What to do and see in Waterford, Province of Munster: The Best Museums

SCG is Waterford's foremost contemporary exhibition space and houses artist studios and workshop rooms. Having been in operation for the past 6 years SOMA has hosted an array of outstanding shows, by both established and emerging artists and has become known for its high profile art exhibitions.

King of the Vikings - The World's First Viking Virtual Reality 3D Adventure, bringing you up close and personal with the Viking warlords who founded Waterford Ireland's oldest city! Housed in a replica Viking house within the atmospheric ruins of a medieval monastery in the heart of the Viking city. Next to Reginald's Tower where the Treasures of Viking Waterford and a fullsize Viking longship. Available in English, French and German. Cost of admission is only €5.00 for an Under 12 and only €10.00 for an adult. Currently CLOSED for annual maintenance, from 6th January till Fri.13th March 2020.

The magnificent curved facade of the warm butter-coloured stone building draws in the visitor. The eye-catching giant sculpture on the gable was inspired by a tiny 13th century belt mount found in Waterford. It is Ireland’s only purpose-built medieval museum and the only building on the island to incorporate two medieval chambers, the 13th century Choristers’ Hall and the 15th century Mayor’s Wine Vault. Don't miss the stunning Heavens' Embroidered Cloths, Waterford's cloth-of-gold 15th century vestments, the only piece of clothing from King Henry VIII's reign to survive in the world - the 'Cap of Maintenance' and the Great Charter Roll from 1373, containing the earliest contemporary portrait of a medieval English king (Edward III) shown to Queen Elizabeth on her 2011 state visit to Ireland. These and many more unique artefacts await you on your guided tour of the award wining Medieval Museum.

The Bishop’s Palace Museum houses a display of Waterford treasures from 1700 to the 20th century, and gives visitors a wonderful insight into the history of what was, up until the 1750s, Ireland’s second city. 'The Mall is a beautiful walk, about 200 yards long… facing it stands the Bishop’s Palace, which not only adds a considerable beauty ... the Palace is a fine building of hewn stone, with two fronts, that next to the Mall is beautifully ornamented with a handsome portico.' (Charles Smith’s History, 1746)' This exquisite architectural jewel, now a museum, continues to delight over 250 years later, the ground and first floors furnished as a very elegant 18th century townhouse. The top floor brings 'old' Waterford alive from the 1900s to the 1960s. Unveiled in 2019, Masterpieces in Glass is a re-enactor led experience culminating in a 17 minute 4D presentation detailing the long history of glass making in Waterford and vividly immersing you 18th and 19th century Waterford.

Sean Egan is a Master Engraver, Glass Artist and Designer with over 40 years experience in glass art, beginning his apprenticeship with Waterford Crystal in 1974. In 2009 Sean opened Sean Egan Art Glass in Waterford, working as a freelance glass artist and designer. Sean is passionate about his work and his aim is to keep the age old skill of hand engraving on crystal alive, a craft which has been practiced in Waterford since the 1700’s. Using tiny copper wheels, Sean engraves his designs on blank crystal, which is the perfect medium for the elegant beauty of engraving. It is like an optical illusion and has a unique 3D effect on glass. Each touch on the wheel brings to life an image that seems frozen within the crystal. All his artwork is designed and hand crafted by Sean in his studio, and no two pieces are exactly the same. “As a freelance engraver, I take my inspiration for my designs from everything around me”. He is renowned for his vivid depictions of nature.