WATERFORD OPENS NEW VISITOR CENTER

THE AGE OLD TRADITION OF GLASS-MAKING AND CRYSTAL- CRAFTSMANSHIP HAS BEGUN A NEW CHAPTER FOR THE 21st CENTURY IN WATERFORD RECENTLY. WATERFORD CRYSTAL HAS RISEN FROM THE ASHES LIKE THE PHOENIX AND THE FURNACE IS FINALLY BURNING AGAIN, THIS TIME IN THE HEART OF THE CITY AND CLOSE TO WHERE ITS HISTORIC BEGINNING STARTED MORE THAN TWO CENTURIES AGO NEAR THE RIVER SUIR AND THE OLD PORT. THE HOUSE OF WATERFORD CRYSTAL COMPRISES A NEW VISITOR CENTER, RETAIL OUTLET AND MANUFACTURING FACILITY AND THE RECENT OPENING MARKED ALMOST 18 MONTHS SINCE THE FORMER COMPANY PLANT AT KILBARRY CLOSED ITS DOORS FOR THE LAST TIME AFTER GOING INTO RECEIVERSHIP. LOCATED AT THE MALL, JUST OFF WATERFORD'S CITY CENTER QUAYS AND OPPOSITE THE OLD BISHOP'S PALACE AND THE REVAMPED THEATRE ROYAL, THE CENTER WILL EMPLOY 79 FULL-TIME AND 33 PART-TIME STAFF ALONG WITH UP TO 40 TEMPORARY MEMBERS OF STAFF DURING THE PEAK SEASON. INITIALLY, IT IS HOPED 200,000 VISITORS WILL PASS THROUGH THE ATTRACTION IN A FULL YEAR, WITH THIS RISING TO MORE THAN 300,000, WHICH WOULD EQUAL FIGURES FOR THE OLD PLANT IN KILBARRY. WHILE MUCH OF THE CRYSTAL PRODUCTION HAS SHIFTED TO CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE IN RECENT YEARS, THE HOUSE OF WATERFORD CRYSTAL WILL PRODUCE ABOUT 40,000 HIGH-END PIECES USING TRADITIONAL GLASS-BLOWING AND CARVING METHODS AS WELL AS ACTING AS A 'CENTRAL LABORATORY' FOR DESIGNERS. AMONG THOSE DESIGNERS IS JOHN ROCHA, WHO HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE LUXURY BRAND SINCE 1995 AND TOLD THE IRISH INDEPENDENT IT WAS A 'VERY EXCITING DAY' FOR THE NAME AND FOR THE CITY ITSELF. HE DESCRIBED THE HOUSE OF WATERFORD CRYSTAL AS AN 'INCREDIBLE' ARRIVAL.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.waterfordvisitorcentre.com