The other day we found ourselves in Waterford, Ireland, home of the famous crystal. Naturally we decided to stop in at the factory’s visitor center. We were pleased to find a tour of the galleries leaving right away, led by a charming man who was quite knowledgeable about the pieces on display.
The crystal creations ranged from exquisite to hideous to comical, and we enjoyed the tour even though Waterford Crystal isn’t exactly our style.
It’s a good thing we weren’t interested in buying anything, though, since nothing was on sale that day. Actually, the visitors center wasn’t open for business at all, and our tour guide wasn’t really a tour guide, but a craftsman in the crystal factory – at least he had been until he was fired a couple weeks ago, when he and 480 of his colleagues were sacked as the company ceased production.
Since then, fired union members have been occupying the visitor center in protest. They are worried about not only their future jobs but also their pensions and other benefits owed them by a company in the financial crapper.
The occupation seemed calm and well-organized. At least 20 union members were milling around when we were there, guarding the door, playing cards, talking to visitors, and keeping the cafeteria running for their fellow protesters. The building was decorated with protest signs, many demonstrating a wicked sense of humor.
It was certainly one of the more memorable tours I’ve been on.
i wonder if you can get the soup without the croutons of insincerity.
But Em, that’s the best part. Spicy!
Man, that sucks! Jobs are disappearing everywhere…
Very cool that you got to tour the factory, though!
It does suck, but it sounds like there might be a deal in the works that will allow the factory to re-open. Fingers crossed.
An enjoyable American equivalent is the Corning Glass Factory in Corning, New York. If you ever get a change to go there, you definately should. We enjoyed it so much we spent the whole day there!
Nice dirndl
A good insight into the current state of the crystal glass industry. I’ve visited Dartington in the South of England and would hope that Waterford survives. Such an established name in glassware