Hi,
What is the latest on the Waterford Crystal Factory. I know that they were closed, but I heard that someone else was taking it over and it was going to re-open. Did that ever happen. I will be in Ireland next month and would really like to tour it if it is opened. If it is in fact opened are there other things to do in Waterford?

We stayed in Waterford for 1 night in 2003 solely to see the factory. It was a great tour and my 15 year old and i had a great time. I was very sorry to hear taht it was closing as I know that it supplied jobs to the area. There was not alot else in Waterford that sparked our interest although my daughter did make me go and look around the small shopping mall.

It hasn't really re-opened. Most of the product is now being made in central Europe. A new visitor centre was opened on 22 June. There you will be able to see glass blowing and cutting -- and, of course, buy product that probably was made in Bohemia.

OMG, I didn't know they had closed I do remember touring the plant a few years ago. Waterford is not too interesting, I wouldn't bother visiting unless Waterford is enroute from A to B. Don't go out of your way to see the town, there are nicer places in Ireland to visit.

Thanks for the information. Is the visitors center located in the same place that the factory was? My husband mentioned that he thought he read somewhere that they were making or selling (he wasn't sure) waterford crystal in Galway. Has anyone heard anything about that?

Check this out: http://www.waterfordvisitorcentre.com/Home
The new visitors centre is in the middle of town; the old factory was in the suburbs.

In Galway there is a crystal factory, Galway Crystal, but they have stopped giving tours. Outside of Galway in Moycullen is Connemara Celtic Crystal that as of last June (2009) was giving tours. Just don't show up on Friday afternoon as the artisans leave early on Friday!