New visitor centre attracts 70,000

THE NEW House of Waterford Crystal centre in Waterford city, which opened in late June, has already attracted over 70,000 visitors.

Commercial director David McCoy says there has been a “fantastic response” from local people, tourists and the travel industry – especially in the United States. Over “80 per cent” of visitors, so far, have been from overseas.

The new facility, located on The Mall, was developed as a response to the closure of the old glass-manufacturing plant at Kilbarry in 2009.

When the Waterford Wedgwood company went into receivership, the brand names were bought by WWRD Holdings Ltd, an American company which specialises in luxury home and lifestyle products.

Although most Waterford Crystal products are now made in factories abroad, the new owner of the trademark agreed to open a small-scale manufacturing facility in the city centre.

The project received support from Waterford City Council, which was anxious to salvage both jobs and the city’s major tourist attraction.

Guided tours (Monday to Friday) allow visitors to once again see crystal being hand-made – from glass-blowing to engraving.

A lavish new showroom and shop, open seven days a week (but closed on Sundays in winter from November 7th) displays the “the largest collection of Waterford Crystal in the world”.

The House of Waterford Crystal, which also has a cafe, is regarded as a major boost for Waterford and the southeast. The old Waterford Wedgwood factory and visitors’ centre was the most popular tourist attraction in the region – with over 300,000 visitors a year – and officials in Waterford hope that the new centre will preserve the city’s international reputation as the home of fine crystal.

WWRD has recently undertaken a marketing promotion in the United States to brief travel agents and cruise ship operators about the facility.

• Tickets for the guided tour cost €10; students and seniors €8; and children €3.50). Entry to the showroom is free. Visit waterfordvisitorcentre.com