Waterford's night time offering is assessed
Assessors take a tour of Waterford
Waterford City welcomed Kevin O’Sullivan and Damon Blake from the Association of Town & City Management (ATCM) last Friday as part of the city’s 2025 Purple Flag assessment.
A Purple Flag is an award for reaching a standard of excellence in evening and night time economy.
Having held Purple Flag accreditation since 2015, Waterford remains a national leader in showcasing a dynamic and welcoming city centre from 5pm to 5am.
The assessment began with a welcome reception in the historic Mayor’s Parlour at City Hall.
Jim “Flash” Gordon served as Master of Ceremonies, followed by a welcome from Mayor Seamus Ryan, who spoke of the city’s pride in its Purple Flag status.
A standout feature of the day was the guided tour, where Waterford’s Purple Flag Zone was brought to life.
The assessors were met with the warmest of welcomes from local businesses, community organisations, and stakeholders, from Waterford Crystal Waterford Treasures and onto the inspiring work of Waterford Marine Search and Rescue
The Granville Hotel, Tully’s, O’Sullivan’s, Union, The Lounge and Woodman, Revolution, and The Reg all opened their doors to the assessors, offering a true taste of Waterford’s nightlife.
The presence and ongoing support of An Garda Síochána further underscored the collaborative approach Waterford takes to creating a safe and welcoming city after dark.
“We were thrilled to welcome Kevin and Damon to Waterford and showcase everything our city has to offer when the sun goes down,” said Mayor Seamus Ryan.
“The Purple Flag is more than just an accreditation, it reflects the strength of our community partnerships, the quality of our venues, and our shared commitment to ensuring a better night out for everyone.”
“The Purple Flag is a great example of how Waterford works in partnership to create something greater than the sum of its parts,” added Claire Hartley, Senior Executive Officer with the Economic Development team.
“It highlights not only the strength of our local businesses and venues, but also our shared vision for a thriving night-time economy that’s safe, diverse, and inclusive.”
