The latest episode of SETU Podcasts explores the people, memories and remarkable images that form part of the social history of Waterford Crystal and the Glassworks site.
This episode goes behind the lens with Waterford Crystal photographer, Terry Murphy, capturing snapshots of the Glass Factory’s rich social history.
Terry joined Waterford Crystal in the early 1960s and went on to become an official photographer at the company. In this episode, Terry returns to Glassworks, a flagship innovation campus being developed on the former Waterford Crystal site, to share the stories behind some of the remarkable images he captured during his career.
Located in the heart of Ireland’s South East, Glassworks is a place where university meets enterprise, connections are created and ideas become impact. Jointly developed by SETU, Frisby Group and the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF), Glassworks represents an exciting evolution of a place long associated with creativity, craftmanship and excellence.
In a nod to its past, the “W” in the Glassworks logo is inspired by the cut-glass patterns of crystalware, connecting the site’s rich heritage of design and innovation with its future.
People, place and partnerships
During the podcast, Terry and Mary discuss a selection of photos that highlight the people who made Waterford Crystal what it was, the factory itself, and the high-profile collaborations and partnerships that reflect its global status.
Terry’s images range from master blowers working on the factory floor in temperatures of up to 1,200 degrees Celsius to Waterford Crystal advertising campaigns on the London Underground. They also document visits by well-known figures including Jack Charlton, John Rocha and Cliff Richard. Together, the photographs offer a vivid record of the factory and its social impact, both locally and internationally.
Referring to a photo from his collection depicting a process known as the pot setting, where workers had to break down the furnace wall on the factory floor in extremely high temperatures, Terry said:
“This was something that was never seen by anyone, because it was so dangerous. It happened at about 5.30pm on a Friday afternoon. I was given special permission to photograph the process but I was warned not to get too close. The feeling of heat when they took the furnace wall down was extraordinary. It was like being close to the sun, but it was an essential process to keep the factory going.”
“Terry’s photos capture how the people of Waterford Crystal combined craftmanship and excellence with a willingness to embrace change, continually developing their skills, sharing their knowledge and finding new ways to innovate. That same spirit of connection, creativity and lifelong learning is now shaping the evolution of Glassworks, on a new site where history was made time and time again.”
Laura Power, UNESCO Learning City Project Manager, SETU
News ways to innovate
Commenting on the podcast and on Terry’s photos, Laura Power, UNESCO Learning City Project Manager, SETU said, “Terry’s photos capture how the people of Waterford Crystal combined craftmanship and excellence with a willingness to embrace change, continually developing their skills, sharing their knowledge and finding new ways to innovate. That same spirit of connection, creativity and lifelong learning is now shaping the evolution of Glassworks, on a new site where history was made time and time again.”
Dr Karl Haslam, SETU Glassworks Business Development Manager, Ecosystem and Operations, added, “Glassworks is about honouring an extraordinary legacy while inspiring what comes next. A new chapter is beginning; one where university meets enterprise, ideas make impact and SETU, along with its partners, continues to inspire futures.”
The SETU Podcast series can be accessed here, or through Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
If you would like to share memories connected to Terry’s stories or of your time in Waterford Crystal please contact, Laura Power, UNESCO Learning City Project Manager by emailing [email protected].