Waterford Watercolours: The Clock Tower

The Clock Tower is an important landmark on the city quays opposite Barronstrand Street. Built of granite and limestone it was erected in 1861 for the benefit of shipping. Originally known as the Fountain Clock, it had troughs for working horses to drink from. The clock completed in 1864, contains four four-foot dials; the original mechanism was replaced in 1954.

This painting is part of a collection of watercolours of Waterford by local artist John O'Regan, commissioned by Waterford Civic Trust and sponsored by local bodies and companies. This particular painting was sponsored by the Granville Hotel.

The watercolours were published in a diary for 1992,'93 and '94 after which they were donated to the municipal art collection of Waterford City Council.

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Waterford Watercolours: The Cathedral

This was the first post - Reformation Catholic cathedral to be erected in the British Isles. The site was granted by the (Protestant) Corporation and adjoined the 'Great Chapel' of penal days. The building was erected in 1793 - 1796 and was the last work of the Waterford architect John Roberts, who is unique in having designed both the Protestant and Catholic cathedrals of a city. It was masked by houses between it and Barronstrand Street. These were demolished in 1893, when the present façade was added.

This painting is part of a collection of watercolours of Waterford by local artist John O'Regan, commissioned by Waterford Civic Trust and sponsored by local bodies and companies. This particular painting was sponsored by Fewer McGinley Associates.

The watercolours were published in a diary for 1992,'93 and '94 after which they were donated to the municipal art collection of Waterford City Council.

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The Malcolmson's

The founder of the Malcomson business empire was David Malcomson, who came to Clonmel as a boy in 1774, David was involved in cross channel trading in corn and cotton. He married Mary Ffennel of Cahir Abbey and their sons Joseph, Joshua, John and William became involved in the family business. The Malcomsons were astute entrepreneurs and became aware of streamer developments.

In 1836 they founded the Waterford Steam Navigation Co. By February 1843 they opened a repair yard on the Park Road, known as the Neptune Iron Works for their growing fleet of ships. Joseph took charge of the Iron Works; his wide ranging shipping interests gave him first-hand knowledge of the technical revolution that was happening in iron ship building. 40 steamships were built in Neptune's yard between 1846 and 1882, several of them were large trans-atlantic ocean liners.

The Malcomsons were reputed to be the largest steam-owners in the world in the 1850s and 1860s. With in twelve years the Neptune Shipyard had a workforce of 300 men under the leadership of master shipbuilders John Horn.

In 1849 Malcomson's shipyard recruited John Horn, an outstanding shipbuilder from the Clyde, to manage Neptune. Horn was a master shipbuilder, trained in England and head hunted by Joseph Malcomson. Horn had been trained by Robert Napier, one of the greatest marine engineer and shipbuilders of the era. Horn became foreman of Napier's marine engine works in the Clyde when he was only 18.

Horn understood and practised Brunel's construction techniques while adding his own innovations. He initiated a very ambitious and aggressive programme of shipbuilding making a mark at home and abroad. His leadership was extraordinary; the ships which were the largest being built in Ireland at the time were renowned for the strength of their hulls, one the SS Avoca was the first steamship to force the ice at Odessa.

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Waterford Watercolours: The Bullpost, Ballybricken

Large fairs were held here from early times down to the 1950s, and this was also the scene of the cruel but popular sport of bull baiting. Bulls were let into the ring one at a time and attacked by specially bred dogs, whose job was to pin them to the ground where they were dispatched by the city butchers to the cheers of the populace. This brutal form of entertainment was banned by law in 1798. Ballybricken has also been the scene of many stormy political meetings, and the Ballybrickener is still a very special type of Waterfordian.

This painting is part of a collection of watercolours of Waterford by local artist John O'Regan, commissioned by Waterford Civic Trust and sponsored by local bodies and companies. This particular painting was sponsored by Tom Murphy Car Sales.

The watercolours were published in a diary for 1992,'93 and '94 after which they were donated to the municipal art collection of Waterford City Council.

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Annie Brophy: Waterford’s 20th century social historian

Annie Brophy’s photographs play an important part in Waterford’s 20th century social history. Very few households in the city do not have at least one Brophy image, often proudly displayed in a frame on the mantelpiece or the sideboard. A visit to her studio at 9 Barker Street (just off Ballybricken) was an integral part of many “Big Days” in the lives of tens of thousands of the city’s people and many local people have “Annie Brophy” stories to tell. In 2005 Waterford City Council purchased her life’s work (over 60,000 negatives!) for deposit in Waterford City Archives.

Annie took a huge amount of photos of Waterford and surrounding areas from the 1920s to the 1970s, including pictures of local bands, teams, committees, family portraits, wedding parties and other groups. Annie also took a few more unusual photos including shots of the aftermath of the Jail Wall Disaster, that terrible event in March 1943 where 10 people were killed when part of the Jail Wall collapsed on their homes.

Donal Moore, City Archivist, stated: “Yet again we found the standard of the negatives in the Brophy Collection was very high. The images are a wonderful testimony to Annie Brophy’s methodical and professional approach to photography. Very few of the images had to be cleaned up or manipulated in any way. They say that every picture can tell a story so I think that this exhibition will be a large book for many Waterford people! I hope that the exhibition will bring back memories of a time gone by to many Waterford people.”

For further information on the exhibition or the Brophy Collection please contact Donal Moore, City Archivist, on 051-843123, 087-8185715 or archives@waterfordcity.ie

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