WATERFORD PHOTO BLOG

WATERFORD CITYAUGUST 2025 VISIT

WATERFORD MAY 2016
I must admit that I was surprised to discover that I have not visited Waterford since 2021 especially as I was convinced that I had visited late in 2023.

I am trying to produce a comprehensive record, with photographs, of my visits and while the plan was to visit the city once every year every thing changed because of Covid-19 and I had no option but to cancel a number of visits. While I thought that I had visited in 2023 this was not the case as my mother who was 103 years of age, at the time, was unwell so I had to cancel my October 2023 visit a few days before I was due to travel. The hotel would not allow me to reschedule for March 2024 and as I had difficulty finding suitable accommodation Waterford did not remain on my schedule for that year. This year, 2025, I have booked the Granville and it was a wonderful experience

As already mentioned, I thought that I had visited Waterford in 2023 but when I checked the records I discovered that cancelled the October trip and did not visit in 2024. I stayed at the Portree in August 2021. I also stayed at the Portree in August 2019. I stayed in the Fitzwilton in July 2018 and in August 2017. I had a room in May 2016 at the Waterford Marina Hotel. While I cannot find any records I know that I stayed at the Waterford Marina Hotel in 2015 or 2014. At this stage I cannot find any photographs of Waterford that pre-date my 2016 visit but I will continue my search.

WATERFORD WALLS

BEGAN BACK IN 2015

The Waterford Walls festival was conceived as a direct response to a challenging period in the city's history. In the mid-2010s, Waterford was grappling with the profound effects of an economic downturn. The city centre was described as having a "depressed" and "hopeless" atmosphere, marked by vacant factories, boarded-up shops, and empty office blocks. This decline was exacerbated by new motorways and the rise of out-of-town shopping centres, which drew commercial activity and footfall away from the city centre, leaving it feeling like a "ghost town."

Co-founder Edel Tobin expressed frustration with this situation, noting that property owners seemed disconnected from the visual decline of their own buildings. The festival was born from a desire to turn this negativity into a positive force, transforming the city's symbols of failure into a vibrant canvas for art. The goal was to encourage people to "lift" their eyes from the ground and reconnect with their urban environment.

The 2016 festival was a significant expansion of the previous year's project, growing into a city-wide cultural movement. Over 40 artists participated, transforming 40 walls across Waterford City and, for the first time, extending to the nearby town of Tramore. The festival's ethos, as articulated by Tobin, was to "re-energise, re-imagine and re-claim the shared public space" of Waterford.

A key factor in the festival's success was its progressive operational model. Unlike other mural festivals that are limited to a single designated area, Waterford Walls was granted "access to an entire city." This wide-ranging permission demonstrated a "mutual trust" between the festival team and the local council, allowing for the "fantastical and progressive idea of handing the entire city over to a group of artists." This collaborative, grassroots approach was central to the festival's success, transforming Waterford into a dynamic, living gallery.
GO THERE

FIRST VISIT TO TRAMORE
Tramore, which translates from the Irish 'Trá Mhór' to 'big beach', was originally a small fishing village. Its transformation began in the late 18th century when it was discovered as a "pleasant retreat" for the citizens of Waterford seeking the benefits of "salt water". The town's growth as a tourist destination was significantly boosted by the opening of a unique, isolated railway line from Waterford City in 1853. This railway was integral to the town's development until its closure in 1961.

WATERFORD 2025 VISIT
This was my most successful city visit to date and it was the most enjoyable however my visit ended on the Friday before all the murals were due to be completed Which was a pity. One reason why it was successful was that there was no rain and the other reason was the fact that I had a room at the Granville Hotel. Another upside was that geo-tagging worked without any failures.

I brought both my Leica Q3 and my new Sony A1 II and the plan was to use both equally throughout the visit but I ended up favouring the Sony A1 FE 25-105mm F4 combination as it proved to be much more flexible. Some had suggested that the Sony A7RV might have been a better choice so I may select it for my Visit to Cork city in September.

AUGUST 2017 VISIT
During my visit, a gentleman I encountered placed his hand on my camera lens and accused me of supporting anti-social behaviour by photographing street art. He used words I cannot repeat here. Unfortunately, at the time, I didn't realise that his action had badly marked my wide-angle lens. I believe he must have been eating greasy food, as large streaks covered the lens. It took hours to clean, and upon returning to Dublin, I had to take it to my camera dealer. The damage was much worse than I initially thought, as he must have had something sharp in his hand.

WATER FEATURE
I have noticed a recurring issue throughout the island of Ireland: water features are rarely properly maintained and eventually cease to be operational.

CAT MURAL BY DAN LEO
Dan Leo is a British street artist, born in London, who moved to Ireland at a young age. He is a multidisciplinary artist known for his murals, paintings, and digital art, with a focus on animals and nature. His style is graphic and colourful, characterised by heavy line work, and draws inspiration from 90s cartoons and graphic design.

WATERFORD JULY 2018
The Granville Hotel is a historic four-star, family-run hotel located on Meagher Quay in the heart of Waterford City, Ireland. Overlooking the River Suir, the hotel dates back to the early 1700s and has played a significant role in the city's history, having hosted notable figures such as Daniel O'Connell, Charles Stewart Parnell, and Lord Frederick Roberts. It is also the birthplace of Thomas Francis Meagher, a key figure in Irish and American history and the designer of the Irish National Tricolour.

MURALS IN WATERFORD
Waterford Walls, recognised as Ireland's largest street art festival, was established in 2015. Its genesis was a direct response to the profound impact of the economic crisis, which left Waterford with "forlorn buildings and facades". A small, dedicated grassroots voluntary group took on the ambitious challenge to "enhance and regenerate" these spaces, aiming to inject new life into the city.
AUGUST 2021 VISIT
The Waterford Walls Festival, established in 2014, holds a prominent position as Ireland's largest street art festival and open-air gallery. Its foundational mission, articulated since its inception, is to "transform and regenerate urban spaces in Waterford to inspire and connect communities". This core objective highlights the festival's role beyond mere aesthetic enhancement, positioning it as a significant driver of urban renewal and social cohesion.
JULY 2018 VISIT
In 2018 I noticed that many, if not all, water features and fountains were dry and non-operational

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