Spring review with Waterford Council
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pril 2022 brought a brandnew festival to Waterford City. For the April Fools Day weekend, Waterford City and County Council’s Arts office introduced the subversive and slightly scandalous ‘Foolhardy Festival of Comedy and Commedia’ to Ireland’s oldest city. Based around Waterford’s Cultural Quarter, the festival featured open-mic sessions, live quizzes, family workshops and even a session for kids with the grand title of ‘Picasso, Cubism and a Pig!’ BIRD HIDE Waterford’s newest bird hide was officially opened in Tramore by the Mayor of Waterford City and County Cllr Joe Kelly. The location of the bird hide is of particular significance as Tramore’s back strand is an important habitat for a variety of birds, in particular little egrets, oystercatchers, herons, snipes and sanderlings. BEST PLACE TO LIVE In recognition of Waterford winning the title of Ireland’s Best Place
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to Live in association with The Irish Times, a ‘Best Place to Live’ symposium was held in Waterford’s Theatre Royal. The event was facilitated by economist and author David McWilliams, Kevin O’ Sullivan IT Environment Editor, Jennifer O’Connell IT columnist and IT Managing Editor Conor Goodman. There was fascinating insight from contributors to Waterford’s education, enterprise, environment and arts and culture sectors, highlighting the factors that make Waterford Ireland’s Best Place to Live. The following day, a Family Fun Day was held in Waterford City centre. The free event, which included live music, magicians, acrobats, as well as the Big Dig and Calmast (STEM) events, was a wonderful celebration of the warm welcome we offer here in Waterford. MAY DAY The celebrations concluded on Sunday, May 1st, as Waterford City and County Council and Waterford Chamber teamed up to bring an
afternoon of community fun to the new plaza in Tramore, where live music and street entertainment entertained the large gathering present, to mark the official opening of a new urban renewal space. May 1st was also a landmark day for Waterford, as the doors of the South East Technological University (SETU) were opened. SETU is the first university presence in the region and marks a truly historic moment in higher education for staff, students, regional stakeholders, and local communities in the South East. CHARLES BAČIK PLAZA Deputy Ivana Bacik was present at the House of Waterford Crystal, where her grandfather Charles Bacik, Waterford Crystal co-founder and Czech glass entrepreneur, was honoured with the naming of the plaza in his memory. A plaque commemorating the event was then unveiled by Mayor Kelly, with the area henceforth to be known bilingually as “Plás Charles Bačik / Charles Bačik Plaza.”
NETWORK • Q2 2022
