Waterford Watch

JMT2016

I think Waterford gets left out of loads of stuff in the national media which means we miss out on loads of publicity which would give the city a boost.

On loads of things you will see, Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway and then that's it. It's like we're not a city at all.

On other stuff we're confused with Wexford - it drives me nuts.

Here's the latest one...

"Wexford walls" festival and the "Dunmore East" is missing from the Bluegrass Festival in this promotion map!!!

energia.ie/blog/domestic/2016/august/august-2016/cheap-free-stuff-to-do-this-weekend-(1)
(can't post the link)

Remember, how the people in Dingle were going mental when the town was going to be renamed - it was because they recognised that the brand of the town was important for business!

Post more examples here as you find them. It's happening constantly!

Harry Palmr

When ever the media talks about rents and house prices Waterford is never included as one of the main cities, for years google maps had Waterford listed under Kilkenny.

Wanderer2010

What exactly did we do or didn't do in this country to make the media and government so utterly indifferent to us? I just can't figure it out!

mickmackmcgoo

Wanderer2010 wrote:

What exactly did we do or didn't do in this country to make the media and government so utterly indifferent to us? I just can't figure it out!

Constantly stitched up by politicians from neighbouring counties who when they were ministers especially thrived on underfunding us and making decisions to undermine the city in particular to try benefit their own counties. The late Colm Griffin told me 2 unreal stories about one person in RTE and one in the old Irish press newspaper who used to make sure there was only negativity ever relayed about here and that spread throughout their organisation and media in general. It's like Limerick getting the stab city reputation through the media which lives on today .

JMT2016

What does rte broadcast from its south east studio?

Galway has RnaG, Limerick has Lyric Fm and several live shows on rte1 tv & radio come from the Cork studio.

Wasn't the waterford studio closed down some time ago? How long has it been in Carriganore?

Harry Palmr

I'm assuming the studio in Carriganore is no bigger than a broom cupboard, has anything been made for RTE out of their Waterford office?

zurbfoundation

Plenty of Coveragh today for Minster Halligan and also the poor lad that got stabbed last night.

zurbfoundation

JMT2016 wrote: »

Wasn't the waterford studio closed down some time ago? How long has it been in Carriganore?

Think about two years now

MRnotlob606

Harry Palmr wrote: »

I'm assuming the studio in Carriganore is no bigger than a broom cupboard, has anything been made for RTE out of their Waterford office?

I think there have been a few, rivetting, introspective, minute long episodes of the angelus made. I've got them taped.

JMT2016

Here's the latest one - Waterford left out of the Ireland's Ancient East Top 10 things to do

http://www.irelandsancienteast.com/things-to-do/top-10-family-things-to-do

Top 10 things to do in Ireland's Ancient East wrote:

IRISH NATIONAL HERITAGE PARK, WEXFORD
WICKLOW GAOL, WICKLOW
CARLINGFORD ADVENTURE CENTRE, LOUTH
CAVAN BURREN PARK
BIRR CASTLE, OFFALY
IRISH NATIONAL STUD, KILDARE
HOOK HEAD LIGHTHOUSE, WEXFORD
KILKENNY WAY HURLING EXPERIENCE, KILKENNY
SHANDON BELLS, CORK CITY
LOUGHCREW ADVENTURE CENTRE, MEATH

Now if you remember your geography class you might be asking why are Cork and Cavan included in a list about Ireland's Ancient East? Especially since Failte Ireland were very definite that Waterford was not part of the Wild Atlantic Way.

Turns out Waterford isn't really part of Ireland's Ancient East either!

Johnboy1951

JMT2016 wrote: »

Here's the latest one - Waterford left out of the Ireland's Ancient East Top 10 things to do

http://www.irelandsancienteast.com/things-to-do/top-10-family-things-to-do



Now if you remember your geography class you might be asking why are Cork and Cavan included in a list about Ireland's Ancient East? Especially since Failte Ireland were very definite that Waterford was not part of the Wild Atlantic Way.

Turns out Waterford isn't really part of Ireland's Ancient East either!

So Waterford is not in the East, nor on the Atlantic ..... W(here)TF is Waterford?

Harry Palmr

They have a page called

Explore the legacy of the Vikings' arrival on Irish shores

Limerick to Louth in 5 days

illustrated with a photo of Reggies Tower!

It's a shi'te website.

edit the journey does go through Waterford but nonetheless (the Tipp to Waterford journey ends in Lismore which has no Viking history "Revel in the raiders, traders and settlers of Viking Ireland")

bullpost

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

So Waterford is not in the East, nor on the Atlantic ..... W(here)TF is Waterford?

The Ancient East thing seems like a very cobbled together concept to me. Trying too hard to make uninteresting things interesting. Might be better for us in the long run not to be too linked with it.

looksee

I don't agree with the 'uninteresting' bit, but I do agree that the concept is a bit scrappy. The name is the worst thing, it does not conjour up Ireland to me, sounds like a feeble ad for Japan. The Wild Atlantic Way is good, it says something; trying to piggy back on someone else's good idea is not good marketing.

bullpost

looksee wrote: »

I don't agree with the 'uninteresting' bit, but I do agree that the concept is a bit scrappy. The name is the worst thing, it does not conjour up Ireland to me, sounds like a feeble ad for Japan. The Wild Atlantic Way is good, it says something; trying to piggy back on someone else's good idea is not good marketing.

Agreed - I would prefer to see us build the Waterford brand. It can only get stronger.

Harry Palmr

bullpost wrote: »

The Ancient East thing seems like a very cobbled together concept to me. Trying too hard to make uninteresting things interesting. Might be better for us in the long run not to be too linked with it.

It is clearly a sop, the Wild Atlantic Way works as it is based on a specific concept, Ancient East is a geographically defuse mess. It means little or nothing. Waterford should have developed it's own marketing brand based on Vikings and Normans.

Something like Waterford - Where History Lives sort of thing - poster for the Ferrybank Dual Cabbageway

The Bowling Alley

Brilliant harry.

gw80

Harry Palmr wrote: »

It is clearly a sop, the Wild Atlantic Way works as it is based on a specific concept, Ancient East is a geographically defuse mess. It means little or nothing. Waterford should have developed it's own marketing brand based on Vikings and Normans.

Something like Waterford - Where History Lives sort of thing - poster for the Ferrybank Dual Cabbageway

The museums and things are great, but we could probably do with some entertainment for the young folks,
I seen a fair few board looking teenagers being dragged around the Viking triangle this summer,
Maybe some Viking themed activities, I'm thinking getting dressed up in all the gear and making boat raids on the Kilkenny side of the riverðŸ˜.

bullpost

Its funny the way perceptions and attitudes change with time.

I wonder if in 800 years time our descendants will be wandering around the British Empire triangle or the Cromwell Quarter

Wanderer78

bullpost wrote:

I wonder if in 800 years time our descendants will be wandering around the British Empire triangle or the Cromwell Quarter

With the current way we 're treating this planet, I doubt anyone will be wandering around in 800 years as I suspect this place will be a toxic swamp by then

JMT2016

RTE News did a report on Culture Night this evening from around the country

This was - Galway, Limerick and Cork and an honorary 2 seconds for a small display in Ennis.

No mention of Waterford (or anywhere in the South East for that matter).

JMT2016

The Q-Park website has a tourism write-up on each of the cities it has car parks in - Dublin, Cork, Limerick, even Tralee.

This is Limerick's for example:

"LIMERICK - Park in Parking In Limerick City
Limerick City, the heart of what us Irish call the Treaty County, is steeped in history. Not only is it where The Treaty of Limerick was signed on October 3rd 1691, fast-forward 323 years and Limerick City was the official City of Culture for 2015 with cultural celebrations taking place all year round.

Limerick has many attractions from the medieval King John's Castle to the home of the world-renowned Munster Rugby in Thomond Park Stadium. There are also many galleries and museums across the city so if one thing is for sure, there is never a shortage of things to see and do in Limerick City. "

Guess what - the Waterford one has nothing on it - no Oldest City, no Viking Triangle, no Greenway - nothing on the Kilkenny one either for that matter.

I think a few emails to their contact page to get them to update their website for the Waterford & Kilkenny attractions would go a long way.

But it's yet another example of how our region is ignored - unless we make our voice heard we will be forgotten and things like this damage our tourism potential!

Harry Palmr

Here is wot I wrote

I see that in your location profiles Waterford is blank,
a pity esp as it's Ireland's oldest City with
very visible (and visitable) Viking and Norman
history in the city centre. In fact about a minutes
walk from your car parks!

invara

Is there a heave on to close the Limerick to Waterford line at the moment; at the same time there is an effort to open the Galway/Limerick line? Does anyone know what is happening here?

Wanderer78

invara wrote: »

Is there a heave on to close the Limerick to Waterford line at the moment; at the same time there is an effort to open the Galway/Limerick line? Does anyone know what is happening here?

ive always liked chomskys use of the term 'defunding'!

robtri

invara wrote: »

Is there a heave on to close the Limerick to Waterford line at the moment; at the same time there is an effort to open the Galway/Limerick line? Does anyone know what is happening here?

well they want to close the Limerick Waterford line... cause the numbers are not there to keep it open

Johnboy1951

robtri wrote: »

well they want to close the Limerick Waterford line... cause the numbers are not there to keep it open

That will be an situation ...... no rail line and a very bad road between West and East.

Harry Palmr

Government housing plan - Dublin Cork Galway Limerick

http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/1110/830571-new-homes-initiative/

Max Powers

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Government housing plan - Dublin Cork Galway Limerick

http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/1110/830571-new-homes-initiative/

Few things,as disappointing as the usual scenario is...
This I assume is not the government saying they building these houses, they are what they want developers to build.
Paudie coffey as junior minister ensured that Waterford was in survey of housing stock, supply, demand that presumably relates to those figures, pity we didn't vote in him instead of deasy, we might be somewhere on that list if he still there and possibly in a better place with halligans fruitless attempts re: cardiac care too.

Practically speaking, houses will be built if demand there, we need more retail, more jobs, more people supporting city centre which will knock on to increase our economy and house building, .in short, this looks like more bull**** from fg...houses will be built by developers if they can make a profit not coveney promising them some sort of half arsed fast track planning or something else

Harry Palmr

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Here is wot I wrote

I see that in your location profiles Waterford is blank,
a pity esp as it's Ireland's oldest City with
very visible (and visitable) Viking and Norman
history in the city centre. In fact about a minutes
walk from your car parks!

They got back on to me to be fair to them

Many thanks for your feedback. We are currently undergoing a lovely makeover with the website and hope to update our places of interest soon.

Max Powers

Harry Palmr wrote: »

They got back on to me to be fair to them

They sent me usual stuff...your comment is important to us ...
I said I won't be using their car park.

JMT2016

http://www.the42.ie/ireland-rugby-world-cup-2023-2-3082804-Nov2016/

Stadiums announced for the 2023 rugby world cup bid. No shock waterford not on the list given our small sports grounds but just saying, all other cities are included.

Biggest surprise is that thurles not on the list.

JMT2016

Here's another, spot the difference...

www.dublin.ie
www.cork.ie
www.limerick.ie
www.galway.ie
www.waterford.ie

Harry Palmr

Well at last we're not an error!

Unfortunately if someone has the wit to buy up a place name then there is nothing that can be done about it

domain: waterford.ie
descr: Waterford Crystal Ltd
descr: Body Corporate (Ltd,PLC,Company)
descr: Corporate Name
admin-c: AT48-IEDR
tech-c: AAY565-IEDR
registration: 06-July-2001
renewal: 06-July-2017
holder-type: Billable
locked: NO
ren-status: Active
in-zone: 1
nserver: pdns1.cscdns.net
nserver: pdns2.cscdns.net
source: IEDR

person: Andre Thompson
nic-hdl: AT48-IEDR
source: IEDR

person: Domain Registrar
nic-hdl: AAY565-IEDR
source: IEDR

TheQuietFella

JMT2016 wrote: »

http://www.the42.ie/ireland-rugby-world-cup-2023-2-3082804-Nov2016/

Stadiums announced for the 2023 rugby world cup bid. No shock waterford not on the list given our small sports grounds but just saying, all other cities are included.

Biggest surprise is that thurles not on the list.

Surprised also but to be fair Thurles on the whole is not fit for purpose.
I can't understand Munster Finals etc. being played there.
A nightmare trying to get in and out of Thurles.

Good to see Kilkenny getting selected.
It would be an excellent opportunity for the south east region to promote itself although
you would wonder are we capable of doing so?

PTH2009

TheQuietFella wrote: »

Surprised also but to be fair Thurles on the whole is not fit for purpose.
I can't understand Munster Finals etc. being played there.
A nightmare trying to get in and out of Thurles.

Good to see Kilkenny getting selected.
It would be an excellent opportunity for the south east region to promote itself although
you would wonder are we capable of doing so?

Waterford hurling fans saw a lot of thurles this season. It's grand for GAA and there's always a good atmosphere around the square, lack of hotels and airport was the killer for them

Nowlan Park is a good stadium (are they installing floodlights there ???) And Kilkenny is a thriving city (to our dismay lol), easily accessible from Dublin through Road/Rail

The RSC is a decent venue and Walsh Park is OK since they done it up a bit but nothing spectacular. It's a shame Waterford don't have a decent stadium, Limerick (2x stadiums), Cork (the new PUC), Thurles and Kilkenny (Nowlan Park) all have class stadiums.

Waterford may play host to teams if Ireland win the bid.

Harry Palmr

When the WIT Carriganore site was in the planning stages they should have sounded out the GAA on moving Walsh Park out there.

Max Powers

Harry Palmr wrote: »

When the WIT Carriganore site was in the planning stages they should have sounded out the GAA on moving Walsh Park out there.

They did as far as I know, Martin Cullen tried it, funds lined up etc,GAA weren't having it.

TheQuietFella

Max Powers wrote: »

They did as far as I know, Martin Cullen tried it, funds lined up etc,GAA weren't having it.

That must have been in excess of 15 years ago now Max!
The GAA probably wouldn't or couldn't justify an investment in to
a new home for Waterford hurlers and footballers but don't we
have Fraher Field anyway! What more could we want!

Max Powers

TheQuietFella wrote: »

That must have been in excess of 15 years ago now Max!
The GAA probably wouldn't or couldn't justify an investment in to
a new home for Waterford hurlers and footballers but don't we
have Fraher Field anyway! What more could we want!

Not sure what point you are trying to make there.yes that was some time ago.at end of day they didn't go for it when money there, could have sold Walsh park for house development easy back then.
The local GAA stadium is crap, doesn't seem like there was or is any plan by them or anyone to improve situation.

JMT2016

I think it was mentioned earlier there's another push to close the waterford limerick jcn line.

This is an intercity service connecting Waterford with Limerick with 1 changeover.

If it is to be closed I think it should only be done if they upgrade the N24 which is a shocking excuse for a national route.

It's one thing running the train service into the ground to make it unviable but to leave no quality transport link at all between the two regional capitals isn't on.

PTH2009

Sad to learn that Porters (cards and things now) is closing down in January and champion sports are taking over the unit

Another childhood memorie gone

Max Powers

PTH2009 wrote: »

Sad to learn that Porters (cards and things now) is closing down in January and champion sports are taking over the unit

Another childhood memorie gone

Thought it was JDs next door expanding, that's what was in paper so doesn't sound like lack of business but told to move out to facilitate a large chain expansion.if that is case, they hopefully will find new location, always handy and used it regularly for paper, stationery, bottle of coke, lotto, etc

PTH2009

Max Powers wrote: »

Thought it was JDs next door expanding, that's what was in paper so doesn't sound like lack of business but told to move out to facilitate a large chain expansion.if that is case, they hopefully will find new location, always handy and used it regularly for paper, stationery, bottle of coke, lotto, etc

JD sports sorry always get mixed up with sports shops

Yeah hopefully they find a new location

Kadser

Last but not least, The Great Place award was collected by the regenerated, historic Viking Triangle in Waterford, Ireland.

https://www.academyofurbanism.org.uk/2017-urbanism-awards-results/

Max Powers

Kadser wrote: »

Last but not least, The Great Place award was collected by the regenerated, historic Viking Triangle in Waterford, Ireland.

https://www.academyofurbanism.org.uk/2017-urbanism-awards-results/

Great news, heard it on radio.anything like that has to be positive.

Harry Palmr

Last but not least, The Great Place award was collected by the regenerated, historic Viking Triangle in Waterford, Ireland. However, the assessors noted that Viking Triangle is more than a traditional physical regeneration initiative. “Supported by a strong historical narrative and harnessing the best of their assets, their strategy has been simple yet effective. Public funding has served as a catalyst and with local buy-in this has led to an improved perception of the area. In turn this has enhanced the quality of life and competitiveness of local business which is leading to private sector investment” said Nick Childs, lead assessor.

This ties in with the announcement regarding funding that has been released for more city centre works as outlined in the local papers this week.

http://www.waterford-today.ie/waterford-today-news/9285-work-commences-on-city-centre-upgrade-9285.html

JMT2016

Serious lack of publicity from the wonderful achievement of the Viking Triangle winning The Great Place award, beating off two lovely places in England, Greenwich Market London and Leicester Market to win the prize.

I heard about Clonakilty winning the best town award via facebook, social media etc... but I didn't see Waterford's prize until I read this thread!!! :eek:

So I checked out the website of the prize-givers and it clearly shows they have 5 awards of equal standing - and here are the finalists this year for each prize.

https://www.academyofurbanism.org.uk/awards/great-places/

Award|Finalist 1|Finalist 2|Finalist 3
The European City of the Year|Copenhagen|Eindhoven|Montpellier
The Great Town Award|Blackpool|Clonakilty|Todmorden
The Great Place Award|Greenwich Market London|Leicester Market Leicester|Viking Triangle Waterford
The Great Neighbourhood Award|Ashley Vale Bristol|Newhall Harlow|Ouseburn Newcastle
The Great Street Award|Lark Lane Liverpool|Newry Street Banbridger|Wood Street Walthamstow


Now here is the online press coverage I was able to find showing both the Clonakilty best town and Waterford best place awards. The discrepancy is absolutely shocking, bar wlrfm I can't find ONE headline publicising this wonderful award.

Article|Clonakilty|Waterford
Irish Examiner|Headline|Last Line
Irish Mirror|Headline|Second Half of Article
The Journal|Headline|Last Line
Joe.ie|Headline|No Mention
Evening Echo|Headline|Last Line
Irish Post|Headline|One Line
Wlrfm|Last Line|Headline


Now maybe this award isn't very significant you're thinking? Well last year, Cork's Oliver Plunkett Street won the best street award and there was a load of articles publicising this - including all of the above and major national media outlets like The Independent and The Irish Times.

Fair play to Clonakilty, it is a lovely town and they are rightly getting loads of free publicity from this - but why is the Viking Triangle the also-ran?

Why don't all the headlines read - TWO Irish winners - Clonakilty and Waterford scoop gold?

I look forward seeing Damien Tiernan on the six-one news tonight interviewing and congratulating all involved in achieving this wonderful prize

Johnboy1951

Maybe the lack of publicity has something to do with a deficit of publicity management on behalf of Waterford.

Who in Waterford is responsible for publicising Waterford and its achievements?

If they do not do the promotion it is hardly surprising if the national media do not give it prominence.

JMT2016

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

Maybe the lack of publicity has something to do with a deficit of publicity management on behalf of Waterford.

Who in Waterford is responsible for publicising Waterford and its achievements?

If they do not do the promotion it is hardly surprising if the national media do not give it prominence.

Good point - there is a serious gap in the market here. It's like Waterford is invisible in the Irish psyche!

Even this publicity article for Waterford in the Irish Mirror notes...

Waterford doesn't quite get the recognition it deserves for being the generally great county it is, so it's time to change this.

And the article is by journalist Niamh Drohan.... who is from Waterford! If she wasn't a native I guarantee this article would never have been written. :eek:

Harry Palmr

The Council are utterly useless at selling Waterford, always have been. It's like they are crippled by embarrassment with memories of things like the Dock strike in the 80s and just can't get past that and shake themselves up.