The £2 million millennium plaza that has transformed an obsolete wharf in Waterford into an outdoor performance arena was officially opened yesterday.
The William Vincent Wallace Plaza is named after the Waterford-born composer of the popular opera Maritana. It was opened by the chairman of the National Millennium Committee, Minister of State Mr Seamus Brennan, who lauded the development's aesthetic design and the clear practical benefits it would have for Waterford city. The plaza is on Clyde Wharf, near Reginald's tower. The section of the city's quays had fallen into disuse after the shipping business moved downstream to the new port of Belview.
City manager Mr Eddie Breen said there had already been a number of applications to hold musical and artistic performances at the plaza.
The National Millennium Committee gave the project £850,000, the remainder was provided by Waterford Corporation. The plaza has a maritime theme, featuring a sail-like tensile canopy, a timber boardwalk and a tall sculpture like a yacht's masts. The architects for the project were Rupert Maddock, from Waterford Corporation, and Sean McLoughlin. The artist was Liam Lavery and work was carried out by Kingston Construction. Yesterday, the Minister sent a special greeting to his daughter in Sydney, who was watching the function on the Internet. The Internet camera is a permanent feature of the plaza, transmitting images through www.waterfordcorp.ie.
The Mayor of Waterford, Ald Davy Daniels, said the plaza was on the very spot where the Vikings landed in Waterford 1,000 years ago.
Waterford's Martin Cullen, Minister of State for Finance, said the plaza was a visionary space representing the new confidence of the city.