New Head Curator for Waterford Treasures

Clíona Purcell has recently been appointed Head Curator of Waterford Treasures collection of museums in Waterford City.

Clíona studied History and English at the University of Limerick and went on to complete a Masters in History thereafter. During her Undergraduate degree she was awarded the Brian Faloon Prize by the UL History department for her dissertation; Throwing off the ‘Mighty Incubus’: Irish Municipal Revolution and the Development of the Waterford Corporation, 1828-1840. Throughout her studies, she developed a special interest in eighteenth-century social history. She also worked for Kilkenny Castle, the Hunt Museum and Sound Heritage Ireland during this period.

After this, she returned to Waterford Treasures as a researcher and exhibitions assistant in 2018.

In 2019 she curated her first solo exhibition: ‘For All the Tea in China’ a collection of extraordinary Chinese porcelain with Irish arms displayed in context across the Bishop’s Palace. Later she became the Education Officer and then Curator and Programmes Manager where she established the museum’s vibrant Education Programme including handling workshops and activity-based learning for students of all ages.

Aside from Waterford Treasures, Clíona also sits on the boards of the Waterford Civic Trust and the Waterford Women’s Centre. Clíona’s research interests include the lives of women and children in the eighteenth century, life in poverty and the spread of disease in Waterford, as well as porcelain culture in Ireland at its height.

Commenting on her update of the role Clíona says, “I am delighted to commit to the role of head Curator at Waterford Treasures with such a diverse collection of museums, the role offers a great deal of variety each day and great opportunity.

Due to my interest in museum education and developing my own hands-on visitor experiences, I see the future of Waterford Treasures as building on the wonderful achievements in the Viking Triangle so far, creating more community engagement, as well as more interactive sensory exhibits and events for the public.”