Céad Míle Fáilte! Waterford welcomes visitors from Newfoundland and Labrador
This year’s exchange was made even more accessible by the re-establishment of direct flights between St John’s in Newfoundland and Dublin
A group of 47 visitors from Newfoundland and Labrador have visited Waterford and the wider South East over the past week, continuing a decades-long tradition of cultural exchange and friendship between the two regions.
The visit was organised by Ireland Newfoundland Connections (INC) and Ireland Newfoundland Labrador Connections (INLC) - two organisations which have supported reciprocal visits between Ireland and Newfoundland for many years,
This year’s exchange was made even more accessible by the re-establishment of direct flights between St John’s in Newfoundland and Dublin.
The visitors began their tour in County Wexford, where their itinerary included Johnstown Castle, Vinegar Hill and the Irish National Heritage Park. They then travelled to County Kilkenny for the Iverk Show before continuing to Carrick-on-Suir and Waterford.
Throughout their stay, participants have been welcomed into the homes of local families. This community-based approach allows visitors to experience everyday Irish life while creating genuine friendships and lasting connections.
Bernadette Guest, Waterford City and County Council’s Heritage Officer, played an important role in organising the Waterford leg of the programme.
Commenting on the visit, she said: “Waterford and Newfoundland share deep historical and cultural connections, built over generations of migration, music and family ties. This visit gives us an opportunity not only to explore that shared heritage, but also to bring it to life through community hospitality. We are delighted to welcome the group to Waterford and to introduce them to the history, culture and living traditions of the county.”
The group was formally welcomed to Waterford by the Mayor of Waterford, Cllr Liam Brazil, who hosted at a reception in the Council Chamber.
In a memorable moment for the visitors, the Mayor marked the occasion by singing a traditional Waterford song.
Music has been a central part of the tour, with the Newfoundland group accompanied by The Islanders, who have entertained hosts and visitors at events throughout the week.
Ralph Tapper, Chair of Ireland Newfoundland Labrador Connections, commented: “As usual, the welcome we’ve received across the South East has been tremendous. There’s a real sense of coming home when Newfoundlanders visit this part of Ireland, because so many of our families, traditions and ways of speaking have their roots here. Staying with local families makes the experience especially meaningful, and the friendships formed through these exchanges often last for many years.”
Mick Murphy, Chair of Ireland Newfoundland Connections (Ireland), thanked the participants and said the regular exchanges had helped to preserve and strengthen the close relationship between the people of Ireland and Newfoundland.
During their trip, the visitor also traveled to An Rinn and An Sean Phobal, where they experienced the language, culture, heritage and hospitality of Waterford’s Gaeltacht communities, where they received a warm Céad Míle Fáilte.
The ties between Ireland and Newfoundland stretch back centuries. Generations of Irish people, particularly those from Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny and the wider South East, crossed the Atlantic and established new lives in Newfoundland. Their influence remains visible in the province’s surnames, music, traditions, language and distinctive patterns of speech.
Newfoundland is known in Irish as Talamh an Éisc, meaning “Land of the Fish”. While an ocean separates the two places, visits such as this demonstrate that the cultural and personal connections between them remain remarkably strong.