Plans for ‘attraction of scale’ in Waterford continuing apace as council issues update

Plans for an ‘attraction of scale’ in Waterford city are continuing apace, a council meeting has heard.

In March 2025, Fáilte Ireland launched a new five-year plan for tourism in Waterford. It included plans for an ‘attraction of scale’ on the north side of the river in the city.

The report stated that such a project would “become a transformational project for tourism across the south east region”.

Social Democrats councillor Mary Roche requested an update on this project at the April plenary meeting of Waterford City and County Council.

Cllr Roche asked if the council had had any interaction with Fáilte Ireland with regards the project.

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In response, Acting Director of Services Seán Dobbs said: “On the attraction of scale, there is a strategic assessment report which I think is with Failte Ireland at the moment.

“So we haven’t been in the position to brief as yet on it but I think that’s due within a couple of weeks.”

This was followed up by a further explanation by the council’s Chief Executive, Seán McKeown.

Mr McKeown said: “There’s actually two reports that Fáilte are concerned with. One is the strategic assessment on if an attraction of scale is to come to Waterford, where exactly should it be located?

“The general area of the North Quays, Mount Misery, where? There’s a strategic assessment around that.

“It’s something very technical and there’ll be a range of criteria used to decide upon the location.”

He went on to outline details of the second report that is being prepared and what is being considered for the attraction of scale.

“And the second thing then is what should an attraction of scale be?

“Should it simply be an Eiffel Tower kind of attraction or the Guardian of the North where it becomes a tourist attraction in itself or should it actually be an attraction that brings footfall that people go into.

“So again, there’s a report with recommendations on that. We haven’t seen them yet.”

Fáilte Ireland’s five year plan noted that Waterford city lacks a ‘hero’ visitor attraction with the capacity to transform the region’s positioning within the international market place.

It continued: “The development of an attraction linked to the north side of the river and within or in the vicinity of the North Quays offers an iconic setting with the capacity to significantly alter visitor flows into the city and region.

“The wider region requires an attraction of scale that has strong appeal to the international market.”