The Irish Museum of Time exploring the stories and the science of time - past present and future - The Viking Triangle Waterford
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
The Irish Museum of Time exploring the stories and the science of time - past present and future The Viking Triangle Waterford
The Vice-Chancellor
Professor Louise Richardson, FRSE
University Offices, Wellington Square, Oxford OX1 2JD
Tel: +44 (0)1865 270242 Fax: +44 (0)1865 270085
vice-chancellor@admin.ox.ac.uk
28 November 2016
Dear Supporter,
_ I am delighted to have this opportunity to congratulate Waterford City and County Council
,
on the Viking Triangle project’s most recent accolade: outright winner of The Great Place
award at the European Urbanism Awards 2017. In just five years, Waterford’s historic core
has been transformed into a vibrant cultural district, and the only museum district on the
island of Ireland.
A clear indicator of the project’s success can be found in the number of significant dona-
tions to Waterford Treasures Museums, which speaks to the high regard in which the initia-
tive is held. These donations memorably include an extensive, exceptional collection of
eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Irish clocks and watches.
The proposed development of a new museum to the science and the story of marking and
keeping time in Ireland is one which I support whole-heartedly. The Irish Museum of Time
will tell the story of the technological advances in the making and marking of time in
Ireland which kept the country apace with developments on continental Europe. In addi-
tion, the museum aims to advance an interest in the sciences in Ireland, particularly among
young people. Its development will bring additional historic buildings within the Viking
Triangle into public use: the fifteenth-century Almshouse and the nineteenth-century
Greyfriars Church built within the curtilage of the substantial ruins of the former
thirteenth-century Franciscan Friary.
Coming as I do from a long line of Waterford natives I support this development enthusiasti-
cally. I encourage you to add your support to this ambitious project, which aims to establish
a world-class visitor attraction in the heart of our community. This new development will
help further Waterford in its bid to become the leading cultural centre on the island of
Ireland.
With best regards
Table of Contents
Building on the success of Waterford’s Viking Triangle 2
The Proposal – The Irish Museum of Time 14
Part I – The Irish Museum of Time at Greyfriars 16
Theme 1 – seven historic tableaux 18
Theme 2 – international story of Irish timekeeping 20
Theme 3 – what makes a clock tick? 22
Theme 4 – a pocket guide to watches 24
Theme 5 – Time to play – interactive area for children and teenagers 26
Theatre of Time - 3D experience 28
Part II - The Irish Museum of Time at the Almshouse 32
Dare to Enter – 3D Halloween and Irish Wake Experience 34
Rationale for the Irish Museum of Time 36
Financial Projections and Costings 40
1
The Viking Triangle Waterford
Almshouse Greyfriars King of the Vikings Reginald’s Tower
St Olaf’s Hall 1467AD 1240AD & 1885AD 1190 AD
Virtual Reality
1050 & 1731 AD Museum Museum Treasures of
of Time Part II of Time Part I Adventure
Viking Waterford
Medieval Museum
Choristers’ Hall
1270 AD
Bishop’s Palace Mayor’s Wine
Widows’ Christchurch 1743 AD Vault 1440 AD City Hall, Mayors’ House of
Franciscan Friary Waterford Crystal
Apartments Cathedral Treasures of Treasures Treasury & Theatre
1240 AD of Medieval Est. 1783 AD
1702 AD 1773 AD 18th, 19th & 20th Royal 1783 AD
century Waterford Waterford
2
Belfast
Dublin
Galway
Kilkenny
Waterford Treasures,
Limerick
Waterford
Three Museums in the Viking Triangle -
building on the success of Ireland’s only Cork
museum district
Twice shortlisted, European Museum of the Year, 2002 and 2014
3
AFTER BEFORE Viking Waterford - Reginald’s Tower and King of the Vikings Vir 4
July 2017: My children loved climbing the steps of the
King of the Vikings Virtual Reality Adventure
Tower, the Viking warrior’s sword and his other weapons
made the climb worthwhile even for my mother.
46,120* 37,791*
42,704* 34,992*
39,541* 32,400*
36,612 30,000
BEFORE
AFTER
33,283
30,818
31,029
26,468
2020
2014
2016
2017
2018
2013
2019
2015
rtual Reality Adventure Reginald’s Tower visitor numbers
5
Medieval Waterford – the Medieval Museum, 13th century Chor
AFTER
BEFORE
August 2017: this is no provincial museum with a few items of local interest, the artifacts on display are of international importance.
The display of the vestments alone make a visit worthwhile because you will see nothing of its quality anywhere else in Europe. The
building is genuinely interesting, combining modern with ancient, refreshingly light and airy, the display of the Cloths of Gold was
simply stunning. The Great Charter Roll equally fascinating.
6
risters’ Hall and 15th century Mayor’s Wine Vault
68,411*
63,344*
58,652*
54,307
49,370
47,713
45,783
34,028
Awards
• Best Public Building 2014, Royal
Institute of Architects of Ireland
• New Build, Stone Federation
Great Britain Awards 2014
• Shortlisted for the Mies van der
Rohe Award 2014
• Best Local Authority Tourism
Innovation – Viking Triangle,
Waterford City & Co Council
• Best Cultural Experience –
Waterford Viking Triangle
2020
2014
2016
2017
2018
2013
2019
2015
• Best Leisure Tourism -
Waterford Viking Triangle.
• Shortlisted for European Medieval Museum visitor numbers
Museum of the Year 2014
7
Bishop’s Palace - Georgian and Modern Waterford
AFTER
BEFORE
829,720*
27,518*
25,480*
23,592
21,448
21,853
20,067
20,859
2020
2014
2016
2017
2018
2013
2019
2015
July 2017: guided tour by the housekeeper and butler of the
house. I learned more about Irish history from this one tour
than during my two week vacation and such friendly, funny
Bishop’s Palace visitor numbers
guides!
9The Viking Triangle Epic Walking Tour – 11 na
Tripadvisor August 2017: Wow! Does Derek know how
to tell a story! It’s like being on a roller coaster without a
seatbelt.
10ational monuments – 1100 Years – 1100 paces
2013 82,349 262,349 including House
2014 96,879 276,879 of Waterford Crystal
2015 99,390 276,390
2016 104,101 295,261
2017 144,511 354,787
2018 220,872* 447,970*
2019 238,542* 483,808
11
2020 257,625* 522,513*
Viking Triangle visitor numbersPublic realm work – museums without boundaries 12
13
Proposal - The Irish Museum of the Story and the Science of Time
Almshouse Greyfriars The Irish Museum
1467AD 1240AD & 1885AD
Museum Museum of Time - a two-part
of Time Part II of Time Part I
attraction in two of
Waterford’s most
significant buildings.
This unique attraction
encompasses the
entire island of Ireland
with an emphasis on
Ireland’s Ancient East.
Part I in Greyfriars will
explore the science of time and
the five thousand year story
of how the passage of time
was marked and recorded in
Ireland and how it shaped and
moulded the Irish landscape.
Part II in the Almshouse
- When Times Runs Out -
explores how the traditions,
rituals and superstitions of
the Irish Wake shaped and
moulded the Irish landscape
and the very psyche of the
Irish people.
14e - Past, Present and Future
Generous Donation
Enabled by the donation of an extraordinary collection of museum-
quality Irish clocks and watches, the new Irish Museum of Time
will explore the story and the science of time for all age groups in
two remarkable historic buildings using spectacular state-of-the-art
3D technology.
It’s about Time! - Exploring Time, our most precious gift in
Ireland’s oldest city.
Unlike most modern western countries Ireland does not have a
Museum of the Science of Time. It is now appropriate to consider
such a museum, uniquely dedicated to the story of timekeeping in
Ireland and the wider world - past, present and future.
The Collection
The Irish Museum of the Science of Time can now be realized
thanks to an extraordinarily generous gift to Waterford Treasures
Three Museums in the Viking Triangle by Colman Curran and
his wife Elizabeth Clooney who have spent thirty years collecting
museum-quality Irish time pieces made by clock and watchmakers
throughout the island of Ireland.
The unique collection consists of some thirty grandfather clocks
or long-case clocks, over 30 important bracket and wall clocks,
30 pocket watches and some interesting ephemera - all Irish! The
collection represents the evolution of Irish timepieces and is a
window into the technical, scientific, social, economic, political and
the art and craft history of Ireland, particularly in Ireland’s Ancient
East from the late 17th to the end of the 19th century.
Our mission is to engage, entertain, educate and inspire.
15Part I - The Irish Museum of Time at Greyfriars
The Location
The Museum will be located in for very industrious French with the adjoining restaurant
Greyfriars Street just off one of Huguenot refugees who were at leased from Waterford City and
the city’s main thoroughfares that time fleeing persecution in County Council a themed cafe will
Parade Quay and next to the France. be located with al fresco dining
Tourist Office, in the very heart Connectivity facilities. The furnishing of this al
of the Viking Triangle. It will be fresco area adjoining the Museum
housed in a mid-19th century The Museum of Time is less of Time will have a horological
former Methodist church built in than five minutes walk from the theme.
the Gothic style, a granite-fronted Bishop’s Palace Museum, Christ
building boasting a beautiful Church Cathedral, the Medieval
hammer-beam roof and both Museum, Reginald’s Tower, King
a rose window and a series of of the Vikings Virtual Reality
lancet windows. The building is Adventure and the Almshouse
in Cathedral Square where the Marking Church Time
fully wheelchair accessible.
Museum of Time Part II – When Outside the Friary a bronze
On the south side of the church Time Runs Out – will be located. sculpture honours the Waterford
stand the substantial ruins of
The museum will be immediately Franciscan and renowned
the medieval Franciscan Friary,
beside the Tourist Office – theologian Fr Luke Wadding OFM
founded in 1240 and dissolved
Discover Ireland Centre – and (1588 - 1657) who founded two
in 1540 as part of the English
a seven minute walk from The Irish colleges in Rome. Wadding
Reformation. The friary became
House of Waterford Crystal. was requested by the Pope to
an almshouse known as the
reorder the Church calendar and
Holy Ghost Hospital in the 1540s Riverside public car parking draw up the official list of saints’
which although moving to the facilities are only a two minute days or feast days by which the
suburbs in the late 19th century, walk from the new museum via a Church year and that of the
remains in operation today as one pedestrian crossing. faithful was punctuated. It was
of the oldest surviving charities
Tea Time – Coffee Time Wadding who fixed 17th March as
in Ireland. After the Williamite
St Patrick’s Day.
victory of 1690, a portion of the Adjoining the new Museum of
former Friary church was pressed Time on its north side is a small
into use as a place of worship courtyard where in partnership
162013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
visitor numbers
2019 69,984*
Projected Museum of Time
2020 75,583*
17The Irish Museum of Time at Greyfriars Theme 1 The Story of time in Ireland’s Ancient East Seven historic tableaux or vignettes will display the timepieces of Ireland’s Ancient East in their period settings with original furniture, paintings, silver, glass and ship instruments thereby allowing the visitor to appreciate two centuries of Irish technical, scientific and artistic genius. The stories will be communicated by touchscreen and by professional trained guides. 18
1. Time for Prayers – Late-17th fashion. Table, chair, book case stone of the proposed new 6. Time tables - Mid-19th
century Dublin long case clock with contemporary books, eye town, the recently-acquired century Kilkenny long case
set in a tableau focusing on Bishop glasses, maps, map books, silk original plans of the town by the clock – exploring the urgent
Thomas Milles who rebuilt St money purse, clay pipes, silver architect James Gandon, a 1784 necessity for clocks and watches
Patrick’s church in 1726 and snuff boxes, Delamain plates from Swiss watercolour, captioned in in the age of the train. Victorian
St Olaf’s in 1731. An original Dublin on the table. Sub-story on French, featuring the small port drawing room with its over-the-
painting of the bishop, an early canal-building, the technological village of Passage East where the top furnishings and its echo of
oak table, chair, press and cabinet, advances that made the canals Genevans would disembark and empire and railroad building that
a very impressive early 18th possible with an emphasis on the lastly a contemporary chart of introduced timetables and the
century communion cup and wine somewhat slower pace of life. Waterford harbour. The attempt need for accurate timekeeping.
flagon commissioned by Bishop to bring the most up-to-date Victorian paintings, railway
Milles, a pair of silver forks dated 4. Swiss Time - The primary foreign horological technology timetables, advertisements for
to 1690 (oldest in Ireland), Milles’ exhibit will be a Swiss-made, into Waterford would have holidays by train etc.
letters, pewter plates, books and late 18th century clock that transformed the industry in both 7. Maritime – Late-19th century
prints featuring Waterford at this will become the primary object Britain and Ireland. When the Heine of Waterford long case
period, will all be displayed here. through which one of the great venture failed, the state took over clock – this display will feature
what if’s of Irish horological the site and made it into a British the office of the Malcomson
2. Making Time - Early-18th history will be explored – the Army barracks of 1798 fame. shipbuilders who built the first
century Waterford long case proposed building of a town in iron steam ships in Ireland. The
clock by Drill, featuring a clock Waterford Harbour to be known 5. Buying Time - Early-19th office will be decorated with
and watch maker’s workshop, as New Geneva. The new town century Wexford long case paintings and photographs
containing disassembled cases would house emigrant clock and clock featuring a typical clock of the Malcomson family
awaiting clocks and watches watch makers from Geneva in and watch shop with many 19th and memorabilia associated
and an array of different clock Switzerland. The Irish Parliament century pocket watches displayed with the innovative technical
faces. The whole idea here is supported the project and on as if for sale. A gentleman’s top achievements of this family
to chronicle the mechanical 4th June 1784 the foundation hat will feature on the counter of shipbuilders. Their most
advances in the making of clocks stone was laid. Unfortunately, together with examples of period famous steam ship the Neptune
and watches in the 18th century. the plan never materialised. The coins and paper money about inaugurated the London to
fascinating story explaining why to be exchanged. The cost of St Petersburg line and on its
3. Leisure Time - Mid-18th will be brought to life through a watch, relative to the income arrival at St Petersburg the Tsar
century Drogheda long case clock remarkable artefacts. These of a labourer or middle class was presented with a suite of
in a study/ library decorated and include the 1784 ceremonial merchant, will be investigated Waterford Glass.
furnished in the contemporary trowel used to lay the foundation here.
1 The Story of time in Ireland’s Ancient East
19The Irish Museum of Time at Greyfriars Theme 2 The international story of Irish time keeping - people and places The stories of six individual Irish clock and watch makers will be a portal into the collection that will have a particular resonance for an international audience. 20
Doing Time - The Australian Family Time - The Canadian/ Revolutionary Times – The for posterity unknown to the
Connection Newfoundland Connection American Connection – President on the inner workings
The anchor for the story of Crime The anchor for this story will be Philadelphia of the watch.
and Punishment in Ireland and the Maddock long case clock and Featuring a longcase clock by
the transportation to Australia the Maddock silver pocket watch Birnie from the small town of Time for Romance - The Galway
for relatively small crimes will both made in Waterford in c1783. Parkgate County Antrim who Connection - The Romance of the
be a long case clock made by the Irish clock and watch makers emigrated to Philadelphia in 1774. Claddagh Ring
Waterford city watch and clock were often family businesses Despite the fact that he was a
maker Philip Brogan, recorded as and as was common in Ireland loyalist and supported British In the 19th century another
working at No 25 Michael Street many qualified younger sons left rule in the colonies Birnie became member of the Dillon family
in 1821. In 1842 he was convicted the family business to establish involved in the production of clock and watch makers
at Kilkenny Assizes for stealing themselves in other Irish towns or of guns for the American in Waterford also sought a
and selling a gold watch given to overseas. revolutionary army led by George livelihood further afield in
him for repair and transported Washington. However following Galway establishing himself and
In the 18th century a member beginning the first commercial
to Van Diemen’s Land (now of the Maddock family of American independence he being
Tasmania) for seven months. a loyalist moved to Montreal sales of the now-famous Claddagh
Waterford emigrated to St John’s Ring. A grandfather clock
On 20 December 1842 he sailed in Newfoundland where he where he resumed business.
made by the Dillons during the
from Dublin on the convict ship established himself and prospered Victorian era is still keeping time
North Briton and after 105 days during the expansion of the world War Time - The American in the sacristy of the Roman
at sea, he arrived at Van Diemen’s famous cod fishery that harvested Connection – New York Catholic church in Tramore
Land on 4 April 1843. 179 the Grand Banks in the North County Waterford.
convicts were transported on his Atlantic. Back home in Waterford A member of the Waterford
ship and one died en-route. The the family business also prospered Dillon family moved to New
ship’s surgeon, James L Clarke, because of the success the York where he plied the trade
reported that Philip was very Newfoundland fishery brought to learned in his father’s premises
short in stature - 5 foot 1 inch the city both in providing labour in Broad Street and found work
(1.55m) and that he was of good and provisioning the ships sailing with a local jeweller. One of the
character. Sadly, Philip Brogan to Canada for the fishing season. first jobs he was tasked with was
died at Westbury less than two About half the population of to repair President Lincoln’s only
months after his arrival at the Newfoundland are descendants pocket watch. While making
estimated age of fifty-five with of emigrants from Ireland’s the repairs the first shots of the
cause of death being recorded Ancient East, Wexford, Kilkenny, American Civil War rang out – a
simply as ‘disease’. Tipperary and Waterford. momentous event he recorded
2 The international story of Irish time keeping - people & places
213 What
The Irish
makes
Museum
a clock
oftick?
Time at Greyfriars
Theme 3
What makes a clock tick?
For the first time in Ireland,
using touchscreen technology
and original timepieces from
right across the island of Ireland,
the ingenious engineering skills
of clockmakers from all over
the island of Ireland will be
showcased.
The different mechanisms will
be explored as will the changes
made to the face of the clock
brought on by both technical
changes and by fashion.
22The following towns and cities all
over Ireland will be represented:
Ballymena
• Ballymena, Co Antrim Parkgate
Strabane
• Belfast Belfast
• Carlow
Monaghan Downpatrick
• Clonmel, Co Tipperary
Tandragee
• Cork
• Down
Dundalk
• Drogheda
• Dublin
Drogheda
• Dundalk
• Galway
Dublin
• Kilkenny Galway
• Limerick
• Monaghan
• Parkgate, Co Antrim Carlow
• Strabane, Co Tyrone
Kilkenny
• Tandragee, Co Armagh
• Waterford Limerick
Clonmel Wexford
• Wexford
Waterford
Cork
3 What makes a clock tick?
23The Irish Museum of Time at Greyfriars Theme 4 A pocket guide to watches The visitor walks around two holograms of a watch which show the deconstructed and reconstructed intricate inner workings. Thirty exquisite pocket watches from all over the island of Ireland but mainly from Ireland’s Ancient East with their awe- inspiring inner workings will be dramatically showcased. This will be accompanied by an interactive map of Ireland featuring iconic images of each town or city in which they were made or sold. This interactive will also feature a brief story of each timepiece and of its maker and/or owner. 24
4 A pocket guide to watches
25The Irish Museum of Time at Greyfriars Theme 5 Time to play – interactive area for children and teenagers 26
The precise measurement of time sequence daily events or stages Tabletop touchscreen interactives Hickory Dickory Dock,
lies at the heart of science, society, in a story. Annual birthdays are will allow children to
computing, history and the study celebrated. the mouse ran up the clock,
• explore the concept of time
of space and is critical to our These concepts are developed zones and why the time in the clock struck one,
advance into the future. We see
it as critical to get children and
incrementally all through the Waterford / Dublin is different the mouse ran down,
primary school cycle with from say New York and Tokyo
young people from an earliest age additional vocabulary introduced and how this is aligned to the
Hickory Dickory Dock.
interested in the science of time. around the seasons, today, earth’s movement around the
Working in partnership yesterday and tomorrow; soon, sun. Thought to be based on the
with Calmast (Centre for the not yet; festivals, holidays and • learn about how much of their astronomical clock at Exeter
Advancement of Learning significant events. During Senior time they spend sleeping and in Cathedral which has a small hole
in Mathematics and Science Infants the notion of reading the school etc and make them more in the door below the face for the
Technology) in Waterford clock is introduced taking the conscious of the need to make resident cat to hunt mice.
Institute of Technology children notion of one-hour intervals as the most of time.
will learn in a fun way about time. the starting point. Thus, from • explore the fascinating science
Developing children’s grasp the age of five or six children of dendrochronology and
of time and chronology is are expected to grasp and how it helps us understand
a notoriously difficult task. utilise the concept of time in a environmental changes and
It encompasses not just sophisticated trans-disciplinary date archaeological objects and
mathematical concepts but also manner. The Museum of Time sites.
an understanding of science and recognises the challenges that
present to our educators and • animated nursery rhymes
history. The concept of time is associated with time for very
introduced as a key element of the seeks to support the Primary
curriculum teaching of time young children will ensure that
curriculum from Junior Infants all of the family gets something
when the appropriate vocabulary across the appropriate subjects
of Mathematics, Geography and from a visit to the museum.
is introduced – morning, evening, • enjoy ‘On This Day’ birthday
night, day, lunchtime, bedtime, History by providing a framework
that supports the National profiles. By tapping in your
early, late, as well as the days of date of birth on the touch
the week. The language of time Curriculum’s guidelines on
teaching time and chronology to screen interactive you can
is employed to discuss news and get a souvenir printout of the
events, to record the weather pupils.
great events that took place in
for each day on a chart and to history on your birth day.
5 Time to play – interactive area for children and teenagers
27The Irish Museum of Time at Greyfriars 3D experience Creating the WOW factor – from Newgrange to the Waterford Crystal Millennium Ball This very dramatic presentation will highlight, support and reinforce the ‘ANCIENT’ element of Ireland’s Ancient East as a historic entity. To create a memorable five star Trip Advisor experience the 3D theatre/film will be spectacularly panoramic and state of the art. To this end Oculus Rift 3D technology will be employed to bring the visitor on an immersive 3D journey across the dramatic and green landscape of Ireland’s Ancient East exploring both the science and history of timekeeping through the last 5,000 years in Ireland. A sub-story will look at the great international events in recording time that ultimately impacted on Ireland. 28
Marking Time in Ireland’s marked time for the local 20th century water clock at
Ancient East communities. Kilruddery County Wicklow.
• Marking Time in the Stone • Marking Time in Medieval • Ending with the spectacular
Age – exploring how our Ireland - medieval sundials millennium celebrations at
ancestors built passage tombs can be found in many sites in New York that featured the
such as Newgrange County Ireland’s Ancient East and the Waterford Crystal Millennium
Meath to mark the winter presentation will explore how Ball.
solstice or Knockroe County these were used to calculate
Kilkenny which marked both time.
winter and summer solstices • Marking time in late -
• Marking Time in the Bronze Medieval Ireland - over one
Age - featuring the stone hundred and fifty monasteries,
circles used to calculate the priories and friaries in Ireland’s
passage of time throughout Ancient East built bell towers
Ireland’s Ancient East. in the 15th century and their
• Marking time in the Iron Age/ bells are recorded as waking
Celts - examining many of the the population and regulating
mythological and sacred sites their day.
across Ireland’s Ancient East • Marking Time in the 18th and
such as Laoghaire Fort, the hill 19th centuries - the study of
of Uisneach and Rathnew all in astronomy in these centuries
County Meath and exploring with an emphasis on for
how the ancient Irish marked example Birr Castle whose 19th
Bealtaine - May Day and the century owner boasted the
earth goddess Eriu and the Sun largest telescope on Earth and
God Lugh. the remarkable CIT Blackrock
• Marking Time in Early Castle Observatory in Cork.
Christian Ireland - with the We will also explore how
emphasis on our famous almost every middle size town
round towers of which there in Ireland’s Ancient East had its
are almost thirty in Ireland’s own clock and watch maker.
Ancient East, we will explore • Marking Time in the 20th
how these iconic buildings century - the quirky early
Theatre of Time - 3D theatre experience
29The Irish Museum of Time at Greyfriars
clockwise direction transporting then forward in history to learn days for the earth to circle the
the visitor back in time so fast how each hour was divided into sun but 365 and a quarter days
that they find themselves in outer sixty minutes and forward again – thus giving us a leap year. It is
space at the beginning of time to see how and why each minute an interesting footnote to history
with the Big Bang! was divided into sixty seconds. that a Waterford man, Peter
The visitor is now ‘transported The visitor learns the science Lombard Archbishop of Armagh,
inter-galactically’ and looks down behind how years, months, days, then resident in Rome, was on
with some trepidation to witness hours, minutes, seconds and the Papal commission that tried
planet Earth revolving below in modern sport even tenths Galileo for claiming that the sun
them. For twenty seconds the of seconds are calculated and and not the earth was the centre
whole concept of time passing on recorded. of the universe!
earth is challenged and how time The history behind the naming The leap year introduced by
is marked in the universe. How of years, months and days is Pope Gregory was not accepted
and why do we measure time? also explored with reference to in Russia or Britain where the
Do we grow old in space and how Chinese, ancient Roman, Viking reformed Church stayed with
long is a light year? Does time and medieval history. Explore the old time. This anomaly
The experience begins bend? Then as part of the planet the early clocks of the Greeks, was rectified in 1752 when the
moves from darkness to light a sundials used in monasteries and Gregorian calendar was accepted
The experience will begin with a new day is born and the visitor is the purpose of bell towers in the and the twelve day difference
bird’s eye view of the 1864 neo- invited to explore TIME our most absence of public and private between Britain and the rest of
Gothic limestone and granite clock precious commodity and how it clocks and watches, how popes Europe was rectified. People went
tower standing on the Quays in was recorded over five thousand and monarchs calculated the to bed on 2 September 1752 and
Waterford today. As the visitors years in Ireland’s Ancient East as passage of time with Regnal and woke up on 14 September 1752.
swoop down from the sky circling outlined above. Papal years. This led to street riots as people
the tower the door opens and they thought that the government was
are brought inside to experience A sub-story will explore the
international story of time. actually taking twelve days of
the mechanical workings of the The Leap Year their lives.
clock as if they are physically
Copernicus and Galileo - How An Era of Scientific Discovery
within its workings.
24 Hours and 60 Minutes the science behind the discovery
As the clockwork mechanism that the world was not the centre We will move forward in
From there on to Babylon and time to the introduction of
goes into reverse the hands on the of the universe resulted in the
Egypt where mathematicians first clocks and watches in Ireland
clock start to rotate in an anti- realisation that it took not 365
divided the day into 24 hours and
30and Britain and explore the cities and towns their lives became Personal time - how we mark it
problems of keeping time at sea more and more dominated by with birthdays, anniversaries,
and the need to be accurate to timekeeping and schedules. gravestones etc.
calculate longitude. The accurate With the advances in technology Daylight saving time - why it was
calculation of latitude opened modern humans became more and introduced and why do we persist
up a whole era of scientific more obsessed with timekeeping with it? To save power and during
exploration and discovery. How and speed. With the cutting of wartime etc.
does a pendulum clock work in journey times the race to be faster
rough seas? The competition The presentation will end on a
and faster had begun first with lighthearted philosophical note
organised by the British Admiralty the ocean liners and then with
and the use of Greenwich featuring famous and not so
the airplanes and jets, Concord famous quotes in history and
Meantime will all be explained breaking the sound barrier etc. In
as will the reasons behind every literature relating to time Dickens,
sport new technology meant that Shakespeare for example time and
port having a clock whereby the athletes could win or lose by a
ship’s captain regulated the ship’s tide waits for no man.
tenth of a second and the accurate
timepiece before he left port. An stop watch had finally taken over.
epic struggle ensues between
astronomers and mechanical
clockmakers with the latter
winning out.
With the industrial revolution
came the railways and their
strict timetables and the need
grew for people to carry accurate
timepieces. Educators such as
Edmund Ignatius Rice founder of
the Christian Brothers introduced
clocks to the school room so that
students would learn the time and
the importance of timekeeping
when they got employment. As
people fled the land to work in
Theatre of Time - 3D theatre experience
31Part II - The Irish Museum of Time at the Almshouse 2. Father Time funerary monument 1770, Christ Church Cathedral Waterford. When Time Runs Out – five thousand years of the Irish Wake in Ireland’s Ancient East – exploring the traditions, rituals and superstitions of the Irish Wake and burial customs that shaped and moulded both the Irish landscape and the Irish psyche concluding with the American Wake. 32
Location – The Dead Centre of Church Cathedral, the Bishop’s of the building from almshouse
Waterford Palace and the King of the Vikings in the 15th century to a tenement
The Museum of Time Part II Virtual Reality Adventure. in the 20th century. Each of six
will be located in Cathedral Origins of the Almshouse rooms, furnished to represent a
Square and housed in the former century of the building’s life, will
The Almshouse experience showcase the practices of the Irish
Almshouse and the conjoined will complement the Medieval
building that functioned as a shop wake in each century in Ireland’s
Museum and Christ Church Ancient East.
in medieval times. Rents from Cathedral visitor experiences.
the shop, thought to be the oldest The Almshouse, founded by Dean Highlights of the collection
surviving in Ireland, were used John Collyn and James Rice in the • 3,000 year old burial urn with
for the upkeep of the Almshouse. 1460s, operated until the reign cremated remains
The present day Cathedral of King Edward VI in 1550. The
Square was from Viking times • Viking-age bronze pins used to
Medieval Museum is built over fasten the cloaks in which the
until the 19th century used as a both Collyn’s Deanery and James
cemetery so when marketing the Vikings buried their dead
Rice’s Wine Vault. Collyn’s cloth-
Almshouse we will emphasise the of-gold vestments and Rice’s Great • Oldest death mask in Ireland,
fact that it is located in the dead Parchment Book, the royal sword dating to 1657
centre of Waterford! Rice used in medieval processions • Numerous wills, dating from
The laneway to the rear of the together with a charter sealed and the 17th and 18th centuries
Almshouse was referred to in signed by him are all on display
• Unique memore morte silver
medieval documents as the King’s in the Medieval Museum while
picture, 1704
Highway leading to Greyfriars. in Christ Church Cathedral Rice’s
Since the 18th century the gruesome cadaver tomb survives • Rare collection of exquisite
laneway has been known as from 1481. gold mourning jewellery
Chairman’s Arch, a reference encrusted with pearls, precious
This very compact and hugely
to the fact that the archway stones and ivory, including
atmospheric building dates from
terminating the lane is where the specially commissioned
1467 when it was built as a God’s
sedan chairmen set down while mourning cross for Emperor
waiting room for the aged of the
they waited for their charges to Napoleon I
city and was known as the God’s
return from divine service in the Men’s House. • World War I letters and
nearby Christ Church Cathedral. memorabilia of dead soldiers,
Both parts of the Museums of Here in Ireland’s oldest urban
known as the ‘Dead Man’s
Time are less than a three minute house, visitors will experience Cadaver tomb of Mayor James
Penny’
walk from each other and from the changing customs of the Irish Rice 1481, Christ Church
the Medieval Museum, Christ wake, the origins of Hallowe’en Cathedral Waterford, co-founder
and in parallel, the changing use of the Almshouse.
33The Irish Museum of Time at the Almshouse
Dare to Enter – 3D Halloween and customs around death and burial, pray for the souls of the dead ground like dogs…dressing their
Irish Wake Experience right up to the fortified cemeteries benefactors to release them from graves with flower pots and wax
of the 18th and 19th century to Purgatory. Featured also will be a candles. The story here will be told
The experience begins in the prevent body-snatchers stealing copy of Dean Collyn’s will, a copy by the hologram ghost of Bishop
conjoined property No 2 Cathedral the valuables and the corpses for of an original Papal bull granting Middleton who as a reformer
Square housing reception and dissection and anatomy - a time indulgences and the remission of condemns the local Catholic
the 3D theatre experience. when night watchmen feared for sins after death and a notice from population for their superstitious
With 3D glasses the visitor is their lives! Up to the monumental the Dean prohibiting the removal rituals and customs regarding
transported back in time in a funerary monuments of the of tiles from the cathedral floor the waking of the dead and their
sometimes spooky, frightening Victorians culminating in the to facilitate burials. In the will he burial.
but always spectacular, panoramic great round tower at Glasnevin. allows his friend Mayor James
immersive 3D experience Rice permission to build onto the 3. In a 17th century room
exploring the rituals, traditions The visitor then enters the 650 Cathedral a special chapel and furnished with original furniture
and superstitions surrounding year old former Almshouse that cadaver tomb to hold his mortal the visitor is transported to an
death and the Irish Wake from morphed over the centuries into a remains. The story here will be era when the plague still stalked
the dawn of time all the way tenement in the 20th century. As told by the ghost of Dean John the land. A plague victim huddles
through to the Irish and American they enter each room a hologram Collyn a man totally obsessed in the corner dying of plague,
wakes of the 19th and early 20th is activated of a ghost who tells with death and the waking of the knowing that she will not get
century. The origins and customs the story of death and the Irish dead in the 15th century. a traditional burial but be put
associated with Hallowe’en will wake in one of the six centuries. in a mass grave outside the city
also be explored. To achieve this we plan to use 2. Here in a 16th century room walls because the plague is so
an unobtrusive hologram - short the visitor experiences the clash contagious. It is implicit that
While the experience will throw projector in each room. of cultures specifically relating she contracted the plague from
encompass all of the island of to how the Reformation changed a soldier. Waterford has rare
Ireland it will draw mainly on Rooms 1-6 beliefs and customs relating to records of numbers of plague
examples from Ireland’s Ancient death. The Protestant reforming victims from the 1600s when
East. It begins with the death 1. In this room with its large
15th century chimney piece and bishop of Waterford Marmaduke conquering Elizabethan and
rituals of Newgrange and other Middleton writes at his desk Cromwellian soldiers were billeted
Neolithic sites such as dolmens large brass cauldron the visitor
experiences the cooking of gruel about what he called the Papist in the city. The remnant of a
and wedge tombs, to the cist superstitious customs associated limestone gravestone featuring a
burials of the Bronze Age, to for a dying inmate; on the wall are
the severe rules and regulations with wakes, death and burial in mermaid stands in the corner of
the sacrificial bog bodies of the the city – Waked in their houses the room representing the deadly
Iron Age through the Christian of the institution – they had to
rise three times each night to with dirges and after cast into the sins of lust and vanity. Original
34clay pipes are to hand. The story servants are properly attired and late 20th century bedsit
here will be told by the hologram suitably grieving at his wake and now occupied by an osteo-
ghost of the City Recorder whose burial. archaeologist excavating Viking
job it was to record Council Age Waterford. She has an
legislation and other official 5. An original 19th century room: obsession with death, around the
documents and to record the a paraffin lamp burns, the mirror room are books and drawings
numbers of those who died of is covered by a cloth and a corpse featuring the archaeology of
plague in the city. is laid out in a coffin next to an death from Newgrange up to the
iron bed. The display shows signs 19th century. On her table is an
4. The 18th century is represented of heavy drinking, snuff and original three thousand year old
by a gentleman writing his last tobacco taking. Religious pictures Bronze Age urn containing the
will and testament in a room and relics adorn the room and cremated remains of a high status
with original furniture. About the Rosary is recited… women individual and the skeletons of
the room are displayed black- keening are the background Waterford Vikings from the
edged mourning writing paper, sounds. Original prayer books, excavations. Here we show how
black gloves and top hats and the rosary beads, mortuary cards and rituals and customs associated
ubiquitous snuff box. He leaves brass coffin plates are featured. with death can be traced back
money to the Church and the Then a voice over of a typical 19th to the first settlers a theme that
stonemason for a gravestone century travel writer begins to is explored in more detail in the
decorated with the symbols of the condemn the excesses of the Irish 3D experience in the conjoined
passion of Christ a common motif Wake. There will deliberately be building. The guide will regale
of this period. He leaves money no hologram in this room, the idea the visitors with stories about
to buy mourning costumes for being to enhance the experience death and the house that they
his servants to attend the funeral by catching the visitor off guard. are visiting and how it started
and show suitable expressions of As the visitor moves around the its life as an almshouse for the
sadness, loss and sorrow at his room and out of curiosity looks dying poor becoming by the 20th
passing. The story here will be into the coffin, the corpse rises century a tenement where the
told by the ghost a rich merchant up. During the summer season a resident, a traumatized World
who is obsessed with the public student will be employed to play War I machine gunner, carved
perception of him when he passes the corpse that comes to life. tombstones on the kitchen floor
over and he makes detailed and his daughter who emigrated
arrangements to ensure that his 6. In about 1986 the house
becomes a tenement and this to the United States visited
room is furnished as a typical convicts on death row.
The Almshouse visitor experience
35Rationale for the Irish Museum of Time
The Irish Museum of Time is a which we aim to attract a broad County an international tourist increasing footfall into the
new cutting-edge two-part visitor audience. destination in its own right. Triangle.
attraction to be developed on • The Museum will add to the • The new attraction will help • It conserves and brings
two adjacent sites in the Viking present museum attractions, to increase dwell time in into public use two historic
Triangle in Ireland’s oldest city, Waterford Museum of Waterford city and will be properties the Almshouse
the island of Ireland’s only Treasures, Three Museums among the flagship attractions dated to the 1460s and
dedicated museum district with in the Viking Triangle, by of Ireland’s Ancient East the 19th century church
eleven national monuments. It creating a greater critical mass that at present lags behind Greyfriars which add greatly
will: of all-weather attractions that Ireland’s more favoured to the attractions of the Viking
• increase Waterford Treasures, will appeal to a very broad tourist destinations in terms of Triangle. The main premise
Three Museums in the Viking audience. international visitors. is to peel back and expose the
Triangle visitor numbers to • Inclusion of a strong education • Within the Viking Triangle this layers of history in Ireland’s
250,000 by 2019 element will ensure the new attraction will bring life oldest city and make its
• attract non-standard museum viability of the new Museum and vibrancy into Cathedral 1100-year-old history come
visitors eg social energisers in the off-season, ensuring its Square at the very heart of the to life by entertaining and
sustainability. Triangle and take advantage engaging storytelling.
• prolong visitor stay and spend
• The projected increase in of Waterford Council’s • The project exploits fully the
• tell stories in better ways using partnership with a private fantastic assets recently gifted
latest technology visitor numbers to all the
Viking Triangle attractions is concern in a new café tapas bar to the museum - a collection of
• create employment and predicated on the continued beside the Almshouse which museum-quality Irish long case
contribute to city centre success of t he Waterford opened in 2017. and carriage clocks together
regeneration Greenway to attract in excess • By animating Cathedral Square with gold and silver watches
• raise Waterford profile as a of 250,000 visitors annually, as the Museum of Time Part II dating from 1690 to 1890.
tourist destination, only Irish was achieved in 2017. The all- will help rectify the present The clocks and watches were
city with a museum district weather Irish Museum of Time, disconnect between the manufactured all over Ireland’s
• The universal themes of the with its appeal to younger Triangle and the retail core by Ancient East.
Museum – the story and visitors - Great Escapers connecting the Viking Triangle • The museum’s use of
science of Time and the quirky and Social Energisers - will with City Square Shopping innovative hologram and 3D
story of the iconic Irish Wake complement the Greenway, Centre Waterford’s primary immersive technology together
will have international appeal. making Waterford City and retail centre (and its large with the museum quality of the
• The theme has three aspects, underground carpark), thereby historic Irish timepieces and
historic, scientific and social by complementary Irish objects on
36display will ensure a very broad Viking Triangle attraction. This Waterford Treasures will feature the potential to extend the tourist
audience. The second element local community element makes the Irish Museum of Time on season to the end of October /
- the quirky, left-of-centre, for a very personal welcoming all its brochures and publicity beginning of November by linking
slightly spooky, macabre and atmosphere especially for our material and will represent it at all it with an annual festival that
lighthearted exploration of the international visitors. trade fairs and other promotional would be continuously promoted
Irish Wake and the traditions Ticketing events as one of the attractions in the Museum of Time Part II.
and rituals surrounding death of the already-successful brand The Halloween festival would
over six centuries and the Waterford Treasures will Waterford Treasures. Waterford
operate a ‘Freedom of Waterford’ involve a marvellously-macabre
customs of Hallowe’en, housed Treasures chief executive and torch-lit ghost tour of the
in what is a tenement house combination ticket for all the marketing executive, together
historic attractions within Viking Triangle. The Triangle’s
- will appeal to an audience with Waterford City and County remarkable collection of both
that would not normally visit a the Viking Triangle to include Council’s full time tourism officer
Reginald’s Tower, the Bishop’s below and above ground historic
museum. work very closely with Tourism buildings and its macabre tombs
Palace, the Medieval Museum, Ireland and frequently participate
the Mayors’ Treasury exhibition makes the area in and around the
in their overseas marketing
How will the Irish in City Hall, the Viking House initiatives.
Museum of Time Part II an ideal
venue for such an event.
Museum of Time be Experience and the Irish Museum
We also work very closely
of Time. Every Halloween night a torch-lit
sustainable? with the House of Waterford ghost tour would be preceded by
The joint ticketing regime will Crystal in promoting the Viking
Staffing help to increase dwell time in the a giant temporary light sculpture
Triangle and all the attractions created on the pavement in
The Irish Museum of Time will Viking Triangle bringing with it a within it. Waterford Council
much-needed economic boost to Cathedral Square using lighted
be part of the very successful has established a Destination pumpkins / turnips brought there
Waterford Museum of Treasures, the city’s cafés, restaurants, shops Waterford committee to promote
and hotels. Waterford Treasures by the participating audience.
a company limited by guarantee the city and county nationally and Using drone photography this
and wholly owned by Waterford will always sell admission tickets internationally with other private
to individual attractions. transient artistic feature has
City and County Council. It sector stakeholders. the potential to become an
will be managed by Waterford Marketing – working with Halloween international YouTube sensation
Treasures staff and run on a Tourism Ireland thus helping to promote Ireland
day-to-day basis by museum Halloween will be a major sub-
The marketing of the museum theme of the attraction thus throughout the globe.
staff. The well-established greet
will be undertaken by Waterford ensuring that the Irish origins of
volunteers known as Viking
Treasures full-time Marketing this internationally-celebrated
Triangle Ambassadors will assist
Executive. It will feature on the event are fully understood and
with orientating the visitor and
Waterford Treasures website enjoyed. Halloween and the
making sure that they are aware
and be marketed via social media. festivities associated with it has
of the many elements of the
37Rationale for the Irish Museum of Time
Waterford Council, Waterford - 36.11%. A decline of 6% was successful in attracting the vestments 1460s and his
Treasures, House of Waterford experienced in our visitors from Great Escapers. Choristers’ Hall are in the
Crystal, Waterford Port Authority Great Britain who made up 12.8% • With a dedicated children’s Medieval Museum and that
and a number of specialist of our total visitors. section in the Irish Museum of James Rice’s Wine Vault
retailers also operate the Cruise Time at Greyfriars the Great dated to 1440, the sword he
Ship Co-Op which promotes both Escapers will find much to received from King Edward
the City as a destination for cruise Engaging with the Social occupy and entertain all the IV of England and his Great
ship visitors and attracts over Energisers family members. Parchment Book are also in the
twenty cruise ships annually to • The international appeal of Medieval Museum and his very
the city. • The quirky humorous macabre grisly cadaver tomb dated 1481
themes of Death and Time Time, its history, the science
The Medieval Museum part of behind it in the past and in the is in Christ Church Cathedral
and the use of cutting- opposite the Almshouse, gives
the Waterford Treasures family edge technology such as future will make The Museum
of attractions has consistently of Time a fun experience for this attraction enormous appeal
touchscreens, holograms and for the Culturally Curious.
been Tripadvisor No 1 Waterford 3D Immersive technology will all the family that requires no
Visitor Attraction. The museum historical knowledge or indeed • The superb collection of Irish
appeal to Social Energisers. It clocks and watches dating
experience in both the Bishop’s is planned in the 19th century interest.
Palace and the Medieval Museum from 1690 to 1890 which
wake room to have the corpse will be displayed alongside
have received satisfaction ratings
in the region of 94% from CIE
unexpectedly rise up in the Engaging with the contemporary paintings, silver
coffin!
International Coach Tours Culturally Curious and glassware will have a
underlining the great appeal great appeal to the Culturally
these attractions have for the Engaging with the Great • The two highly-atmospheric Curious.
international visitor. buildings in which the
Escapers attractions will be located,
Since opening the visitor the 18th century church at
attractions in the Viking Triangle • In order to encourage the Great
Escapers and family groups Greyfriars and the Almshouse
in 2011, our fee-paying visitor built by Dean John Collyn
numbers have increased from in particular since opening in
2011 we have a policy of not and Mayor James Rice in the
33,000 to 101,000 in 2017. In 1460s, make both parts of
2017 35.3% of the visitors were charging for children who are
accompanied by fee-paying the ttraction appealing to the
Irish and for the first time since Culturally Curious.
2011, our North American visitors adults. This family-friendly
initiative has been very • The fact that Dean Collyn’s
outstripped our Irish visitors extraordinary cloth-of-gold
38Connecting to Ireland’s how a house changed over the neighbouring Fat Angel These unique fun if somewhat
six centuries and alongside café / tapas bar. Bespoke macabre experiences will
Ancient East that to explore customs and themed umbrellas, table complement the death/Irish-
• This Project will create a traditions of the Irish Wake and chairs will be set out in wake-themed adjoining visitor
unique attraction that has and Halloween, we are creating the paved area in front of attraction. This Ice Cream
not been replicated anywhere a unique cultural attraction. the Almshouse where tea, Emporium will have a broad
else in Ireland north or south coffee and soft drinks will appeal particularly for the Social
be served with a selection Energisers and the Great Escapers
and forge a link with two of Broadening the of appropriately themed with young children - a segment
the great icons of Ireland the
Irish Wake and Halloween and Experience ice creams – Devil’s Delight, with huge growth potential,
with the great historic sites of Lucifer’s Lollipops, Dracula’s thanks to the development of the
• It is planned to use the Tapas Dilemma, Speak of the Devil Waterford Greenway.
Ireland’s Ancient East. Bar/Café adjoining the Special, Tombstone Trio etc.
• The fact that the collection of Almshouse to develop evening
clocks and watches represents time entertainment featuring
almost every county in Ireland Irish and American Wakes.
makes it easy to explore themes • The Almshouse will be the
that will help promote and starting point of a new evening
direct visitors to other parts of time experience – the Spirits of
Ireland’s Ancient East. Many Waterford - an evening ghost
of the timepieces were made in tour of the Viking Triangle.
small provincial towns as were
• A chilling experience and
many items of superb Irish
some cold comfort at Cathedral
silverware that we will display
Square – With the USA as the
alongside the clocks.
largest consumer of ice cream
• The clocks and watches will be in the world and Ireland ranked
displayed in a manner that will fifth, it would be economically
highlight the history of high viable to enhance the visitor
level Irish craftsmanship not experience by facilitating the
just in the making of superb sale of ice cream in Cathedral
timepieces but also in the Square. Therefore as part of
making of silver and glass and the story of the Irish Wake
in the fine arts. and Halloween it is planned
• By using the medieval to animate the square by
Almshouse in Cathedral Square establishing an Ice Cream
now a tenement, to explore Emporium in partnership with
39Financial projections Costings
The conservative projected Part I The Irish Museum of Time at Greyfriars
growth over three years of a Renovation of Building €100,000
minimum of 220,000 visitors
per annum for all of the Viking 3D experience, touchscreen and hologram technology €160,000
Triangle attractions under the Fitout cost of exhibition €120,000
Waterford Treasures umbrella
SUB-TOTAL: €380,000
including the new Museum of
Time and the new Viking House Part II The Irish Museum of Time at the Almshouse
Experience (opening April 2017) Renovation of Building €170,000
would bring in a minimum
additional income of €420,000 3D experience, touchscreen and hologram technology €180,000
which will offset the additional Fitout cost of exhibition €80,000
staff and maintenance costs of
SUB-TOTAL: €430,000
the new attractions.
TOTAL: €810,000
Thank you for your time, we know time is important to you.
Charity Number CHY15865
40You can also read
