Things to see and do Ireland

Meet the Characters at the Palace

In the Choristers’ Hall let your guide in costume Mayor Thomas Wyse regale you with his story. Wyse was Mayor of Waterford in 1689 and was the last Catholic Mayor until 1843; he tells the city’s story through the lens of his family, a prominent Waterford Catholic family, as he guides you through the 13th century Choristers’ Hall and the 15th Mayor’s Wine Vault and through the galleries above. The story comes alive because of the quality of the actor/animators. Wyse starts by signing and sealing a parchment petition to King William III asking that the Catholics of Waterford be allowed to retain their lands (this is just after the Battle of the Boyne remember when King Billy defeats his Catholic father-in-law, thus securing the Protestant succession). The actual original document is the final object in the exhibition galleries upstairs. In the Bishop’s Palace the story continues housekeeper Mrs Rickards is just in the door from the hanging in Ballybricken in 1820 of the gardener’s brother for the poisoning of the Bishop’s gardener and his wife (it happened). Another character is Mr Watwhy a 19th century investigative journalist and the ghost of Lady Este wife of the builder of the Palace in 1743. Through the displays of fine 18th century furniture, paintings, silver and glass, the three characters put on a performance which has been described in the Museum Visitor Book as ‘the actors should be on Broadway, superb’. Waterford Museum of Treasures offer not only straight curator tours and a new multi-lingual interactive vguide when you visit the Museums, but also these exciting actor/animator tours of both venues, WMT at the Choristers’ Hall and WMT at the Bishop’s Palace. 00353.51.849560 (Palace). 00353.51.849501 (Choristers’ Hall) Adult: €5 (1 museum), €8 (both museums) Student/ Senior Citizen/unemployed €4 (1 museum), €6 (both museums)

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