"Portraits of the Irish in Waterford" - a Second Saturday event

Even if you aren't Irish, you'll love this event! The Waterford Historical Society’s “Portraits of the Irish in Waterford" on Jordan Green from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. will look at the impact that Irish immigrants and their ancestors have had on the Town of Waterford. 

The event and an exhibit of family portraits and photos on the Waterford Public Library art wall in June were inspired by one family in particular – the Perkins family – whose forebear James Sherry emigrated from Ireland during the potato famine around 1858 and settled in Waterford.

The event and exhibit are free, family-friendly and open to the public. 

Live music, Irish language lessons, handicraft demonstrations, and fresh Irish Soda Bread available for purchase! 

The Dirty Blue Shirts living historians will relate Irish history and perform live Irish music on the Green. 

One historian will exhibit cotton/linen crochet lace work with examples of bobbin lace for comparison and have large gauge yarn and hooks for visitors to try. She will speak about lace crochet as a means of income for women during the Great Hunger and the subsequent American fascination with the art, as well as touch on the linen trade. 

Another historian who has studied Irish language for 15 years and teaches bimonthly Irish language classes for the Irish Coastal Club in Westerly will offer Irish language and history lessons in the Jordan District Schoolhouse. 

There will be fresh loaves of Irish Soda Bread and Caraway Rye Bread available for sale, contributed by local cottage bakery Dove Hill Farm. Tours of the historic buildings on Jordan Green will also be offered, and the blacksmith shop will be open for observation.

Donations are always gratefully accepted, as we are a non-profit organization. 

Handicap-accessible restrooms and parking available. PLEASE USE THE Avery Lane/Rope Ferry Road parking lot or Waterford Community Center, NOT the library parking lot, as they are having an event that day as well.