Waterford City 1100 year Anniversary in 2014

Max Powers

Wouldnt it be great if something big could be organised to commemorate such a big anniversary for Waterford City - founded in 914. Obviously, there were people here before that date but that is a significant date all the same. Dublin did a lot for their 1000 anniversary in 1988, Galway their 500 year (quincentenial bridge) also in the 80s. All probably require govt support.

- Pedestrian bridge over the suir
- An outdoor amphitheatre on north quays with the city as its back drop (smaller version of the hollywood bowl, millenium park in chicago)
- improve berthing facilities for cruise ships / tall ships
- With Walton & Boyle from Waterford, a top class interactive Science & trade museum
- some jobs

TheGormog

Good point. Tell me, what did you do for the 1,000 Anniversary back in 1914?

Finnbar01

Max Powers wrote: »

Wouldnt it be great if something big could be organised to commemorate such a big anniversary for Waterford City - founded in 914. Obviously, there were people here before that date but that is a significant date all the same. Dublin did a lot for their 1000 anniversary in 1988, Galway their 500 year (quincentenial bridge) also in the 80s. All probably require govt support.

- Pedestrian bridge over the suir
- An outdoor amphitheatre on north quays with the city as its back drop (smaller version of the hollywood bowl, millenium park in chicago)
- improve berthing facilities for cruise ships / tall ships
- With Walton & Boyle from Waterford, a top class interactive Science & trade museum
- some jobs

A pedstrian bridge over the Suir would be an absolute no no. How could that be possible?

mike65

Max Powers wrote: »

Wouldnt it be great if something big could be organised to commemorate such a big anniversary for Waterford City - founded in 914. Obviously, there were people here before that date but that is a significant date all the same. Dublin did a lot for their 1000 anniversary in 1988, Galway their 500 year (quincentenial bridge) also in the 80s. All probably require govt support.

- Pedestrian bridge over the suir
- An outdoor amphitheatre on north quays with the city as its back drop (smaller version of the hollywood bowl, millenium park in chicago)
- improve berthing facilities for cruise ships / tall ships
- With Walton & Boyle from Waterford, a top class interactive Science & trade museum
- some jobs

What was notable about that anniversary was that nothing of any consequence happened in 988. They just seem to choose a date in the then near future for the sake of a hooly.

As for Waterfords centenary, no one has even mentioned yet, and with only two years to go I presume nothing will happen!

MitchKoobski

Could do with a few jobs anyway.

fricatus

MitchKoobski wrote: »

Could do with a few jobs anyway.

Some fcuking hope!

Kylo Ren

Free blaas.

Max Powers

Finnbar01 wrote: »

A pedstrian bridge over the Suir would be an absolute no no. How could that be possible?

Easy. Get support, design, fund, build, open
Obviously, something to walk over to would be ideal but it could be a catalyst for something else to happen over there. Im sure some sort of walk/green area would be a cheap option.

Were people as negative back in the 80s when Dublin and Galway were talking their anniversary up?

abouttobebanned

The pedestrian bridge has already been designed and was part of the Viking project. Was then shelved when the money well ran dry.

Why on earth would you think it couldn't be possible?

TheGormog

abouttobebanned wrote: »

The pedestrian bridge has already been designed and was part of the Viking project. Was then shelved when the money well ran dry.

Why on earth would you think it couldn't be possible?

Money makes the world go round!

Personally, if there were a few million euro available I'd rather it was used to 'encourage' some large scale employers to the region.

THEIRISHMOB

abouttobebanned wrote: »

The pedestrian bridge has already been designed and was part of the Viking project. Was then shelved when the money well ran dry.

Why on earth would you think it couldn't be possible?

Is it needed? and I mean needed.
We already have a bridge you can walk over.

A massive festival would be the idea and invite all the vikings from Norway over (fill the hotels, bars, restaurants, golf event, sailing event).
The tall ships proved that festivals are the way to go and I am sure the scandi's would love a long weekend in waterford if there was loads to do.

Have a boat race up the suir and then make it an annual event like the boat race in london. So it would create a annual event for us all to look forward to.
I am sure the boat race would draw people from all over Ireland to watch and there would be time to get some viking boats made up.

Like this..how much fun would this be over a weekend:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBNSAZ5Pvf4

I'd love to work on organising an event like this and have loads of other ideas.

mike65

A Viking boat race? Could be fun but I'd want proper Longboats with sails and everything.

The neglect of the river as an amenity is quite scandalous, so much could be done with it. Not many places have a few miles of unencumbered wide, straight predictable water flowing right past the centre of town.

fricatus

I have another idea, and it's very doable if the money could be found. Hell, if I won the Euromillions, I'd do it myself.

I was remarking lately how lovely the cherry trees are when they're in full blossom in April, and I saw a photo on the BBC website about a park in Washington DC that features over a hundred cherry trees donated by the Japanese as a peace gift about a hundred years ago (yeah, ironic...)

Wouldn't it be wonderful if the hill where Jury's was could be turned into a public park, maybe with a cable-car to access from town (or a pedestrian bridge and funicular), and have the whole thing covered in cherry trees, all ready to turn the hillside pinky-white in April? The building should just be levelled and be done with it.

They can call it Fricatus Park in honour of me!

THEIRISHMOB

mike65 wrote: »

A Viking boat race? Could be fun but I'd want proper Longboats with sails and everything.

The neglect of the river as an amenity is quite scandalous, so much could be done with it. Not many places have a few miles of unencumbered wide, straight predictable water flowing right past the centre of town.

Totally agree.
There would be time to get the boats here for the races and it would make for a great spectacle.

Here is a viking festival that has been organised: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZA2z4iXBSA&feature=related

Waterford has everything to host such an event and we also have the history.

Then the Boat race could be the annual event to look forward to each year and again a good boost to the local tourism market

BBM77

There was a project 2014 that was alluded to here

http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0618/waterford.html

and mentioned here

http://www.waterfordcity.ie/documents/udf-lap/Urban%20Design%20Framework%20Plan%20-%20adopted%20plan%2014-07-2008.pdf

It was supposed to be finished for 2014. The North Quays redevelopment was part of it. That has long since gone out the window of course. I think the Viking triangle project is a scaled down version which is supposed to be finished by 2014 I believe. Personally I think it should be used as a huge marketing opportunity and show the country and beyond that we are one of the few places in Ireland that is truly a city. The word city is bandied about a lot, Waterford is one place that it is not a hollow word. For that matter it needs to be hammered home to Waterford people themselves.

Finnbar01

Max Powers wrote: »

Easy. Get support, design, fund, build, open
Obviously, something to walk over to would be ideal but it could be a catalyst for something else to happen over there. Im sure some sort of walk/green area would be a cheap option.

Were people as negative back in the 80s when Dublin and Galway were talking their anniversary up?

I think money could be better spent on something else.

That's being realistic not negative.

Professey Chin

Max Powers wrote: »

Easy. Get support, design, fund, build, open
Obviously, something to walk over to would be ideal but it could be a catalyst for something else to happen over there. Im sure some sort of walk/green area would be a cheap option.

Were people as negative back in the 80s when Dublin and Galway were talking their anniversary up?

Only easy because you left out the hardest part.
Get planning permission which in turn gives every know it all knob the power to hold up anything

Max Powers

The Great Chinholio wrote: »

Only easy because you left out the hardest part.
Get planning permission which in turn gives every know it all knob the power to hold up anything

Planning would be easy, funding would be key, especially in these times but not impossible.

Finbarr,
I kinda agree, a top class MS or cancer wing on WRH would be great or something in WIT but something like a bridge would be small money compared to those mentioned previous. The bridge would open up the north side, (knock some of those buildings if possible, make it a pleasant walk area, areas for development, marina, direct walk link with Ferrybank and beyond)

The viking boat race thing is brilliant, if that could become a annual event, bring competitors from all over. Limerick are having a river festival again, no doubt on the back of seeing how successful the tall ships and ocean races were.

hardybuck

Viking Festival. By 2014 the Viking Triangle should be very well developed. Have a big event down on the Quays similar to the Tall Ships layout. I presume longboats would be in shorter supply than the tall ships, but it would still be ideal.

I'm thinking traditional food - pigs on spits, tankards of mead etc., weapons and tools demonstrations, long boat race. Get some decent bands in and away you go. Great opportunity to reach out to our Scandanavian cousins.

I'm also thinking you could go another way, by going through the various periods in history on certain weekends, or across one Bank Holiday weekend.

• Norman era - Strongbow & Aoife etc.
• 16-1800's Various religous wars and upheavel. Waterford is the only town to have been unsuccessfully sieged by Cromwell
• Thomas Francis Meaghar, Irish flag, civil war era
• Modern Waterford. Crystal manufacture, showband era, big concert with GILBERT O'SULLIVAN!

THEIRISHMOB

hardybuck wrote: »

Viking Festival. By 2014 the Viking Triangle should be very well developed. Have a big event down on the Quays similar to the Tall Ships layout. I presume longboats would be in shorter supply than the tall ships, but it would still be ideal.

I'm thinking traditional food - pigs on spits, tankards of mead etc., weapons and tools demonstrations, long boat race. Get some decent bands in and away you go. Great opportunity to reach out to our Scandanavian cousins.

I'm also thinking you could go another way, by going through the various periods in history on certain weekends, or across one Bank Holiday weekend.

• Norman era - Strongbow & Aoife etc.
• 16-1800's Various religous wars and upheavel. Waterford is the only town to have been unsuccessfully sieged by Cromwell
• Thomas Francis Meaghar, Irish flag, civil war era
• Modern Waterford. Crystal manufacture, showband era, big concert with GILBERT O'SULLIVAN!

Totally agree with you. Such an obvious way to get massive numbers into Waterford for a long weekend. And 2 years to plan it. Will it happen...!!!

looksee

Why are you all assuming no-one has thought of any of this. And planning on it?

hardybuck

looksee wrote: »

Why are you all assuming no-one has thought of any of this. And planning on it?

I'm not assuming anything, I'm simply remarking on what I think would be a good idea.

Have you information on what may or may not be in planning?

cocoshovel

Ive always imagined a bridge going from the junction area at the bottom of Rockshire hill over to Reginalds tower. Dont know why but I just have. I wonder if it would help with traffic congestion at all?

Anyway, Id love something as enjoyable as the tall ships festival . It would be hard to top that I think.

jennygirl

we should have one of the biggest viking festivals as we were founded by them 1100 years ago -
it would be a fitting tribute to the city -
and attract tourists from all over Europe-
like the one in York in the UK
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FvSdr4Jo7qN4&h=VAQHtV9Lb

Spondulicks

To make 2014 matter
- Extend the airport runway so we can attract more tourists and businesses with which we can trade, and increase our visiting possibilities and our export capability.
- Relocate Walsh Park
- Provide all weather pitches to secondary schools on some shared basis
- Provide signposts to Wexford, Clonmel, and Kilkenny at the two bridges
- Twin with a region in the UK that is accessible by the Rosslare ferry or from the airport
- Make WIT a university on its merits with the potential to close the remaining gaps
- elect some Councillors with vision
- Increase the educational aspirations of the citizenry
- Stop littering the city with cans, bottles ( plastic & glass) and other rubbish
- Plant more trees
- Celebrate our heritage by recognising the identities that contribute to it
-Raise the expectations of everyone as to what each of us can do to make Waterford a better place to live, work and play.

More to follow.

mike65

If you want to start a blog start a blog, everything you listed is already being discussed here many and often times. Use the search this forum link.

wellboy76

Maybe the mint will do some 50c coins for us like they did for the dubs

Spondulicks

I feel a stamp coming on !

7upfree

TheGormog wrote: »

Good point. Tell me, what did you do for the 1,000 Anniversary back in 1914?

:rolleyes::rolleyes:

SubBusted

How about a Waterford Gathering for 2014 where successful people who grew up here and escaped return to meet up with the people they went to school with who are now on welfare?

fricatus

SubBusted wrote: »

How about a Waterford Gathering for 2014 where successful people who grew up here and escaped return to meet up with the people they went to school with who are now on welfare?

Nice attempt at humour there, real nice. :mad:

blobbyblob

www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/architecture-design-blog/2012/oct/22/trampoline-bridge-bounce-river-seine-paris

waterford should hijack the paris idea of the bouncy bridge. it could run from the tower to the grain yard on the far side. not only would it be a great attraction but it would ease traffic and assist kilkenny people getting to work - park and bounce.