Waterford's take on Valentine's Day

It was that time of year again. Shopfronts are adorned with paper hearts, restaurants are booked out, and an anxious pack of husbands and boyfriends are checking the prices of floral arrangements in every local shop… it was Valentine’s Day.

We spoke to locals in the city centre about their thoughts on the most romantic time of the year.

“It’s a day everyone loves, including myself even though I’m an auld fella,” said John Palmer, owner of Waterford City's John Palmer Music Centre.

Mr Palmer, who has been married to his “good lady wife” for more than thirty years, is planning to cook dinner at home to celebrate the occasion, “then we’ll open a nice bottle of wine, put the feet up and sit in front of the fire!”

“Ah sure it’s all a bunch of rubbish, a holiday invented by Hallmark to sell cards,” said ‘Barry’ (unphotographed) whose name has been changed to escape reprisals from his “long-suffering” wife!

“I got her flowers, of course,” he said, “we stopped going out to restaurants on the day itself years ago. We’ve got a dinner booking on Sunday which will be nice.” ‘Barry’ and his wife will be married for 15 years this year, but the couple are yet to see eye-to-eye on the nature of the February holiday.

Hilton and Nikita, have been together for eight years and spoke to Waterford News & Star before their dinner booking in La Fontana.

"Valentine's is a good excuse to celebrate your relationship," Hilton said, "as in rush up to the shops last minute to get a rose!"

"I had to get one for my mother too, of course, can't leave her out of it!"

Nikita agreed, saying: "I don't think there's anything inherently special about the holiday but, like Christmas, it's a good time to do something special for your loved ones."