Irish Museum of Time Waterford

Cyclingtourist · 14-06-2021 9:56am #1

I'm on a staycation at the moment and was walking round Waterford city last Friday when I came across this new museum. The door was open but the receptionist said it wasn't officially open till today so I couldn't walk round it.
Was only able to glance in through the door.

I see it got some coverage in Saturday's Irish Times. Looks interesting with a good collection of Irish clocks and watches. Must go and have a proper look in July.

redlead · 14-06-2021 12:06pm

Looks interesting alright. I actually just moved to Waterford so will try to check it out over the next couple of weeks and report back.

IrishPlayer · 14-06-2021 12:11pm

Completely forgot about it , remember first hearing about it last year during the talk by Damian Duggan at Engineers Ireland.

Looking forward to taking a trip to see it when it opens

Fitz II · 14-06-2021 12:14pm

Open from 11 until 4pm and 50 euro per person. Sounds like it will be a roaring success.

njburke · 14-06-2021 1:23pm

It's a fiver entry, seems standard for any exhibition that kills an hour or so.

https://www.waterfordtreasures.com/visitor-information/opening-times-and-prices

I'll probably go over the summer at some point. See what else is around Waterford to fill a day.

Fitz II · 14-06-2021 1:31pm

My mistake its a fiver https://www.waterfordtreasures.com/irish-museum-of-time/visitor-information/visitor-information website could use some polish.

njburke · 14-06-2021 1:40pm

Website seems to have circular links and links from one museums details to another.

banie01 · 14-06-2021 1:42pm

Well at a fiver, I'll certainly pay a visit over the summer.
At fifty? I'd save for another watch :P

Great to see something different open for tourism and I hope it Garner's enough support to be viable.

Cyclingtourist · 14-06-2021 4:08pm

njburke wrote: »

It's a fiver entry, seems standard for any exhibition that kills an hour or so.

https://www.waterfordtreasures.com/visitor-information/opening-times-and-prices

I'll probably go over the summer at some point. See what else is around Waterford to fill a day.

There's a 'Silver Museum ' beside it that's newly opened also, wasn't inside but presumably has exhibits of Irish silver.I

Visited the small museum in Dungarvan earlier today which had a couple of old bicycles and an interesting bit about a local who imported one of the first pedal cycles to Ireland. :-)

I've now moved on to Cork City.

redlead · 15-06-2021 10:09am

Cyclingtourist wrote: »

Visited the small museum in Dungarvan earlier today which had a couple of old bicycles and an interesting bit about a local who imported one of the first pedal cycles to Ireland. :-)

I've now moved on to Cork City.

Did you cycle to Dungarvan via the greenway or copper Coast?

Cyclingtourist · 15-06-2021 11:09am

redlead wrote: »

Did you cycle to Dungarvan via the greenway or copper Coast?

No I'm with my wife travelling by car although I do have my folding bike in the boot and did a bit of the greenway on Saturday. Not my first time doing it as myself and a friend did the Waterford-Dungarvan-Waterford cycle a few years ago. My wife did the few kms from the Railway Cottage cafe into Dungarvan, so we've both been on the bike.

IrishPlayer · 18-06-2021 12:27pm

Booked a night in Waterford on Monday to go and see what the museum is like as perfect timing for it to open as I have a week off next week

Will post up some pictures of the trip

NIMAN · 21-06-2021 8:24pm

Indo website has a piece on the museum

https://www.independent.ie/life/travel/staycations/time-ly-boost-for-waterford-with-opening-of-irelands-first-museum-of-time-40535868.html

Cyclingtourist · 21-06-2021 8:50pm

NIMAN wrote: »

Indo website has a piece on the museum

https://www.independent.ie/life/travel/staycations/time-ly-boost-for-waterford-with-opening-of-irelands-first-museum-of-time-40535868.html

The collector David Boles mentioned in the article is, I believe, my local pharmacist in Drumcondra. Will confirm this the next time I call in which at my age will be pretty soon. :-)

NIMAN · 22-06-2021 4:52am

Irish Times website actually has a short video piece as well

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/new-museum-of-time-opens-in-waterford-1.4585640

IrishPlayer · 22-06-2021 10:49am

Currently in Waterford and visited the museum yesterday. As mentioned it is €5 entry or can buy a Freedom of Waterford ticket for €15 to include the other museums in the area,Medieval Museum,Bishop’s Palace Museum,Irish Silver Museum.

Really enjoyed it, despite not having much knowledge on clocks. Very interesting having the museum in an old church. Was surprised just how many clocks and watches were made in Ireland, along with the craftsmanship of both the movements, along with the cases.

At the moment due to restrictions, there are no group tours, they are hoping over the next few weeks to have tours when restrictions lift more. I got talking with Donnchadh O Ceallachain, part of Waterford Treasures,who showed me some of the clocks.

Very friendly staff, great to see so many other people with the same interest. Definitely worth the visit.

More Pictures
Part 1 [Link]
Part 2 [Link]
Part 3 [Link]
Part 4 [Link]
Part 5 [Link]
Part 6 [Link]
Part 7 [Link]
Part 8 [Link]
Part 9 [Link]

Cyclingtourist · 23-06-2021 1:12pm

Checked with my local chemist Boles Pharmacy Drumcondra and he confirms he is the 'David Boles' that's one of the collectors connected with the museum. When I told him that they didn't let me in because it wasn't officially open when I called in he said I should have mentioned his name but unfortunately it was only afterwards that I made the connection.

Apparently you're supposed to book online due to restrictions on the numbers allowed but chances are if you turn up you will get in and he said to say I was a friend of his if I had any problem.

He says to get the €15 inclusive ticket and go view the other museums in Waterford.

bullpost · 23-06-2021 1:22pm

Cyclingtourist wrote: »

Checked with my local chemist Boles Pharmacy Drumcondra and he confirms he is the 'David Boles' that's one of the collectors connected with the museum. When I told him that they didn't let me in because it wasn't officially open when I called in he said I should have mentioned his name but unfortunately it was only afterwards that I made the connection.

Apparently you're supposed to book online due to restrictions on the numbers allowed but chances are if you turn up you will get in and he said to say I was a friend of his if I had any problem.

He says to get the €15 inclusive ticket and go view the other museums in Waterford.

Medieval museum is well worth a visit so €15 not bad value.

e.g https://www.waterfordtreasures.com/medieval-museum/whats-inside/the-great-charter-roll-of-waterford

blue5000 · 23-06-2021 1:35pm

David Boles has a lot of new online 'friends' now:D.

Thirdfox · 23-06-2021 5:19pm

Great to see Sidereus Watches there - Bryan makes his own cases here in Ireland and is a lovely guy from speaking to him.

banie01 · 23-06-2021 5:46pm

Thirdfox wrote: »

Great to see Sidereus Watches there - Bryan makes his own cases here in Ireland and is a lovely guy from speaking to him.

Is the siderus guy a McGonigle too?
Or am I mixing him up with someone else?

Thirdfox · 23-06-2021 7:57pm

banie01 wrote: »

Is the siderus guy a McGonigle too?
Or am I mixing him up with someone else?

Nope there are two McGonigles I believe - one doing McGonigle watches and the other making Oilean watches (refinished Swiss movements and very cool too).

banie01 · 23-06-2021 8:01pm

Thirdfox wrote: »

Nope there are two McGonigles I believe - one doing McGonigle watches and the other making Oilean watches (refinished Swiss movements and very cool too).

I knew there was a 2nd doing watches via Ireland IIRC?
Just had siderus linked with the 2nd 1 for some reason.
Both Oilean and Siderus are great iterations tho.

fulladapipes · 24-06-2021 9:56am

I'm off to Waterford this weekend, so will book ahead - I hadn't thought of that, thanks.

Cyclingtourist wrote: »

Checked with my local chemist Boles Pharmacy Drumcondra and he confirms he is the 'David Boles' that's one of the collectors connected with the museum. When I told him that they didn't let me in because it wasn't officially open when I called in he said I should have mentioned his name but unfortunately it was only afterwards that I made the connection.

Apparently you're supposed to book online due to restrictions on the numbers allowed but chances are if you turn up you will get in and he said to say I was a friend of his if I had any problem.

He says to get the €15 inclusive ticket and go view the other museums in Waterford.

Time · 24-06-2021 9:23pm

Thirdfox wrote: »

Nope there are two McGonigles I believe - one doing McGonigle watches and the other making Oilean watches (refinished Swiss movements and very cool too).

Slightly OT but has anyone here either present or past ever owned a McGonigle? Or even handled one for that matter?

I quite like the Oilean, reminds me of the zenith defy.

Thirdfox · 24-06-2021 10:46pm

Didn't he come to a boards meetup at some point? Brought a tourbillon with him? All second hand information though.

Fitz II · 25-06-2021 8:22am

Time wrote: »

Slightly OT but has anyone here either present or past ever owned a McGonigle? Or even handled one for that matter?

I quite like the Oilean, reminds me of the zenith defy.

I have looked at them a number of times, difficult get information on the watches online not many floating around. The Oilean looks kinda cool alright but from what I can gather they are €24k on a heavily modified Valjoux base, 14.4mm thick. Thats a big boy for a dress type watch. I cannot seem to find any video of the watch. Esoteric is the word that springs to mind the most, although they do tickle my fancy but not enough for the struggle of getting information. There was a bit in the Times a few years ago where one of the brothers was harping on about how many emails he had to answer, so kinda put me off bothering him for information.

fat bloke · 25-06-2021 10:14am

What's with the "Newgrange" watches. Is that a marque now? Do they sell them there?

Fitz II · 25-06-2021 10:27am

fat bloke wrote: »

What's with the "Newgrange" watches. Is that a marque now? Do they sell them there?

They are a range of watches from Siderus, another Irish microbrand. They operate in the €2-4k bracket using modified Sellita movements. Have contemporary designs, funky case shapes and some nice dials. Assume they tell the time more than once a year

Nowhere near the level of watchmaking of McGonigle and they lean heavily on celtic heritage.

Again minimal online presence

https://sidereus.com/sidereus/newgrange/

Cyclingtourist · 10-08-2021 9:41pm

Did a day-trip to Waterford today to see the Irish Museum of Time. First time getting to view the exhibits.

IrishPlayer already has covered it from the pictorial angle so I will just post this photo from the adjacent Silver Museum.

Both highly recommended for anyone who hasn't been yet.

IrishPlayer · 26-04-2022 9:21pm

Hi all,

Talking with Karl Fitzmaurice today I learned about the Waterford International Festival of Time taking place at the Irish Museum of Time from Friday May 20th to the 22nd, more details: https://www.hotelandrestauranttimes.ie/2022/04/19/inaugural-waterford-international-festival-of-time-announced-for-may-22/

Planning on going myself for the weekend so happy to meet up with anyone else going

Irish Museum of Time Waterford

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