Irish watch enthusiasts can look forward to a second helping of hand crafted, artisanal horology, as the world of independent watchmaking comes together at the heart of Ireland’s oldest city for the second edition of the Festival of Time, which takes place in Waterford city centre over the weekend of September 22-24.

With its dramatic twenty-first century sandstone architecture which dominates the city’s historic Viking Triangle, Waterford city’s Medieval Museum once again provides the spectacular setting for the second edition of the Festival of Time; an event dedicated to celebrating the art, craft, innovation and creative ingenuity which defines the realm of contemporary independent and artisanal watchmaking.

Waterford city’s Medieval Museum, flanked by the Irish Silver Museum (L) and Christ Church Cathedral (R)

Best known for its world famous crystal industry, Waterford also has a lesser-known, but quite extraordinary - indeed almost history reshaping - association with traditional Swiss watch and clockmaking, which goes all the way back to the 1780s. It was at this time when plans were conceived in Ireland and Switzerland to provide a sanctuary near Waterford to the Genevan Huguenot people, who at the time were living under a rule of oppression and persecution by the region’s wealthy masters, who essentially governed Geneva and its surrounding area.

Having recently been thwarted in their attempts to achieve basic rights in the short-lived Geneva Revolution of 1782, the Huguenot people, many of whom were skilled craftsmen, particularly in the watchmaking trade, were forced into exile. So when the idea of a potential Irish utopia, where they would not only be free to ply their specialised trade, but encouraged to do so came around, there was sufficient interest on both sides to put the project into action. Work commenced to build what would be a secluded settlement to house and facilitate these new immigrants, with the added hope in Dublin that their strict French protestant discipline and work ethic might rub off on the locals. Right.

Located only a few kilometres from the port city of Waterford, this settlement was even given the name New Geneva, and before long a slow trickle of Huguenot artisans and their families began to arrive to start their new lives in this little corner on the south east coast of Ireland.

There is of course something of an inevitable ending to this story, as quite obviously, the history of watchmaking did not suddenly change course, and as things transpired New Geneva never did in the end become the new mecca of horology. You see, for one thing, the new arrivals felt that they should be left alone to live under the same laws as back in Geneva, and also be represented as a wholly distinct society in the newly independent Irish parliament. Considering our colourful (and bloody) history in Ireland, that was never really going to fly with a government which had by then had quite enough of outside interference in its nation’s political affairs…

Needless to say, frustrated with not getting their own way (and probably not too impressed with the Irish weather either) most of the Huguenots upped sticks pretty quickly and departed once again for France and indeed back to Switzerland, where by then, the political sands were beginning to shift sufficiently for them to exist and integrate with society on a more equal standing.

Almost 250 years later, to commemorate this historic association, Waterford city opened the Irish Museum of Time in 2020, in a beautifully recommissioned 18th century church, which is just metres away from the venue for the Festival of Time. Quite literally crammed, across two floors, with scores of wonderful old historic clocks and time instruments of all shapes and sizes, which themselves tell the story of Ireland’s own horologic legacy, for visitors to the exhibition, the Museum of Time is an absolute must-see.

A step back through time: the Irish Museum of Time, Waterford

If the story of New Geneva is today just a footnote in the annals of political and horologic history, and an almost forgotten one at that, it remains a fact. It is indeed the authentic connection between the locality and the formative years of what would become the Swiss watchmaking industry, while also putting in context the reasons why the Festival of Time could only have its home in the ancient city of Waterford.

A feast for the senses for any Irish watch enthusiast (and of course for those who will be travelling from further afield), the Festival of Time offers an up-close, in-person experience, which is unique in Ireland, where visitors will be able to view ‘in the metal’ many of the most talked about and award winning independent watches of the year, in the presence of their creators, in an open and intimate space right at the heart of the Waterford Treasures complex of museums.

Encompassing the spectrum of independent watchmaking, the line-up for the 2023 event represents the very finest Master watchmakers of our generation and includes several of the most highly respected names in the industry, a number of pioneering independent brands, as well as many of the emerging young talents who are sure to follow in their footsteps as the next generation enters the stage with their ever-more astonishing masterpieces.

Among those already confirmed for the 2023 event, the Festival will welcome back many of those who made the inaugural event so memorable, including Paul Gerber, Andreas Strehler, Marc Jenni, Patrik Sjögren (GoS), Rune Bakkendorff, Zeitwinkel, Sidereus and Schofield. In addition to these, making their debut appearances for the very first time on Irish soil will be Kari Voutilainen, David Candaux, Cyril Brivet-Naudot, Luc Monnet, Simon Brette, Kudoke, Garrick and Lundis Bleus, with more still to be confirmed.

Set out across two adjoining rooms, including a breathtaking sous-terrain thirteenth century vaulted chamber, known as the Chorister’s Hall, and surrounded by the countless historic artefacts which bring to life the political, societal and cultural history of Ireland on display throughout the complex of six extraordinary museums, each within a stone’s throw of the event itself, the Festival of Time truly is a unique experience for Irish and international watch lovers, and one which in the words of one very well-travelled and seasoned exhibitor in the 2022 edition as having the potential to establish itself as “the Davos of independent watchmaking”.

Of course, time will tell, but one thing is certain, for a country boasting such incredible and internationally renowned Master watchmakers such as John and Stephen McGonigle, as well as Belfast man Stephen McDonnell, who is the creative genius behind many of MB&F’s most exceptional and complex, not to mention multiple GPHG award winning creations, including the 2022 outright Aiguille d’Or winner for his LM Sequential Evo chronograph, Ireland now has its own place on the map when it comes to contemporary independent watchmaking, and there is no more fitting a location for such a showcase of hand crafted artisanal haute horlogerie than just a few kilometres up the road from New Geneva, in the wonderful and historic city of Waterford.

The Festival of Time 2023 takes place in the Medieval Museum, Waterford city, Ireland, between the 22nd and 24th of September, and is open to the public between 10am - 4:30pm Friday and Saturday, 11:30am - 4pm Sunday.

For updates follow the Festival of Time on Instagram.

For tickets, please go to the Festival of Time page on the Waterford Treasures website.