Saol na nDaoine ar Chósta an Chopair 1912-1923

A new local history exhibition will open to the public on the last weekend in August.

Saol na nDaoine ar Chósta an Chopair features history, folklore, pictures and artefacts illustrating life on
Waterford’s Copper Coast in the early decades of the 20 th Century, against the particular backdrop of
the years 1912 to 1923, which was a seminal period in Irelands fight for independence.

The Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr Joe Conway will open the exhibition on Friday 25 th
August. Following which it will be open to the public from 2-6pm on Sat 26 th and Sun 27 th August.
For the month of September the exhibition will be open to the public each Sunday afternoon 2-6 pm.
Entry is free, and all are welcome. The venue Dunhill Community Hall is accessible, with wheelchair
access and accessible toilets.

Speaking about the Exhibition, Helen Laffan one of the exhibitions main organisers said “We kicked
of the Copper Coast Social Hub in Dunhill Community Hall in April this year. The Social Hub is an
opportunity for men and women of all ages across the Copper Coast to come together, have a chat
and socialise one afternoon a month. For one of the events I put together a slide show of local
pictures that I had collected when working with Dr Senan Cooke on the history of Dunhill GAA book
launched in August last year. The idea of the exhibition came from that, and I got great help those
who came to the social hub event with identifying who was in the pictures and stories around
them”.

Helen went on to say “We are really grateful to the large number of people across the seven villages
– Annestown, Boatstrand, Bonmahon, Dunhill, Fenor, Kill and Stradbally, who have helped in so
many ways. Whether with lending photos, memorabilia or generously giving of their time to help us
build a picture of life on the Copper Coast at the beginning of the twentieth century.”

Commenting on the exhibition Sarah O’Brien, chairperson of Dunhill Community Hall Committee said
“We are delighted to host, for the third year in a row an exhibition, that showcases the Copper
Coast. There is a lot to see and learn when you visit, from descriptions of everyday life, to
superstitions and cures as well as many of the items that were common in every household at the
time. We also have on display some of the instruments used by Dunhill Fife and Drum band who
played at many social and political events as well a beautiful hand-made christening gown. It also includes a feature on Kathleen Beresford, who was the first woman principal in Dunhill National
School, subsequently went on to open a secondary school for girls as well as being a renowned
artist”

Sarah added; “The exhibition focuses in on the period 1912-23 and is one of a number of projects
across Waterford City and County kindly supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts,
Gaeltacht, Sports and Media under the Decade of Centenaries 2012-2023 initiative and Waterford
City and County Council Commemorations Committee. Entry is free and all are welcome. Though as
a voluntary group and charity we appreciate all donations which go towards the maintenance and
upkeep of the building”.