Waterford its a Feeling

The Institute of Physics in Ireland (IOP) is campaigning to have the new Marlborough Street bridge across the Liffey in Dublin named for Waterford man Ernest Walton.

Walton (along with his co-worker John Cockcroft) was the first person to artificially split the atom in a controlled fashion thus verifying Einstein’s famous equation E=mc2. Walton was awarded the Nobel Prize for his work and he remains Ireland’s only physics Nobel prize-winner. He is according to the IOP “one of the most respected scientists of the 20th century”.

The 3rd annual Lismore Music Festival takes place this June Bank Holiday weekend 2nd-3rd June and features the enchanting Barber of Seville with Owen Gilhooly, Javier Abreu, Pervin Chakar, Damon Nestor Ploumis, Gerard O'Connor, Sandra Oman and Mark Duff with LMF chamber orchestra in the stunning surroundings of Lismore Castle and Gardens as well as a special schools' performance for 200 children from Waterford and Cork in the presence of a very special guest, President Michael D. Higgins, on Friday 1st June.

Sunday May 6th was no ordinary Sunday in the village of Fenor. The day had finally arrived that everyone was waiting for and the weather couldn't have been better. I can't help thinking this must have had something to do with the fact we were raising money for the Fenor Lourdes Pilgrimage and the RNLI and that God was smiling down on us.

All the helpers gathered on the cross to set up at 9.30am. The Long Throw was first to kick off; it proved to be as popular as ever although the Play Park being open this year was quite a challenge with the sheer volume of people availing of the facility on such a good day but we ensured everyone's safety and the craic was ninety!

Waterford mobile development company, Apptoonz has released a new App that shows seven days tides. Covering Waterford City, Dunmore East and Dungarvan the mobile software will ensure everyone knows when the tide is in or out.

The app is aimed at beachgoers, anglers, sailors or anyone who needs to know the state of the tide. The app is available on iPhone and Android and is free until the end of May. Search for ‘Waterford Tide’ on your mobile phone app store.

We have been running Eventing successfully at Camphire over a number of years; August 2011 was our second year with international status. It was extremely successful with several thousand visitors per day. Visitors came from a thirty-two county radius, as well as international participants and competitors travelling through local ferries and airports. In addition to the Cross Country, Dressage and Showjumping arenas, we also ran a successful Trade and Food Arena with gift products, clothing, crafts and food and a range of family fun activities including archery and falconry. 3rd-5th August are our dates for 2012.

Comeragh Mountain Lamb, owned and run by William Drohan and Aidan Dunwoody of Kilrossanty, has been selected as one of the six finalists from hundreds of nominees around the country in the Santa Rita/Life Magazine Irish Restaurant - Local Food Hero Awards organised by the Sunday Independent and the Restaurants Association of Ireland. These are the biggest food awards in the country. Comeragh Mountain Lamb is a local company which produces top quality lamb with a unique flavour selling directly to supermarkets, restaurants and hotels.

This weekend will see a new event on the Dungarvan calendar of events, the Dungarvan 'Bar Music Trail', which takes place over the entire May Bank Holiday Weekend. This is an initiative of the local publicans to replace the Feile na nDeise Festival for 2012.

A total of 17 bars in the town have signed up for it and many have quality acts making their way to Dungarvan for the weekend. The music kicks off on Thursday night and continues until Monday night, 5 nights of great music and it's all free, no cover charges.

Many schools around the South East are trying something a little more creative for this year’s school tour. Workhouse Studios is opening its doors for a limited number of tours centring around creative craft workshops.

Set in the iconic 1851 Kilmacthomas workhouse, the building is steeped in history and all of the creative activities planned for the day relate back to and take inspiration from the history of this post-famine workhouse.

Comhlucht Forbartha na nDéise, the local Gaeltacht development company has  teamed up with Freedom Surf School and Language Activity Centre in Tramore, Co Waterford to provide holiday packages that include land and  water based activities “as Gaeilge” to include Surfing, Blokarting, Team Challenges, Body Boarding, and much more!

Transport can be provided from Gaeltacht na nDéise to Tramore, taking in the spectacular views along the Copper Coast on the journey. After a day on the water, relax in Freedom’s  Surf Cafe then its off for a hot toddy in one of the local hostelries in Gaeltacht na nDéise  making  a perfect end to a perfect day!

Do like gardening? No? You should definitely take a look at the Waterford Garden Festival then!

The Waterford Garden Trail is hosting its first festival from 1st-13th May. A serious botanist or earnest horticulturalist will need no convincing of the quality of what’s in store but the rest of us, those for whom even cutting the grass is the greatest of chores, could be in danger of missing out on one of Ireland’s finest new festivals.

Here’s what the Waterford Garden Festival has for you if:

 1. You’re nifty with a camera
Dromana House and Gardens will be the happy hunting ground of amateur photographers on 13th May at their Annual Photographic Competition. There are great prizes for the best shots and a special category for the under 15s.