Waterford Crustal Visitor Center

We were in Ireland last spring and were really impressed by the Waterford Crystal factory tour. We were staying near Waterford for two nights. We also spent 2 nights in Blarney and spent several hours in the gardens and castle. You do have to pay to enter the garden grounds and it would be hard to explore the area in 30 minutes. We also saw the Rock of Cashel which was amazing. I think you may have to cut something out, so think about what you most want to do and see! So many wonderful sights!

If you are going further and up to Dingle, I would recommend the Dingle Crystal factory tour instead. It’s a small family owned business, the owner was trained at Waterford and is a master craftsman. They cut all the crystal by hand and do demonstrations. I have Waterford Crystal from forty years ago when it was still produced in Ireland, my Dingle Crystal goblets, we purchased a couple of years ago are the same quality and a bit heavier.

We enjoyed the Waterford Crystal Visitor Center. The tour was interesting and the products are very beautiful.

My parents and grandparents set great store by their collections and crystal was often gifted at major family functions.

It is somewhat sad that there is no actual production in Ireland. I think the company is owned by the “orange-handled scissor” corporation.

Thanks for the great info. The Dingle Crystal Factory looked great, but our schedule didn't fit. We'll see what is really importqnt as far as the Waterford Factory. My wife is very interested as we have Waterford Goblets. I'm really trying to avoid cramming too much in, but this day is a little tricky. With so many beautiful places in Ireland, maybe the Blarney Gardens would be the most 'expendable' places to leave out. I don't want to be wiped out so we don't enjoy Kinsale in the evening. We are also RS driving tour of the Ring of Kerry, spending 2 nights in Dingle, 2 nights in Doolin (a day trip to Inishmore with the boat pass under the Cliffs of Moher. We then drive to Galway and a day trip around Connemara, before heading back to Dublin, catching Newgrange on the way. Knowing that now, would the Blarney Castle and Gardens be that big of a deal since we will be seeing other castles and other sites. I don't want to burn out! Again, thoughts? You folks are great resources!

Not Waterford related but you are stopping in Cobh for lunch so some suggestions. Be sure to drive up to. St. Colmans, the view is Wonderful.. On the waterfront look for the statue of Annie Moore and her brothers. She left here to go to America and was the first one to step foot onto Ellis Island. The Titanic also.left here it did not dock they moved people.to the ship by a tender I think it was ca!led. Also at the waterfront is a statue dedicated to the Lusitania which sank here with great loss of life and the sinking precipitated WWI. You can take a ferry from.the harbor across the water on the way to Kinsale which saves a lot of time. We were there two years ago and it was running then.. Good luck and enjoy.

I don’t understand why you’re staying in Cashel. Why not just go directly to Waterford from Glendalough? This way you’re not backtracking. If your wife wants to visit the crystal center, you need to visit the crystal center. Why not start the day there? If you have to drop Blarney and/or Cobh to get to Kinsale in time, so be it. You don’t have to decide that now, do you? See how it goes.

Also at the waterfront is a statue dedicated to the Lusitania which sank here with great loss of life and the sinking precipitated WWI

The Lusitania was sunk 9 months into the war. Her sinking precipitated the entry of the United States into the war- a different thing entirely. She sailed in spite of a German warning, and was carrying armaments when sunk, and was classified as an auxiliary naval vessel- although not armed as originally planned when built. Those were the reasons given by the Germans for her sinking.

She was not sunk at Cobh, but off the Old Head of Kinsale.

I certainly stand corrected as when I said precipitated WWI I should have said US entry in the conflict and the exact sinking was off Kinsale with survivors and deceased brought to Cobh. Regardless the monument to the town and their connection is well worth seeing.

Thanks again for the great suggestions! (I also apologize for the typo--Crystal, not Crustal!) We have decided to skip Blarney Castle and Gardens, which opens up a chunk of time. We looked at pictues on line and thought that was enough for the Blarney! I appreciated the suggesion about staying in Waterford instead of Cashel and not backtracking. The Rock of Cashel was on our important site to see list, and it would also be a kindo of out-of-the-way drive north from Waterford. I'm thinking that we would go through Glendalough, see the castle and cathedral in Kilkenny, then do Cashel...we would have a decent day. There is a little backtracking either way, but i think the drive from Waterford to Cobh would be nice along the coast. If we did the 10:30 Crystal tour and spent time there and then in Cobh, we should have plenty of time to get to Kinsale. No plans to stop in Cork, just scoot around it.

The drive from Waterford to Cobh is not particularly coastal- you have to go off onto the minor roads to follow the coast properly.

From Cobh to Kinsale you don't even have to go anywhere near Cork City. The other route (which route planners don't seem to give you) is to go out of Cobh then use the cross river Passage West ferry. It is a little bit slower, but not by that much.

As you drive into Cobh you pass the Old Church Cemetery. That is where many of the Lusitania Victims are buried. As well as the memorial in Cobh itself there is an impressive new (well, ten years old) memorial in the Cemetery at their mass graves- which is possibly more meaningful than the one in the centre of town. It is even easy to get to for Cruise ship day passengers, let alone those driving.

Thanks for the new recommendations. I’ll add them to my list of options as we enter the city. Great ideas.