Council explain decision to close Museum of Time and when it will reopen
Irish Museum of Time
Last week, the Waterford News & Star reported that members of the Irish Museum of Time’s committee were unhappy with a decision that was made to close the museum for operational reasons while renovations take place (READ MORE).
The museum, which is located on Greyfriars Street in Waterford city, has been closed on a temporary basis since January 29 while expansion and refurbishment works take place.
There has been uncertainty over when the museum will reopen. It has been reported that this uncertainty caused an anonymous philanthropist with a potentially large-sum investment to walk away.
The advisory board of the museum have said that the museum can still operate while the renovations works are ongoing and that a closure wasn’t warranted.
The board called for elected members of the Council to push for the immediate reopening.
This week, Waterford City and County Council Chief Executive Sean McKeown addressed the issue.
He said the aim is to have "a fantastic new expanded museum by the end of next month" and that there are "big plans" for the reopening.
Explaining the closure, Mr. McKeown that the Chief Executive of Waterford Treasures approached him near the end of last month to discuss the necessity to close the museum for operational reasons.
“We have a certain agreement in place as a Council with Waterford Treasures to operate all of our six museums, so when the Chief Executive said she needs to close the museum for operational reasons I have no reason to doubt that’s the case. We shouldn’t be meddling in operational issues. That was communicated to all the stakeholders and it’s unfortunate that some of the stakeholders regretted that move" Mr. McKeown said.
Speaking on the expansion, Mr. McKeown described it as a very positive news story for Waterford.
“It will be a fantastic new experience. This Council and Waterford Treasures are committed to the new museum.
"It will be reopened, it will be a fabulous new facility, and we will have a big plan for the opening. There should be no concerns over the future of the Irish Museum of Time."
