The world of contemporary independent watchmaking touches down on Irish soil for the very first time, when a delegation of the sector’s most celebrated masters and emerging talents present their extraordinary mechanical masterpieces at the inaugural International Festival of Time, which takes place in the quite spectacular setting of the Waterford Treasures complex of five magnificent museums; the crown jewel at the heart of Ireland’s oldest city.

In association with the city’s newly opened Irish Museum of Time, the International Festival of Time is an event which renews a long forgotten, but significant connection between a tiny village on the south east coast of Ireland and the traditional heart of Swiss watch and clock making, which might have changed the course of horologic history, it is a weekend-long celebration of artisanal watchmaking in the twenty-first century, which opens its doors to the public between the 20th and 22nd of May, 2022.

Set in the city’s historic Viking Triangle, the Irish Museum of Time is the newest addition to the Waterford Treasures experience, having opened in 2021. Within the refurbished eighteenth century gothic-style church, a meticulously curated collection of historically significant long case and table clocks and watches from Ireland and abroad are preserved in all of their majestic elegance, for generations to come.

The choice of Waterford as home to this wonderful permanent exhibition, and as host city to the International Festival of Time is no coincidence. This is because the region has a quite remarkable, yet little known connection with the earliest years of fine watchmaking, which spans more than two centuries.

Only a few kilometres away from the ancient city centre, stand the ruins of what was called New Geneva, originally conceived as a dedicated enclave which was constructed in the 1780s to accommodate an expected 1,000 Swiss Huguenot artisan watch and clock makers, who at the time were being persecuted in their homeland by their French and Bernese masters, and to whom an invitation to migrate to a new life in New Geneva was extended.

However, thanks to the turbulent politics of the time in both Ireland and in Switzerland, the utopian concept of a New Geneva on Ireland’s south east coast failed to get off the ground, and the sixty or so pioneering Huguenots who had embraced the idea and settled in Ireland, returned to a Switzerland now more appreciative of their skills and accommodating of their way of life. But the fact remains; Waterford and Ireland very nearly became the centre of horologic excellence, and that is something which would have dramatically altered the course of the history of fine watchmaking.

Against the backdrop of this historic association between Waterford and the origins of watchmaking, and surrounded by the artefacts which narrate the rich tapestry of the history of Irish civilisation, the International Festival of Time re-establishes that valuable bond with an exhibition which showcases the very best of artisanal watch and clock making some 240 years later.

To mark this inaugural edition, Waterford Treasures and The Irish Museum of Time are delighted to welcome almost twenty of the world’s highest regarded Masters of independent watchmaking, with exhibitors from Switzerland, France, Denmark, Sweden and the UK, as well as our own prodigious homegrown Irish talents.

Reading like a veritable “Who’s Who” of contemporary watch and clock making, visitors will have the opportunity to view, for the very first time in Ireland, masterpieces which have defined the careers of these celebrated, award-winning and even Guinness World Record holding creators, and which have become icons of our time.

Among the stellar line-up for the inaugural International Festival of Time are luminaries such as Vianney Halter, Andreas Strehler, Bernhard Lederer, Thomas Prescher, Paul Gerber, Marc Jenni, Patrik Sjögren, Giles Ellis, Ireland’s own John and Stephen McGonigle, as well as several of the most outstanding emerging stars of the next generation, including Christian Lass, Philippe Narbel, Bastien Vuillomenet, Rune Bakkendorrf and Bryan Leech of Irish brand Sidereus, with more still to be confirmed.

An exhibition of the centuries-old traditional crafts, skills and techniques, which continue to be perpetuated by the hands of watchmaking’s most prodigious talents, the International Festival of Time is a showcase for independent watchmaking and the people behind its resurgent revival over the past twenty years, and an introduction of this fascinating universe of invention, creativity and innovation to an Irish audience.

With styles and concepts as varied and diverse as the individuals behind them, the astonishing timepieces which will be making their debut appearances in Ireland at the International Festival of Time represent each watchmaker’s unique expressions on their craft, and reflect the kaleidoscope of design and creativity which defines modern day independent watch and clockmaking.

Opening to the public on Friday, May 20th and running until Sunday May 22nd, between 10:00 and 17:00 on each of the three days, the inaugural International Festival of Time in Waterford is a unique and very special event which captures the spirit of contemporary independent watch and clock making, and one which introduces this extraordinary world of high mechanical complications and uncompromising hand finishing to a steadily growing number of Irish watch enthusiasts and afficionados.

Admission to the Festival is included in a ‘Freedom of Waterford’ ticket to the Waterford Treasures museums, which includes access to the Irish Museum of Time, the Irish Silver Museum, the Medieval Museum, Reginald’s Castle and the Bishop’s Palace the Waterford Treasures museums and a walking tour.

For further information contact Waterford Treasures on +353 (0)51 849501 or by email at medievalreception@waterfordcouncil.ie.

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