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Why is Waterford left out on a lot of tourist Itinaries

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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,823 ✭✭✭✭First Up


    It’s a town to me. Waterford looks like a city. Nearly every inland town in Ireland is fuller than coastal towns and cities.


    I'm not too bothered about the town/city thing. I just find Kilkenny a nicer place.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 40,061 ✭✭✭✭Harry Palmr


    City? ;)

    Waterford is it's own worst enemy - once we discount all the other enemies. "Dublin" be it the gubberment, the civil service, the media or national organisations barely give us a thought. You can go a week without hearing the city's name mentioned on the airwaves short of a major crime happening whereas Galway and Cork esp are always talked of or referenced for some reason or other. We are a grey smudge in the south east which itself is overlooked by same. Will the NQP change this? Maybe. It'll be news for a day at most, unless it fails of course!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 159 ✭✭IspeakcozIcan


    Waterford has the best collection of history museums in a urban centre outside of Dublin City. I don't think this can be disputed: where has better? The Medieval Museums of Treasures being particularly impressive and it is award winning.

    Strongbow and Aoife got married in Reginald's Tower and it still stands.

    Protestant and Catholic Cathedrals designed by same architect John Roberts - only example in Europe.

    It's the oldest city in Ireland.

    If you're interested in history, the city is a fantastic place to visit.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,807 ✭✭✭The J Stands for Jay


    Waterford city doesn't have much going for it. Looks totally run down. I've no awareness of any tourist attractions there. There's some nice spots around the county, but not enough of a concentration to attract tourists. Maybe the copper coast could be promoted.

    I've found Tramore to be a kip. Another place that time has passed by like Bray, Bundoran, Salthill or Courttown. Dunmore East was nice, but awkward to get to and bad experiences in a few pubs and restaurants.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,823 ✭✭✭✭First Up


    If you're interested in history, the city is a fantastic place to visit.

    I am interested in history and I've enjoyed hearing Jack Birchall hilariously describe the Viking period among other things.

    But the city lacks atmosphere; shopping is poor; there are few nice places to ramble or eat/drink and as I said in my first contribution, the place seems to be taken over by its noisier citizens after nightfall.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 40,061 ✭✭✭✭Harry Palmr


    Tramore is just a commuter town now - the days of cheap and cheerless cheerful bucket and spade holidays are largely over. City breaks is the thing these days.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 159 ✭✭IspeakcozIcan


    McGaggs wrote: »
    I've no awareness of any tourist attractions there. There's some nice spots around the county, but not enough of a concentration to attract tourists. Maybe the copper coast could be promoted.
    .
    :rolleyes::rolleyes:

    The Greenway had over 250,000 visitors in its first year. I won't list all the awards it's won.

    It actually starts from the City too.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 159 ✭✭IspeakcozIcan


    First Up wrote: »
    I am interested in history and I've enjoyed hearing Jack Birchall hilariously describe the Viking period among other things.

    But the city lacks atmosphere; shopping is poor; there are few nice places to ramble or eat/drink and as I said in my first contribution, the place seems to be taken over by its noisier citizens after nightfall.

    I actually did that tour and wasn't overly impressed.

    I would recommend going and doing the tours in Medieval Museum, Bishop's Palace, and Reginald's Tower and seeing what you think.

    Henry's VIII's only remaining item of clothing ( a hat) is in the Medieval Museum!

    Noise wise: Kilkenny will always be noisier with stags and hens though? But I'm not here to bash KK - it's a great place with even better festivals.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,748 ✭✭✭Deiseen


    First Up wrote: »
    I am interested in history and I've enjoyed hearing Jack Birchall hilariously describe the Viking period among other things.

    But the city lacks atmosphere; shopping is poor; there are few nice places to ramble or eat/drink and as I said in my first contribution, the place seems to be taken over by its noisier citizens after nightfall.

    The North Quays development will hopefully sort many of these issues but I find it difficult to see how you'd say its noisey with drunk people at night. Literally every city that enjoys a few beers has this same issue.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,042 ✭✭✭Gorgeousgeorge


    Jaysus i love waterford. Heading again on the 6th. Straight to the grattan bar for pintsðŸ˜


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,326 ✭✭✭alta stare


    First Up wrote: »
    Sarcasm not one of your strong points then.

    Lots of lovely spots around Waterford and lots of effort going into them. Ardmore, Dungarvan, Passage East, Dunmore East and amenities like golf at Faithlegg or Waterford Castle, Mount Congreve, the Greenway, the GIY centre (and the Harvest Festival). I've familiar with all of them.

    But the city has little or no appeal and there's not much evidence of anyone trying very hard to improve it.

    When someone is being incoherent it is hard to distinguish between sarcasm and idiocy.

    So in the space of a few posts you went from giving out about Waterford to praising it. :D

    Greenway starts in the city,
    Apple market was improved,
    NQ redevelopment,
    Viking Triangle,
    Museums.

    They do class as improvements you know so the next time you are down you should do something here if of course you can bring yourself to let go of your obvious mental constraints.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,432 ✭✭✭Wailin


    The place is like a morgue mon-fri, only livens up a bit Saturday night....late. Peoples attitude there stinks. No one bothers there hole supporting local business especially bars.

    Im from the city but living in dublin the last 10 years. Come down regular with the missus and the change in the place is pathetic to be honest. Friday night i brought the missus to itty bittys, a lovely pub and guess what? We were the only people there, at 8:30 on a friday night for gods sake. How do these places survive? Same with any friday night we go out....dead as fcuk. Dublin is heaving 7 nights a week as is kilkenny, cork etc.

    Its the old begrudging Waterford attitide that has the place on its knees. Sad to see, I love my hometown. But to be honest, i also love leaving it sometimes.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,326 ✭✭✭alta stare


    Wailin wrote: »
    The place is like a morgue mon-fri, only livens up a bit Saturday night....late. Peoples attitude there stinks. No one bothers there hole supporting local business especially bars.

    Im from the city but living in dublin the last 10 years. Come down regular with the missus and the change in the place is pathetic to be honest. Friday night i brought the missus to itty bittys, a lovely pub and guess what? We were the only people there, at 8:30 on a friday night for gods sake. How do these places survive? Same with any friday night we go out....dead as fcuk. Dublin is heaving 7 nights a week as is kilkenny, cork etc.

    Its the old begrudging Waterford attitide that has the place on its knees. Sad to see, I love my hometown. But to be honest, i also love leaving it sometimes.

    I lived in Kilkenny for a few years and this notion that it do be heaving 7 days a week is way wide of the mark. A nice place for sure but it definitely isnt a busy as people like to say it is.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 159 ✭✭IspeakcozIcan


    Wailin wrote: »
    The place is like a morgue mon-fri, only livens up a bit Saturday night....late. Peoples attitude there stinks. No one bothers there hole supporting local business especially bars.

    Im from the city but living in dublin the last 10 years. Come down regular with the missus and the change in the place is pathetic to be honest. Friday night i brought the missus to itty bittys, a lovely pub and guess what? We were the only people there, at 8:30 on a friday night for gods sake. How do these places survive? Same with any friday night we go out....dead as fcuk. Dublin is heaving 7 nights a week as is kilkenny, cork etc.

    Its the old begrudging Waterford attitide that has the place on its knees. Sad to see, I love my hometown. But to be honest, i also love leaving it sometimes.

    If the place is dead on a Friday it may not survive very long unfortunately. I haven't heard much about Itty Bitty's.

    Why not go up to Geoff's, Davy Mac's, or just across from that bar to The Munster or Jordan's, down the quay to Uisce Beatha (won the award for best pub in Waterford last night at the Irish Restaurant Awards), the Metalman, or Phil Grimes, O'Grady's Yard... or over to Tully's, Walsh's or Downses....

    There's so many good spots in Waterford at the weekend!

    I'm also out of Waterford a similar amount of time, return regularly with my Dublin partner. We always have a great night with good, reasonably priced food and drinks.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,432 ✭✭✭Wailin


    Davy macs is one of our favourite pubs in waterford but even there is very quiet on a friday night. It picks up from around 10 on. To encourage business there and the bodega had a deal where you get a meal for 2 with a bottle of wine for 80 plus a €10 voucher for davy macs. Great deal but sad that this is what they need to do to get people in friday nights. We were in davy macs and everyone coming in had vouchers but fecked off then after their free drink.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,073 ✭✭✭azimuth17


    Wailin wrote: »
    Davy macs is one of our favourite pubs in waterford but even there is very quiet on a friday night. It picks up from around 10 on. To encourage business there and the bodega had a deal where you get a meal for 2 with a bottle of wine for 80 plus a €10 voucher for davy macs. Great deal but sad that this is what they need to do to get people in friday nights. We were in davy macs and everyone coming in had vouchers but fecked off then after their free drink.
    You may just be witnessing the difference between the Dublin and Waterford economies. Did that ever occur to you before you started off saying that people won't support their own? We usually eat out in town on Saturday night (most places are full) and then go to Davy Macs or wherever. Maybe disposable income doe snot stretch beyond that for those of us not in receipt of Dublin salaries? Lots of sensible stuff on this thread, but slagging off our own helps no one.
    Comparisons with KK are pointless. A large country market town that has a castle(without it, it would be Clonmel or Wexford) and never had the industry or commerce that Waterford had or the difficulties that changes in both have caused.. I wish them well, but chalk and cheese etc.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,748 ✭✭✭Deiseen


    Wailin wrote: »
    Davy macs is one of our favourite pubs in waterford but even there is very quiet on a friday night. It picks up from around 10 on. To encourage business there and the bodega had a deal where you get a meal for 2 with a bottle of wine for 80 plus a €10 voucher for davy macs. Great deal but sad that this is what they need to do to get people in friday nights. We were in davy macs and everyone coming in had vouchers but fecked off then after their free drink.

    We all know the issues (town is busier now midweek btw) but we've a €400 million development on the verge of starting. You say there's nothing going on but this will hopefully be starting very soon.

    Would you rather a few Small developments or would you rather the biggest case of FDI outside of Dublin in the history of the state, that will basically re-invent the entire city centre?

    I know which one I'd choose.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,823 ✭✭✭✭First Up


    alta stare wrote:
    When someone is being incoherent it is hard to distinguish between sarcasm and idiocy.

    At least I can spell correctly.
    alta stare wrote:
    So in the space of a few posts you went from giving out about Waterford to praising it.

    Its possible to do both (its called objective criticism).
    alta stare wrote:
    Greenway starts in the city, Apple market was improved, NQ redevelopment, Viking Triangle, Museums.

    The Greenway starts in the city - and leaves immediately. Glad to know there are other improvements and I look forward to enjoying them.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,807 ✭✭✭The J Stands for Jay


    :rolleyes::rolleyes:

    The Greenway had over 250,000 visitors in its first year. I won't list all the awards it's won.

    It actually starts from the City too.

    The Mayo Greenway gets the same annual numbers, and it's the only one I ever hear about.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 286 ✭✭ArtVandelay76


    Wailin wrote: »
    The place is like a morgue mon-fri, only livens up a bit Saturday night....late. Peoples attitude there stinks. No one bothers there hole supporting local business especially bars.

    Im from the city but living in dublin the last 10 years. Come down regular with the missus and the change in the place is pathetic to be honest. Friday night i brought the missus to itty bittys, a lovely pub and guess what? We were the only people there, at 8:30 on a friday night for gods sake. How do these places survive? Same with any friday night we go out....dead as fcuk. Dublin is heaving 7 nights a week as is kilkenny, cork etc.

    Its the old begrudging Waterford attitide that has the place on its knees. Sad to see, I love my hometown. But to be honest, i also love leaving it sometimes.

    A lot of people don't know of itty bittys existence so that might have something to do with it being empty unfortunately.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,326 ✭✭✭alta stare


    First Up wrote: »
    At least I can spell correctly.



    Its possible to do both (its called objective criticism).



    The Greenway starts in the city - and leaves immediately. Glad to know there are other improvements and I look forward to enjoying them.

    :D ah i see what you are now, a little 14 yr old snowflake who thinks conversing as you are is still a thing. "At least i can spell" :D:D:D

    Objective criticism?? Yeah having an opinion is good but you pointed out an issue which every other city has whilst pretending you never seen or heard anything of the likes anywhere else, that isnt objective criticism.

    See now you are beginning to understand. Good luck in your junior cert.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,823 ✭✭✭✭First Up


    alta stare wrote:
    See now you are beginning to understand. Good luck in your junior cert.


    I hope your heroic defence of the indefensible is properly rewarded by your peers.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 159 ✭✭IspeakcozIcan


    McGaggs wrote: »
    The Mayo Greenway gets the same annual numbers, and it's the only one I ever hear about.

    The Waterford Greenway gets brilliant coverage in the media. It's brought towns back to life. It's a massive success story and in Dublin anyways people are well aware of it.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 40,061 ✭✭✭✭Harry Palmr


    Never heard of the Mayo greenway to be honest, our Greenway has been the only source of positive ongoing coverage for the last two years but it has little to do with the City as pointed out in previous discussion.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,906 ✭✭✭✭Wanderer78


    Never heard of the Mayo greenway to be honest, our Greenway has been the only source of positive ongoing coverage for the last two years but it had little to do with the City as pointed out in previous discussion.


    Tis up and running since before ours, ours was largely based on it, was regularly mentioned at public meetings before ours opened, sounds like they done a good job up there


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,764 ✭✭✭my3cents


    Wanderer78 wrote: »
    Tis up and running since before ours, ours was largely based on it, was regularly mentioned at public meetings before ours opened, sounds like they done a good job up there

    Only because of some of the objections that held the Waterford Greenway up for years.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,906 ✭✭✭✭Wanderer78


    my3cents wrote:
    Only because of some of the objections that held the Waterford Greenway up for years.


    It's important to have a democratic input into the construction of public amenities, including objection processes, delays are inevitable, shur it's up and running now


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,764 ✭✭✭my3cents


    Wanderer78 wrote: »
    It's important to have a democratic input into the construction of public amenities, including objection processes, delays are inevitable, shur it's up and running now

    You've no idea of what went on have you?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,906 ✭✭✭✭Wanderer78


    my3cents wrote:
    You've no idea of what went on have you?


    Na, shur life's all good


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,748 ✭✭✭Deiseen


    A lot of people don't know of itty bittys existence so that might have something to do with it being empty unfortunately.

    Never even heard of it meself!


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 814 ✭✭✭debok


    Wanderer78 wrote: »
    Tis up and running since before ours, ours was largely based on it, was regularly mentioned at public meetings before ours opened, sounds like they done a good job up there

    Cycled the mayo Greenway. It's not a patch on the Waterford one I think meself. Lot of it you are on the actually road . Also for where it is it misses alot of the coastal scenery. I think Waterford one with its Riverside setting at the city end and coastal setting at dungarvan end with the tunnel and kilmac bridge in between makes it an unbelievable amenity. I wish there was camping or glamping somewhere along the way. I'd love to own bit of land near and it start up a site.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,326 ✭✭✭alta stare


    Deiseen wrote: »
    Never even heard of it meself!

    Nor did i until just before Christmas. Nice little bar but it was dead when was i was there.


  • Registered Users Posts: 701 ✭✭✭kilkenny31


    I often wonder why county Waterford doesn't get more tourists. The drive from tramore to dungarvan is really nice. Its just missing one or two nice hotels in the area and cafes and restaurants in towns along the way.
    As regards the city I think its just not a particularly nice city. Its a bit rough around the edges and doesn't have a whole lot to offer when it comes to pubs (except maybe geoffs).
    I think tourists will be naturally drawn towards kilkenny, Galway etc. They are just nicer cities. A lot of work has been done to Waterford but it still looks run down on a lot of the approach roads (the Manor, park road, Sally Park, bilberry,, Bridge Street etc.....)
    I think it's easy to blame neglect on the part of government but I think something like the appearence of buildings etc can't be blamed on that. I think there's an element of pessimism in a good chunk of the population and not enough civic pride. I think this is evident when it comes to Ardkeen Newtown Dunmore Road area. The "middle class" (hate that term") people of Waterford have created there own nice mini town (ardkeen and Dunmore Road) with nice shops bars and restaurants. I know relatively wealthy people who live in that area who never socialise in the city because its rough(their words).
    I don't think you see this in other cities in Ireland. In kilkenny or Galway for example Middle aged middle class people socialise in the cities because there are endless nice bars and restaurants..
    I think its easy portray Waterford as poor but there's a lot of wealth in the city.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 40,061 ✭✭✭✭Harry Palmr


    Sally Park approach is an utter disgrace but it's hardly a surprise given most of it is in Kilkenny. Cork road is what it is, no room to enhance it. Ferrybank will obviously be changed utterly in the next few years.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,278 ✭✭✭Azatadine


    The Carrickpherish entrance is awful too. Traveller halting sites sprawling all over the place.

    The Bilberry section is awful too with that temporary set up and traveller halting site and Stanley site. Atrocious considering these areas are adjacent to the greenway entrance.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,748 ✭✭✭Deiseen


    kilkenny31 wrote: »
    I often wonder why county Waterford doesn't get more tourists. The drive from tramore to dungarvan is really nice. Its just missing one or two nice hotels in the area and cafes and restaurants in towns along the way.
    As regards the city I think its just not a particularly nice city. Its a bit rough around the edges and doesn't have a whole lot to offer when it comes to pubs (except maybe geoffs).
    I think tourists will be naturally drawn towards kilkenny, Galway etc. They are just nicer cities. A lot of work has been done to Waterford but it still looks run down on a lot of the approach roads (the Manor, park road, Sally Park, bilberry,, Bridge Street etc.....)
    I think it's easy to blame neglect on the part of government but I think something like the appearence of buildings etc can't be blamed on that. I think there's an element of pessimism in a good chunk of the population and not enough civic pride. I think this is evident when it comes to Ardkeen Newtown Dunmore Road area. The "middle class" (hate that term") people of Waterford have created there own nice mini town (ardkeen and Dunmore Road) with nice shops bars and restaurants. I know relatively wealthy people who live in that area who never socialise in the city because its rough(their words).
    I don't think you see this in other cities in Ireland. In kilkenny or Galway for example Middle aged middle class people socialise in the cities because there are endless nice bars and restaurants..
    I think its easy portray Waterford as poor but there's a lot of wealth in the city.

    I'm from Waterford and I don't know a single person who avoids town because its rough...

    There is a lot of wealth in the city but not enough to have it looking well like Galway or Cork.

    Kilkenny is basically two roads so is very easy to maintain. Waterford has multiple busy streets with lots of cars at all times of the day which add to the maintenance cost due to emissions from cars. It's not an excuse but its a reason.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,133 ✭✭✭Mervyn Skidmore


    I went to Waterford for a weekend last year. I enjoyed it but to be honest I thought it was a bit run down and rough around the edges. Found a few nice pubs and thought the people were nice. Definitely a lot of potential there but needs serious investment. I'm from Sligo and its a bit similar on a smaller scale. I'm living in Galway and they just seem to have the whole small city thing worked out. The likes of Waterford and Sligo should take a leaf out of Galway's book.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,857 ✭✭✭TheQuietFella


    I went to Waterford for a weekend last year. I enjoyed it but to be honest I thought it was a bit run down and rough around the edges. Found a few nice pubs and thought the people were nice. Definitely a lot of potential there but needs serious investment. I'm from Sligo and its a bit similar on a smaller scale. I'm living in Galway and they just seem to have the whole small city thing worked out. The likes of Waterford and Sligo should take a leaf out of Galway's book.


    They would only smoke it!


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,748 ✭✭✭Deiseen


    I went to Waterford for a weekend last year. I enjoyed it but to be honest I thought it was a bit run down and rough around the edges. Found a few nice pubs and thought the people were nice. Definitely a lot of potential there but needs serious investment. I'm from Sligo and its a bit similar on a smaller scale. I'm living in Galway and they just seem to have the whole small city thing worked out. The likes of Waterford and Sligo should take a leaf out of Galway's book.

    A lot of the streets have been done up since so it is looking a bit better. Also, we've got a €350 million investment hopefully starting in a few months and I think things will really start changing then.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 701 ✭✭✭kilkenny31


    Deiseen wrote: »
    I'm from Waterford and I don't know a single person who avoids town because its rough...

    There is a lot of wealth in the city but not enough to have it looking well like Galway or Cork.

    Kilkenny is basically two roads so is very easy to maintain. Waterford has multiple busy streets with lots of cars at all times of the day which add to the maintenance cost due to emissions from cars. It's not an excuse but its a reason.

    Really. I know plenty. They would prefer to socialise in the Uluru, Cove or Oscars because the centre of town has no appeal. Similarly with shopping. They find it's full of cheap shops.

    I think investment will get you so far but civic pride will get you further. For example lady lane was recently renovated but it has not improved the appearance of the buildings. Similary to half o connenel street. It was renovated years back and still looks rough.

    An example I have of civic pride is recently a sports shop opened on Kilkennys high street and there was uproar from a lot of people over the sinage and shop front. People thought it took from the area.
    There has been a free for all over the last number of years in Waterford with cheap shops with cheap shop fronts and I haven't seen too many complaints. Small things like forcing people to maintain their properties and setting a standard for shops in the city would go a long way towards improving the city.
    The reason people like the Viking triangle and mall area is the fact that it's not full of cheap shops and the buildings are well kept. The average person doesn't tend to realise what makes a place nice but most of the time it's as simple as a lick of paint and nice shop fronts.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,186 ✭✭✭OEP


    Waterford City isn't nice, and this is an opinion shared by a lot of people not from the city. The restaurant scene is awful, it needs a flagship restaurant like the The Tannery in Dungarvan. It is too spread out for what it is too. There isn't a nice square or congregation of good pubs and restaurants in a single area. It generally feels dead in the center. I think Waterford is an awkward size, too big to be a nice town and too small to be like Cork for example. Dungarvan has come on leaps and bounds since the greenway took off, but it still needs a good hotel - likewise in the city. I think for tourists, if they're going to visit anywhere in the county, they would rather base themselves in Dungarvan as it has that small coastal town appeal, but still has lots of options when it comes to pubs and restaurants.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,748 ✭✭✭Deiseen


    kilkenny31 wrote: »
    Really. I know plenty. They would prefer to socialise in the Uluru, Cove or Oscars because the centre of town has no appeal. Similarly with shopping. They find it's full of cheap shops.

    I think investment will get you so far but civic pride will get you further. For example lady lane was recently renovated but it has not improved the appearance of the buildings. Similary to half o connenel street. It was renovated years back and still looks rough.

    An example I have of civic pride is recently a sports shop opened on Kilkennys high street and there was uproar from a lot of people over the sinage and shop front. People thought it took from the area.
    There has been a free for all over the last number of years in Waterford with cheap shops with cheap shop fronts and I haven't seen too many complaints. Small things like forcing people to maintain their properties and setting a standard for shops in the city would go a long way towards improving the city.
    The reason people like the Viking triangle and mall area is the fact that it's not full of cheap shops and the buildings are well kept. The average person doesn't tend to realise what makes a place nice but most of the time it's as simple as a lick of paint and nice shop fronts.

    I agree with you on the paint but the problem is that it's not a question of pride, but of money.

    With regards to investment only getting you so far, if half of the money comes into Waterford that the North Quays project is supposed to bring, then I imagine a lot of shops will up their game and the place will improve.

    O'Connell street wasn't recently done but there are plans to turn it into an Art Quarter so hopefully that will improve too.

    I honestly can't get my head around the people that avoid town. If they think Waterford is bad then Limerick, Dublin and even Cork must seem like downtown Baghdad!


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,748 ✭✭✭Deiseen


    OEP wrote: »
    Waterford City isn't nice, and this is an opinion shared by a lot of people not from the city. The restaurant scene is awful, it needs a flagship restaurant like the The Tannery in Dungarvan. It is too spread out for what it is too. There isn't a nice square or congregation of good pubs and restaurants in a single area. It generally feels dead in the center. I think Waterford is an awkward size, too big to be a nice town and too small to be like Cork for example. Dungarvan has come on leaps and bounds since the greenway took off, but it still needs a good hotel - likewise in the city. I think for tourists, if they're going to visit anywhere in the county, they would rather base themselves in Dungarvan as it has that small coastal town appeal, but still has lots of options when it comes to pubs and restaurants.

    As I said before, if people are saying Waterford isn't nice then Ireland should be worried as its in the top 10/11 most visited places in Ireland. If this horrible place is in our top 10, then what foes that say about all the rest of the towns/cities?

    In relation to nice squares, I don't know if you've been to the apple market since they've done it up but it's actually got a really nice atmosphere down there and is usually pretty busy most nights.

    Onto restaurants, to say that the restaurant scene is awful is just a downright lie. Momos, Bodega, Everetts, La Boheme, The Olive Tree, Sabai and Emilianos are about as good as you will see anywhere. Everett's in particular is fantastic. If you haven't been there then I'd suggest you go.

    With regards to size, I agree with you but unfortunately the city shares an awkward border with Kilkenny, who have never attempted to properly grow the ferrybank area in a thought out and logical way.
    This has lead to the lobsided feel that you mentioned but the North Quays should hopefully address this and make the city feel a bit more complete.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,823 ✭✭✭✭First Up


    Deiseen wrote:
    As I said before, if people are saying Waterford isn't nice then Ireland should be worried as its in the top 10/11 most visited places in Ireland. If this horrible place is in our top 10, then what foes that say about all the rest of the towns/cities?


    This thread started by asking why Waterford is left off many tourist itineraries.....


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 499 ✭✭Joe Daly


    As the saying goes when you argue with a fool he will win because he will bring you down to his level.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 1,748 ✭✭✭Deiseen


    First Up wrote: »
    This thread started by asking why Waterford is left off many tourist itineraries.....

    It did and its a valid point but even though its left out of many tourist itineraries, it still manages to be in the top 10 most visited place in Ireland every year.

    Strange that isn't it...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,326 ✭✭✭alta stare


    People who are suggesting Waterford is rough, dead, horrible bla bla bla (pun intended) need to look around and see that it isnt the only place which may have issues.

    Again i lived in Kilkenny and seen many times where there were drunks falling all over the place fighting, shouting causing issues etc. Same in Cork, Dublin, Galway etc. Waterford is the same as those places. It happens everywhere as it is what humans tend to partake in no matter where they are. Its not like they save it for Waterford. I moved back from KK as there isnt as much to do there as in Waterford. There is no denying Waterford has more to offer. Unfortunately as mentioned by others those things arent promoted as they should be. By the way this isnt a dig at KK. I loved it there but i just felt i wanted to go back down to Waterford.

    Dublin has a massive drug issue as does other places in Ireland. Yes some are worse than others so no where is immune from it. Doesnt things like that have an impact on everywhere
    ?? Makes every place touched by it horrible in the same kind of way.

    Galway is seriously over rated. The traffic up there is beyond ridiculous. I hate when the other half wants to go up there :D

    Some of the places mentioned above are of course busier than Waterford and that is due to many factors, it doesnt mean Waterford is horrible or whatever things are being spouted. If the NQ goes ahead it will change Waterford. Hopefully the government see then that the boundary needs to change. Let Waterford CC grow out from the other side of the Suir seen as KKCC dont want to do it.

    All places are subjective, some love them some dislike them as is the case with Waterford. If you come here enjoy your stay if you dont then that is a pity. People will continue to visit, we will be ok down here, we will continue to look to improve and that is evident with how much has gone on in the last few years.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,390 ✭✭✭Bowlardo


    It’s years of making the wrong decisions.
    The car park on the quay is dreadful. The quay should be the main amenity.
    Whoever is making the decision in Waterford for the last 40 years have proven time and time again to make an absolute ****e of it.

    Turning the quay in to a car park was a decision that still haunts Waterford today. That ****ing flowers by Lucy stand is in tatters but in fairness it sets the tone nicely for the rest of Waterford. Next up is the tower hotel which should have some tie in with the tower across the road but instead is some generic pissy color square ****ty hotel. Waterford city is cheap. The shop front are cheap looking. The tone was set years ago and it very very difficult to reverse the tide when I can only assume there is a serious amount of jackasses on the council


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,326 ✭✭✭alta stare


    Bowlardo wrote: »
    It’s years of making the wrong decisions.
    The car park on the quay is dreadful. The quay should be the main amenity.
    Whoever is making the decision in Waterford for the last 40 years have proven time and time again to make an absolute ****e of it.

    Turning the quay in to a car park was a decision that still haunts Waterford today. That ****ing flowers by Lucy stand is in tatters but in fairness it sets the tone nicely for the rest of Waterford. Next up is the tower hotel which should have some tie in with the tower across the road but instead is some generic pissy color square ****ty hotel. Waterford city is cheap. The shop front are cheap looking. The tone was set years ago and it very very difficult to reverse the tide when I can only assume there is a serious amount of jackasses on the council

    I agree 100% about the car parks on the quay. Arent some of those in private ownership so doing anything with them would be difficult.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,748 ✭✭✭Deiseen


    alta stare wrote: »
    I agree 100% about the car parks on the quay. Arent some of those in private ownership so doing anything with them would be difficult.

    Apparently the council owns them but a contract was signed for a very long lease which still has a considerable amount of time left on them.

    But totally agree on the Quay/Carpark, riverside amenity that totally wrecks the feel of the city. There must be a way to resolve this and asside from the North Quays, it should be priority number 1 for the council.


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