Edit: Waterford City - any luggage storage any day? Not avail at bus or train depot

Could you do the House of Waterford as a day trip from Cork? With your other Cork plans, you would definitely need to add a night there.

I believe it's 1.5 hr bus ride each way. One option might be to start the overall trip a day later, if the airline rates are the same, so we wouldn't be in Waterford on a Sunday. (For BA, Tuesdays and Wednesday are several hundred cheaper for Business Class. )
Thanks again!

I found this suggestion on Facebook to someone who had posted a similar question last year.

Waterford Treasures (the five museums in Waterford) may be able to help as they do have storage facilities at their reception desk for large backpacks, suitacases for people visiting the museums.

You would need to contact them and ask about leaving your luggage as they do say that this is "not as a long-term storage solution while exploring the rest of Waterford." You may need to visit one of their museums....

Alternatively you could try hotels to see if they would be prepared to hold luggage for you.

I guess if you are going there you are more than likely to be staying at a hotel, so can leave everything there.
What is interesting is that the factory offer a guided day trip by train from Dublin, with time in Kilkenny outward, returning via Limerick Junction and the Cork main line.

Waterford Plunkett station used to have left luggage when It was 6 platforms, not one. Do they get privileged use of that old facility? I remember Plunkett when It was busy and needing to use more platforms. Sad what It has become.

It begs the question of what those tour people do with their stuff. But whatever they do, maybe that is an option for you while in Dublin.
Then go direct to Cork on the Sunday.

Isn31c and wasleys, thanks.
Isn31c, I saw that day trip.
We are thinking of adding another day to the trip (dog sitter said yes) and just spending one night in Waterford, and enjoying the High Tea, in addition to the tour. Then onto Midleton/Cork the next day.

Looks like the Waterford bus stops right by the Midleton Distillery, altho once again we have the luggage issue, if we haven't checked in. However, we will be staying somewhere in Cork for two nights.

Oh, the planning evolves. It is a great escape from the heat.
Thanks again so much!

Stopping the night in Waterford certainly makes sense as you would be able to drop your luggage off in the hotel when you arrive which solves all the problems.

I just received a personal reply from the House of Waterford, and they offered no solutions, but were very friendly .