Waterford Viking Triangle - Tourism Awards 2015 Submission

Waterford City & County Council

Waterford Viking Triangle C AT E G O RY

Best Cultural Experience

ed Mark and Laura from Ohio visit n atio vac Irish ir Wat erford on the

We found a Viking Boat outside Reginald’s Tower!

Wha t a cool room!

Wow, the oldest piece of Waterford Crystal in the whole world. Oooops...

We took a selďŹ e outside the Medieval Museum

Had fun on the Epic Tour.....H ey wait a minute!!!

These faces look familiar...

We tried on hats in the latest fashion!

Bla a Time for a bre ak..Wha t is this thing?

Slainte from Waterford!!

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Waterford Viking Triangle is Waterford’s Cultural and Heritage quarter. A tranquil place, characterised by narrow streets, atmospheric public spaces and an array of cultural & heritage attractions.

Geographically it comprises the north east corner of Waterford City fronting the quays and the River Suir to the north, the central retail area to the west and the House of Waterford Crystal on The Mall to the South.

Waterford Viking Triangle is the result of considerable investment and collaboration between public and private sector interests and it is the cornerstone of a long term strategy to make Waterford a competitive City destination and a major attraction for the South East region.

The quarter has a remarkable cluster of high quality architectural, archaeological and historic assets which together provide a unique offering within a compact geographical area. To date there has been significant investment in the quarter which includes the state of the art Waterford Crystal Visitor Centre, the Medieval Museum and the Bishop’s Palace Georgian museum along with substantial reimagining of public spaces such as Cathedral Square and The Mall.

Covering almost five acres of Waterford’s historic core between The Mall and the quays with the iconic Reginald’s Tower at its apex, the Viking Triangle has emerged in recent years as one of the most attractive urban areas in Ireland. Centred on the location of a 10th Century Viking settlement and with seven national monuments, Waterford Viking Triangle has one of the highest concentrations of historic buildings from different eras to be found in such a compact area anywhere on the island of Ireland.

I R I S H T O U R I S M I N D US T RY AWA R D S Best Cultural Experience | Waterford Viking Triangle

The project is already delivering very favourable economic returns in terms of job creation and increased visitor numbers and expenditure.

A short stroll alongside a section of the medieval city wall takes visitors from the 13th Century Reginald’s Tower to a 15th Century Mayors Wine Vault and onwards to the Bishops Palace dating from 1741 and the John Robertsdesigned Christ Church Cathedral from 1774.

These historic gems sit comfortably alongside the recently refurbished and extended 18th Century Theatre Royal and the contemporary 21st Century architecture of the House of Waterford Crystal and the multiple award-winning Medieval Museum.

An investment of over €13m from Waterford City & County Council along with partners Fáilte Ireland and the Department of the Environment, Community & Local Government is helping unlock a similar level of private sector investment in the area.

Delivered despite the economic collapse since 2008, the Viking Triangle has been a tremendous catalyst for new thinking within and about Ireland’s oldest city.

The wonderfully-renewed narrow streets, lanes and plazas provide an evocative backdrop to first-class festivals and outdoor performances with the Viking Triangle also helping Waterford capture a greater share of positive national and overseas media coverage.

Numerous new restaurants, bars, craft studios and shops have opened in what had been a largely derelict area that discouraged visitors from exploring.

Businesses have relocated to the Viking Triangle with a resultant increase in economic activity, footfall and yearround vibrancy. The quality of what has been delivered has generated a marked increase in visitor numbers from Ireland and overseas with particular growth seen from independent travellers who stay longer and spend more than those on tightly-scheduled group tours.

The core objective of the Viking Triangle is to boost Waterford’s attractiveness to domestic and international tourists by creating a coherent cultural experience and release the previously untapped potential of the most richly historic quarter of Ireland’s oldest city.

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The wonderfully-renewed narrow streets, lanes and plazas provide an evocative backdrop to firstclass festivals and outdoor performances

The Viking Triangle, a once derelict space, is now a hive of activity thanks not only to the development of the heritage and craft attractions but also to the ongoing programme of animation that brings the space to life.

Championed by Waterford City & County Council as lead delivery agency, Waterford Viking Triangle has also benefitted since April 2012 from the stewardship of the Viking Triangle Trust Company Ltd. The marketing of the Viking Triangle involves a multi-agency approach with the tourism and culture team at Waterford City & County Council working closely with the Viking Triangle Trust Co, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland to raise awareness of the destination among the tourism trade and consumers. Fáilte Ireland will be concentrating very significant marketing resources on Waterford Viking Triangle in 2015 and beyond.

While many of the ‘softer’ benefits from the Viking Triangle are intangibles around improved quality of life, civic pride and historical awareness, it is also possible to demonstrate a clear positive economic impact in terms of tourism revenues and job creation.

There are over 130 people directly employed within the Viking Triangle who did not work in the area as recently as 2011. These range from bar, restaurant and retail staff to museum guides, re-enactors and support staff.

I R I S H T O U R I S M I N D US T RY AWA R D S Best Cultural Experience | Waterford Viking Triangle

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In addition, start-up and early stage businesses – especially those in creative industries – continue to be attracted to the area.

In partnership with the Council, Fumbally Exchange have developed their first office accommodation outside of Dublin with 15 work spaces and a boardroom at a refurbished building at Brick Lane in the heart of the Viking Triangle.

As Irish tastes in food have broadened, so too the diversity of restaurants

in the Waterford Viking Triangle has flourished with Spanish, Italian, Thai, Vietnamese, Afghan, French, Singaporean and Indian eateries alongside contemporary Irish restaurants – all helping contribute to the cosmopolitan atmosphere and visitor experience.

Working in partnership with agencies such as Failte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, as well as industry partners including The House of Waterford Crystal, Destination Waterford and the Port of Waterford Waterford Treasures has helped to transform Waterford’s image making it a tourist destination of quality, substance, style and integrity.

There are over 130 people directly employed within the Viking Triangle who did not work in the area as recently as 2011. These range from bar, restaurant and retail staff to museum guides, re-enactors and support staff.

I R I S H T O U R I S M I N D US T RY AWA R D S Best Cultural Experience | Waterford Viking Triangle

Information and way finding in the Waterford Viking Triangle In 2014, the Discover Ireland Tourist Information office relocated to a prime site on the river front in the Waterford Viking Triangle.

building which is featured on the panel.

The panels give information in four languages French, German, Irish and English.

Bespoke features in the public realm help the visitor navigate this dense historic urban centre. Each panel has a bronze insert featuring a large-scale replica of a coin from the period of the

Bespoke way-finding signage feature 3D bronze models of the city to guide the visitor, irrespective of language, to the primary attraction of Viking Triangle.

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I R I S H T O U R I S M I N D US T RY AWA R D S Best Cultural Experience | Waterford Viking Triangle

Key Visitor Attractions The House of Waterford Crystal The House of Waterford Crystal factory and brand experience relocated in to the Viking Triangle in the summer of 2010 and brings a visit to Waterford to a whole new level as visitors can witness the creation of crystal stemware, giftware and masterpieces right before their very eyes.

The World renowned Factory and Brand Experience is the centrepiece of the Viking Triangle reaching out to its global audience with visitors arriving from over 100 countries, including USA, Australia, UK, Europe and Asia.

The world’s leading escorted tour companies all include a visit to the famous factory, including CIE Tours, the Tracoin Group, Tauck World Discovery, Celtic Tours and Globus Tour Company.

Since its opening in 2010, 760,000 people have visited the House of Waterford Crystal.

The Factory Tour Visitors to the House of Waterford Crystal take a behind the scenes tour of the world’s most famous crystal.

This is a uniquely designed experience that allows visitors to walk through and experience a ‘live working factory’.

Customers stand ‘within one metre’ of Master Blowers, drawing crystal at 1,400˚C viewing the skills of blowing,

that requires tremendous dexterity and co-ordination of hands, breath and strength. The heat, colour and product change is simply magical.

Visitors are handheld through the various stages of delivering a quality Waterford product. Stone, colour, air bubbles, strains in the glass are all on view for the visitor to see. Visitors enjoy the experience of “smashing” the items that do not make our stringent Quality Standards.

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Visitors stand over the shoulder as the Master Cutters guide diamond tipped wheels at 140 degrees, on items ten kilos in weight. Visitors watch each craftsman leave his own individual mark on each piece.

Brand Experience The experience provides an opportunity to view the largest range of Waterford Crystal in the world featuring retail displays with the most elegant arrangements of the world’s favourite crystal.

The World Sports Display allows our visitors to walk in the footsteps of champions, taking their photograph with top five PGA world trophies.

Visitors can step into the magic of New York’s Time Square with the capture the memories photo stop.

Visitors can indulge themselves with locally sourced cakes and confectioneries in the Crystal Café.

Since its opening in 2010, 760,000 people have visited the House of Waterford Crystal.

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Waterford Treasures – Three Museums in the Viking Triangle Waterford Treasures – Three Museums in the Viking Triangle is one of the key pillars in the tourism-led urban renewal project which has regenerated Waterford’s historic city centre. After less than two years in operation the museums attracted 70,000 visitors in 2014.

Medieval Museum is a contemporary new building that has beneath it and incorporated into its fabric and visitor experience, two medieval buildings, a 13th century Choristers’ Hall and a 15th century Mayor’s Wine Vault.

Waterford Treasures explores the 1100 year old story of Ireland’s oldest city in three distinct iconic buildings. As the visitor walks from one museum building to another they are walking through an urban streetscape that exudes a thousand years of Irish history. The three museums provide a cultural experience that is unique in Europe: Reginald’s Tower, the Medieval Museum and the Bishop’s Palace allow the visitor to explore archaeological and historic treasures of international importance in buildings that are contemporary with the objects, therefore immediately transporting them back in time and optimising their experience.

Reginald’s Tower where the Viking Museum is housed was first built as a Viking fortification and is the only monument in Ireland named in honour of a Viking. This is the only Viking museum in Europe to display Viking items from a 9th century Viking site.

The Bishop’s Palace, the home of the 18th, 19thand 20th century museum, is housed in the city’s finest Georgian town house built by Richard Castle in 1743.

Museums without Boundaries - the history and archaeology of the city is not simply presented in glass cases but is instead brought to life by taking the stories out into the city streetscape so as to create an authentic visitor experience that highlights the layering of history.

I R I S H T O U R I S M I N D US T RY AWA R D S Best Cultural Experience | Waterford Viking Triangle

Animating Waterford Viking Triangle The Waterford Viking Triangle is a natural space in which Waterford festivals and arts events thrive.

Year round the open spaces in the Viking Triangle are programmed with lively events that can be enjoyed by both visitors and locals alike.

Major events such as the Winterval Festival, Spraoi and Harvest showcase the Viking Triangle at its very best. For ten weekends from May to September a lively ‘Summer in the City’ programme provides entertainment in the Viking

Triangle, including traditional Irish music, tango dancing and open air art exhibitions.

Open air spaces such as Cathedral Square, Palace Square, Bailey’s New Street and The Mall are full of vibrant events, from food markets to medieval jugglers, acrobats to fire eaters.

Both the House of Waterford Crystal and Waterford Treasures opens their doors to support many of these events – hosting event launches, book launches, concerts, talks, exhibitions and many of the cultural, food, music, arts and business events in the community.

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The Epic tour - A Thousand Years of History in a Thousand Paces the larger-than-life guide using a series of props and other devices conducts a fun light-hearted walk through the Viking Triangle including six of its national monuments.

The tour is hugely popular with young people and families. This tour is available throughout the day. Visitor comments include ‘This is street theatre at its best!!!! , ‘a very funny and highly entertaining assault on the senses’ –‘ the best city tour I and my family have ever experienced’ adding that ‘we all loved firing sponge balls at our friend in the medieval stocks!’

Jack Burtchaell’s Walking Tour Another favorite for visitors to Waterford is to take a tour of the Viking Triangle with Jack Burtchaell. Jack’s Walking Tours have received many awards over the years, including best tour feature by CIE ‘International Awards of Excellence,’ a ‘special merit’ award in 2007, Bord Fáilte ‘Irish Welcome Award,’ Jury’s hotel ‘Achievement Award,’ and First ‘Heritage Individual’ award.

This is street theatre at its best! a very funny and highly entertaining assault on the senses

I R I S H T O U R I S M I N D US T RY AWA R D S Best Cultural Experience | Waterford Viking Triangle

Festivals and events that take place in the Waterford Viking Triangle include Spraoi, Winterval, Harvest, 1848 Tricolour Celebration, Waterford Writers Weekend, Imagine Arts Festival.

At Waterford Crystal: • • • • •

• • • • • •

1848 Tri Colour Celebration Harvest Festival Winterval Launch and Christmas Celebrations Music and Arts Events Ulster Bank and Chamber after Hours – business networking events Waterford Fashion Week Corporate events, business launches Waterford Pride Festival Waterford Viking Marathon Launch FAI Press Conference Imagine Festival Official Launch

Waterford Treasures has recently hosted a series of free weekly lunchtime talks - ’Bite Size Culture’, monthly Sunday morning concerts- Music in the Museum and Monthly ‘Museum Talks’ by renowned speakers.

An exciting and varied programme of temporary exhibitions runs throughout the year. For example, in 2014 Waterford Treasures hosted an exhibition of Polish Medieval Jewellery which had a great appeal to the local Polish community.

The I Build myself a Boat project was brought from Norway and was a great success with local schools.

Waterford Treasures actively engages with all the major cultural events and festivals throughout the year: 1848 Tricolour Festival, Wikid Festival, Spraoi, Harvest Festival, Imagine Arts Festival, Winterval Christmas Festival.

An exciting and varied programme of temporary exhibitions runs throughout the year

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Sustaining the Cultural Importance of the Waterford Viking Triangle Championed by Waterford City & County Council as lead delivery agency, the Viking Triangle has benefitted since April 2012 from the stewardship of the Viking Triangle Trust Company Ltd, whose board works steadfastly to champion the area as it flourishes. With a dedicated CEO at the helm and robust governance in place, Viking Triangle has quickly moved from being an idea to a way of operating and the model through which it has been successfully delivered is providing a template for further items on Waterford’s ambitious agenda.

Waterford Crystal continues to retain the age old traditions of mouth blowing, hand finishing sculpting and engraving in the manufacture of its products. Waterford Crystal welcomed ten new craft trainees to a new training programme encompassing the skills of glass blowing, cutting, sculpting and engraving on the 29th September 2014.

The course gives the ten trainees a foundation in one of the following areas of crystal manufacturing, blowing, cutting, sculpting or engraving.

The training is being conducted in conjunction with Waterford Wexford Training Services (WWTS).

At the end of the first year, the new trainees must complete their City & Guilds Crystal Manufacturing exams, and successful trainees will then progress to year two of a five year programme to become master blowers, cutters, sculptors or engravers.

Waterford Treasures has an ongoingconservation programme for the preservation and presentation of the city’s historic and archaeological treasures.

In 2012 it completed a 14 year textile conservation programme that prepared for exhibition the six medieval cloth of gold 15th century vestments for display thus creating the most visually stunning and important display of medieval textiles in Ireland.

This conservation programme ran in tandem with the Royal Charters conservation programme that was began in 1992 and finished twenty years later in 2012 in time for the opening of the new Medieval Museum.

There are over 100 Friends of the Museum whose annual financial support assists greatly with the acquisition of museum objects relating to Waterford.

The local community have been extremely generous in gifting items of historic or archaeological importance to the museum. One Waterford company recently sponsored the purchase of three 18th century baroque mirrors for the Bishop’s Palace at a cost of €300,000.

I R I S H T O U R I S M I N D US T RY AWA R D S Best Cultural Experience | Waterford Viking Triangle

Tourism and economic activity in Waterford Viking Triangle Waterford Viking Triangle Ambassadors An innovation introduced at the Viking Triangle that has quickly become established as a ‘must have’ for future tourist seasons in Waterford is an ambassador programme that sees local people volunteer as roving guides in the area. Readily identifiable through colourful branded clothing, the ambassadors are fully trained and knowledgeable about the city – whether from an historic or more practical and contemporary perspective.

In short, they are the friendly face of Waterford and there has been overwhelmingly positive visitor feedback to the part they play in making a visit to the Viking Triangle special.

Numbering over 70 in 2014, the civicminded ambassadors themselves also report positively on the experience and are a very valuable mobile resource to the local authority in hearing about any emerging issues that can be quickly tackled before they impact on visitors.

The ambassadors are the friendly face of Waterford and there has been overwhelmingly positive visitor feedback to the part they play in making a visit to the Viking Triangle special.

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A snapshot of what has been delivered in the Waterford Viking Triangle is provided by this review of highlights from arrivals in 2013-2014: 2013

2014

First full year of operations at new Medieval Museum; public realm works ongoing; event guide published to promote summer programme in Viking Triangle; local theatre company moves into Central Hall, a previously dilapidated space that now has a 48-seater theatre, rehearsal and performance space; The little Design Shop opens as a spinout from Kite Design Studios; new signage scheme rolled out; Southpaw Studio & Gallery opens; Fumbally Exchange opens their first shared office space outside of Dublin; Bonzie, a designer fashion label opens in Baileys New Street; The Reg - a large bar, restaurant and music venue - opens in a long derelict premises alongside Reginald’s Tower; ACRO, a collective of nine contemporary artists opens in Baileys New Street; The Olive Tree tapas bar opens on The Mall close to Reginald’s Tower and a pop-up gift shop opens in 127 Parade Quay during Winterval.

Refurbishment commences at 121122 Parade Quay; public realm works completed across the Viking Triangle with the design team appointed for a further extension; Tower Gifts opens on Parade Quay; Sparkle Closet, a fashion outlet opens on Parade Quay; Discover Ireland tourism information office opens at 120 Parade Quay; Larder, an artisan food store, opens on The Quay; three bronze 3D models installed at key sites in Viking Triangle to help visitors orientate; artistic silhouettes created on gables in Viking Triangle; memorial to John Condon, a ‘boy soldier’ from World War I, unveiled in Cathedral Square; Aoife and Strongbow public art installation created near their 12th Century wedding venue at Christ Church; commencement of works on Cathedral Square housing scheme; Country House Gifts opens on Parade Quay; Flagstone craft and gift store opens on The Mall and Waterford applies for ‘Purple Flag’ designation from ATCM (Association of Town & City Management).

I R I S H T O U R I S M I N D US T RY AWA R D S Best Cultural Experience | Waterford Viking Triangle

The marketing of the Viking Triangle involves a multi-agency approach with the tourism and culture team at Waterford City & County Council working closely with the Viking Triangle Trust Co, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland to raise awareness of the destination among tour operators and consumers.

In December 2014, it was confirmed that Fáilte Ireland will be concentrating very significant marketing resources on Viking Triangle in 2015 and subsequent years as it will be a key element of a new campaign promoting the Ireland East and South region as a key cultural and heritage tourism destination. The House of Waterford Crystal has played a key role in the promotion and launch of the city and region. Its partners include: • • • • • •

Southeast Attractions & Accommodation Providers Failte Ireland Cruise Tour Visits Jump In to Ireland – Tourism Ireland Travel & Trade Shows Consumer Shows

There has been excellent national media coverage of the Viking Triangle with several television programmes featuring the buildings and streets – all helping to improve informed awareness of what Waterford now has to offer to visitors. Collectively, these help to shift perceptions of the city.

Recognising the importance of digital and social media, the website waterfordvikingtriangle.com has been developed while the Viking triangle is also active on facebook and twitter as well as being promoted through wider ‘Destination Waterford’ platforms.

In assessing the impact of the Viking Triangle investment and to ensure effective marketing, Waterford Viking Triangle engages closely with partners at the frontline in the tourism and hospitality sector locally.

Recognising the importance of digital and social media, the website waterfordvikingtriangle.com has been developed

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I R I S H T O U R I S M I N D US T RY AWA R D S Best Cultural Experience | Waterford Viking Triangle

Appendix Pages Awards for the Medieval Museum

Awards for the House of Waterford Crystal

Since opening in 2012, the Medieval Museum has received the following awards:

CIE Award of Excellence 2014

Best Public Building and Best Heritage project (LAMA) Best Public Building in Ireland 2014 (The Royal institute of Architects of Ireland) British UK Civic Trust Award International Architecture Award 2014 (Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design) Best Stone Façade (British Stone Awards 2014)

The House of Waterford Crystal received an Award of Excellence for consistently exceeding CIE Tours client’s expectations.

The winners of the Awards of Excellence are chosen from an independent valuation of feedback surveys completed by over 30,000 CIE Tours International customers.

InBusiness Editor’s Choice Awards The House of Waterford Crystal won ‘Best Tourist Attraction’ Award 10 2012 & 2013 at the inaugural InBusiness Editor’s Choice Awards which took place at the Hibernian Club, Stephen’s Green, recognising excellence in business over a wide variety of categories.

Retail Excellence The House of Waterford Crystal has been named as one of the Top 30 Stores 2012 & 2013 at the Retail Excellence Ireland (REI) Awards in association with Barclaycard.

The House of Waterford Crystal was nominated twice for this prestigious award, after the panel of independent observers recognized it for its outstanding customer service and overall excellence.

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Visitor Feedback for Waterford Treasures The Medieval Museum is rated as number one visitor attraction in Waterford and the Bishop’s Palace as number three. Waterford Treasures has been listed by Trip Advisor among the top ten museum experiences in Ireland.

‘Would that our city museum was as interesting.’

‘It’s like walking through a giant pop up story book with the glass panels providing the text, the wonderful buildings, the images on the pages.’

‘You have created a lavish colourful tapestry in which the many strands of history are woven into one great story’.

I R I S H T O U R I S M I N D US T RY AWA R D S Best Cultural Experience | Waterford Viking Triangle

2014 Visitor Comments on the House of Waterford Crystal “A great experience” I didn’t expect to get so close to the glass blowers. What a great experience. We are so glad we did the tour”.

This was a very interesting tour, well worth taking. The tour group size was kept small and the guides use an overhead speaker system so all can hear.

The craftsman were close so you can ask them questions. The pieces that they create are breathtaking. If you are in the area don’t miss this one.

This was part of a package and I wasn’t sure it would be good. But it was really cool. To know they still hand blow all the crystal was amazing. If you’re in this area this should be added to your list of things to do!

Seeing how so many great pieces of crystal are made is very interesting. As a college football fan seeing the blueprints and a finished crystal football from the national championship trophy was very cool. Go Noles!

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2014 Visitor feedback on the Waterford Viking Triangle I was very impressed with Waterford.

We were on a “tour” of Britain & Ireland & Waterford was my favourite stop. I would love to come back & spend more time.

What left the greatest impression were some of the beautiful well-restored historic buildings but also the knowledge and hospitality of the woman we encountered in Reginald’s Tower and

the friendliness of the people we encountered in general at each site we visited and during our lunch at Reg’s On the Roof.

Thought that the Viking Triangle was very interesting.

Liked the museum.

Most buildings were attractive.

Love Waterford and will be back and stay longer.

I R I S H T O U R I S M I N D US T RY AWA R D S Best Cultural Experience | Waterford Viking Triangle

Endorsements: “Our decision to invest several million euro in developing ‘The Reg’ gastro bar, seafood restaurant, entertainment venue and nightclub alongside Reginald’s Tower stemmed directly from the Viking Triangle project. We saw the vision that was being delivered for a first-class visitor experience in Ireland’s oldest city. The commitment of the Council, Fáilte Ireland and others to presenting 1,100 years of history in a way that’s respectful but also contemporary has brought a great return in visitor numbers to this city.

It has also already had a tremendous and vital impact on Waterford’s selfconfidence and given businesses like ours a basis on which to invest and grow. Waterford now takes full advantage of a history going back to the arrival of the Vikings and this provides a platform for a revival of our 21st Century fortunes as an important Irish city,” Derek Monaghan, Owner, ‘The Reg’

“Street theatre and live music outdoors have been mainstays of Spraoi festival programmes since 1993. We have been hugely excited in recent years to have a whole new area of our city brought to life with wonderful public spaces that are perfect for many of our shows. Indeed, Spraoi was consulted

by Waterford City & County Council on the design of these spaces.

The atmosphere around areas of the Viking Triangle like Cathedral Square, Bishop’s Palace Square and The Mall is really something very special and these gems have now been polished to be enjoyed in new ways. These new – yet ancient! – locations help keep a festival like Spraoi fresh and we look forward in 2015 to continuing to bring great performers to the Viking Triangle in Ireland’s oldest city,” TV Honan, Director, Spraoi

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“Our 132-bedroomed hotel is located directly across the road - and takes its name - from Reginald’s Tower so we are perhaps the accommodation provider best placed to judge the tremendous impact that Viking Triangle is having on Waterford from a tourism perspective.

This has been a job very well done by Waterford City & County Council and all of the partners they have worked with to deliver the Viking Triangle,” Alicia Maguire, General Manager, Tower Hotel “Running over five weeks, Winterval, Ireland’s Christmas festival, benefits tremendously from the wonderful transformation there has been in the Viking Triangle.

Indeed, the festival - which has grown rapidly since 2012 – was partly inspired by the re-emergence after generations of Waterford’s historic core where beautiful streets, lanes, nooks and crannies lend themselves to wonderful atmospheric experiences by day and night for children of all ages! In 2014, Winterval featured 32 events and a magical market with 60 log cabins.

Many of these events and the entire market were concentrated in the Viking Triangle, taking advantage of the excellent public spaces and venues that have been created and, in some cases, recreated there,”

The feedback we hear at the hotel from guests who’ve visited the museums and walked around the renewed historic streets and lanes is overwhelmingly positive.

The high quality attractions and environment are helping bring in additional Irish and overseas visitors.

The greatly improved visitor experience in turn helps boost our return visits and referrals. The feedback we hear at the hotel from guests who’ve visited the museums and walked around the renewed historic streets and lanes is overwhelmingly positive. An additional spinoff that we are aware of at the hotel through our bar and restaurant business is that more local people are visiting the city centre and staying longer as it’s a nicer place to be. The Viking Triangle also provides a stunning backdrop for our great festivals like Spraoi and Winterval which each have a huge outdoor and street dimension.

Sinead O’Neill Hartery, CEO, Winterval

I R I S H T O U R I S M I N D US T RY AWA R D S Best Cultural Experience | Waterford Viking Triangle