Visitor numbers at the Waterford Treasures collection of museums have grown by 63% so far this year.
Details
By the beginning of September 2022, the museums had attracted 74,000 visitors since opening on January 1 2022, representing an increase of 47,009 visitors on the same period in 2021.
Statements By Museum Director
Museum director Eamonn McEneaney stated, "We are delighted to have welcomed the highest number ever of fee-paying visitors to the Waterford Treasures museums.
"We have had an incredible 12 months since we opened the Irish Silver Museum and the Irish Museum of Time in 2021 and focussed on sharing the delights, the treasures and the wonders of the five museums in the Viking Triangle over the last 12 months. We are thrilled to see the hard work from all of the team reaping rewards for the museums and for Waterford. We created some new ticketing models which included the freedom of Waterford ticket, which combines a walking tour and four museum visits as well as admission to Christ Church Cathedral, so we believe this growth is based on a culmination of our new museums and collections, innovative thinking and planning of our promotion carefully, which is all now paying off."
"Based on Failte Ireland statistics the museum's economic contribution to the city is valued at just over €5.8 million which is an astounding figure and demonstrates the real economic value in investing in our heritage here in Ireland's oldest city."
McEneaney added, "Since 2002, we have been working very hard on bringing the story of Waterford to the world. Back then, we had dreams of days like today, where visitors are booking in abundance to explore our heritage. This has been twenty years in the making but I have learned over the years to stop rushing the things that need time to grow."
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