Waterford, Ireland
Waterford, the oldest city in Ireland, was established in the Viking area. This walled city retains much of it's medieval character together with the graceful buildings from its 18th century expansion. Waterford is split by the River Suir, and was once one of the most important ports in Europe. In addition to the city’s fame in the glass-making department and its obvious attractions for history buffs, Waterford has a laid back feel which many travelers appreciate, not to mention lots of great Irish pubs.
Reginald's
Tower is the most historic urban medieval monument in Ireland.
Considered
Ireland’s oldest civic building, it has been used for many things. Today
it is a civic museum. The elegant Chamber of Commerce building,
the City Hall and the Bishop's Palace are prime examples of 18th century
architecture.
Reginald's Tower Bishop's Palace
Waterford is the home of Waterford Crystal, the world-famous hand-crafted, cut glass product and is a sophisticated shopping venue for high fashion and craft products.
Ecclesiastical landmarks include St. Patrick's Churches, Christ Church Cathedral, Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Black Friars, St. Olave's Church and Greyfriars.
DOCKING
Most of the major cruise lines do not dock at Waterford, they dock at Dunmore East. It is about 23 minutes (19.2 km) driving time to Waterford. If you have plans to visit the Waterford Crystal Factory-be sure to read below.
However, Wednesday, 27th May 2009, saw the arrival of the ms Rotterdam cruise ship at Port of Waterford's Belview Terminal. This vessel (while in today's view is considered quite small) is one of the largest ever vessels to berth at the Belview facility.
Rotterdam at Waterford's Belview Terminal
The Story of Waterford Crystal Factory
Waterford Crystal is famous the world over, so visiting
the factory just 10-minutes outside the Waterford city center and taking
the factory tour could be a really interesting experience - especially
if you’re into crystal. But sadly, on Jan. 30, 2009 the factory
shut down in Waterford, Ireland. The factory was one of southeast
Ireland’s biggest tourist attractions, drawing some 350,000 visitors a
year. Among the highlights of the tour was an audiovisual presentation
of the creation of the Millennium Ball which dropped in Times Square in
New York as part of the New Year celebrations in 2000. Tourists have
continued to come since it closed down, either to show their support or
because they are unaware that the factory is now closed.
Although the Waterford factory tour is not operating
today, the showroom is still open and selling crystal. The cafe is also
open. Waterford Crystal is available all over Ireland. If Waterford City
is out of your travel plans you can find the crystal wherever you go.
Each piece of Waterford can be recognized by the signature on the base
with the word "Waterford," the name of the finest crystal in the world.
History of the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball
Revelers began celebrating New Year's Eve in Times Square as early as 1904, but it was in 1907 that the New Year's Eve Ball made its maiden descent from the flagpole atop One Times Square where crowds would gather to "ring out the old, ring in the new." The first New Year's Eve Ball, made of iron and wood and adorned with one hundred 25-watt light bulbs, was 5 feet in diameter and weighed 700 pounds. It was built by a young immigrant metalworker named Jacob Starr, and for most of the twentieth century the company he founded, sign maker Artkraft Strauss, was responsible for lowering the ball.
In 1920, a 400 pound ball made entirely of wrought iron replaced the original. In 1955, the iron ball was replaced with an aluminum ball weighing a mere 200 pounds. This aluminum Ball remained unchanged until the 1980s, when red light bulbs and the addition of a green stem converted the Ball into an apple for the "I Love New York" marketing campaign from 1981 until 1988.
(Above) New Year's Eve Ball, 1978. Photo credit: The New York Times.
After seven years, the traditional glowing white Ball with white light bulbs and without the green stem returned to brightly light the sky above Times Square. In 1995, the Ball was upgraded with aluminum skin, rhinestones, strobes, and computer controls, but the aluminum ball was lowered for the last time in 1998.
For Times Square 2000, the millennium celebration at the Crossroads of the World, the New Year's Eve Ball was completely redesigned by Waterford Crystal. The new crystal Ball combined the latest in technology with the most traditional of materials, reminding us of our past as we gazed into the future and the beginning of a new millennium. The now-retired 2000-2007 New Year's Eve Ball is the property of the building owners of One Times Square.
Read more about the New Year's Eve Ball HERE
The 2009 Times Square New Year's Ball represents the perfect blend of time-honored craftsmanship and state of the art technology. "The theme for the Waterford crystals on this year's Ball, "Let There be Joy" reflects our belief that New Year's Eve is a time when happiness and optimism for the future should be at the forefront of everyone's thoughts.
Watch the YouTube Waterford Crystal Factory tour; HERE
Waterford's chandeliers hang in well-known buildings like Windsor Castle, Westminster Abbey, and the Kennedy Center, along with the 2,668 crystals for the famous New Year's Eve Ball that is dropped each year in New York City's Times Square.
Waterford Crystal Lismore 9 1/8" Carafe and Bowl
In 2002, Waterford celebrated the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the Lismore pattern of crystal. Almost every year since its inception, Lismore has topped the popularity list and has been the biggest selling pattern of crystal in the US and the world.