bill Walsh during his lecture 

We are now looking forward to a whole new year of activities! 

October Lecture: the Ogham in 3D Project by Dr Nora White

On Friday 30th October, Dr Nora White from Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) gave us an overview of ogham stones, in general, and of the Ogham in 3D project in particular.

This is quite an interesting project aimed at safegarding for future studies -and for future generations- these amazing witnesses of the past before they incur more damage from natural erosion.
You can click on the links above to visit the Ogham in 3D website, which is fully searchable - you might find there are some stones in your area! and interact with the 3D model, that is, if the stone has already been scanned.

Making full use of new technology: a 3D 'print' of a scanned ogham stone. 

October Lecture : Ogham Stones of County Waterford

October Lecture : Ogham Stones of County Waterford 

Lecturer: Dr Nora White

Time & Venue: 8 pm, Edmund Rice Heritage & conference Centre, Barrack Street.

Admission: non members €5.00, members free. 

The lecture will include an update on recent conservation work and 3D scanning of the ogham stones. 

We hope this lecture to be a precursor to a summer outing to Seskinan medieval church, where the builders of the time incorporated some ogham stones in the fabric of the church. 

2014 Autumn Lectures Programme

AUTUMN 2014 LECTURES

Friday 26th September 

                 Speaker: Dr Pat McCarthy

                  Topic: 1914: Waterford and the coming of war - this lecture will look at Waterford in 1914 with the coming of the First World War.

Friday 31st October 

               Speaker: Dr Nora White

               Topic: Ogham Stones of County Waterford - This lecture will  include an update on recent conservation work and 3D scanning of the ogham stones. It is hoped that this lecture will be precursor to a summer outing in 2015 to Seskinan medieval church, where some of the local ogham stones were built into the fabric of the church by the medieval builders. 

Friday 28th November

             Speaker: Mr Julian Walton   

             Topic: 1914, Sleepwalking into war.  This lecture will coincide with the centenary of the outbreak of World War I. 

                    

        

Summer Outings A Few Pictures

The summer has been a busy one, and the sunny south-east lived up to its name. On the 13th of July we discovered the wonders of the Copper Coast European Geopark in Bonmahon with Mr Jim Cullian.

And we crossed the river to County Wexford, for a guided tour of Dunbrody Abbey on the 30th July.

During Heritage week, Mrs Joan Johnson brought us to the original Quaker Burial Grounds, known as the Parliament Street Burial Grounds, where a new plaque, and seating were  to be officially unveiled that Saturday 

Last Outing of the Season: 28th August 2014

To coincide with Heritage Week 2014, we will be visiting two former Quaker Burial Grounds at Johns Lane and Wyse Park with guide Mrs. Joan Johnson.

Meet at Johns Lane (Parnell Street end) at 7.00pm on Thursday 28th August .

The official opening of the recently completed City Council memorial at the site of the first Quaker Burial Ground in Waterford at Johns Lane will take place on Saturday 30th August at 11am.

The memorial will be officially opened by Mayor Lola O’Sullivan and all society members are invited to attend.

Upcoming event: 'Our Mining Heritage', Outing to the Copper Coast Geopark

On Sunday 13th at 3 pm, at the Copper Coast European Geopark Visitor Centre, Bonmahon (located in the old Church of Ireland Church)

 Our visit will start with a tour of the centre including a short film, and following that, a guided tour of the Tankardstown site.

   

Coach Trip 2014: Spike Island & Camden Fort Meagher

Despite leaving Waterford under torrential rain,  members and friends remained confident, and by the time we arrived in Cobh the omen was good. We met Dr Pat McCarthy and after a quick crossing to Spike Island, we followed him back in time from the island's early dwellers to the current transformation.

After a light lunch in Cobh, we proceeded to Camden Fort Meagher. Over and under ground...

The day ended with a very nice dinner in  Youghal's Old Imperial Hotel. 

An Archaeological Guided Tour with Orla Scully

On Thursday 5th June members and friends gathered in Cathedral Square to meet Ms Orla Scully, who had led the excavations in the Viking Triangle, and this was an opportunity to put in context some of the artefacts mentioned by James Eogan the previous week, and by Orla in a lecture to WAHS in 2011. 

Upcoming Event: Recent Excavations in Cathedral Square, with Ms Orla Scully

Linking nicely with the last lecture by Mr James Eogan of the NRA, we will have a guided tour of recent excavation sites in Cathedral Square with city archaeologist Ms Orla Scully.

Meet in Cathedral Square (near Christchurch Cathedral)

Date: Thursday 5th June 2014
Time:  7.00pm.

Fee: Non-members: €5.00

Lecture by Mr James Eogan: 100 years A Diggin'

On Friday 23rd May, Mr James Eogan from the National Roads Authority gave us an insight on a whole century of archaeology in Waterford county and city, indeed starting in 1914 when what can be 

called the first scientifically recorded excavation took place.

Among other familiar names in the field were those of the Forsayeth family, Canon P. Power, Laurence Mongey, findings in caves and fields of west Waterford, of bones and ogham stones...

to contemporary excavations in Waterford and Dungarvan centres, or along the river Suir. From chance findings, to purpose-led diggings.

Questions and recollections shared by many after the lecture, once again a great attendance. 

Vice-chair person, Ms Erica Fay, with lecturer Mr James Eogan. 

And from the lecture to the 'field-trip' we can consider it an introduction to the the first outing of this summer, by Ms Orla Scully in early June.