Waterford Crystal Tour

Today we join a tour of the Waterford Crystal plant in Waterford, Republic of  Ireland where the Waterford Crystal story began so many years ago. Our tour is scheduled to start at 11:10 so we have about 20 minutes to explore the retail floor where lovely pieces of crystal can be admired (and purchased if you have deep wallets!)

There is our tour call…let’s go see how these marvelous pieces of crystal were created.

Our guide leads us outside to another entrance where we are welcomed by the largest crystal goblet in the world.

We are given a brief historical timeline of the Waterford brand…learning how it began and why it was here in Waterford that the factory was started. Then onto a very upbeat multimedia show which gives a brand overview in a different format.

Aside: Very good marketing and crowd organization. The timing is well paced so no one gets bored, all learning styles are addressed,  and the group in front of us has now moved on so the next room we enter is empty and waiting for us.

We are now in the moulding room.

Here you will see the age-old craft of mould making. Our Master blowers use these wooden moulds when shaping the molten crystal. (quoted from brochure we got at the House of Waterford Crystal Visitor Centre.)

Throughout the tour there are colourful signs like this providing interesting facts and adding an interactive aspect to the tour. (Children would love these…and so did I.)

Ah, this is where those moulds are used to shape the molten crystal. No wonder special types of wood are used or there would be fires everyday!

There is one of the Master blowers at work. What breath control that must take.

After it is the perfect shape, the blowing stem is cut off.

And the crystal is put in a drying kiln.

But it still does not look like Waterford Crystal does it.

Well, that step is yet to come. Continue at Waterford Crystal Tour , Part 2.

(Don’t you just love these to be continued programs!)