The Visitor Experience At Waterford Museum of Treasures

Treasures of gold, bronze, silver, crystal memories, associations... Waterford Treasures at the Granary is both a treasury and a treasure trail that takes you through 1000 years of Ireland's oldest city.

Our sound guide allows you to encounter the past at your own pace, to stop and marvel at the fascinating artefacts and to explore them in depth through a series of interactives and audiovisual presentations. Then enjoy our first class restaurant, exhibition gallery, shopping and a visit to the South East's main tourist office.

Viking Kite Brooch
The Waterford Kite Brooch, the finest piece of secular metal work dates from about 1100 AD. It is very much part of the native Irish Tradition even though it incorporates Scandinavian and other foreign elements. Its manufacture in Late Viking Age Waterford shows not only the degree to which the Vikings had been assimilated by the native population but also the contribution made by the Scandinavians to native metal work.

Strongbow and Aoife
Strongbow, Richard de Clare and Earl of Pembroke besieged the city on 25 August 1170, following the seige and eventual fall of Waterford. Strongbow sent for MacMurrough who arrived with his daughter Aoife. A garrison was assigned to the city and there too, Diarmait's daughter was lawfully wed to the earl. Her father bestowed her on him, and also confirmed the treaty between them. Diarmait and his allies now had control of Ireland's second port. The direct involvement of Irish kings in the affairs of Waterford and other Norse towns was about to come to an end as they celebrated the marriage that would change the course of Irish history forever.

'Battle standards where already menacing the city walls when the Normans arrived and twice they where vigorously repulsed by the citizens. The beseigers cut down a small building which hung from the town walls and with it came a considerable part of the wall. The invaders rushed into the city and won a most bloody victory, large numbers of the citizens being slaughtered in the streets. The two Sitrics were taken in Reginald's Tower and put on the sword.'

Cap Of Maintenance
King Henry VIII presented it to the city of Waterford in 1536. This is the only piece of Henry VIII's wardrobe to survive.

Medieval Ring Brooch
c.1220, found during archaeological excavations in Waterford City, one of the earliest - if not the earliest medieval ring brooch to survive.

The Magi Cope
Fifteenth century, part of Waterford Museum of Treasures' collection of pre-Reformation vestments.

Decanter, Penrose, Waterford, c. 1790
George and William Penrose, who founded the now The Flint Glass Decanter cut with semi - circles famous glassworks at Waterford in 1783 where Quakers, filled with fine diamonds and trefoil splits. The family arrived from England in the mid 17th century. A flourishing export trade saw the Penrose mould - brown basal flutes and mounted on the recruiting craftsmen from Stourbridge in England, a base, the name "Penrose, Waterford", major centre of glass production since the 16th century. To manage the Waterford Glasshouse, the Penrose choose yet another Quaker, John Hill - an already important glass maker in his own right. The glassworks set up under hill were located in the vicinity of the Granary building.

Find out more information about opening hours, price of admission and contact details for the Waterford Museum of Treasures.