‘Don’t we have enough museums?’ - Response to calls for maritime museum in Waterford city
There was push back against the idea at the July plenary meeting of Waterford City and County Council
A council official has pushed back against calls for the opening of a maritime museum in Waterford city.
Labour Party councillor Seamus Ryan had made the suggestion at the July plenary meeting of Waterford City and County Council.
Cllr Ryan said: “There’s been a number of calls for a maritime museum.
“We’re the only port city and county, I’d say in the country, that does not have a specific maritime museum.
“I know we’ve had a maritime exhibition in one of our museums but that’s different so I’m calling for a maritime museum to be made available.”
In response, Director of Services Michael Quinn pushed back against the idea but agreed that there needs to be an increased focus on Waterford’s maritime heritage.
“In relation to a maritime museum, I suppose the first observation is don’t we have enough museums?
“We have seven I think, I was just counting them. This issue has come up before. We do have a very strong maritime heritage.
“We did previously ask that they would look at trying to represent that more appropriately and there has been a lot of public interest around trying to develop a maritime museum.”
He highlighted that Waterford’s existing museums are looking at ways in which it can enhance their maritime offerings.
“In the starting point, what is achievable is perhaps a more enhanced maritime element within our existing museum.
“I know that’s what the curator is looking at doing with a view to emphasising that part of our history.”
Mr Quinn concluded by saying that opening a maritime museum may be an option in the longer term.
“I think in due course, we can definitely put it on our agenda for our next regeneration project in the city because it is a complicated process.
“Identifying a building, coming up with the development costs and so on so it is a lot of work required to actually put in place that standalone type attraction.”
He added that emphasising Waterford’s maritime history is certainly on the council’s agenda.